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yukmouth204
Guest
Whats the difference between a synth and a drum machine?
THM
New member
Hi yukmouth204, welcome to FP !! 
A synth is the generic term for that type of gear which produces sounds based on a type of analog or digital synthesis (most common is subtractive synthesis, but there's also FM synthesis, additive synthesis, AM synthesis, granular synthesis, wavetable synthesis, etc.).
As the name says: a drum machine has the purpose to replace "real" drums; so it's in the first place a synth, but made for making rhythmic/percussion sounds.
The major part of drum machines has also a kind of small built-in sequencer and/or arpeggiator which gives the ability to store and replay rhythm sequences.
So every drum machine is in fact a kind of synth - but only with drum purposes.
Got it ? Keep it !
A synth is the generic term for that type of gear which produces sounds based on a type of analog or digital synthesis (most common is subtractive synthesis, but there's also FM synthesis, additive synthesis, AM synthesis, granular synthesis, wavetable synthesis, etc.).
As the name says: a drum machine has the purpose to replace "real" drums; so it's in the first place a synth, but made for making rhythmic/percussion sounds.
The major part of drum machines has also a kind of small built-in sequencer and/or arpeggiator which gives the ability to store and replay rhythm sequences.
So every drum machine is in fact a kind of synth - but only with drum purposes.
Got it ? Keep it !
Zer0PointEnergY
New member
in more generic terms, you would play more 'Music' (leads, rythems basslines etc) with a synth, and program your drums with a drum machine.
M
mesaone
Guest
plus another difference is you can use keyboards to control synthesizers... and drum machines need that because they have trigger pads for each drum channel. unless theyre something like steinberg LM-7 or something. but if you had cubase, you probably wouldnt be asking that question