Synthesizers are known for their ability to produce nearly limitless sounds — ethereal pads, fat basslines, laser-hot leads. The bounds of synthesis are confined only by the imagination of the patch designer. With their bevy of sound sources and modulators, synths are uniquely suited for sculpting tones to unnerve your listeners. Atonal drones, brain-splitting clangor, random sonic devolutions — synths are capable of it all, which is why they were so eagerly adopted by iconic horror film composers like John Carpenter (Halloween), Jerry Goldsmith (Runaway), and Howard Shore (Videodrome). And, synth-based horror soundtracks aren’t just relegated to the 1970s and 1980s. New-school artists, including Disasterpeace (It Follows), Steve Moore (VFW), and Broadcast (Berberian Sound Studio), have made analog synths central to their compositions.
In that spirit, we take a look at some of the spookiest synths available from Sweetwater, both in sound and appearance, to inspire nightmare synthscapes just in time for Halloween!
Moog Etherwave Standard Theremin
As the ubiquitous sound of 1950s sci-fi and horror, it’s difficult to think of the theremin without images flickering in your head of saucer-shaped UFOs or costumed day players stalking a film’s “final girl.” From Hitchcock to Cronenberg and a billion Roger Corman films, the theremin is an indispensable part of the cinematic vocabulary, but it’s also been used to slightly less creepy effect in pop music. Think of Paul Tanner’s energetic Electro-Theremin line in The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations! The Moog Etherwave standard theremin is a classic theremin in every way, from its nickel-plated antennae to its furniture-grade hardwood cabinet. If you want to rock more like Clara Rockmore, get your hands on the Etherwave standard theremin from Moog!
ARP Odyssey
The aptly named ARP Odyssey analog synthesizer invites you on a Homeric journey of synthesis. Enter its labyrinth of sliders and switches and discover a stunning titan of sound design. Sublime or spooky, the ARP Odyssey is able to call up a vast range of sounds, including spacey bleeps and bloops, throbbing subterranean bass lines, and chewy synth emanations that beg to be arpeggiated. In the 1970s, the ARP Odyssey rivaled the Minimoog for the mantle of most popular monophonic synthesizer, and it remains relevant today, embraced by contemporary composers like Cliff Martinez (Neon Demon) and S U R V I V E’s Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things). Looking for a faithful re-creation of an iconic analog synth? Then set your sails for the ARP Odyssey!
Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard Synthesizer
A synth doesn’t need to be analog to create haunting, horror-inspired sounds. Digital synths bring their own set of qualifications ideal for creating unsettling atmospheres. On top of its stellar virtual analog engine, the Waldorf Blofeld keyboard synthesizer features wavetable and sample-based synthesis — both of which offer massive potential when it comes to building spine-chilling patches. Dig through Blofeld’s 1,000-plus preset library to find a ghoulishly macabre patch or upload your own samples — such as creaky doors, whooshing winds, and forlorn howls — and sculpt them into a maddening cacophony not fit for the timid!
Behringer Wasp Desktop Analog Synthesizer
Does your heart have palpitations when you hear a distant buzzing? Do you experience flop sweat when you see a stranger dressed in a yellow-and-black-striped sweater? Then you might suffer from spheksophobia — a chronic fear of wasps. Our advice for combating Vespula vulgaris-triggered terror? Get immersion therapy with the Behringer Wasp desktop analog synthesizer. Seriously, there’s nothing frightening about this wasp, except for its aggressive oscillators and squelching resonant filters! Based on a cult classic digital-analog hybrid synth, the Behringer Wasp is a Eurorack-compatible module with an idiosyncratic sound. It’s a sleeper favorite among synthesists at Sweetwater, and, once you hear it, you’ll understand why we swarm to it!
Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer
What’s the freakiest thing about the Arturia MicroFreak hybrid synthesizer? Its insanely deep functionality! This affordable, pint-sized synth is packed with wavetable and digital oscillators, true analog filters, and a modulation matrix for constructing discordant patches that will make your listeners’ skin crawl! But don’t worry, as freaky as the MicroFreak can be, it can also be lush and hypnotic or deep and rich. With its palette of inspiring modes, including Texturer, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave, where you take the Arturia MicroFreak is up to you. There’s nothing micro about the MicroFreak’s sound, and, at this price point, few synths are more capable.
Moog Grandmother Dark
When most of us hear the word “grandmother,” it conjures positive associations — unconditional love, warm cookies and milk, and getting spoiled with new toys. Grandmothers are wonderful, but what happens when grandmothers go dark? That’s a frightening prospect — check out the 1987 film adaptation of Flowers in the Attic to see what we mean! So, what motivated Moog to release the Moog Grandmother Dark semi-modular analog synthesizer? Rest easy, this dark Grandmother isn’t going to feed you poison doughnuts. It’s just decked out in an eye-catching dark chassis for a killer look! With its uber-fat oscillators, numerous patch points, creamy filter, and awesome built-in spring reverb, the original Grandmother, along with its colorful design, was an instant hit. But if your tastes run a little darker, then you’ll love the Grandmother Dark! It’s got all the same great sounds and functionality as the original, with a cool “nocturnal nana” vibe.
Conclusion
So, which of these spooky synths got your spine tingling? Give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700 and let us know. And check out our ever-growing selection of analog, digital, and hybrid synthesizers and Eurorack gear. We’ve got everything you need to build the scariest ever hardware synth rig!
