Synthesizer books

Books about synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments. For books about Synth DIY electronics see books, and for more general books about electronics electronics books.

Analog Electronic Music Techniques in Tape, Electronic and Voltage-Controlled Synthesizer Studios by Joel Naumann and James D. Wagoner
1985, ISBN 0028731409

Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, Controls by Allen Strange
288 pages, McGraw-Hill Inc., 2nd revised edition, 1982, ISBN 0697036022

Strange1983_2nd_ed.pdf

Keyfax Omnibus by Julian Colbeck
MixBooks, 1996, ISBN 0918371082

Fairly comprehensive compendium of reviews of synths, samplers, organs and key controllers, from the Farfisa Compact circa mid-sixties, to the mid-nineties. Easy and fun to read, and a great reference. Nearly every entry has a B&W photo. Also look out for earlier editions from the eighties, where more obscure stuff is included.

Midi For Musicians by Craig Anderton
AMSCO Pubs, 1986, ISBN 0825610508

May be considered a bit dated now. The full MIDI spec is in the back of the book.

Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming by Jim Aikin
2004, ISBN 0879307730

Synthesizer Basics edited by Brent Hurtig
GPI Publications (Hal Leonard Pubs), 1984, ISBN 0881887145

Brilliant collection of articles that first appeared in Keyboard Magazine, most of them are by Robert Moog from the late 70s giving lucid explanations on topics such as Loudness and Attack Shaping,  Principles Of Voltage Control, Phasers etc.

The Art of Electronic Music by Tom Darter and Greg Armbruster
1983/1985, ISBN 0688031064

The Complete Guide to Synthesizers by Devarahi
Prentice Hall, 1982, ISBN 0131606301

The Technique of Electronic Music' by Thomas Wells
304 pages, 2nd edition, Macmillan USA, 1981, ISBN 0028728300

Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail
Miller Freeman, 1993, ISBN 0879306033

Welsh's Synthesizer Cookbook: Synthesizer Programming, Sound Analysis, and Universal Patch Book by Fred Welsh
3rd edition, 2006, ASIN: B000ERHA4S, 128 pages

Sound and synthesizer theory

 * Advanced Programming Techniques for Modular Synthesizers, Clavia Nord Modular manual however it applies to all synths.
 * An Introduction to the Serge Modular Music System by Rich Gold, with Darrel Johansen and Marina LaPalma, also relates to synths in general
 * ARP 2600 Owners Manual, also relates to synths in general
 * Buchla music easel manual, also relates to synths in general
 * Digisound Step by Step Guide to Synthesis
 * Electronic Music, Multichannel Recording and Practical Synthesis books by Roland
 * Fundamentals of Music Technology: Subtractive Synthesis with audio samples
 * Nord Modular G2 Workshops and tutorials, also relates to synths in general
 * Sound On Sound magazine's Synth School
 * Sound On Sound magazine's Synth Secrets

Patching

 * Newb looking for 'Patching for dummies' kind of thing

Music technology

 * Basic Music Technology I & II

Lists of books on other sites

 * Books worth reading at Synthesizers.com
 * Detachment 3 Laboratories, The Master Synthesizer Book List r1.1
 * Doepfer Musikelektronik A-100 Further Reading
 * Fred Wilder's Reading List
 * PatchPierre BookTips
 * Magnus Synth Book Page
 * Music From Outer Space:Suggested Reading
 * Synth Books at MATRIXSYNTH
 * Synth Books at www.snap-dragon.com
 * Synth/MIDI/Analog/Acoustic Bibliography by Mark Frazer Bower
 * The Synthesizer Network Literature, CD´s and Videos page, from 2011