How do analog synthesizers differ from digital synthesizers?

The primary difference between analog and digital synthesizers lies in how they generate sound signals. Analog synthesizers, which were the standard before 1980, utilize electronic circuits to directly produce electric waveforms that are analogous to the sound waveforms of acoustic instruments.1

In contrast, digital synthesizers and music systems rely on digital computer technology. Their circuits produce a series of numbers that must subsequently be converted into audible waveforms. While analog instruments rely on physical components like oscillators, mixers, and filters to shape sound, digital synthesizers—such as the influential Yamaha DX-7 introduced in 1983—use built-in sound-synthesis algorithms to create and manipulate timbres.12

Some early digital instruments, like the Casio CZ-101, were specifically designed to model the capabilities of their analog predecessors. Both types of technology have been essential in the development of electronic dance music, where producers use these tools to design unique, often inorganic sounds intended for the dance floor.234