Modulation means changing the property of sound over the course of time. It adds motion, dimension, and depth to sounds. The process requires a source signal that controls another signal. The source signal is the modulator, whereas the controlled signal is a carrier. Modulators don’t create sounds, but they do change them by manipulating the…
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Oscillators are circuits that produce a continuous, repeated, and alternating waveform without using any input. They are a simple way of creating a specific frequency of a signal. In short, they work by converting unidirectional current flow from a DC source into an alternating waveform. Oscillators: a Description Oscillators are amplifier circuits that have positive…
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Waveforms are graphical representations of the shape and form of a signal moving. Their shapes determine what the signal sounds like: its timbre. The sound produced by a waveform depends on its shape, and these can be random and complex. For example, synths and modern keyboards create sounds with complex waveforms. The waveform of steady periodic…
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The art of arpeggiators is the following: also known as arps, they are a simple audio sequencing tool that involves a basic real-time sequencer. Arpeggiators are available on some hardware synths and software instruments. They allow the user to automatically go through a sequence of notes based on the player’s input. In addition, arps are…
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Subtractive synthesis, also known as analog synthesis, emerged around 1960—the same time the analog synthesizers did. Many of these synthesizers use the analog technique to produce sounds. The kind we’re talking about today here involves three main components: oscillator, filter, and amplifier. The Components of Subtractive Synthesis In the following paragraphs we’ll explain the three of…
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Granular synthesis is a type of audio synthesis that breaks a sound into small particles. After that, this process reorganizes the particles in order to create a new sound. In short, it is a sound manipulation technique that involves sound grouping, pitch control, and speed control. A Little Bit of History: Granular Synthesis Around 1946,…
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Wavetable synthesis is a technique that produces natural sounds. When the sound comes from an actual musical instrument, the process separates a single note into a sequence of wavetables. Analog Oscillators Analog oscillators offered four basic oscillator waveforms until a new form of audio synthesis appeared. Around 1970, Waldorf Music Company launched the PPG wave…
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Additive synthesis is one of the oldest and most researched types of audio synthesis. This technique was first used with church organs to accurately control the register-stops, as well as with the keyboard. The operation was quite simple. By pressing the keyboard’s keys and pulling several register-stops in different positions, the air released into the…
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Physical modeling synthesis refers to sound synthesis methods in which a mathematical model calculates the waveform of the sound to be produced. This approach also uses a set of equations and algorithms to mimic the physical source of a sound. It uses partial differential equations, as well as the laws of acoustics, to describe the physical structure of a musical instrument. In…
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Linear Arithmetic Synthesis, or LA synthesis, is a type of audio synthesis. In particular, this one is backed up by the theory that the attack transient of a sound is essential for human perception. It uses a combination of simple digital oscillators and sampled attack transients. The oscillators involve pulse and saw-tooth waveforms to produce…
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