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Music Technology > Synthesis > Flashcards

Synthesis Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the Yamaha CS-80

A
  • A analog subtractive synth
  • 1977
  • 2 high and low pass filters, an ADSR, chorus, tremolo
  • 61-note keyboard
  • Used by Peter Howell in 1980s Doctor Who theme tune
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2
Q

What is the ARP 2600?

A
  • 1971
  • Low-pass filter, VCA, ring modulator, white/pink noise, microphone preamp, spring reverb
  • Used by Jean-Micheal-Jean in Oxygene pt4
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3
Q

What is the EMS VCS3

A
  • Monophonic synth
  • 1969
  • 3 oscillators, noise generator, 2 input amplifiers, 1 ring modulator, 1 VC LFO, 1 Trapezoid Envelope Generator, Voltage Controlled Spring Reverb Unit
  • Used by Jean-Micheal-Jean in Oxygene pt4
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4
Q

What is the Hammond B-3 Organ?

A
  • A tone wheel drawbar organ played through a rotating, leslie speaker
  • Used mainly from 60s onwards
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5
Q

What is the Rhodes Piano?

A
  • Classic Funk Piano
  • Used by Stevie Wonder
  • 1968
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6
Q

What is the Korg-M1

A
  • Sampling Synth used in 80s and 90s pop
  • Creates accurate and realistic sounds
  • Reverb, delay, phaser, tremolo, exciter, ensemble, overdrive, EQ, chorus, flanger, rotary speaker
  • Used a lot in Madonna’s ‘Vogue’
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7
Q

What are the different types of synthesis?

A
  • Additive
  • Subtractive
  • FM
  • Granular
  • Modular
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8
Q

What is additive synthesis?

A
  • Combining multiple simple waveforms to create more complex waveforms with harmonic and inharmonic overtones/harmonics
  • Sine waves are simplest are easiest to manipulate
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9
Q

What is subtractive synthesis?

A
  • ## Where two or more oscillators generating a complex waveform through sets of filters that help subtract any unwanted frequencies
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10
Q

What is FM

A
  • Stands for frequency modulation
  • Uses one oscillator (the operator) to modulate the frequency of a second oscillator (the carrier)
  • Used throughout the 80s as the analog synths from the 60s and 70s were ditched for new early MIDI technology
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11
Q

What is granular synthesis?

A
  • It can use any sound to create a totally new one.
  • After creating a new sequence of grains, volume cross-fades will be applied to blend from one gain to the next in a process called smoothing
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12
Q

What is modular synthesis?

A
  • A synth made of different modules
  • ## A modular synth lets you connect your modules any way you like. ​Meaning you can create a crazy, complex signal flow that has never existed before
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13
Q

What is an oscillator?

A

An oscillator generates initial sound and allows a waveform to be selected

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14
Q

What is a filter?

A

A filter removes frequencies to help shape the sound

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15
Q

What is an amplifier?

A

Controls the volume of the sound

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16
Q

What does the envelope do?

A
  • Changes the ADSR of a sound
17
Q

What is an ADSR?

A
  • Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
  • Controls many aspects of the synths sound
  • Attack: Time taken for sound to increase from 0 to decay phase
  • Decay: Time taken for sound to fall to sustain level
  • Sustain: Level the note holds whilst key remains pressed
  • Release: Time taken for sound to decay once key released for note to fall to 0
18
Q

What is resonance?

A

The boosting of the cutoff frequency of the sound

19
Q

What is a monophonic synth?

A
  • A synth that can only play one note at once
20
Q

What is a polyphonic synth?

A
  • A synth that can play multiple notes at once
21
Q

What is white noise?

A

The sound that includes all frequencies audible to the human ear—between 20 hertz and 20,000 hertz—played at an equal intensity or amplitude, measured in decibels.

22
Q

What are some benefits of using a software synth?

A
  • Can be easily automated and MIDI controlled
  • DAWs allow LFO/ARPs to sync with tempo
  • Better signal to noise ratio
  • Wide variety of presets
  • Easier to modulate
  • Presets can be easily shared
  • Synth is easily transportable on a laptop on DAW
  • Don’t go out of tune - often when analogue synths get to hot they can detune
  • Can have more envelope stages, filter types and waveforms
23
Q

What are the benefits of using an analogue synth

A
  • Many prefer the ‘warmer’ sound of an analogue synth, as the boosting of certain frequencies is associated with these synths
  • Naturally detuning, noise, distortion and subtle variations give the synth some character that a software synth likely lacks
  • Sound more unique
  • Hands on interface and is easy to change settings ‘on-the-fly’

Music Technology (16 decks)

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