Synths Flashcards
Describe Subtractive Synthesis.
This is the basis of many forms of synthesisers and is commonly related to analogue synthesisers.
How is Subtractive Synthesis achieved?
By combining sound waves or oscillators (VCO) to create a timbre rich in harmonies. This sound is sculptured using a series of modifiers, which includes a way of filtering out certain harmonics to create more complex and interesting timbre.
Describe Additive Synthesis
Complex waveforms are reproduced by summation of multiple sine waves.
How does Additive Synthesis reproduce complex and sophisticated timbres?
By adding each waveform according to frequency and amplitudes determined by the programmer. It uses multiple sine wave generators (VCO).
Describe FM (frequency modulation) Synthesis.
Involves a multi-oscillator system (sine waves only).
What does each oscillator in an FM synth influence and change?
The output of the other oscillators. In its simplest form 2 oscillators, 1 called the Modulator and one called the Carrier.
What does the Modulator in an FM synth do?
The Modulator changes and alters the frequency (pitch) of the carrier by constantly modulating the basic frequency at which the Carrier operates.
What is Wavetable Synthesis?
Sound generator stores sampled sound waves of acoustic and electronic instruments stored in table on a ROM (read only memory) chip
Describe Physical Modelling
The principles of a vibrating object (string, reed, lip etc), the medium (air) and an amplifier (e.g. the body of a piano) interact to produce a particular timbre.
Describe Granular Synthesis
It works by building up sounds from a series of short segments of sounds called grains (30ms long). One sound can have anything from 200 to 1000 grains. Often found in software synthesisers.
Describe a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
An electronic device that produces waveforms such as sine, square, triangle etc.
Describe a Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF)
Shapes the waveform produced by the oscillator by filtering out specified harmonics. Usually a LPF (low pass filter) but other filters were introduced such as HPF (high pass filter) and BPI (band pass filter).
