Working with Synths

Question 1

Describe the following:

Subtractive Synthesis

Physical Model Synths

Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis

Wavetable

Sampler

Answer 1

Generates a complicated sound and “chip away” at it to create the sound we want

Aims to recreate sounds in the real world.

Comprised of modules that affect one another in a chain

Wavetable - “table of waves” stacked on top and modulating through each other - gives some growl and wavy sounds

Samplers take a sample and generate sound

Question 2

Synths are made of 4 general components?

Answer 2

Oscillators - generate the core sound

Filter - affects the timbre of the sound (subtractive synthesis)

*osc and filter are what affect the timbre

Amplifier - gives the sound shape

Envelopes - creating custom settings for the above parameters

Question 3

What are:

Low pass filter (LPF)

High pass filter (HPF)

Resonance

Answer 3

LPF - this filters out high frequencies (lets the low pass through)

HPF - filters out low freq (lets high pass through)

Resonance - amplifies the highest frequency before the cutoff (of whatever is filtering the sound)

Question 4

What is LFO

Answer 4

Low Frequency Oscillator

Moves selected parameters at a set oscillation rate

Question 5

What type of synths are these in native ableton?

Collision
Electric
Impulse
Tension
Operator
Wavetable
Simpler + Sampler

Answer 5

Collision - physical (mallet hits)

Electric - physical (e piano emulator)

Impulse - sampler (usually for drums)

Tension - physical (strings)

Operator - FM synth

Wavetable - duh

Simpler + Sampler - duh but simpler is for one sample, sampler is for multiple

Question 6

What is
Key and Velocity tracking in synths?

Answer 6

Key tracking - affects parameters whether you play higher or lower octaves

Velocity - affects parameters depending on how hard the note is hit

Question 7

How to add custom wave tables to Wavetable synth

Answer 7

Select “user” option in the wave selection - and drag in any audio sample

Question 8

Simpler Instrument Modes

Classic
1-Shot
Slice

Answer 8

Classic - allows polyphonic playing

1-shot - one play of the sample per key stroke

Slice - will slice up the audio sample and play different parts depending on key stroke (esp useful with drum loops)