SOUND

SYNTHESIS
Synthesis Types

Additive
Combines sine waves of various frequencies
and amplitudes to create complex waveshapes
Synthesis Types

Subtractive (Analog)
Harmonically rich waveforms use filtering to
selectively add & remove harmonics
dynamically using Control Voltages
 Analog Subtractive Synthesis

Dr. Robert A. Moog

Don Buchla
Sound Fundamentals

PITCH Frequency (Rate)

AMPLITUDE Volume

TIMBRE Sound Quality (Harmonic Content)

Fundamental Circuits

PITCH VCO Voltage Controlled Oscillator

AMPLITUDE VCA Voltage Controlled Amplifier

TIMBRE VCF Voltage Controlled Filter

Oscillator

Sound Source
Waveform
“Sampled” Sound
Oscillator Parameters

Waveform
Octave
Pitch/Tuning
Shape
Basic Waveforms - Sine

Fundamental Harmonic
Basic Waveforms - Triangle

Odd Harmonics
Basic Waveforms - Square

Odd Harmonics (Higher Proportion)

Basic Waveforms - Pulse

Pulse Width (%) alters Harmonics

Basic Waveforms - Sawtooth

Odd & Even Harmonics

Basic Waveforms - Noise

Random Harmonics
Filter

Subtracts/Adds Frequency Content

Multiple Filter Types
“Equalizer”
Filter Parameters

Filter Type & Slope

Cutoff Frequency
Resonance
Key Tracking
Low Pass Filter

Cutoff Frequency (Fc)

0 dB

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
High Pass Filter

0 dB

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Band Pass Filter

0 dB

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Notch (Band Reject) Filter

0 dB

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Filter Resonance

0 dB

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Filter Slope

f 2f
0 dB

– 6 dB
LP 6

measured in dB/octave
∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Filter Slope

f 2f
0 dB

LP 12 – 12 dB

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Filter Slope

0 dB

LP 24

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Filter Slope

0 dB

LP 48

∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Filter Slope

0 dB
6 dB/oct.
12
24
48
∞
20 Hz 20 kHz
Voltage Controlled Amplifier

Voltage Controlled Variable Gain Stage

Voltage Controlled Amplifier

CV
EG/Gate

AUDIO VCA AUDIO

Voltage Controlled Amplifier

CV
EG/Gate

AUDIO VCA AUDIO

Multiplier
CV=0: no audio
CV=1: audio passes
Modifiers & Modulation
 Modifiers

LFO’s and Envelopes are most common

Modify (Modulate) VC Circuits

Use Control Voltage. Not audible
Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO)

LFO Human Hearing

.01 Hz 20 Hz 20 kHz

Modulates pitch, amplitude, or filter

Allows periodic/cyclic changes to the sound
LFO Parameters
Waveform

Rate (Speed)

Depth/Intensity/Amount
Envelope Generator (ADSR)
A circuit which generates a dynamic contour based on
the trigger and release of a note.

Attack
Time
Decay Sustain Release
Time Level Time

A D S R
NOTE ON NOTE OFF
Envelope Generator Examples
Note On Note Off

Attack Decay Sustain Release

Envelope Generator Examples
Note On Note Off

Attack Decay Sustain Release

Envelope Generator Examples
Note On Note Off

Attack Decay Sustain Release

Envelope Generator Examples
Note On Note Off

Attack Decay Sustain Release

Envelope Generator Examples
Note On Note Off

Attack Decay Sustain Release

Envelope Generator Variations
Modulation
Modifying the value of one circuit using another circuit
(through Control Voltage).

Source

Depth

Destination
Modulation Routing

Sources Destinations
Keyboard Oscillator Pitch
Velocity Wave Shape (PW)
Modulation Wheel Filter Cutoff
Low Frequency Oscillator Volume
Envelope Generator Pan
LFO Modulations

LFO Modulating VCO = ?

Vibrato

LFO Modulating VCA = ?

Tremolo

LFO Modulating VCF = ‘Wah?Wah’

 Pitch Pitch
Voltage Bend
VCO Wheel

VCF
EG LFO

VCA
Mod.

Control Voltage
Wheel
Audio
Moog System 55 Modular
Buchla 200e Modular
Modcan Modular
Modular Systems
ARP 2600 Semi-Modular
Minimoog
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5
Roland Juno 106
Synthesis Types

FM (Frequency Modulation)
A simple waveform’s pitch (carrier) is modulated
by another waveform (modulator)

Analog vs Digital
Synthesis Types

Wavetable
Contains a set of single cycle waveforms.
This can be modulated to dynamically
change the “pointer” in the table.
Wavetable “Scanning”

WAVETABLE

“INDEX”
MODULATION
INPUT
Synthesis Types

PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)

Small sound recordings are encoded into
ROM and act as waveforms using subtractive
style synthesis controls.
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
LFOs

PCM
DCF DCA
DCO

EGs

Digital PCM Samples replace standard waveforms

Synthesis Types

Physical Modeling
Advanced computer algorithms recreate the
physical properties of acoustic instruments
 Physical Modeling

WAVE
OBJECT PICKUPS FILTER DELAY EQ
SHAPER
Synthesis Types

Analog Modeling
Analog subtractive synthesis recreated
through computer software algorithms
Clavia Nord Lead
Roland SH-201
Access Virus TI
Software Synths...
AU Install
Synth Discussion
Due next lecture