Synthesis 101 Basics

[EdRyan]

Good 101. I'll add some points though !

All waveforms are derived from a function based around a sine wave. Ie square waves take only odd harmonics, saws are 'random' etc..

Most synths will also have at least one assignable LFO, also known as a Low Frequency oscillator. The most typical use of this is to add subtle variations to sounds to stop them from being stale. Sometimes you can use this as an outright sweeping filter effect, it all depends on the design though.

Most synths also have a way of controlling how much of each oscillator is passed on to the next part of the process.

Each oscillator can typically also be retuned. Ie you can have a part of the synth that is sitting perfectly on a note, but then have another that is purposely off slightly. Or even playing in another octave..

Some synths also allow for ADSR envelope shaping of separate waveforms. Meaning you can make synth sounds change simply by how hard you press,hold and release a note. This is because different envelopes will then react separately to the same information.

Some synths also let you do formant shifts. This is a tricky one, but think of a formant as the most emphasised part of a sound. The shift allows you to adjust the distance between them, and it can significantly alter the charachter of a sound in conjunction with other controls... like granular and sample techniques...this is a bit too tricky for a 101 !

[sphelan]

Here are some useful links to resources if people are interested in checking them out. Maybe we can also pick holes in them!

http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/compute...EGAdditive.pdf
http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/compute...co.uk/EGFM.pdf
http://mos.futurenet.com/pdf/compute...ubtractive.pdf
Sound synthesis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The book Cakewalk Books -Cakewalk Synthesizers also has some interesting reading.

[sphelan]

Regarding the types of synthesis - wavetable, granular, additive etc etc, maybe someone could say why you would choose one method over another.

It's not down to personal preference, is it? It has to do with the type of sound you want, I suppose. I think this would be important for the choice of one synth over another - for example, instead of just loading up Absynth shouldn't I know why I want to use that as opposed to Reason's Malstrom: Otherwise I am just flicking through presets until I find one that I can further tweak to give me something interesting.

[sureno]

nice post jay and ed, but didn't want to over complicate it

[JAYDMF]

Originally Posted by sphelan

Regarding the types of synthesis - wavetable, granular, additive etc etc, maybe someone could say why you would choose one method over another.

It's not down to personal preference, is it? It has to do with the type of sound you want, I suppose. I think this would be important for the choice of one synth over another - for example, instead of just loading up Absynth shouldn't I know why I want to use that as opposed to Reason's Malstrom: Otherwise I am just flicking through presets until I find one that I can further tweak to give me something interesting.

Very valid point there. My personal opinion is much the same as that of guitar amps, they can be categorised in the same way ie a metal amp, a blues amp, same as a wavetable synth or an FM synth but different manufacturers make it differently so to say how it will sound is entirely down to who made it more than anything although there are general characteristics that may be present in all of them id say its safer to talk about manufacturers sounds than the sound of a particular type of synthesis.

Waldorf have what i would call a "classic" wavetable sound as they are the daddy (well PPG are) but the virus is also a wavetable synth and although it shares the same character of a very rich harmonic content the way it moves in the table and the table itself sounds much different. This is probably due to the waveforms used etc as well as other factors such as the signal path and scaling of signals inside as well as the filters, the amps etc.

Although, it is possible to tell methods apart, granular and wavetable are very rich sounding, FM is very clinical and resonant, the classic bells etc and subtractive is very clean smooth sounding or if its analogue very "driven" due to the nature of the filters

[mutilatedlip]

My guide to synthesis:

Fiddle with all of the knobs until it goes bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiiing.

Naturally, that's if you're after the bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiing sound.

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by mutilatedlip

My guide to synthesis:

Fiddle with all of the knobs until it goes bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiiing.

Naturally, that's if you're after the bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiing sound.

Obviously, mutilatedlip you are someone who likes to leave things to chance!

[mrfracas]

Awesome post Sureno!

This is an absolute necessity for any synthesis novice. Glad to see it's stickied!

[mrfracas]

Originally Posted by sphelan

Obviously, mutilatedlip you are someone who likes to leave things to chance!

We've all had our moments with new toys, right?

[mutilatedlip]

I can't honestly say I've read many manuals. I'm awful.

I'm far too hands on. Which is a shame, as I might actually learn something.

But that's the beauty of something like my Access Virus Ti. The knobs are great - just fiddle and see what they do.

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by mutilatedlip

I can't honestly say I've read many manuals. I'm awful.

I'm far too hands on. Which is a shame, as I might actually learn something.

But that's the beauty of something like my Access Virus Ti. The knobs are great - just fiddle and see what they do.

Yes, manuals can be such a drag. I agree that there is a lot you can learn from just twiddling knobs but I eventually find I need to go back and read up something to get more ideas. Using both approaches is what works for me.

[conor_j]

Originally Posted by mutilatedlip

My guide to synthesis:

Fiddle with all of the knobs until it goes bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiiing.

Naturally, that's if you're after the bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiing sound.

hahaha, very true but theres only so long you can get away with working like that before hitting a creative brick wall

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by conor_j

hahaha, very true but theres only so long you can get away with working like that before hitting a creative brick wall

+1 Conor...my thoughts exactly.

[conor_j]

I learned that the hard way

[sphelan]

Originally Posted by conor_j

I learned that the hard way

Still, it was something worth learning!