MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

ANALOGUE SYNTHESIS EXPLAINED

 What is it?
Subtractive synthesis

Use of a harmonically-rich sound which has harmonic elements removed.

Additive synthesis

Combining sine waves. Adding individual sound components.

FM synthesis

Frequency Modulation, developed by Dr John Chowning.

Used by Yamaha in their DX synth range. DX7 (1983)

Modulating the frequency of one waveform (the carrier) with another

waveform (the modulator).

Creates complex and unpredictable tones.

 3 steps to shaping
sound….
1: Tone generation

2: Tone shaping

3: Volume shaping

The basic sound is generated with an oscillator, the

tone is shaped with a filter and the volume is
controlled by an envelope generator.

So....... OSCILLATOR > FILTER > ENVELOPE

 MODULATION
The tone of a musical instrument may vary during its
production, i.e. vibrato or pitch bend. Therefore we
can duplicate such effects by modulating – slowly
varying the pitch. Applying a similar variation to the
filter will produce an up/down filter sweep.
SAWTOOTH
 Creating sounds
A ‘brassy’ sound only uses 1 oscillator.

It is important to get the envelope setting correct.

The key to the patch is how we alter the cut-off

frequency of the low-pass filter to imitate the way in
which the sound of a brass instrument becomes very
bright during its Attack phase, them subsides during
its Decay before reaching its Sustain level.
Brass Envelope
 Brass Envelope
To get the ‘rip’ noise of a brass instrument, or the
‘raspy’ sound, it is necessary to modulate the filter
cut off frequency using an LFO (Low Frequency
Oscillator).

You must also shape the amplitude of the modulation

using the Mod Env to ensure that it’s curtailed not
long after the start of the note.
 SINEWAVE
The most basic of all sound waves. It has a thin, harsh
quality with very few harmonic partials.
 TRIANGLE
Odd symmetry and harmonics.
 SQUAREWAVE
Hollow sounding. Used to emulate wind instruments.
The Main Waves
 LFO
What does it do?
It modulates sounds by operating at low frequencies.

Audio oscillators generate waveforms.

An LFO is not designed to be heard. They usually operate

below 30 Hz.

Main controls are waveform and frequency.

They have a frequency range control.

They can create a vibrato (change in pitch) or tremolo

(change in volume).
 LFO
What does it do?
Take a sine wave with a frequency of around 7 Hz, the output
pitch will change according to the LFO settings.

This will create a gentle variation in frequency which you will

recognise as vibrato.

Use of a delay control will offset the vibrato, just like a real
violin, for example.

Increasing the frequency increases the rate of vibrato.

Turning up the amplitude or depth will create bigger pitch

changes, causing a siren-like effect.
 LFO
What does it do?
Patching the LFO to the output volume will produce a
tremolo effect.

Remember, tremolo changes the volume.

 Other modulators
Portamento.

Sliding the pitch between notes, heard on many

dance records.

It’s a smooth slide, similar in effect to the very careful

use of a pitch bend wheel.