Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 97 views

    Lesson 1 - Audio Synthesis

    Uploaded by

    taylorshechet
    The document discusses audio synthesis and the software SynthEdit. It defines a synthesizer as a device that combines things to generate sound waves, which can be either hardware or software based. It describes the main techniques that synths use to modify or generate sound waves, including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, sampling, and modeling synthesis. It explains key components of synths like oscillators, which generate the sound waves, filters which subtract harmonics from waves, envelopes which control amplitude over time, and LFOs which modulate other parameters to create effects.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Lesson 1 - Audio Synthesis

    Uploaded by

    taylorshechet
    97 views9 pages
    The document discusses audio synthesis and the software SynthEdit. It defines a synthesizer as a device that combines things to generate sound waves, which can be either hardware or software based. It describes the main techniques that synths use to modify or generate sound waves, including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, sampling, and modeling synthesis. It explains key components of synths like oscillators, which generate the sound waves, filters which subtract harmonics from waves, envelopes which control amplitude over time, and LFOs which modulate other parameters to create effects.

    Original Title

    Lesson 1_Audio Synthesis

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses audio synthesis and the software SynthEdit. It defines a synthesizer as a device that combines things to generate sound waves, which can be either hardware or software based. It describes the main techniques that synths use to modify or generate sound waves, including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, sampling, and modeling synthesis. It explains key components of synths like oscillators, which generate the sound waves, filters which subtract harmonics from waves, envelopes which control amplitude over time, and LFOs which modulate other parameters to create effects.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    97 views9 pages

    Lesson 1 - Audio Synthesis

    Uploaded by

    taylorshechet
    The document discusses audio synthesis and the software SynthEdit. It defines a synthesizer as a device that combines things to generate sound waves, which can be either hardware or software based. It describes the main techniques that synths use to modify or generate sound waves, including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis, sampling, and modeling synthesis. It explains key components of synths like oscillators, which generate the sound waves, filters which subtract harmonics from waves, envelopes which control amplitude over time, and LFOs which modulate other parameters to create effects.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 9

    Audio Synthesis & SynthEdit

    What it is, how it works,


    and what the heck you can
    do with it.
    Its all about Sound waves

    Your ears are full of tiny hairs sensitive to


    minute changes in air pressure. These
    changes are perceived as sound. Sound is
    represented visually using sound waves (as
    above) or spectral analysis (as below)
    What is a (synth)esizer?
    • A (synth)esizer is a device which combines things. It is
    also a keyboard or program for making sound waves.

    – Can be:

    • Hard (physically present) or soft (virtual, on a computer)

    • Analogue: using direct voltage to represent data (AKA


    C.V. or control voltage).
    – Sometimes unpredictable and bulky,
    – Has real world advantage of “unlimited resolution”

    • Digital
    – Uses numbers in a computer to represent data.
    – Reliable and convenient.
    – but limited by the digital resolution and computer
    processing power.
    Synths often work by:
    Modifying existing sound waves or generating
    waves electronically using one technique or a
    combination of different techniques:
    • Subtractive synthesis; the most common type

    • Granular synthesis

    • Additive or (F)requency (M)odulation


    synthesis

    • Sampling

    • Modeling synthesis
    What is a oscillator?
    • The thing that makes the sound wave. That’s all you
    need to know. Usually you can control:
    – The “coarse” and “fine” pitch of the oscillator. This is
    the same as the frequency of the wave.
    – The shape of the wave the oscillator generates.
    – Where the oscillator sends its wave signal to.

    • Synths can have multiple oscillators


    • Polyphony: How many notes you can hit at once.
    Subtractive Synthesis
    • Begins w/ a
    harmonically rich
    waveform
    generated by a
    oscillator
    – Sine
    – Square
    – Triangle
    – Saw tooth
    Filters subtract harmonics
    CUTOFF: The frequency at which the filtering begins
    RESONANCE (AKA “Q”): the strength of the filter effect / also at high
    resonances; creates a unique whistling effect. Like R2-D2.

    Different types of filters:


    • Low Pass: A low pass filter cuts off the frequencies above
    the cutoff point. The most commonly used type of filter.
    • High Pass: A high pass filter cuts off the frequencies
    below the cutoff point.
    • Band Pass: A band pass filter allows only the frequencies
    near the vicinity of the cutoff point to go through.
    • Notch: A notch filter allows all frequencies except those
    near the cutoff point to go through.
    A.D.S.R. Envelopes
    ADSR envelopes can apply to volume, filters or LFO’s

    • Attack: How fast and loud the sound starts


    • Decay: How long does the sound decrease.
    • Sustain: How long does the sound continue.
    • Release: How long does the sound take to end
    after it stops.
    (L)ow (F)requency (O)scillators
    A special type of oscillator that
    generates a very slow moving waveform.
    • LFO’s are primarily used to create interesting effects by
    controlling another function or modulating the primary
    oscillator. (combining the main OSC waveform and the
    LFO waveform to make a new waveform)
    • LFO’s often:
    – Control the filter cutoff frequency, or the filter amount
    • Used to create a “wah-wah” effect.
    – Rhythmically alter the pitch of the main oscillator
    • Used to create a vibrato effect.
    – Rhythmically alter the volume level of the oscillator:
    • Used to create a tremolo effect.

    You might also like