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The Wonderful
World of Synths
Part 1: A Brief History
The Early Years
1938 – Hammond – Novachord First commercially available synthesizer
Designed by the Hammond Organ Company in 1938 and
put into full production from 1938 to 1942.
72 note polyphonic synthesizer with 100% vacuum tubes!
The Early Years
1938 – Hammond – Novachord First commercially available synthesizer
Designed by the Hammond Organ Company in 1938 and
put into full production from 1938 to 1942.
72 note polyphonic synthesizer with 100% vacuum tubes!
1964 – Moog – Robert Moog Moog, Moog Modular, Minimoog, Voyager
BA in Physics & Electrical Engineering, PhD Engineering Physics
The Early Years
1938 – Hammond – Novachord First commercially available synthesizer
Designed by the Hammond Organ Company in 1938 and
put into full production from 1938 to 1942.
72 note polyphonic synthesizer with 100% vacuum tubes!
1964 – Moog – Robert Moog Moog, Moog Modular, Minimoog, Voyager
BA in Physics & Electrical Engineering, PhD Engineering Physics
1969 – Arp – Alan Robert Pearlman ARP 2600, Oddysey
Throughout the 70s, ARP was Moog's main competitor
1973 – Roland – SH
The Early Years
1973 – Roland – SH
1975 – Oberheim – OB
The Early Years
1973 – Roland – SH
1975 – Oberheim – OB
1976 – Korg – Poly
The Early Years
1973 – Roland – SH
1975 – Oberheim – OB
1976 – Korg – Poly
1977 – Yamaha – DX
The Early Years
1973 – Roland – SH
1975 – Oberheim – OB
1976 – Korg – Poly
1977 – Yamaha – DX
In the 1980s,
advances in digital
technology made it possible
to synthesize analog waves
digitally, and a new class of
instruments was born: Digital
Synthesizers
The Early Years
70s – Analog Synthesis using
circuits – $$$$ & Very Heavy!
80s – Digital Synthesis using
chips – $$$ & Heavy
90s – Virtual Synthesis using
software – $$ & Lighter
2010+ – Return to true analog.
Moog is still arguably the best
After 40 years in the business!
The Present
70s – Analog Synthesis using
circuits – $$$$ & Very Heavy!
80s – Digital Synthesis using
chips – $$$ & Heavy
90s – Virtual Synthesis using
software – $$ & Lighter
2010+ – Return to true analog.
Dave Smith Instruments are
just as awesome!
The Present
2010+ – Return to true analog... e.g.
Korg MS 20 – Micro modular rebirth of
the original, 86% smaller!
The Present
2013 – Some modulars
that debuted at NAMM
The Present
2013 – Of course, VST
instruments provide a
wide range of sound
generating capability
without all the messy
wires.
Virtual Modeling is very
close to the real thing
And very convenient,
cheap and easy!
The Present
Audio SynthesisPart 2: The Basics of Electronic Sound Design
How are sounds synthesized?
Sound synthesis, at its most basic form,
requires a single oscillator.
An oscillator "oscillates" between a low
amplitude and a high amplitude.
How are sounds synthesized?
Oscillator – aka VCO = Voltage Controller Oscillator
An electronic component, circuit or chip that produces a
sound wave.
Common wave shapes:
Sine
Square
Triangle
Saw (sawtooth)
Noise (not pictured)
How are sounds synthesized?
The purest wave
computers can
create is a
square wave.
Square waves go
on & off.
The oscillator
oscillates
between 1 and 0.
The time an oscillator is "on" is called the pulse width.
How are sounds synthesized?
Acoustic music more
closely resembles a
sine wave.
Sin waves are soft
and pleasing, similar
to a flute
How are sounds synthesized?
Sine waves are some of the most studied and most
beautiful sounding because they’re found in nature.
2-dimensional diagrams have a tough time revealing
the true natural
beauty of sin waves.
How are sounds synthesized?
Digital circuits attempt to mimic pure sin, triangle &
sawtooth waves by breaking down the wave into very
small samples – the more the better!
But I can’t hear anything!
If you want to hear the sound
created by an oscillator, it
needs to be amplified.
For example, an electric
guitar string oscillates in a
sine-wave-like pattern (after
the initial strum).
The audience can't hear it
until it's plugged into an
amplifier.
But I can’t hear it!
If you want to hear the sound
created by an oscillator, it
needs to be amplified.
For example, an electric
guitar string oscillates in a
sine-wave-like pattern.
The audience can't hear it
until it's plugged into an
amplifier. Or something
that makes it louder.
The bare minimum
An oscillator
(plugged into)
(routed to)
The Core Waveforms
But, this is really boring.
Modern synthesizers use a lot of tricks to make these
basic sounds more interesting.
Sound shaping is often referred to as modulation.
Amplitude modulation – loudness changes
Frequency modulation – pitch changes
Sound design usually requires more voices.
Layering – triggering more oscillators simultaneously
Effects – reverb, delay, chorus, flange, distortion
Noise – adding noise, especially for breathy or percussive
instruments. Noise is really just a "random wave."
More synth = richer sound
Everything you hear in electronic music uses these
same basic concepts in myriad ways.
One, two, three, or more oscillators, Several envelopes,
Multiple LFOs
Many of these components can be modulation sources
and destinations, stacked, layered, re-routed
VST Synths include Prologue, Retrologue, Spector,
Mystic, FM8, Massive, Korg Legacy, Synapse Dune, U-
he Zebra & Diva, and many more.
Physical Modeling
Hybrid synths can use an audio sample as the basis for
waveforms in place of, or in combination with
oscillators.
Aka "Wavetable Synthesis" or "Graintable Synthesis"
This table of additional waves provides more sound
generating timbres.
Padshop is a VST synth that uses samples instead of
waveforms, but actually isn't a sampler! Confusing!
A note about samplers
Instead of synthesizing waveforms, Samplers play
back actual audio recordings
Most also allow sample playback shaping options with
ADSR, LFOs, FX, etc.
SampleTank & Halion SE, Halion Symphonic Orchestra
are all sample playback VSTs with rather limited sound-
generation & tone-shaping capabilities.
It's helpful to know if your keyboard or VST is an analog
synthesizer, a digital synthesizer, a
virtual/physical/analog/modeling synthesizer, or a sampler. You
won't find oscillators in most samplers, but modulation, effects and
amp/mix apply.
Sound Design Guide
Interesting sounds change over time.
We can change the pitch (frequency) over time
That's what happens when you play different notes
Or, when you modulate the frequency of a wave
Sound Design Guide
More interesting sounds change more over time.
We can change the volume (amplitude) over time
In a modern synth, changes in volume over time are
achieved in three main ways:
Envelopes - ADSR
Amplitude mapping - typically via Velocity
Why velocity? It's logical: a piano sounds louder as you strike the
keys with more velocity, right?
Other common sources of modulation: after touch aka poly-
pressure, mod wheel, CV pedal, breath controller
Other oscillators – such as an LFO
Sound Design Guide
Changing the sound of an oscillator using another
oscillator, such as an LFO
LFO stands for Low Frequency Oscillator
A new
waveform is
created when
combining two
sin waves with
different pulse
widths.
Sound Design Guide
Changing the sound of an oscillator using another
oscillator, such as an LFO
LFO stands for Low Frequency Oscillator
A new
waveform is
created when
combining two
sin waves with
different
frequencies.
Sound Design Guide
Routing an LFO...
to the volume of a track – makes it get louder and softer
to the pan of a track – makes a tremolo across the stereo field
to the pitch of a track – makes the tone rise and fall
to the effect of a track – makes the dry/wet mix rise and fall
...in the shape
of the LFO
Sound Design Guide
LFO Syncing
Depending on the software or hardware you're using
(check the manual) an LFO can be synced:
To your project tempo...
In tempo sync mode, the options are things like
1/32, 1/16T, 16, 1/8T, 1/8, 1/4T, 1/4, 1/2, 1
Good for arpeggiator or rhythmic effects
To a particular frequency
Such as C0 or F#1
To a particular timing...
say 250ms or 360ms, similar to a delay setting
Good for vocals
Sound Design Guide
Changing the volume of an oscillator using an ADSR
Envelope
ADSR =
Attack
Decay
Sustain
Release
Sound Design Guide
Attack – How quickly does the sound reach full
volume?
Decay – How quickly after the initial attack peaks does
the sound achieve its "idle" volume?
Sustain – What happens as you hold the note down?
Release – How long
is the sound heard
when you let go?
Sound Visualization
You can visualize your sounds right inside Cubase.
An insert effect on the stereo out
Or a single instrument, create an
insert effect on the audio output
for the track
Then select the
MultiScope plugin
VST Synthesizers
Retrologue – Steinberg's flagship VST synth
FM8 – Native Instruments
Massive – Native Instruments
minimonsta – Minimoog in a VST
Oddity – ARP Odyssey reimagined
Zebra2 – By U-he
Review: 39 Best VST Synths in the World
Hardware & Gear
Vintage Synth Explorer www.vintagesynth.com
Plan your modular www.modulargrid.net
Moog Buchla Doepfer MOTM
The Wonderful
World of Synths
Thank you.
Now, go forth, and create sound.
