Commercial electronic instruments & sound cards - sound synthesis methods
Introduction
Instrument
classification according to sound synthesis
Musical Instruments
Sound Cards
Dictionary
| Introduction |
Today, comercial musical instruments, use all known sound synthesis methods. The application of a given method depends mainly on the type of instrument and it's price. Most modern instruments are digital. Recently synthesizers called "virtual analog" have become very popular. They use digital modeling of analog algorithms (mostly subtractive method). Composers, using modern instruments in addition with MIDI technology and computer squencers are able to record music that would have been out of their reach a few years ago.
Return| Instruments classification according to sound synthesis |
Analog (Moog Modulars, Minimoog):
- synthetizers with analog circuits networks
- voltage controlled
filters and oscillators
- warm and pleasant
sounding
Digital (Roland SY-22, Yamaha ANx1):
- using digital
technology in sound generation
- playing sound samples or generating simple signals, which
are transformed in various processes
Modular (Buchla, Moog):
- the oldest analog synthesizers
- each modul generates (VCO, noise osc.) or transforms signal
(VCF, VCA, itp.).
- connections between moduls - cables 1/4"
Hybrid:
Drum Machine (Roland TR-808, AkaiMPC2000):
- playing only drum sounds
- internal sequencer which allows to programing of drum
tracks
Software (Rebirth 338, Adsyn32):
- software called virtual synthesizers
- simulation of real instruments
| Musical Instruments |
Review of synthesizers:
| Sound Cards |
| Dictionary |
ADD - aditive method of synthesis
Ai2 - Advanced Itegrated Synthessis - a kind of wavetable synthesis designed by Korg
AMS - Analog Modelling System - virtual analog synthesis designed by Roland (JV-800)
AN - Analog Physical Modeling, virtual analog synthesis designed by YAMAHA (AN1x)
AWM - Advanced Wave Memory, wavetable synthesis (YAMAHA)
AWM2 - Advanced Wave Memory 2, wavetable synthesis designed by YAMAHA, samples are compressed by 40%
EG - Envelope Generator
FDSP - Formulated Digital Sound Processing, virtual technology aiding AWM synthesis (Yamaha EX5)
LA - Linear Arithmetic, wavetable synthesis designed by ROLAND
LFO - Low Frequency Oscillator
RCM - Realtime Convolution & Modulation, sample transforming by FM modulation
RS-PCM - wavetable synthesis designed by ROLAND, samples are compressed by 50%
VA - Virtual Acoustic, physical modeling (Yamaha VL-1)
VAST - Variable Architecture Synthesis Technology, wavetable synthesis designed by KURZWEIL
VCA - Voltage Controlled Amplifier
VCF - Voltage Controlled Filter
Virtual Analog - virtual analog synthesis design by CLAVIA