How does a synthesizer produce sound

The higher the frequency the higher the pitch of the sound will be to the ear. Polyphony: The number of voices that a synth can play at a time. A monophonic synth can play only one voice, a paraphonic and duophonic synth both play 2 voices but work differently, and a polyphonic synth simply refers to multiple voiced synthesizers. Pulse Width: This is the time a waveform will take to go from its highest point to its lowest point.

The width refers to the visual length on the waveform of the signal. Quantisation: This lines a signal up the closest increment in a specified range. Most commonly used when referring to rhythm and aligning notes up in time with a rhythmic grid.

Resonance: Using feedback, this boosts the frequencies around the cutoff. This can emphasise harmonics and can generate a sine-wave if it is raised enough to boost the feedback.

Sequencer: The arrangement of musical patterns which can be repeated to build up looping beats and melodies. Square Wave : A waveform with very abrupt changes to its peak and trough, creating a shape with near right-angles.

Sustain: This describes how the sound will vary and sets the peak. For example, it will be the volume of the note when the attack reaches its destination. Tempo: The speed at which music should be played defined by the number of beats in a minute. Can also be referred to as the tone clur or tone quality.

Treble: The bandwidth of high end frequencies. Commonly accepted as between 5. Triangle Wave: Waveforms with a linear rise and fall giving it a triangular shape.

Velocity: Normally equating to the loudness of a note, this represents the dynamic attack of a trigger. Vibrato: Effecting the pitch of a tone, this creates a funny warbling sound from a signal.

PocketDrum are Bluetooth drumsticks that pair with your phone to remove the big, bulky, expensive and noisy aspect of playing the drums. Ever wondered what all the different synthesizers are and what types of synth sounds they all make? Your email address will not be published. Skip to content Jacca-RouteNote in. September 28, October 11, What are these mysterious musi making devices that seem capable of making any sound and how do they even work?

Synthesizer definition: What does synthesizer mean? What does a synthesizer do? A modular eurorack synth Image credit: Adi Goldstein What is a synth keyboard? How a synthesizer works No two synthesizers are completely alike and there are plenty of different methods that allow them to create audio through analogue and digital means. Band: A range of frequencies in an EQ. Dynamic: The range in volume of an audio signal.

We are now in fact superimposing two sound shapes, one over the other - the shape of a sound's timbre over the shape of the sound's volume. This is one important way we have of adding internal motion to a sound. A low frequency oscillator LFO is technically the same as an ordinary oscillator except for two important features: it oscillates as a lower frequency and it is used not as a source but as a modifier.

It's function is to modulate regulate or vary the frequency of the other synthesizer components. When the waveform generated by the LFO, which is usually in a very low frequency - a few cycles per second, is used to modulate the output of the amplifier, we hear a periodic fluctuation in amplitude.

We get tremolo effect. When it is used to modulate the oscillator we get vibrato. Vibrato is defined as a periodic fluctuation in pitch. When it is used to modulate the filter we get a modulated filter, in other word, a periodic opening and closing of the filter. So, the oscillator generates a waveform; the filter changes the timbre of the waveform; and the amplifier along with the envelope generator determines the shape of the waveform's volume and timbre. Finally, with the LFO, we are able to impart a little vibrato or tremolo onto our waveform.

A balanced combination of these will produce a sound you are looking for. A typical synthesizer consists of the following main components : an oscillator, a filter, an amplifier, two envelope generators volume envelope and filter envelope and a low-frequency oscillator. Each of these components is actually an electronic circuit that preforms a specific function by either generating or modifying a sound.

Each of these component is voltage or digitally controlled. Synths can come in both hardware and software versions. You can now find software emulation plugins of the most famous and well-known hardware synths from years gone by. This can help modern-day producers to achieve those classic synth sounds at the fraction of the cost of the original models.

The history of the synth can be a long and complicated story. The story can also depend on what sort of electronic music device is actually classified as a synthesizer. The Telharmonium and theremin had become the first electronic instruments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many other types of electronic instrument had been created as well in the following decades.

The first synth to be available to the public was the Series Modular Systems synthesizer from Robert Moog — although these early synths could cost more than a house.

The Minimoog changed the landscape for the synthesizer as a proper instrument, and all advances in the technology of the synth can be traced back to this instrument. The amplifier generally includes a series of envelope controls , which help determine the nuances in volume level over the lifespan of a note. In an analog synthesizer, each of these pitch, tone color and loudness functions is organized into a module , or a unit intended for a specialized purpose.

The earliest modules were encased in their own individual housings. Each module creates a particular signal, or processes it in a particular way, and by connecting these modules together, the musician can layer, process and change the sounds into something different. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close.