![]() ![]() Timbre is created by harmonics, less powerful frequencies arrayed above the fundamental. What gives sounds their unique character and makes, for example, a trumpet and violin playing the same note sound different, is described as timbre. It’s very important to note that the frequency control on an oscillator relates to the sound’s fundamental frequency, the root of the note that we connect with pitch. Frequency can be described in musical pitches as well, with most Western music using a tuning of A4, the A above middle C, to 440Hz. Human beings can generally hear frequencies between 20Hz and 20kHz, while oscillators can cycle well outside that range. The pattern is the waveform, the number of times per second it cycles is the frequency, which is described in Hz. This circuit converts DC power into an AC signal that fluctuates according to a particular pattern a given number of times per second. The oscillator is the source of the sound, in subtractive synthesis we can think of this like the raw marble we’ll sculpt into our finished tone. Oscillators: The Source of a Synth’s Sound Classics like the Minimoog, Prophet 5 and Jupiter 8 are all subtractive synths, and as this style drove the creation and refinement of synthesizers as a whole, as such these building blocks have broad applicability. These circuits remove elements of the sound as it passes through the signal flow and while there are other techniques, this is what people typically think of when discussing synthesizers. We’re going to explore these fundamentals in the context of an analog subtractive synth. ![]() To help get you oriented, we’ve put together this basic overview of synth functionality to help you navigate a new monosynth, a vintage instrument or your first foray into the modular world. The revival of modular synths, in the hugely popular Eurorack format, add an extra layer of potential confusion.īy separating a synth’s functions and requiring initial patching to build even a simple sound, this world of sonic exploration can seem too intimidating to get started with. With their extensive arrays of controls, synths can look more like the cockpit of a spaceship than a musical instrument to the uninitiated. Synthesizers give you the power to craft any sound imaginable with one tool, but that breadth of possibilities can be intimidating. ![]()
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