Synthesis

Question 1

What is the Yamaha CS-80

Answer 1

• A analog subtractive synth
• 1977
• 2 high and low pass filters, an ADSR, chorus, tremolo
• 61-note keyboard
• Used by Peter Howell in 1980s Doctor Who theme tune

Question 2

What is the ARP 2600?

Answer 2

• 1971
• Low-pass filter, VCA, ring modulator, white/pink noise, microphone preamp, spring reverb
• Used by Jean-Micheal-Jean in Oxygene pt4

Question 3

What is the EMS VCS3

Answer 3

• Monophonic synth
• 1969
• 3 oscillators, noise generator, 2 input amplifiers, 1 ring modulator, 1 VC LFO, 1 Trapezoid Envelope Generator, Voltage Controlled Spring Reverb Unit
• Used by Jean-Micheal-Jean in Oxygene pt4

Question 4

What is the Hammond B-3 Organ?

Answer 4

• A tone wheel drawbar organ played through a rotating, leslie speaker
• Used mainly from 60s onwards

Question 5

What is the Rhodes Piano?

Answer 5

• Classic Funk Piano
• Used by Stevie Wonder
• 1968

Question 6

What is the Korg-M1

Answer 6

• Sampling Synth used in 80s and 90s pop
• Creates accurate and realistic sounds
• Reverb, delay, phaser, tremolo, exciter, ensemble, overdrive, EQ, chorus, flanger, rotary speaker
• Used a lot in Madonna’s ‘Vogue’

Question 7

What are the different types of synthesis?

Answer 7

• Additive
• Subtractive
• FM
• Granular
• Modular

Question 8

What is additive synthesis?

Answer 8

• Combining multiple simple waveforms to create more complex waveforms with harmonic and inharmonic overtones/harmonics
• Sine waves are simplest are easiest to manipulate

Question 9

What is subtractive synthesis?

Answer 9

• ## Where two or more oscillators generating a complex waveform through sets of filters that help subtract any unwanted frequencies

Question 10

What is FM

Answer 10

• Stands for frequency modulation
• Uses one oscillator (the operator) to modulate the frequency of a second oscillator (the carrier)
• Used throughout the 80s as the analog synths from the 60s and 70s were ditched for new early MIDI technology

Question 11

What is granular synthesis?

Answer 11

• It can use any sound to create a totally new one.
• After creating a new sequence of grains, volume cross-fades will be applied to blend from one gain to the next in a process called smoothing

Question 12

What is modular synthesis?

Answer 12

• A synth made of different modules
• ## A modular synth lets you connect your modules any way you like. ​Meaning you can create a crazy, complex signal flow that has never existed before

Question 13

What is an oscillator?

Answer 13

An oscillator generates initial sound and allows a waveform to be selected

Question 14

What is a filter?

Answer 14

A filter removes frequencies to help shape the sound

Question 15

What is an amplifier?

Answer 15

Controls the volume of the sound

Question 16

What does the envelope do?

Answer 16

• Changes the ADSR of a sound

Question 17

What is an ADSR?

Answer 17

• Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
• Controls many aspects of the synths sound
• Attack: Time taken for sound to increase from 0 to decay phase
• Decay: Time taken for sound to fall to sustain level
• Sustain: Level the note holds whilst key remains pressed
• Release: Time taken for sound to decay once key released for note to fall to 0

Question 18

What is resonance?

Answer 18

The boosting of the cutoff frequency of the sound

Question 19

What is a monophonic synth?

Answer 19

• A synth that can only play one note at once

Question 20

What is a polyphonic synth?

Answer 20

• A synth that can play multiple notes at once

Question 21

What is white noise?

Answer 21

The sound that includes all frequencies audible to the human ear—between 20 hertz and 20,000 hertz—played at an equal intensity or amplitude, measured in decibels.

Question 22

What are some benefits of using a software synth?

Answer 22

• Can be easily automated and MIDI controlled
• DAWs allow LFO/ARPs to sync with tempo
• Better signal to noise ratio
• Wide variety of presets
• Easier to modulate
• Presets can be easily shared
• Synth is easily transportable on a laptop on DAW
• Don’t go out of tune - often when analogue synths get to hot they can detune
• Can have more envelope stages, filter types and waveforms

Question 23

What are the benefits of using an analogue synth

Answer 23

• Many prefer the ‘warmer’ sound of an analogue synth, as the boosting of certain frequencies is associated with these synths
• Naturally detuning, noise, distortion and subtle variations give the synth some character that a software synth likely lacks
• Sound more unique
• Hands on interface and is easy to change settings ‘on-the-fly’