Hooray or SadlyHooray or Sadly

It’s Week SixIt’s Week SixThis is the Final LessonThis is the Final Lesson

SynthesizersSynthesizers

Conrad P Koch Jr

Lesson’s Objective Lesson’s Objective

Explain the usage of Explain the usage of the 5 most important the 5 most important synthesis modules:synthesis modules:

• OscillatorOscillator• FilterFilter• Amplifier Amplifier • Envelope Envelope • LFO LFO

Conrad P Koch Jr

Definition … OscillatorDefinition … Oscillator• OscillatorOscillator

• Produces Four Basic WaveformsProduces Four Basic Waveforms• Sine Sine

• Pure Single Tone Pure Single Tone • Single FrequencySingle Frequency

• Square Square • A Hollow Sound as in a ClarinetA Hollow Sound as in a Clarinet

• Fundamental Fundamental • Plus Odd Harmonics FrequenciesPlus Odd Harmonics Frequencies

• Sawtooth Sawtooth • As in a Stringed InstrumentAs in a Stringed Instrument

• Fundamental Fundamental • Plus Odd and Even Harmonics Plus Odd and Even Harmonics

• NoiseNoise• Or White NoiseOr White Noise

• Random Amplitudes Random Amplitudes • Occurring at Random TimingOccurring at Random Timing• Over Entire Frequency BandOver Entire Frequency Band

Conrad P Koch Jr

Definition .. FilterDefinition .. FilterA Device that Selectively Enhances or Inhibits Signal A Device that Selectively Enhances or Inhibits Signal

Amplitudes Over (Audible) FrequenciesAmplitudes Over (Audible) Frequencies• Lo-PassLo-Pass

• Inhibits Amplitudes of Upper FrequenciesInhibits Amplitudes of Upper Frequencies• Most Used Filter in a SynthMost Used Filter in a Synth

• Gets rid of “trilly and sharp” upper frequency “junk”Gets rid of “trilly and sharp” upper frequency “junk”

• Hi-PassHi-Pass• Inhibits Amplitudes Lower FrequenciesInhibits Amplitudes Lower Frequencies

• Band PassBand Pass• Enhance Amplitudes Over Specific FrequenciesEnhance Amplitudes Over Specific Frequencies

• Notch FiltersNotch Filters• Inhibits Amplitudes Over Specific FrequenciesInhibits Amplitudes Over Specific Frequencies

Conrad P Koch Jr

What’s Filter ResonanceWhat’s Filter Resonance

• Guitar Strings Create ResonanceGuitar Strings Create Resonance• The Volume Becomes Loud When the String is Struck. The Volume Becomes Loud When the String is Struck.

• ““Box” Is Excited as one of the Guitar’s Natural Box” Is Excited as one of the Guitar’s Natural Frequencies is Struck Frequencies is Struck

• The “Box” ResonatesThe “Box” Resonates• At its Fundamental Frequency and At its Fundamental Frequency and • Its Many HarmonicsIts Many Harmonics

• Filter Resonance Is SimilarFilter Resonance Is Similar• Output Volume Increases Output Volume Increases

• As a Result of Feedback to the Filter’s InputAs a Result of Feedback to the Filter’s Input• When and only When a Harmonic Is Present When and only When a Harmonic Is Present • No Harmonics = No ResonanceNo Harmonics = No Resonance

Conrad P Koch Jr

The AmplifierThe Amplifier• Not The Amp We Use to “Amp Up” An Not The Amp We Use to “Amp Up” An

AudienceAudience• Rather One Used To Pretty Up The Vocal … or Rather One Used To Pretty Up The Vocal … or

the Viola (the Viola (But not the Sousaphone)But not the Sousaphone)

• or to Create Special Effect or to Create Special Effect

• Want Some More Vibratto? Want Some More Vibratto? • Use the LFO to Modulate the AmpUse the LFO to Modulate the Amp• The Amp is Voltage ControlledThe Amp is Voltage Controlled• Gain Therefore Rapidly Responds to Modulated Gain Therefore Rapidly Responds to Modulated

InputInput

Conrad P Koch Jr

What’s Subtractive What’s Subtractive SynthesisSynthesis

Not Asked for but offered as a bonus to those who Not Asked for but offered as a bonus to those who stuck with me so far!stuck with me so far!• We Can Create Synthetic Sound If We We Can Create Synthetic Sound If We Add Add

TogetherTogether Using an Using an Additive SynthesizerAdditive Synthesizer • Lots and Lots of Sine Waves Lots and Lots of Sine Waves • Over Lots and Lots of Frequencies\Over Lots and Lots of Frequencies\• With Just the Right of Amplitude ChangesWith Just the Right of Amplitude Changes• Tedious … Very Computer IntensiveTedious … Very Computer Intensive

• It’s Much Easier to It’s Much Easier to RemoveRemove Sound Using Sound Using Subtractive SynthesisSubtractive Synthesis• An Oscillator Creates the FrequenciesAn Oscillator Creates the Frequencies• Filters Remove or Enhance Sounds at Desired Filters Remove or Enhance Sounds at Desired

Frequencies Frequencies • ADSR Modulates And Creates Proper VoicingADSR Modulates And Creates Proper Voicing

Conrad P Koch Jr

The Envelope Maker … The Envelope Maker … ADSRADSR

• Attack Delay Sustain ReleaseAttack Delay Sustain Release

• Used to Modulate Filtered SoundUsed to Modulate Filtered Sound

Conrad P Koch Jr

Examples Taken from Examples Taken from Online SourceOnline Source

• http://music.tutsplus.com/http://music.tutsplus.com/

Conrad P Koch Jr

Attack and DelayAttack and Delay• Slow AttackSlow Attack• Slowly Slowly

Evolves to Evolves to 100% 100% SustainSustain

•Fast AttackFast Attack•Fast DelayFast Delay SnareSnare

Strings??Strings??

Conrad P Koch Jr

SustainSustain

Sustain is Sustain is (Duration of (Duration of

Time)Time) Where Where Volume is Kept Volume is Kept at a Fixed Levelat a Fixed Level

Long Long SustainSustain

Short Short SustainSustain

Short BurstsShort Bursts

Violin Sustain Violin Sustain

Conrad P Koch Jr

ReleaseRelease

• Sustain to Zero in Practically No TimeSustain to Zero in Practically No Time• Produces a Staccato SoundProduces a Staccato Sound

As In This As In This

Jazz Organ ClipJazz Organ Clip

Conrad P Koch Jr

The LFOThe LFO• Lonely Forgotten OscillatorLonely Forgotten Oscillator• WHOOPS the Low Frequency OscillatorWHOOPS the Low Frequency Oscillator• Lo Connotes Below Audible Frequencies … Usually!!! Lo Connotes Below Audible Frequencies … Usually!!!

• From 1 Hz to 100 HzFrom 1 Hz to 100 Hz

• If you want Vibratto in Elvis Presley’s VoiceIf you want Vibratto in Elvis Presley’s Voice• Try a Little LFO to Modulate the Voltage Controlled Amplifier Try a Little LFO to Modulate the Voltage Controlled Amplifier

and on the Voltage Controlled Oscillatorand on the Voltage Controlled Oscillator

• If You Want Elvis to Sound Like Alice CooperIf You Want Elvis to Sound Like Alice Cooper• Try a Little LFO to Modulate the Voltage Controlled Filters Try a Little LFO to Modulate the Voltage Controlled Filters • Or play Around … Experiment Or play Around … Experiment

• Give‘im a Surreal “Wah Wah Wah” EffectGive‘im a Surreal “Wah Wah Wah” Effect

• The LFO is Never Heard The LFO is Never Heard • But Modulates with a Big ImpactBut Modulates with a Big Impact

Conrad P Koch Jr

ReflectionsReflections

• Synthesizers are Indeed Pretty Cool Tools Synthesizers are Indeed Pretty Cool Tools

• Loudon Was Right to Include it Rather than Loudon Was Right to Include it Rather than MasteringMastering

• I Found a Lot of Parallels To Electronic I Found a Lot of Parallels To Electronic Systems’ Design Systems’ Design • Filtering … Resonance … the “Q” of a FilterFiltering … Resonance … the “Q” of a Filter

• Interesting Course of StudyInteresting Course of Study• I Want to Try Forming Synthetic Words I Want to Try Forming Synthetic Words

Conrad P Koch Jr

ThanksThanks

• Thanks For ReviewingThanks For Reviewing

• Thanks For Sticking With The CourseThanks For Sticking With The Course

• Thanks For Keeping your Mind ActiveThanks For Keeping your Mind Active• It helps prevent Al Zheimers from Dwelling It helps prevent Al Zheimers from Dwelling

there I’m toldthere I’m told

Feel Free to communicateFeel Free to communicatecpkoch@syzygy-llc.comcpkoch@syzygy-llc.com