yh0a+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Yary Richard Phillip Hluchan) (02/22/90)
Here are the methods of electric synthesis I've heard of:
additive/subtractive
FM
sampling
granular
LPC
("vector synthesis" doesn't seem to be a form of synthesis, just a neeto
way of fading sounds.)
I understand the principles behind each of these, except for granular &
LPC. I'd like someone to explain the processing involved, and point out
any methods I missed.
thank you--
heh heh
yarykg19+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Kurt A. Geisel) (02/22/90)
>("vector synthesis" doesn't seem to be a form of synthesis, just a >neeto way of fading sounds.) Well, at one time, the methods used in "wavetable"/vector synthesis were quite distinct from sampling. However, it seems that such divisions are breaking down. Everything's got "PCM samples" for source waves for whatever type of synthesis they do. SY-77, D-70, K4, DPM, etc.: all include samples as "wave sources". Just look at the reviews: no one knows what to call anything anymore. EM called the K4 a "wavetable synth". I think Keyboard called it a "sample playback synth." Yet EM calls the DPM a "Composition Center" (arrghh! Sounds like the W word to me!) I think with this software-oriented direction, synths will have even vaguer labels in the future. A table used to be just that- a fixed list of digital wave descriptions of fixed length. I tend to think of a wavetable synthesizer as one that uses digital wave descriptions, be they single cycles or full PCM samples, and allows you to mix and match such waveforms and manipulate them in a manner similar to a classic subtractive/modulation synthesis. I consider this a seperate approach to synthesis. Under this description, the K4 really is a wavetable synthesizer (it even has ring modulation!) So is the VS... (Vector Synthesis was a catchy name for SCI's particular brand of wave mixing.) Oh well, enough rambling, - Kurt
FNELSON@OBERLIN.BITNET (02/22/90)
The reason for the variety in terminology is usually marketing and often simply a lack of systematic thinking. It is also part of the aversion to mathematical and scientific thinking. The worst one I ever saw was in one of the early Yamaha manuals for the DX7. The referred to frequency modulation as "tickling and operator." Inventing new terms for old concepts is just confusing and makes an already difficult task harder. Gary