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Synthesizer: The early voltage controlled synthesizer is an assembly of oscillators, filters, and voltage-control amplifiers by Robert Moog in 1965. An oscillator is the basic signal-generating component which was originally designed as part of electrical test equipment. If you look at the sine wave generator in the physics lab you will see there is probably only one dial which changes the sound frequencies or amplitude. In the Moog synthesizer there are various categories of sound synthesis tools (or 'modules') from the sound generating tool ( such as an oscillator or a noise generator), sound processing modules (such as the amplifier or filter) to control sources (envelope generators for example).All modules were compatible with one another and therefore could be 'patched' together. So, an envelope generator (see above) which shapes and gives a sound 'characteristics', can vary the amplitude (loudness) of an audio signal which is input to it. The output is then a control signal to the amplifier component etc. We must also mention the most popular manually operated controller, certainly for frequency or pitch, which is the 12-tone keyboard. It emits timing pulses( from when pressed to when released) and control voltages which increase the sound frequencies exponentially (e.g. going up a semitone = 1/12th of a volt.) This interdependency of components gives the composer tremendous flexibility and subtlety in the creation of interesting electronic sounds and the instrument was portable for the concert hall. Also the composer can work with the sounds 'in movement', thus reducing the burden of tape editing to produce sound transformations etc. Couple this with the fitting of a control device known as a sequencer (which can be demonstrated using Cubase VST and is familiar to many of you) and you have a flexible composition and performance tool which chartered a new sound world (and continues to do so!) |
Beginner's synthesizer facts
A useful beginning for understanding the different types of synthesizers and different types of synthesis.