explain the usage of the 5 most important synthesis modules: oscillator, f…

Hi! I am Mario. This is my fifth assignment

for “Introduction and Music Production”

at Coursera.org

Hi! I am Mario. This is my fifth assignment

for “Introduction and Music Production”

at Coursera.org

I will be teaching about “Compare and

contrast an algorithmic and convolution

reverb. Demonstrate the difference and

the important features in both types of

reverb.”

To produce an original sound, a

synthesizer uses several units or modules

of generation and sound processing to

create a basic signal, and then change

the settings to get the desired tone.

We are going to study the usage of the 5

most important synthesis modules:

Oscillator

Filter

Amplifier

Envelope

LFO

We are going to study the usage of the 5

most important synthesis modules:

The VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)

is an electrical voltage controlled

oscillator.

The VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)

is an electrical voltage controlled

oscillator.

Its purpose is to generate a waveform

rich in harmonics to allow effective

treatment by filtering section.

Each waveform has a “sound

personality”, determined by its

harmonic content

Each waveform has a “sound

personality”, determined by its

harmonic content

Sine Sawtooth Square Triangle

a sine wave produces a simple clean sound

without harmonic

a sine wave produces a simple clean sound

without harmonic

the sawtooth signal for its part contains all harmonics of decreasing amplitude and its

corespondant is quite soft and copper.

a sine wave produces a simple clean sound

without harmonic

the sawtooth signal for its part contains all harmonics of decreasing amplitude and its

corespondant is quite soft and copper.

the squared signal contains only odd harmonics

of decreasing amplitude. The raw sound a little

hollow.

a sine wave produces a simple clean sound

without harmonic

the sawtooth signal for its part contains all harmonics of decreasing amplitude and its

corespondant is quite soft and copper.

the squared signal contains only odd harmonics

of decreasing amplitude. The raw sound a little

hollow.

the triangular signal looks like a sine wave rich in

harmonics and sound closer to an oboe

The VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) is

the filter section of a synthesizer

The VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) is

the filter section of a synthesizer

A Filter is used to remove frequencies

from the waveform so as to alter the

timbre.

The main filter is the Low-Pass Filter

(LPF).

The main filter is the Low-Pass Filter

(LPF).

Low-Pass Filters allows the lower

frequencies to pass through

unaffected and filters out (or blocks

out) the higher frequencies.

Another common filter is the High-Pass

Filter, it does the opposite of a LPF and

allows the higher frequencies to pass

through unaffected and filters out

(blocks-out) the lower frequencies.

The VCA (Voltage Controlled

Amplifier) 's role is to amplify the signal

(preamp) before output to the

external amplification.

By varying a voltage input, we can

change the amplitude of a signal,

making it quieter and louder by

supplying a smaller or larger voltage

as a control signal.

An Amplifier uses an Envelope to

control the overall loudness (or

amplitude) of the sound over time.

There are many variations of

envelopes available. However, the

most common envelope has 4

parameters:

There are many variations of

envelopes available. However, the

most common envelope has 4

parameters: • Attack time

• Decay time

• Sustain level

• Release time

There are many variations of

envelopes available. However, the

most common envelope has 4

parameters:

This is usually called ADSR Envelope.

• Attack time

• Decay time

• Sustain level

• Release time

A (Attack): Just after pressing a key, the envelope opens from

zero to full. This is controlled by the attack time. An attack time

of zero means that the envelope goes from zero to full instantly.

Increasing the Attack time means that it will happen more

slowly.

D (Decay): While the key is still pressed, the envelope drops from

full to the sustain level. This is controlled by decay time. A decay

time of zero means that the envelope goes from full to sustain

instantly. Increasing the decay time means that this will happen

more slowly.

S (Sustain): While the key is still being pressed, the continuing

envelope just remains at the Sustain level. This is set by sustain

level.

R (Release): When the key is released, the envelope then drops

from the sustain level to zero. This is controlled by Release time. A

release time of zero means that this will happen instantly.

Increasing the Release time means that this will happen more

slowly.

Tomodulate is to exert control or

affect or influence or shape.

Tomodulate is to exert control or

affect or influence or shape.

Modulation is used to breathe more

life into a sound and make it more

expressive.

Tomodulate is to exert control or

affect or influence or shape.

Modulation is used to breathe more

life into a sound and make it more

expressive.

A Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) is a

very common modulator

Basically, an LFO is an oscillator

working in a range of subsonic

frequencies.

Basically, an LFO is an oscillator

working in a range of subsonic

frequencies.

It acts directly on the generator.

Basically, an LFO is an oscillator

working in a range of subsonic

frequencies.

It acts directly on the generator.

Several settings can be varied and

the effect intensity: speed modulation,

frequency, waveform used ...

To simulate a vibrato effect, the

LFO is modulating at a certain

speed the frequency of the signal

from the VCO (Voltage

Controlled Oscillator).

To simulate a vibrato effect, the

LFO is modulating at a certain

speed the frequency of the signal

from the VCO (Voltage

Controlled Oscillator).

Similarly, a tremolo is obtained by

modulating the LFO VCA

(Voltage Controlled Amplifier)

volume.

This is my last work for “Introduction to

Music Production”, we’ve learnt a lot of

things this last weeks, a lot of information,

so I tried to present the concepts as

clearly as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to read my

lesson

Thank you for taking the time to read my

lesson

I hope I was clear and the work I’ve

done could be useful for people without

this knowledge