Major Cateogories Of Synthesizers

[MACHINE]

I know that there are quit a few different kind of synthesizers like around 10, but I was wondering about the major ones, not sub categories can someone help me out ?

[Ethan Winer]

Off the top of my head:

* Subtractive, like the original MiniMoog and other early Moog stuff.

* Additive, where a bunch of sine waves are played all at once. Think Hammond Organ.

* Sample players.

* FM synths like the original Yamaha DX7, as well as Native's FM7 and others derived from the DX7

--Ethan

[CZ101]

Granular synthesis also

[Agli]

[guid0]

Here's a good resource:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/whitefile...s/pgs/rx02.htm


In the late 80's after the release of the Roland D50 and it's "Linear Arithmetic" Synthesis, the manufacturers went overboard with designations like "Asymptotic vibrational synthesis" or "alcohol distortion synthesis"

A lot of it is marketing BS.

[pounce]

my advice,

first - do some web research on synthesizers so that you know a little more of the basics. there are a TON of websites with information about synthesizers.

after reading a bit, you can ask some more pointed questions here.

you've started a variety of synth related threads here, which is cool, but seems pretty unfocused. plus, there are a lot of subjective answers about synthesizers, so factor in the reality that many opinions will be presented as you ask your questions. that's cool, but after you read the list of synthesis types, you'll need to turn that information into somethings practical and helpful.

are you looking for a purchase recomendation?
are you trying to determine what synths were used in records where you like the sound of those synths?
are you determining if you can use softsynths instead of hardware synths?

those would be three GREAT things to know to start with. yes, you can probably do pretty well with softsynths. i use a ton of hardware synths, but i've been buying them for the past twenty years so i'm in a very different position than you. also, i know what the different synths sound like and have specific reasons for picking the ones that i have. that said, a great first start is for you to determine which synths you like the sound of. then you can determine if software versions are available. you can then buy the software of hardware versions and then you are off to a good start. creating you own patches or getting third party patches for those synths is a good way to get further quicker with those synths as the factory patches rarely show the full depth of sound able to be produced by a given synth.

as for your homework, links like the below will get you started so that you can get more focused..

www.synthsite.com
www.synthmuseum.com
www.harmonycentral.com
http://www.sonicstate.com/synth/
http://www.synthzone.com/synthlnk.htm

[tINY]

I took a class on this once....


Additive - add up all the sine waves to form a desired tone

Subtractive - use filters like peaking LPFs, HPFs, envelopes, etc on various simple waveforms (sine, triangle, ramp, pulse,...)

Frequency modulation - Long live the DX7.....

Phase modulation - Casio had some of these that were pretty good

Sampling - (a dangerous tool, indeed)

COSM - an object modeling computer that calculates output based on properties of the instrument being modeled. Roland V-drums use this.

Probably more......




-tINY

[perun]

Look here!

www.vintagesynth.com

It's not info on vintage synths only...

[initialsBB]

Originally Posted by tINY

Frequency modulation - Long live the DX7.....

Phase modulation - Casio had some of these that were pretty good

The DX7 actually uses phase modulation even though it's commonly known as being an FM synth.

[tINY]

Sorry, the CZ used Phase distortion synthesis

The DX7 used digital frequency modulation synthesis. This is because each operator was a sine wave only (if the operator could have been something other than a sine wave, then it would be phase modulation). Each operator had a modulation input that could be driven by another operator.

That's why I had to look in the table of Bessel functions for hours.....

I suppose you could argue that FM is a type of PM, but Yamaha named it "Frequency Modulation" like the Stanford professor that invented it.



-tINY