Synthesizer Basics

Science of Sound

The generic term synthesizer is commonly used for specific instruments that can synthesize sounds. Synths served the desire for humans to explore new soundscapes and to better understand the fundamental components of sound.

Signal path is how the signal starts and how it travels through the synthesizer before it reaches the speaker/headphones (output)

​​Signal path

The oscillator begins the sound. Most synths have 2-3 oscillators. You start by choosing the type of wave you want. Each wave has it's own unique sound and oscillators can be combined/layered together to make complex sounds.

​​Oscillator

Signal Path

​volume of each oscillator

​Choose the type of wave you want for each oscillator. You can choose saw, triangle or square.

The envelope generator (EG) lets you adjust the attack and decay of a sound.

​The filter controls how much sound is cutoff the high frequencies.

​Oscillators and the Different Waves They Produce

Listen to each wave and it's unique characteristics: https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Oscillators/

​The basic types of waves are Sine, Triangle, Saw, Square, and Pulse waves. With certain synths these waves can be morphed to alter the sound by adding harmonics.

A filter on a synthesizer usually has 2 controls, frequency cutoff and resonance (Q). The filter used on most synths is a low-pass filter that cuts frequencies below the "cutoff frequency". Think about it as letting all the low frequencies "pass" through. The resonance or Q emphasizes the frequency so it's more pronounced.

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​Cutoff adjusts the frequency you want to start cutting high freqencies

Resonance aka "Q" emphasizes the frequency the cutoff is set to.

​Resonance emphasized