Elements of synthesis

Synthesis can generally be split in to the following categories:

Contents 1 Audio signal Generation 1.1 Oscillators 1.2 Sample playback 1.3 Physical models 2 Control signal generation 2.1 Envelopes 2.2 LFOs 2.3 Note based signals 2.4 Custom Controllers 2.5 Pitchbend 3 Modifying signals 3.1 Filters 3.2 Waveshapers 4 Signal Output 5 Analysing signals

Audio signal Generation

Oscillators

• Classic shapes (saw/pulse/triangle/sine)
• Wavetable

Sample playback

• Straight playback
• Granular playback
• Repitched playback

Physical models

• Resonators

Control signal generation

Envelopes

• Standard ADSR type
• Extended ADSR (DADSTR)
• Custom drawn shapes

LFOs

• Standard shapes(saw, pulse, triangle, sine)
• Keytracking pitch
• Phase reset on key
• Custom shapes
• XY pad based bouncing

Note based signals

• Velocity
• Pitch
• Aftertouch

Custom Controllers

• Directly controlled by player/host

Pitchbend

• Pitchbender from player/host

Modifying signals

Filters

• Lowpass
• Highpass
• Bandpass
• Bandreject
• Notch
• Equalizers
• Comb filters
• Fourier based (FFT)
• Wavelet based
• Mixed mode/strange filters

Waveshapers

• Distortion
• Limiters
• Compressors
• Expanders
• Custom shapes

Signal Output

• Mono Output
• Stereo Output

Analysing signals

• Scope