A digital synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to make musical sounds. The term synthesizer is also used to mean frequency synthesizer, an electronic system found in communications, or video synthesizer. ... Digital signal processing (DSP) is the study of signals in a digital representation and the processing methods of these signals. ...
The very earliest digital synthesis experiments were made with general-purpose computers, as part of academic research into sound generation.
Early commercial digital synthesizers used simple hard-wired digital circuitry to implement techniques such as additive synthesis and FM synthesis. Other techniques, such as wavetable synthesis and physical modeling, only became possible with the advent of high-speed microprocessor and digital signal processing technology. One of the earliest commercial digital synthesizers was the Synclavier. Additive synthesis is a technique of audio synthesis which creates musical timbre. ... Frequency modulation synthesis (or FM synthesis) is a form of audio synthesis where the timbre of a simple waveform is changed by frequency modulating it with a modulating frequency that is also in the audio range, resulting in a more complex waveform and a different-sounding tone. ... Wavetable synthesis is used in digital musical instruments (synthesizers) to produce natural tone-like sounds. ... Physical modelling synthesis is the synthesis of sound by using a set of equations and algorithms to simulate a physical source of sound. ... The Synclavier II The New England Digital Synclavier System was a powerful, integrated system for music synthesis and recording, first developed at Dartmouth College. ...
Some digital synthesizers now exist in the form of "softsynth" software that synthesizes sound using conventional PC hardware, though they require careful programming and a fast CPU to get the same latency response as their dedicated equivalents. In order to reduce latency, some professional sound card manufacturers have developed specialized digital signal processing hardware. Dedicated digital synthesizers frequently have the advantage of onboard accessibility, with switchable front panel controls to peruse their functions, whereas software synthesizers trump their dedicated counterparts with their additional functionality, against the handicap of a mouse-driven control system. // Software synthesizers A software synthesizer or virtual instrument is a computer program for digital audio generation. ... Latency is the time a message takes to traverse a system. ... A sound card based on VIA Envy chip A sound card is a computer expansion card that can input and output sound under program control. ... Operating a mechanical 1: Pulling the mouse turns the ball. ...
Digital synthesizers are generally more flexible than analog synthesizers, though aficionados claim that an analog synthesizer develops a personal sonic character as it ages. An analog synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. ...
External links
Psycle a freely downloadable modular software synthesizer and sequencer/tracker (open source and totally free)
Buzz, a freely downloadable modular software synthesizer (gratis but proprietary)
MPEG-4 Structured Audio, an MPEG standard for synthesizing sounds
FROM THE "QUARTET WITH ORGAN" TO THE DIGITAL ORGAN AND SYNTHESIZERS.
Choir organ with pipes or digital organs, which allow the organist to accompany the ceremonies, or a gallery organ, generally situated at the end of the church's nave, the ideal position from which the organist can perform in concert, communicating to the audience the mysterious spell of the deep resonances of the organ...
It is necessary indeed to say that the first synthesizers were not very good, because their sounds were far from a realistic imitation and lacked the real timbre, the rich harmonics and the peculiarities of attack, modulation etc.....
In the apparatus disclosed herein, a note generator is controlled by a long term, quasi-periodic function which is in turn generated by applying digital feedback in preselected combinations around a digital register.
Digital feedback is provided by applying to the register at least one input signal which is obtained according to a preselectable or adjustable code from bits of information obtained from various points in the register itself.
a register which comprises means for holding a plurality of bits of digital information in a given order, said held information being changeable according to a predetermined pattern in response to input signals applied to said register;
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