Sine, square, triangle, and sawtooth waveforms

The modular synthesizer is a type of synthesizer consisting of separate modules which must be connected by wires (patch cords) to create a so-called patch. These synthesizers are very flexible. Every output generates an electric current of variable voltage. All inputs expect a voltage so that almost any combination of connections between the modules is allowed and valid. Image File history File links Waveforms. ... Image File history File links Waveforms. ... In trigonometry, an ideal sine wave is a waveform whose graph is identical to the generalized sine function y = Asin[ω(x − α)] + C, where A is the amplitude, ω is the angular frequency (2π/P where P is the wavelength), α is the phase shift, and C... A square wave is a kind of basic waveform. ... A triangle wave is a waveform named for its triangular shape. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A synthesizer (or synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument designed to produce electronically generated sound, using techniques such as additive, subtractive, FM, physical modelling synthesis, phase distortion, or Scanned synthesis. ... A patch, in terms of music synthesizers, is a sound setting. ... Electric current is the flow (movement) of electric charge. ... International safety symbol Caution, risk of electric shock (ISO 3864), colloquially known as high voltage symbol. ...

There exist many different modules and even modules with the same function have different inputs and outputs on various models. There are some standards which manufacturers followed for their range of synthesizers, however, connecting synthesizers from different manufacturers often requires converters.

Some standard modules found on almost any modular synth are:

• VCO - Voltage-controlled oscillator, which will output a pitched sound (frequency) in a simple waveform (most usually a square wave or a sawtooth wave, but also includes pulse, triangle and sine waves.
• VCF - Voltage-controlled filter, which attenuates frequencies below (high-pass), above (low-pass) or both below and above (band-pass) a certain frequency.
• VCA - Voltage-controlled amplifier, which controls the amplitude.
• Envelope generator - this circuit, on receiving a trigger pulse and/or gate, produces a voltage which changes in a predictable, repeatable manner over time. It can be triggered either manually (for example, by an electronic keyboard) or automatically (for example, by a sequencer). This envelope is most commonly used to control the amplitude of the sound, by routing it to the control input of the VCA or the timbre of the sound, by routing it to the control input of the VCF. This technique can be used to create (synthesize) the volume and timbre contour of naturally decaying sounds such as a piano. The patchable structure of the synthesizer makes it possible to use the envelope generator to modulate other parameters such as the pitch of the VCO, the width of the pulse wave on the VCO and so on. The most common form of envelope contour is the ADSR, although some electronic instruments, such as those produced by Buchla & Associates or the Wiard Synthesizer Company use the simpler AD or AR contour which can be mixed to form an ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) envelope.
• LFO - Low-frequency oscillator, the output being a low frequency waveform (this is usually below 20hz which becomes a pulsating rhythm rather than a audible tone), usually a sine or triangle wave and used as a control voltage for some other module (for instance, to modulate the frequency of the VCO's output).
• Ring modulator - Two audio inputs are utilized to create sum and difference frequencies while suppressing the original signals. This gives the sound a "robotic" quality.
• Mixer, a module that combines multiple signals into one.
• Sample and hold, which takes a "sample" of the input voltage when a trigger pulse is received and "holds" it until a subsequent trigger pulse is applied.
• Sequencer, which produces a sequence of notes, usually a music loop.
• Slew Limiter - smooths off the peaks of voltages. This can be used to create glide or portamento between notes. Can also work as a primitive low-pass filter.

Modular synthesizers were largely replaced by highly integrated keyboard synthesizers, racks of MIDI-connected gear, and samplers. However, there continues to be a loyal following of musicians and manufacturers who prefer the physically-patched approach and flexibility of traditional modulars. A voltage-controlled oscillator or VCO is an electronic circuit that uses amplification, feedback, and a resonant circuit to generate a repeating voltage waveform. ... Waveform quite literally means the shape and form of a signal, such as a wave moving across the surface of water, or the vibration of a plucked string. ... A voltage-controlled filter is a signal processing device in a modular analog synthesizer positioned after the oscillator. ... FreQuency is a music video game developed by Harmonix and published by SCEI. It was released in November 2001. ... A voltage-controlled amplifier is an electronic amplifier that varies its gain depending on a control voltage (often abbreviated CV). ... Amplitude is a nonnegative scalar measure of a waves magnitude of oscillation, that is, magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium during one wave cycle. ... An electronic keyboard is a keyboard instrument which uses electricity to produce or amplify its sound. ... The word sequencer can mean: a microsequencer in a computer CPU a music sequencer in the field of electronic music a DNA sequencer or a protein sequencer in the field of biology Sequencer (album) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise... An ADSR envelope is a parameter used in synthesizers, including those that produce sound by subtractive synthesis, to control the sound produced. ... http://www. ... LFO section of a modern synthesizer The term low-frequency oscillation (LFO) is an audio signal usually below 20 Hz which creates a pulsating rhythm rather than a audible tone. ... Ring modulation is an audio effect performed by multiplying two audio signals, where one is typically a sine-wave or another simple waveform. ... In electronics, a sample and hold circuit is used to interface real-world, changing analogue signals to a subsequent system such as an analog-to-digital converter. ... In the field of electronic music, a sequencer was originally any device that recorded and played back a sequence of control information for an electronic musical instrument. ... In electronic music, a loop is a sample which is repeated. ... MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is an industry-standard electronic communications protocol that enables electronic musical instruments, computers and other equipment to communicate, control and synchronize with each other in real time. ... An AKAI MPC2000 sampler Playing a Yamaha SU10 Sampler A sampler is an electronic music instrument closely related to a synthesizer. ...

The earliest commercial modular synthesizers were developed, in parallel, by Moog modular synthesizer, and Buchla in 1963. The synthesizer broadened the spectrum of possible electronic music, which before was made via tape splicing and the theremin. ARP, Serge, and EMS versions were soon to follow. In 1976, the Japanese company Roland came out with the System 700. Moog modular synthesizer refers to any of a number of monophonic analog modular synthesizers designed by the late electronic instrument pioneer Dr. Robert Moog and manufactured by R.A Moog Co. ... Buchla & Associates is a manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, notably synthesizers. ... It has been suggested that Electronica be merged into this article or section. ... Léon Theremin playing an early theremin The theremin (originally pronounced but often anglicized as [1]), or thereminvox, is one of the earliest fully electronic musical instruments. ... ARP Instruments, Inc. ... The Serge synthesizer, or Serge Modular Music System is an analogue modular synthesizer system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin at CalArts in the 1970s. ... Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd. ... Roland Corporation TYO: 7944 is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. ...

Modern manufacturers of modular synthesizer hardware (alphabetical)

• Analogue Solutions (Concussor)
• Analogue Systems (RS Integrator)
• Bananalogue
• Blacet Research
• Buchla & Associates (200e)
• Club of the knobs
• Curetronic
• Cwejman
• Cyndustries (Cynthia)
• Doepfer Musikelektronik (A-100)
• Elby
• Livewire
• Metalbox
• MFB
• Modcan
• Oakley Sound Systems
• PAiA Electronics
• Plan B
• Sound Transform Systems (Serge) (Sound Transform Systems does not currently maintain a web page. Link leads to fan site w/comprehensive information on Serge synthesizer)
• Synthesis Technology (MOTM)
• Synthesizers.com
• Technosaurus
• Wiard Synthesizer Company

Hardware offerings range from complete systems in cases to kits for hobbyist DIY constructors. Many manufacturers augment their range with products based on recent re-designs of classic modules; often both the original and subsequent reworked designs are available free on the WWW, the original patents having lapsed. Many hobbyist designers also make available bare PCB boards and front panels for sale to other hobbyists. The Buchla 200e is a modular analog synthesizer designed by electronic music pioneer Don Buchla and built by Buchla and Associates. ... Doepfer Musikelektronik GmbH Doepfer is a manufacturer of audio hardware based in Gräfelfing/Germany, founded in 1992 by Dieter Döpfer. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Serge synthesizer, or Serge Modular Music System is an analogue modular synthesizer system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin at CalArts in the 1970s. ... The Serge synthesizer, or Serge Modular Music System is an analogue modular synthesizer system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin at CalArts in the 1970s. ... MOTM is the name of the modular synthesizer system manufactured by Synthesis Technologies. ...

Modular synthesizer software (alphabetical)

• ARP 2600 by Arturia
• ChucK
• CreamwareAudio Modular III
• Csound
• jMax
• MaxMSP
• Moog Modular V by Arturia
• Pure Data
• Reaktor
• RolloSONIC
• SpiralSynthModular
• SuperCollider
• SynthEdit
• SynFactory
• SynthMaker
• Tassman by Applied Acoustics Systems
• Vaz Modular

Computers have grown so powerful and inexpensive that software programs can realistically model the signals, sounds, and patchability of modulars very well. While potentially lacking the physical presence of oft desirable analog sound generation, real voltage manipulation, knobs, sliders, cables, and LEDs, software modular synthesizers offer the infinite variations and visual patching at a more affordable price and in a compact form factor. The ARP 2600 was semi-professional before being made popular. ... Arturia is a software company, located in Grenoble, France, and founded in 1999 by Frédéric Brun and Gilles Pommereuil, both INPG-qualified engineers. ... Chuck Amato, N.C. State football coach Chuck Barris Chuck Behler Chuck Berry, Guitar Player Chuck D, Public Enemy Chuck Grassley Chuck Hagel Chuck Horner Chuck Liddell, Mixed Martial Artist Chuck Mangione, Trumpet Player Chuck Mosley Chuck Moore Chuck Norris, Actor/Martial Artist Chuck Palahniuk Chuck Schuldiner Chuck Schumer Chuck... CreamwareAudio Modular III is a modular synthesizer running on DSPs (Digital Signal Processors, a type of computer chip designed for signal processing), as part of the software environment provided for the Creamware Scope line of sound cards. ... Csound is a computer programming language for dealing with sound, also known as a sound compiler or a music programming language. ... jMax is a highly-modular visual programming environment for interactive real-time music. ... Look up MAX in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Arturia is a software company, located in Grenoble, France, and founded in 1999 by Frédéric Brun and Gilles Pommereuil, both INPG-qualified engineers. ... Pure Data with many patches open (netpd project) Pure Data (or Pd) is a graphical programming language developed by Miller Puckette in the 1990s for the creation of interactive computer music and multimedia works. ... An example of a Reaktor 5 ensemble Structure Reaktor is a graphical modular software sound studio developed by Native Instruments. ... SuperCollider [1] is an environment and programming language for real time audio synthesis and algorithmic composition. ... SynFactory is an open source software synthesizer for Windows. ... Image:Components Window. ... External links LEd Category: TeX ...

Semi modular synthesizers

A modular synthesizer has a case or frame into which arbitrary modules can be plugged; modules are usually connected together using patch cords and a system may include modules from different sources, as long as it fits the form factors of the case and uses the the same electrical specifications.

A semi modular synthesizer is a collection of modules from a single manufacturer that makes a cohesive product. Modules may not be swapped out and often a typical configuration has be pre-wired, however the manufacturer provides mechanisms to allow the user to connect modules in different orders.

Matrix Systems

Matrix systems use pin matrixes or other crosspoint switches rather than patch cords. Historic examples with pin matrixes include the EMS Synthi 100, EMS VCS-3, ETI Internation 4600, Maplin 5600. The Arp 2500 used a matrix switch.

Patch Override Systems

The different modules of a semi modular synthesizer are wired together into a typical configuration, but can be re-wired by the user using patch cords. Some examples are the Arp 2600, Anyware Instruments Semtex, the Cwejman S1, Korg MS-10, MS-20 and MS-50.

Electronically Reconfigurable Systems

Reconfigurable systems allow certain signals to routed through modules in different orders. Examples include the Oberheim Matrix and Rhodes Chroma, and Moog Voyager.

Hybrid modular synthesizers

Hybrid synthesizers use hardware and software combination. In alphabetical order:

• Clavia Nord Modular and Clavia Nord Modular G2 by Clavia

To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Clavia is a Swedish virtual analog synthesizer and digital percussion system manufacturer founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson. ...

External links

• 120 years of Electronic Music has information on classic modular synths.
• Vintage Synth Explorer Information on vintage synth gear, including Moog and other modular synths.
• Synthmuseum.com
• Modular Analog Synthesizers Return! Article about new modular systems.
• Current listing of analog synthesizer manufacturers
• Using the Moog modular synthesizer
• Sound samples from classic synthesizers like the Moog Modular
• Retrosound - Nord Modular
• Ken Stone's Do-It-Yourself Page
• Music From Outer Space All the information you need to build your own modular.
• Wavemakers: kb electronic music instrumentation History of Wavemakers modular synthesizers 1970-1980
• ModularSynth.net Analog Modular Synthesizer discussion forum