Vector Synthesis is a type of audio synthesis introduced by Sequential Circuits in the Prophet VS synthesizer during 1986. The concept was subsequently used by Yamaha in the SY22/TG33 and similar instruments and by Korg in the Wavestation. For other uses, see Synthesizer (disambiguation). ... Sequential Circuits Inc. ... The Yamaha Corporation (ヤマハ株式会社; TYO: 7951 ) is a Japanese company with a large number of product areas. ... For comic book character, see Korg (comics). ... The Korg Wavestation was a vector synthesis synthesizer marketed in the early 1990s. ...

Controlling the mix of four sound waves by defining a point on a vector plane using a joystick

Vector synthesis provides movement in a sound by providing dynamic cross-fading between (usually) four sound sources. The four sound sources are conceptually arranged as the extreme points of X and Y axes, and typically labelled A, B, C and D. A given mix of the four sound sources can be represented by a single point in this 'vector plane'. Movement of the point provides sonic interest and is the power of this technique. Mixing is frequently done using a joystick, although the point can be controlled using envelope generators or LFOs. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... An ADSR envelope is a parameter used in synthesizers, including those that produce sound by subtractive synthesis, to control the sound produced. ... Low frequency oscillation, often abbreviated to LFO, is a term that predominantly refers to an audio technique specifically used in the production of electronic music. ...

Vector synthesis implementations

There have been a number of different implementations of vector synthesis. These differ in what they use for the four sound sources, and what processing is done to the sound after the vector synthesis stage. The actual vector synthesis concept is identical.

Prophet VS vector synthesis

The Prophet VS used four digital wavetable oscillators based on those in the PPG Wave as its four sound sources. The limitations, particularly the digital aliasing, of this design, coupled with its use of Curtis analogue filter ICs to process the mixed sound, gave the Prophet VS its distinctive sound. Properly sampled image of brick wall. ...

Yamaha SY series

The Yamaha SY22 added to the Prophet's implementation of vector synthesis by providing two types of sound source. Each axis of the vector had both an FM sound source and a sample-playback source. Although it lacked any filtering, it added digital effects for processing the results of the vector synthesis. 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. ...

Korg Wavestation

The Korg Wavestation went further still, allowing each of the four sound sources to produce not just a static tone, but a complex wave sequence, by playing back or cross-fading one wave after another. The Korg Wavestation was a vector synthesis synthesizer marketed in the early 1990s. ...

Korg OASYS

The Korg OASYS workstation is one of the first synthesizers for over a decade to feature vector synthesis. It also features an updated form of wave sequencing, like the Wavestation. The Korg OASYS is a workstation synthesizer released in early 2005, 1 year after the successful Korg Triton Extreme. ...

See also

• "Introduction to Vector Synthesis" - Stanley Jungleib, Electronic Musician November 1986 p.53, p.54