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WolframAlpha FM Synthesizer

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Re: WolframAlpha FM Synthesizer

#21

Post by effn »

JonnieCache wrote: post #16
wazoox wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true, but on the other hand the principle of operation for these specialized circuits was actually a traditional (though of course simplified) bunch of oscillators or noise generators, with simple filters, all controlled by simple envelopes. There may have been a ring modulator (for the bell?) somewhere too :)

I was mainly thinking of the bass, which is simply a big fat sine wave with a lowpass, and then a short clicking noise at the start, which is basically just a sine as well. You can replicate it well enough with just those two elements anyway. The snare is just some white noise and a highpassed sinewave. The bell definitely sounds like it has ring modulation. I seem to remember the cowbell being the hardest one to rip…

The bassdrum is just an impulse exciting a lowpass filter at very high resonance. The clicking noise is generated by a specialized envelope that raises the pitch of the filter for the first few ms. The whole thing is then slightly overdriven to color the sound.

Filtering a sine wave makes little sense, as you'll only end up altering the volume (unless you take the phase respone of the filter into account but this should be barely audible).

Re: WolframAlpha FM Synthesizer

#22

Post by JonnieCache »

seagaia wrote: post #3

While we're in the vein of FM Synthesizers, if anyone has MAX/MSP, it should come with an example patch called "X-FM~". If you modify things right you can get usable and interesting sounds. In terms of other similar things to MAX/MSP (a visual audio programming interface, among other things), here's one for unix-likes, I believe (never used it, anyone know how good it is?) http://puredata.info/

Synthmaker is a good one too. http://synthmaker.co.uk/

Unfortunately it's windows only. It does have a lot of advanced capabilities you don't see in similar tools though, such as proper GUI elements and one-click VST export.

Re: WolframAlpha FM Synthesizer

#23

Post by wazoox »

effn wrote: post #21
JonnieCache wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was mainly thinking of the bass, which is simply a big fat sine wave with a lowpass, and then a short clicking noise at the start, which is basically just a sine as well. You can replicate it well enough with just those two elements anyway. The snare is just some white noise and a highpassed sinewave. The bell definitely sounds like it has ring modulation. I seem to remember the cowbell being the hardest one to rip…

The bassdrum is just an impulse exciting a lowpass filter at very high resonance. The clicking noise is generated by a specialized envelope that raises the pitch of the filter for the first few ms. The whole thing is then slightly overdriven to color the sound. Filtering a sine wave makes little sense, as you'll only end up altering the volume (unless you take the phase respone of the filter into account but this sho…

That reminds me of the phase change synthesis of the Casio CZ :) I'm wondering if there's something (software or else) still able to do it?

Re: WolframAlpha FM Synthesizer

#24

Post by Roboprog »

wazoox wrote: post #17
zinkem wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>808 doesn't use FM, but VCOs with low pass filters (aka "analog synthesis"). There are actually two ideas at play here. Manipulating a signal from a VCO, or any other 'analog' signal is called analog synthesis. These analog signals can be used as the source in other types of synthesis, including FM synthesis. FM synthesis tends to be done using digital signals because they are more stable, however. Using high/low/ba…

> These analog signals can be used as the source in other types of synthesis, including FM synthesis. FM synthesis tends to be done using digital signals because they are more stable, however. Yes, some analog synths of lore (EMS gear IIRC) could actually create FM sounds, but the oscillators limited stability made it unusable for musical sounds. AFAIK The latest generation of Yamaha FM synths (SY/TG77, SY99) could a…

Additive synthesis is tedious, having to specify every harmonic and its relative strength. No surprises when doing additive, just lots of work. (I'm assuming you mean adding stacks of sine waves, rather than layering different patches on the same note)

Re: WolframAlpha FM Synthesizer

#25

Post by akx »

wazoox wrote: post #23
effn wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bassdrum is just an impulse exciting a lowpass filter at very high resonance. The clicking noise is generated by a specialized envelope that raises the pitch of the filter for the first few ms. The whole thing is then slightly overdriven to color the sound. Filtering a sine wave makes little sense, as you'll only end up altering the volume (unless you take the phase respone of the filter into account but this sho…

That reminds me of the phase change synthesis of the Casio CZ :) I'm wondering if there's something (software or else) still able to do it?

Xoxos has a couple phase distortion synthesis VSTs. http://www.xoxos.net/vst/vst.html

If you lack a VST plugin host, http://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm is very bare-bones but does the trick for doodling away and http://reaper.fm/ by Justin Frankel (of Winamp fame) et al. is a more full-featured DAW that supports VSTs.

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