Assignment for Week 6 of Introduction to Music Production

1. Introduction to Music
Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules
Presented by Saijal Dullabh

2. Contents
 Introduction
 What is a Synthesizer?
 Oscillator
 Filter
 Amplifier
 Envelope
 LFO
 Conclusion/Reflection
 References
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

3. Introduction
Hello again! We’ve made it to the final week…and it feels pretty good! For the last time, I am Saijal
from South Africa. This time around I’ll be doing a presentation on some of the important modules found
on a synthesizer.
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

4. What is a Synthesiser?
 A synthesizer (synth for short) is an electronic musical instrument. It generates electric signals
which are converted to sound.
 They can either imitate (or synthesize) other instruments or sounds such as an airplane, car and
even sounds that don’t exist in the natural world.
Today I’ll discuss the 5 most important modules of a synth.
 Oscillator
 Filter
 Amplifier
 LFO
 Envelope
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

5. Oscillator (VCO)
 The Oscillator or Voltage Controlled Oscillator is responsible for creating the sound.
 In its basic form these sound waves are usually Sine, Saw-Tooth, Square or Triangle waves.
 Sine waves produces mild, soft tones.
 Saw-Tooth waves create a rich buzzy sound.
 Square waves have a rich sound that’s not as buzzy as the Saw but also not as pure as the Sine wave.
 Triangle waves sound like something between the Sine and Square waves.
 We also get Pulse waves and Noise.
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

6. Filter (VCF)
 The Filter or Voltage Controlled Filter module allows you to select a range of frequencies of a sound
and either reduce or amplify the selected range.
 The most common types of filters are:
 Low Pass – Allows the lower frequencies to pass through while reducing the higher frequencies.
 High Pass – Allows the higher frequencies to pass through while reducing the lower frequencies.
 Band Pass – Allows frequencies within a certain band to go through.
 Notch – Frequencies within a band are reduced.
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

7. Amplifier (VCA)
 After starting off in the oscillator and travelling through the filter module, the sound makes it’s way
to the he Amplifier or Voltage Controlled Amplifier module.
 It amplifies the sound before the output and works in conjunction with the another module called
the Envelope.
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

8. Envelope
 An envelope is a set path that runs every time a key is pressed. It is also know as ADSR – Attack,
Delay, Sustain and Release.
 Attack Time - Time taken for the sound to go from zero to full value when a key is pressed.
 Decay Time – Time taken for the sound to go from full value to a sustained level.
 Sustain Level – The level at which the sound will be played while the key is pressed.
 Release Time – Time taken for the sound to go from the sustained level to zero.
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Introduction to Music Production
Lesson 6 – Important Synthesis Modules

9. LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator)
 An LFO generates a signal that is lower the 20Hz.
 Just as the enveloped worked in conjunction with the VCA, the LFO primarily works in conjunction
with the VCO – or more accurately- it is a modulator for the VCO.
 Since the signal generated by an LFO is below the human hearing range we cannot hear it but we
can hear the effect is has on the oscillator.
 LFO’s are often used in Vibrato, Tremolo and other effects.
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10. Conclusion and Reflection
 There is definitely more to say when it comes to Synthesizers but I think once you have the basic
understanding of what was covered here & in the video lectures, the best thing to do is to go to your
DAW and in your synthesizer identify the modules covered - experiment with them as much as
possible.
 So that is the final assignment. It’s been a great learning experience. I’ve learnt a lot from this
course (your presentations, video assignments etc. included!) on all of the topics that we covered.
For the last time, thank you reading this and I look forward to your comments in the assessment. All
the best for the final exam!!!
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Introduction to Music Production
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11. References
 https://documentation.apple.com/en/logicexpress/instruments/index.html#chapter=A%26section=2
%26tasks=true
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthesizer
 http://www.explainthatstuff.com/synthesizers.html
 http://beausievers.com/synth/synthbasics/
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