This document provides an overview of the main components and functions of a synthesizer: oscillator, filter, amplifier, envelope, and LFO. It explains that the oscillator generates the basic waveform, the filter shapes the sound by removing frequencies, the amplifier controls volume over time using the envelope, and the LFO modulates other components for effects like vibrato. The document aims to clearly present the key concepts of sound synthesis for educational purposes.

3.  Hi! I am Mario. This is my fifth assignment
for “Introduction and Music Production”
at Coursera.org

4.  Hi! I am Mario. This is my fifth assignment
for “Introduction and Music Production”
at Coursera.org
 I will be teaching about “Compare and
contrast an algorithmic and convolution
reverb. Demonstrate the difference and
the important features in both types of
reverb.”

6.  To produce an original sound, a
synthesizer uses several units or modules
of generation and sound processing to
create a basic signal, and then change
the settings to get the desired tone.

7.  We are going to study the usage of the 5
most important synthesis modules:

8.  We are going to study the usage of the 5
most important synthesis modules:
 Oscillator
 Filter
 Amplifier
 Envelope
 LFO

10.  The VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)
is an electrical voltage controlled
oscillator.

11.  The VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)
is an electrical voltage controlled
oscillator.
 Its purpose is to generate a waveform
rich in harmonics to allow effective
treatment by filtering section.

12.  Eachwaveform has a “sound
personality”, determined by its
harmonic content

13.  Each waveform has a “sound
personality”, determined by its
harmonic content
Sine Sawtooth Square Triangle

14.  a sine wave produces a simple clean sound
without harmonic

15.  a sine wave produces a simple clean sound
without harmonic
 the sawtooth signal for its part contains all
harmonics of decreasing amplitude and its
corespondant is quite soft and copper.

16.  a sine wave produces a simple clean sound
without harmonic
 the sawtooth signal for its part contains all
harmonics of decreasing amplitude and its
corespondant is quite soft and copper.
 the squared signal contains only odd harmonics
of decreasing amplitude. The raw sound a little
hollow.

17.  a sine wave produces a simple clean sound
without harmonic
 the sawtooth signal for its part contains all
harmonics of decreasing amplitude and its
corespondant is quite soft and copper.
 the squared signal contains only odd harmonics
of decreasing amplitude. The raw sound a little
hollow.
 the triangular signal looks like a sine wave rich in
harmonics and sound closer to an oboe

19.  TheVCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) is
the filter section of a synthesizer

20.  The VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) is
the filter section of a synthesizer
 A Filter is used to remove frequencies
from the waveform so as to alter the
timbre.

21.  Themain filter is the Low-Pass Filter
(LPF).

22.  The main filter is the Low-Pass Filter
(LPF).
 Low-Pass Filters allows the lower
frequencies to pass through
unaffected and filters out (or blocks
out) the higher frequencies.

23.  Another common filter is the High-Pass
Filter, it does the opposite of a LPF and
allows the higher frequencies to pass
through unaffected and filters out
(blocks-out) the lower frequencies.

25.  TheVCA (Voltage Controlled
Amplifier) 's role is to amplify the signal
(preamp) before output to the
external amplification.

26.  Byvarying a voltage input, we can
change the amplitude of a signal,
making it quieter and louder by
supplying a smaller or larger voltage
as a control signal.

27.  AnAmplifier uses an Envelope to
control the overall loudness (or
amplitude) of the sound over time.

29.  There
are many variations of
envelopes available. However, the
most common envelope has 4
parameters:

30.  There
are many variations of
envelopes available. However, the
most common envelope has 4
parameters: • Attack time
• Decay time
• Sustain level
• Release time

31.  Thereare many variations of
envelopes available. However, the
most common envelope has 4
parameters: • Attack time
• Decay time
• Sustain level
• Release time
 This is usually called ADSR Envelope.

32. A (Attack): Just after pressing a key, the envelope opens from
zero to full. This is controlled by the attack time. An attack time
of zero means that the envelope goes from zero to full instantly.
Increasing the Attack time means that it will happen more
slowly.

33. D (Decay): While the key is still pressed, the envelope drops from
full to the sustain level. This is controlled by decay time. A decay
time of zero means that the envelope goes from full to sustain
instantly. Increasing the decay time means that this will happen
more slowly.

34. S (Sustain): While the key is still being pressed, the continuing
envelope just remains at the Sustain level. This is set by sustain
level.

35. R (Release): When the key is released, the envelope then drops
from the sustain level to zero. This is controlled by Release time. A
release time of zero means that this will happen instantly.
Increasing the Release time means that this will happen more
slowly.

37.  Tomodulate is to exert control or
affect or influence or shape.

38.  Tomodulate is to exert control or
affect or influence or shape.
 Modulation is used to breathe more
life into a sound and make it more
expressive.

39.  Tomodulate is to exert control or
affect or influence or shape.
 Modulation is used to breathe more
life into a sound and make it more
expressive.
 A Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) is a
very common modulator

40.  Basically,an LFO is an oscillator
working in a range of subsonic
frequencies.

41.  Basically, an LFO is an oscillator
working in a range of subsonic
frequencies.
 It acts directly on the generator.

42.  Basically, an LFO is an oscillator
working in a range of subsonic
frequencies.
 It acts directly on the generator.
 Several settings can be varied and
the effect intensity: speed modulation,
frequency, waveform used ...

44.  Tosimulate a vibrato effect, the
LFO is modulating at a certain
speed the frequency of the signal
from the VCO (Voltage
Controlled Oscillator).

45.  To simulate a vibrato effect, the
LFO is modulating at a certain
speed the frequency of the signal
from the VCO (Voltage
Controlled Oscillator).
 Similarly, a tremolo is obtained by
modulating the LFO VCA
(Voltage Controlled Amplifier)
volume.

47.  This is my last work for “Introduction to
Music Production”, we’ve learnt a lot of
things this last weeks, a lot of information,
so I tried to present the concepts as
clearly as possible.

49.  Thank you for taking the time to read my
lesson

50.  Thank you for taking the time to read my
lesson
 I hope I was clear and the work I’ve
done could be useful for people without
this knowledge