Tag: wavetable

Categories
Sound Design and Production Concepts Synthesizer Concepts

Wavetable

A wavetable is a group of sound samples stored digitally and used as the foundation for wavetable synthesis in synthesizers. It is a table of values that creates a digital representation of a waveform by representing the amplitude of a sound at various points in time. This waveform could be a straightforward sine wave or a more complex sound, like an instrument recording or a soundscape.

Wavetable synthesis uses the samples in the wavetable as the starting point for creating new sounds and uses wavetables. An oscillator that can be modulated to produce different sounds reads the wavetable. For instance, the index can be modulated to move through the wavetable at different rates, changing the harmonic content and overall character of the sound. The oscillator’s frequency can also alter the sound’s pitch.

In summary, a wavetable is a group of sound samples that can be used as the foundation for sound synthesis using wavetable synthesis and is stored in a digital format. It can be modulated to produce various sounds and read by an oscillator to generate a sound.

Categories
Synthesizer Types

Wavetable Synthesizers

A wavetable synthesizer is a type of synthesizer that creates sound using a table of previously recorded audio waveforms. The single-cycle waveforms that make up the wavetable are the fundamental building blocks for producing sounds. The synthesizer creates sound by replaying these waveforms at various pitches and utilizing various sound-shaping tools, including filters, envelopes, and modulation.

Various sounds, from conventional analog-like sounds to more complex and evolving sounds, can be produced using the wavetable synthesis technique. This synthesis technique is renowned for its capacity to create complex, rich timbres and seamless transitions between various sounds.

Wavetable synthesis is one of the sound generation techniques used by many contemporary digital synthesizers, including software synthesizers and some hardware synthesizers.

Examples

  • Xfer Serum: A popular software wavetable synthesizer that is widely used in electronic music production. It features a wide range of wavetables and sound-shaping tools, and has a user-friendly interface.
  • Native Instruments Massive: Another popular software wavetable synthesizer that is known for its powerful sound-shaping capabilities and wide range of presets.
  • Waldorf Quantum: A hardware wavetable synthesizer that features a large number of wavetables and sound-shaping tools, and is known for its high-quality sound.
  • Access Virus TI: A hardware wavetable synthesizer that is popular among electronic music producers and is known for its versatile sound and powerful sound-shaping capabilities. (pictured)
  • PPG Wave 2.V: A classic hardware wavetable synthesizer from the 80s, known for it’s unique sound and versatility.
  • DSI Prophet Rev2: A hardware wavetable synthesizer with a large number of wavetables and sound-shaping tools and it’s known for its warm and rich sound.
Categories
Synthesizer Features

Oscillators

An oscillator is a core component of a synthesizer that generates a repeating waveform, which is used as the building block for creating sound. A sine wave, square wave, sawtooth wave, triangle wave, or another type of waveform can be produced by an oscillator. An oscillator’s frequency, which is typically measured in hertz, determines the pitch of the waveform it produces (Hz).

Oscillators are a vital component of a synthesizer because they supply the unprocessed audio that other features, like filters, envelopes, and LFOs, use to shape and process the audio. Most synthesizers have multiple oscillators, which can be used to layer or modulate various waveforms to produce complex sounds.

Various parameters can also control a synthesizer’s oscillators, including waveform, tuning, detuning, pitch modulation, sync, and others. Different oscillators, including wavetable and sample-based oscillators and analog and digital oscillators, are also found in some synthesizers.

In conclusion, a synthesizer’s oscillator is a component that produces a repeating waveform, which is the basic building block for creating sound. Most synthesizers have multiple oscillators to build more complex sounds, and oscillators can have various parameters that let the user shape and modulate the sound.

Synthesizer Waveforms

Synthesizers use various types of waveforms to generate sound. Some of the most common waveforms used include:

  1. Sine wave: a smooth, pure tone with no harmonics.
  2. Square wave: has a distinct “on-off” sound with sharp edges, and has odd harmonics.
  3. Sawtooth wave: has a bright, brassy sound, with even and odd harmonics.
  4. Triangle wave: similar to a sawtooth wave, but with a softer attack and fewer harmonics.
  5. Pulse wave: similar to a square wave, but with a variable duty cycle (the width of the “on” state in relation to the total period of the waveform)
  6. Noise: random electrical signal, can be white, pink or other colors.
  7. Super Saw: a waveform that is a combination of multiple sawtooth waves detuned from each other.
  8. Feedback Oscillator: a waveform generated by sending the output of an oscillator back into its input, creating a complex and evolving sound.
  9. Sample-based waveforms: a recorded sample of a sound can be used as a waveform.
  10. Wavetable synthesis: a method where a synthesizer uses a table of pre-recorded waveforms to generate new sounds.

Synthesizers can also use combinations of these waveforms and modulate them to create more complex sounds.