Just wondering.. How does subtractive synthesis produce good-sounding synths...

Aren't you "subtracting" parts of the original signal and wouldn't that make the sound less rich and full???

just curious... i'm probably wrong btw

Basically, you start with a raw waveform (or two, or three).

Have you ever heard a raw saw wave. Its nothing to flash ay. Subtractive synthesis is taking away all the parts of that sound that you do not want, and then boosting the level so you are left with a similar volume but different sound. They often have effects built in though which obviously ad to the sound. Then modulation options help to fatten the sound up some more, along wiht a bit of unison mode.

Synths like the Virus, JP-8080, MS-2000, Supernova, etc (all the biggies) are all subtractive synths. So simply put, yes, you are wrong.

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I see what he's saying though, it does kind of seem counterintuitive that taking away from a sound, i.e. using filters on the oscillators, can make it richer. But it works!

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it's clear, that it sounds "harder" when you take something away. the normale waveform is very simple.. lets take a sine wave. now we subtract some very small parts (it's like you play an arp) then it goes up and down. but so fast, that you can't hear that it sounds some ms off note.
now it sounds more complex then just one peep sound

quote:

Originally posted by hey cheggy Basically, you start with a raw waveform (or two, or three). Have you ever heard a raw saw wave. Its nothing to flash ay. Subtractive synthesis is taking away all the parts of that sound that you do not want, and then boosting the level so you are left with a similar volume but different sound. They often have effects built in though which obviously ad to the sound. Then modulation options help to fatten the sound up some more, along wiht a bit of unison mode. Synths like the Virus, JP-8080, MS-2000, Supernova, etc (all the biggies) are all subtractive synths. So simply put, yes, you are wrong.

Don't the sythns that you mention above also do FM sythesis or Physical Modeling sythesis?

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Yes, they have a FM feature, but they are not FM based. The Virus has a really good modulation matrix but it is not a modular synth.

An example of an FM synth would be something like the Yamaha DX-7.

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think of it more like "shaping" the sound rather than just taking parts of it away. also, when you filter a waveform, adding resonance can add contours and stress harmonics which weren't as evident before...

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yes, subtractive synthesis is really 'subtracting' the frequencies from a sound that has alot of overtones. We arnt really loosing any depth to the sound as such as your train of thought is thinking because the synths osillators produce a sound with many harmonics such as a saw tooth. (A sine wave only has one harmonic...) If you dont know what a harmonic is, it is a frequency that is a multiple of the fundemental frequency, for instance if the fundemental frequency is 10Khz, then there will be harmonic at 20Khz, 30Khz.. If you have a guitar around try placing your finger across some strings on the 12th fret lightly (not pressing so they touch the fret) and strum. You will hear some harmonics that are the same note but at a different frequency.

While i'm talking about harmonics have you ever been using a CB radio or 'walkie talkie' etc.. and picked up a cordless telephone converstation? There could be a chance that you are hearing that signal on one of its harmonics as your reciever does not transmit or recieve on the same fq as that cordless telephone!

Sorry got a bit off track here, but what the heck