Artwork

Content provided by Adam Anderson. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Adam Anderson or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Player FM - Podcast App
Go offline with the Player FM app!

Episode 002 - Synthesizer Basics, part 2

16:00
 
Share
 

Archived series ("Inactive feed" status)

When? This feed was archived on March 08, 2019 01:36 (5y ago). Last successful fetch was on January 01, 2019 01:21 (5y ago)

Why? Inactive feed status. Our servers were unable to retrieve a valid podcast feed for a sustained period.

What now? You might be able to find a more up-to-date version using the search function. This series will no longer be checked for updates. If you believe this to be in error, please check if the publisher's feed link below is valid and contact support to request the feed be restored or if you have any other concerns about this.

Manage episode 169536493 series 1334340
Content provided by Adam Anderson. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Adam Anderson or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Filters

You’ve seen the filter settings on your synth, maybe you’ve tried changing the settings and can hear the difference, but what is going on? What is a filter anyway? Well, the filter on a synthesizer is just like any other kind of filter. An air filter in your car, a water-purifying filter, a spam filter, they all do one thing: remove stuff. So what stuff does a synthesizer’s filter remove? Frequencies.

In a previous episode of the podcast we looked at the oscillators that produce frequency-rich tones. But what happens when you have too many frequencies present in your sound? Well, that’s just noise. In fact, that’s the definition of white noise: all frequencies present at equal volumes. Our filter lets us remove frequencies until what’s left is something you can use in your music.

The most common filter on synthesizers is the Low Pass Filter or LPF. Listen to the episode to hear how the LPF shapes your sound. (spoiler alert: it removes high frequency content and leaves you with low frequencies.)

LFOs

Here’s another one of those acronyms you’ve seen on your synth. An LFO is a Low Frequency Oscillator. Since the last episode covered oscillators, you already know that an oscillator generates sounds. Well, the LFO is different in that its frequency is generally so low that you can’t hear it. Instead the waveform is applied to modify something else in your sound.

Common LFO modulation approaches include changing the frequency cutoff, the pitch of the tone, volume, etc. Most synths offer a wide range of things you can modulate with your LFO. And, many offer several LFOs that operate independently of each other. Listen to the episode to hear what LFO modulation sounds like in action.

To learn more about filters and LFOs, check out this book at Amazon.com: The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument.

  continue reading

18 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 

Archived series ("Inactive feed" status)

When? This feed was archived on March 08, 2019 01:36 (5y ago). Last successful fetch was on January 01, 2019 01:21 (5y ago)

Why? Inactive feed status. Our servers were unable to retrieve a valid podcast feed for a sustained period.

What now? You might be able to find a more up-to-date version using the search function. This series will no longer be checked for updates. If you believe this to be in error, please check if the publisher's feed link below is valid and contact support to request the feed be restored or if you have any other concerns about this.

Manage episode 169536493 series 1334340
Content provided by Adam Anderson. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Adam Anderson or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Filters

You’ve seen the filter settings on your synth, maybe you’ve tried changing the settings and can hear the difference, but what is going on? What is a filter anyway? Well, the filter on a synthesizer is just like any other kind of filter. An air filter in your car, a water-purifying filter, a spam filter, they all do one thing: remove stuff. So what stuff does a synthesizer’s filter remove? Frequencies.

In a previous episode of the podcast we looked at the oscillators that produce frequency-rich tones. But what happens when you have too many frequencies present in your sound? Well, that’s just noise. In fact, that’s the definition of white noise: all frequencies present at equal volumes. Our filter lets us remove frequencies until what’s left is something you can use in your music.

The most common filter on synthesizers is the Low Pass Filter or LPF. Listen to the episode to hear how the LPF shapes your sound. (spoiler alert: it removes high frequency content and leaves you with low frequencies.)

LFOs

Here’s another one of those acronyms you’ve seen on your synth. An LFO is a Low Frequency Oscillator. Since the last episode covered oscillators, you already know that an oscillator generates sounds. Well, the LFO is different in that its frequency is generally so low that you can’t hear it. Instead the waveform is applied to modify something else in your sound.

Common LFO modulation approaches include changing the frequency cutoff, the pitch of the tone, volume, etc. Most synths offer a wide range of things you can modulate with your LFO. And, many offer several LFOs that operate independently of each other. Listen to the episode to hear what LFO modulation sounds like in action.

To learn more about filters and LFOs, check out this book at Amazon.com: The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument.

  continue reading

18 episodes

All episodes

×
 
Loading …

Welcome to Player FM!

Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices.

 

Quick Reference Guide