Synthesis in Music Education: Steps to Create a Good Sound

Synthesis is a combination of art and science. It’s applying techniques and creative expression to come up with an inspiring outcome. The most common expression of synthesis is in music. There’s a strong relationship between music and mathematics. This is seen in the more rounded and regular waveforms of smoother sounds and jagged, irregular waveforms of brighter sounds. You will need to experiment as much as possible if you want to learn how to create good sounds.

What is synthesis in music?

Synthesizers have been around in the music industry since the late 1950s. Synthesis is the process of creating sound using synthesizers. A sound is anything you hear as a result of vibrations in the air. One sound is different from another depending on its amplitude, frequency and timbre or its loudness, pitch and quality.

There are multiple different types of synthesis, but what they all have in common is running waveforms through envelopes, filters, and effects.

Additive synthesis involves adding multiple waveforms together to create complex tones and harmonies. Subtractive synthesis is removing certain frequencies by using a filter. Modulation of the frequency of a simple waveform can change its tone. The process results in a more complex waveform and a grittier tone.

Synthesis essay examples

Music students have to study synthesis, and also use it in papers. These essays highlight the relationship between different source materials to prove a central thesis statement. Checking synthesis essay examples and topic ideas can give you a clear understanding of the concept. Moreover, you can not only improve your music skills, but also writing.

Where to start

It is easiest to start by using a subtractive synthesizer. It doesn’t add more complexity than you need. You want one with a friendly interface and good functionality to start with. To understand sound design, it is vital for you to experiment. It’s rather like a sculptor starting with a block of stone and chiseling away at it to create a statue. The block of stone is a waveform, the chisel is a filter, and you can use other tonic tools like envelopes.

Experiment with waveforms

A waveform is a shape constructed by points to make a sound. Most sounds are based on four waveforms. The sine is the purest waveform that occupies a single frequency. All waveforms come from a sine. A triangle wave is similar to a sine but has more frequencies above it. Triangle waves and square waves are only made with odd harmonics. In square waves, the higher harmonics roll off much slower. Saw waves are made with both odd and even harmonics. You can use them to make many sounds. As any waveform can make any sound, it’s important to experiment.

Learn more about envelopes

Envelopes are prevalent in all synths. They can control most parameters, but they mainly control amplitude. Four common parameters are attack, decay, sustain, and release. Some may have another parameter called to hold. “Attack” starts at 0 and goes up to 100. It controls how fast a sound will ramp up. “Decay” controls how fast a sound will go down from the full value. “Sustain” controls the endpoint of decay. “Release” controls how fast the envelope fades out after releasing the note.

Filters

There are many different kinds of filters that filter out frequencies. Low pass and high pass filters are similar. A low-pass filter will filter out high frequencies. A high pass filter will let high frequencies pass and filter out low frequencies. A bandpass filter filters out a specific range of frequencies. A band controls the cutoff point and only allows frequencies around the band to pass. Filters can help to make a harsh sound softer or a bright sound duller.

Effects

Effects provide more tools to help shape a sound. Expansion can increase the dynamic range of a sound. Saturation and distortion can give a sound higher harmonics. This can give more warmth and grit to a sound. Bitcrusher can break sounds to make them more dark and edgy. Flanger and phaser effects make copies of a sound and delay it. The chorus also makes copies of sounds but detunes and delays them. Stereo separation controls volume and can merge or separate the mid or side channels.

Conclusion

Synthesis in music education is a complex topic. It can take plenty of experimentation to come up with the best sounds. The best way to begin is to use a subtractive synthesizer. It is simpler to use than some other types but still offers good control over amplitude, frequency and timbre. You can start practicing by running waveforms through filters, envelopes and effects. You will start to learn more about what creates good sound.