| Even currently, most synthesizers will give you the | | | | frequency modulation, which is an entire entity of |
| monophonic or polyphonic option. Now though with | | | | synthesis. You would be utilizing its sound creation |
| new technology this has become much stronger, yet | | | | methods. If you were to speed up LFO, you would be |
| cheaper to make. It's got to the point where most of | | | | able to produce FM effects. The rate is set at such a |
| the newer synthesizers can produce an almost | | | | high speed an audible pitch is produced by the |
| innumerable amount of notes all at the same time. Just | | | | oscillator. |
| like a piano would. In simplified terms, a monophonic | | | | A very sharp piercing effect is achieved when a non |
| synthesizer plays one note at a time. It is a useful | | | | harmonic sound is created by using the first oscillator |
| setting because it prevents two keys from being held | | | | to modulate the pitch of a second oscillator. It has been |
| down at the same time. | | | | found that FM effects cannot be used successfully on |
| This would mean they would overlap each other giving | | | | analogue synthesizer keyboards. |
| unfavorable results. The monophonic is great for some | | | | If you use two oscillators, with one being the master |
| of the lead and bass sounds as well. For two or more | | | | and the second the slave you are creating the effect |
| notes to play simultaneously you need the polyphonic. | | | | of hard sync (oscillator sync). In this case, the slave |
| To be able to slide between two notes the | | | | oscillator operates faster or slower than the master, |
| synthesizer requires the Portamento/guide. You will get | | | | whereas the master operates as standard with its |
| your best effects of creating a bending between | | | | waveform. If you trigger the two oscillators |
| notes if you use the portamento on monophonic | | | | simultaneously, you will get very unusual harmonic |
| sounds. On the other hand it can also be used | | | | effects. The slave will also start to perform again via |
| polyphonically if played in the block chords style. You | | | | its waveform. It won't matter whether it completed its |
| can go from a very slow sweep between two notes | | | | cycle. This happens when the master oscillator is put |
| to a simple glide. This will allow a difference in the | | | | into action. |
| severity of "bending". This is done when you change | | | | Take two oscillator inputs and multiply them against |
| the time and sometimes the scale of the glide. It is | | | | each other. This is dependent on the frequencies. This |
| very useful for SFX. | | | | is known as ring modulation in music synthesis. |
| In subtractive synthesis, you can use the basic ideas of | | | | |