[sdiy] Additive Synthesis Doesn't Work?

[James Patchell]

Doing real additive syntheses is within grasp...just that some of need to 
get our rears in gear and get some hardware built.

Hint...this involves the use of FPGA's.  Making 512 NCOs that output sine 
waves is very simple...it just involves writing the code and loading it 
into a Spartan III.

That being said, however, actually making music using additive syntheses is 
not going to be trivial...there are going to be a lot of parameters that 
need to be controlled....

At 03:39 PM 3/21/2005 -0500, Glen wrote:
>Hi Harry,
>
>Harry recently said something on Synth-DIY about fourier-based additive
>synthesis not being a viable synthesis method, or something along those
>lines. (I'm sure he'll correct me, if needed.)
>
>I'm more of a tech person, and certainly not an accomplished musician, but
>I thought you might want to hear a piece of music that I'm currently
>working on. (There are still lots of things missing in this early version,
>and it's definitely a work in progress.) It's done purely with additive
>synthesis, and all the additive synth patches are of my own creation. I
>can't say whether you'll like the style of my piece, but it should at least
>show that additive synthesis is a viable technique.  :)
>
>CAUTION:  There are some LOUD SURPRISES in this early mix, so keep the
>levels down till you find them. I don't want you to blow a speaker or
>eardrum, expecting that this is your typical, over-compressed pop tune with
>no dynamic range.   :)
>
>Here's the file's URL:
>
>http://mclilith.audioshot.net/music2005/Carnival_of_Fates_d.mp3
>
>I love additive synthesis, and it would be great to possibly build a
>hardware additive synth someday. That's why I've been poking into Walsh
>synthesis recently, hoping it might be an easy route into a DIY hardware
>additive synth.
>
>
>take care,
>Glen

         -Jim
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