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Re: It's coming...soon

2008-12-10 by Chris Muir

On Dec 10, 2008, at 4:22 AM, roelelec wrote:
> Can you describe soundwise the difference between exponential and
> linear FM?
>
Linear FM changes timbre more than pitch. It bypasses the exponential
convertor of an oscillator, and just modulates the frequency of the
oscillator. If you have two oscillators set to the same pitch, and
have on linear FM-ing the other, the oscillator that is being
modulated (the carrier) sweeps the harmonic series as the depth of the
linear FM increases. When the ratio of pitches of the two oscillators
is itself harmonic, you get harmonic sidebands.

Exponential FM creates inharmonic sidebands, more or less no matter
what you do.

They both have their uses.

If you have Max/MSP 5 I could send you a simple little patcher that
illustrates the difference.

- C

Chris Muir
cbm@...
http://www.xfade.com

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