The advantage in providing digital circuitry in synthesizers, as opposed to analog circuitry, is the same as for other products, i.e., reduction in power consumption, reduction in size, and eventually, reduction in costs. The synthesizer programming and control input devices remained relatively the same, i.e., keyboards, knobs, and switches, though the numbers of knobs and linear faders were often reduced in number in order to reduce costs. With the growth in the digital circuit industry, digital synthesizers were introduced which operated according to digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms. Frequency modulated (FM) synthesis changes the frequency and/or amplitude of a signal carrier frequency.Įarly synthesizers were only analog circuits which used analog signal detection and manipulation, including implementing analog computer algorithms to generate and output signal envelopes. Additive synthesis adds waveforms to the signal in selected frequency ranges.

Subtractive synthesis filters waveforms in selected frequency ranges.

Synthesizer signal processing can include subtractive and/or additive signal processing, frequency modulation, wave-table signal generation, sub-harmonic signal mixing, signal phase distortion, and low frequency, mid frequency, and high frequency separate signal manipulation. Synthesizer circuitry generally includes an array of electronic components, such as amplifiers, oscillators, AC or DC power sources, filters, frequency generators, envelope generators and controllers, mixers, multiplexers, phase shifters, phase distortion circuits, frequency choppers, and signal dampers. Synthesizers can imitate musical instruments and/or generate new sounds.

A sound synthesizer (often abbreviated as “synth”) is an electronic musical instrument that generates electric signals (waveforms) which can be converted to sound by loudspeakers or headphone speakers. The present invention is directed to audio synthesizers, specifically music synthesizers, and more specifically modular music synthesizers. That Provisional Patent Application is incorporated in its entirety herein as if recited herein in full. 10, 2013, for “Modular Experimental Synthesizer”, the invention of Michael Friesen.

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