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Aequitas123 · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

I was reading up on synths on Wikipedia and found that there are several types of synthesis methods:

* Subtractive synthesis
* Additive synthesis
* Granular synthesis
* Wavetable synthesis
* Frequency modulation synthesis
* Phase distortion synthesis
* Physical modeling synthesis
* Sample-based synthesis
* Subharmonic synthesis

Which does the R3 use?

SynthAntonius · Full Member Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 101

It's a VA analog, so it's a Substractive.

Also, it has cross modulation, so it makes it Additive synth

Granular? Never heard of it

Wavetable synths: yes, it has PCM wavetable also.

Frequency mod synth: yes, see VPM

Phase distortion?

Physical modeling: no... though you could call it a physical modeled analog synth Wink

Sample-based = wavetable

Subharmonic?
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My gear: Roland Fantom x8 - Korg Radias - Access Virus b - Roland Jp-8000 - Moog da Rogue

Aequitas123 · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

X-Trade · Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject:

the radias and the R3 are based upon basic subtractive synthesis techniques, but with some other features thrown in. its never clear-cut into one or another category.

most of those 'classic' sounds are based upon subtractive synthesis, where you basically have one or more oscillators which produce harmonically rich waveforms, then remove or attenuate harmonics using one or more filters.

to complicate matters, the R3/Radias throws in some sample-based or PCM synthesis with the samples on offer for oscillator 1 and could also be considered wave-table based, as well as a bit of phase distortion or fm-like features, and you can achieve some basic physical modeling using the comb filter setting in filter #2.
you could also call it additive because it has more than one oscillator per voice... there are also waveshaper modes which can make suboscillators..

furthermore, it has (at least the radias does) at least one granular-based effect available...

the overall structure of many synths including the r3/radias is mainly based upon the subtractive methods. but there are simple implimentations of a few others too.

if you are interested in FM, the most popular synth was the Yamaha DX7, there are some kawai keyboards (K5 i think?) that can do additive.

SynthAntonius · Full Member Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 101

Oh, I see...

Grain shifter is a very cool effect - granular synthesis.... Cool

You could do lot's of cool stuff with it... very usefull for crazy electro mixes.
_________________
My gear: Roland Fantom x8 - Korg Radias - Access Virus b - Roland Jp-8000 - Moog da Rogue

Aequitas123 · Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

Thanks guys! That helps alot!