Conference napalm::commusic_v1

RE < Note 1826.0 by BPOV04::M_CLEMENT >

	I'd say if you're going to go with FM synthesis, buy from the people
that do it best.  Get a Yamaha DX11 and you'll get all the sounds of the DS8
plus a lot more functionality.  The only thing you'll miss is the internal
digital delay.

	Dan

    re. 1
    
    thanks for responding...
    
    What are the alternatives to FM synthesis, and what does it mean
    in regards to sound and price?
    
    Mark

RE < Note 1826.2 by BPOV04::M_CLEMENT >

>    What are the alternatives to FM synthesis, and what does it mean
>    in regards to sound and price?

	Now, that's a loaded question (of the magnitude of asking "What other
cars are there?" after having viewed only one manufacturer's)!

	Let's see if I can put together a decent list (other's help me out...)

	FM Synthesis (4 Operator/8 algorythm)
	FM Synthesis (6 Operator/32 algorythm)
	Analog Synthesis (subtractive)
	Analog Synthesis (additive)
	Wave-table synthesis
	Phase distortion Synthesis
	Sampling
	Linear Addaptive Synthesis
	Structured Adaptive Synthesis
	
	Gosh, I can't think of any more...

	But you get the idea.  You can get something in almost any of these
styles of synthesis in a wide range of prices.  You really have to hear them to 
know if they are close to what you want out of a synth.

	Another approach you could make would be to give a general price range 
and we could let you know what was available in the varying types of synthesis
in that range.

	Dan
    

    Don't forget
    
    	Granular Synthesis
    	Fourier Synthesis (kind of like additive crossed with sampling)
    	.
    	.                          
    	.
                                          
    
    The BIG families are:
    
    FM/Phase synthesis - using the instantaneous amplitude of one wave to
    	change the instantaneous frequency or phase of another wave.
        Usually both waves are sine waves.
    		
    		o Makes good percussive sounds (bells)
    		o Makes OK strings
    		o Makes lousy winds
    		o Programming can be difficult unless you like
    		  Bessel functions (which I do like).
                         
    Analog synthesis - An oscillator generates a wave.  Filters are
        then used to shape the wave. Often there are more than 1 oscillator;
    	sometimes there are 3 or 4.
    
    		o Makes good winds
    		o Makes great strings
    		o Makes lousy percussive sounds
    		o Programming can be simple or complex depending on
    		  the instrument (compare a Micro-Moog versus a Matrix-12).
    
    Sampling - a digital representation of a wave is "read out" by the
    	keyboard rapidly.  The readout may be (optionally) filtered
    	by analog filters.  The digital representation may (optionally)
    	be "spliced" or "looped" as if it were a snippet of magnetic
    	tape in a studio cutting room.
    
    		o Can duplicate any sound you can tape-record
    		  (dogs barking, birds singing, trash cans clanging,
    		   Stradivarius violins playing, etc ), and at different
    		   pitches.
    		o Doesn't really let you create a lot of new sounds
    		  from scratch, just modify sounds you already have
    		  (sometimes beyond human recognizability !)
    

    Oh man,,,
    
    I think I need an engineering degree to understand all this stuff.
    
    Well I bought a Korg DW-8000 last Friday.  It is a Digital Wave
    Form Synth.
    
    I really like the pre-set sounds available off of the tape.
    
    Great Hammond Organ & Cathedral Organ sound.
    Great Piano options.
    Great Clavinette.
    Great Slap Bass.
    
    Anyhow I have only yet touched the surface of what can be done with
    this synth.  You can variate all of the pre-set sounds, and create/
    program your own sounds.  Load & save to/from tape.
    
    I am having some fun with the effects sounds.
    
    I should learn more about the technology.  But my main concerns
    are the ability to have a versatile keyboard for jamming with
    other musicians.  So the basic keyboard sounds I am very happy with.
    
    Thanks for the info.
    
    Mark.