Synthesis and Sound Design Flashcards
7 cards from real Music & Audio Advice practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Synthesis and Sound Design flashcards as text
A patch with a fast attack and fast decay but zero sustain best suits which sound?
Answer: A percussive pluck
Fast attack/decay with no sustain creates a short, plucky transient ideal for percussive tones.
To design a warm analog-style pad, which approach helps most?
Answer: Slow attack, detuned oscillators, gentle low-pass
Slow attacks, detuning, and gentle filtering produce a soft, evolving pad.
Why apply a slight high-pass filter to a bass synth in a busy mix?
Answer: To remove sub rumble that clashes with the kick
High-passing the bass clears inaudible sub rumble so the kick has room.
Modulating filter cutoff with an envelope creates what common effect?
Answer: A 'wah' or sweep as the note plays
An envelope on cutoff opens or closes the filter over time, producing a sweeping motion.
Adding unison voices to an oscillator primarily increases what?
Answer: Width and thickness
Stacking detuned unison voices makes a sound wider and thicker.
For a punchy bass, why might you keep its sound mostly mono?
Answer: To maintain a solid, centered low end
Mono low frequencies stay centered and translate better on systems and vinyl.
Which technique best adds movement to a static synth pad?
Answer: An LFO slowly modulating filter cutoff
A slow LFO on cutoff gently animates the timbre, keeping a pad alive.