Synthesizer Waveform Fundamentals 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 Synthesizer Waveform Fundamentals flashcards as text
The amplitude of a waveform corresponds to which perceived quality?
Answer: Loudness
Amplitude is the height of the wave and corresponds to how loud the sound is perceived.
In additive synthesis, complex timbres are built by combining many of which waveform?
Answer: Sine waves
Additive synthesis stacks individual sine waves at different frequencies and amplitudes to form complex tones.
Which waveform is the standard raw material for subtractive synthesis because a filter can carve its many harmonics?
Answer: Sawtooth wave
The harmonically rich sawtooth gives a low-pass filter plenty of overtones to shape.
A low-frequency oscillator (LFO) applied to pitch creates which effect?
Answer: Vibrato
An LFO modulating pitch produces periodic pitch variation known as vibrato.
An LFO applied to amplitude instead of pitch creates which effect?
Answer: Tremolo
Modulating amplitude with an LFO produces a rhythmic volume change called tremolo.
Frequency modulation (FM) synthesis generates complex timbres primarily by using which waveforms as operators?
Answer: Sine waves
Classic FM synthesis uses sine-wave operators that modulate each other to create rich sidebands.
The period of a waveform is best defined as what?
Answer: The time for one complete cycle
The period is the duration of one full cycle and is the inverse of frequency.