How do wavetables work?
Wavetable synthesis is fundamentally based on periodic reproduction of an arbitrary, single-cycle waveform. The position in the wavetable selects the single cycle waveform. Digital interpolation between adjacent waveforms allows for dynamic and smooth changes of the timbre of the tone produced.
How long is a wavetable?
Wavetables typically consist of between 128 – 2048 table values (powers of two are common).
What is wavetable synthesis good for?
They’re great for pads and atmospheric patches, adding interest to longer, droning sound. Wavetables are great for replicating both vintage synths and acoustic instruments too; they can replicate the natural variety inherent in both analogue oscillators and real instruments.
How are wavetables made?
Wavetable synthesis is a technique used in certain digital music synthesizers to produce natural tone-like sounds. The sound of an existing instrument (a single note) is sampled and parsed into a sequence of circular tables of samples or wavetables, each having one period or cycle per table.
Are wavetables samples?
Wavetables are typically stored as WAV files just like samples. But while samples contain a single possible sound that can be any length, wavetables contain many different single cycle waveforms stacked together and are rarely longer than 12 seconds.
What is the difference between FM synthesis and wavetable synthesis?
The frequency of an oscillator is altered or distorted, “in accordance with the amplitude of a modulating signal.” FM synthesis can create both harmonic and inharmonic sounds. Wavetable synthesis is a sound synthesis technique that employs arbitrary periodic waveforms in the production of musical tones or notes.
How does subtractive synthesis work?
Subtractive synthesis is one of the main types of synthesis. As its name implies, tones are created by subtracting unwanted frequencies, to form the sound that you’re looking to produce. These elements form the key attributes of the sound that you’re working to produce.
What is a wavetable and how does it work?
Wavetables are “complex” oscillator shapes; essentially pre-defined sets of tiny wave shapes that go far beyond traditional shapes like triangle and saw waves – although these are perfectly fine, too! (If you need to brush up on the most common synthesis methods, check out our article Wavetable vs FM vs Additive vs Subtractive Synthesis.)
What is wavetable synthesis in music?
Wavetable Synthesis. Wavetable synthesis is a technique used in certain digital music synthesizers to produce natural tone-like sounds. The sound of an existing instrument (a single note) is sampled and parsed into a sequence of circular tables of samples or wavetables, each having one period or cycle per table.
What are the best wavetables for synths?
Xfer Serum, Arturia Pigments, Reveal Sound Spire, and NI’s Massive X are some of the most popular workhorse synths, all of which use wavetables. While they each incorporate many different types of synthesis, at their core are powerful wavetable oscillators capable of generating a huge range of complex, animated sounds inside a single oscillator.
How many frames can be in a wavetable?
As mentioned, there can be up to 256 “frames” per wavetable. More frames are theoretically possible, but many synths max out at 256 because that’s all you really need. Many interesting wavetables can be made with just a few frames anyway!