Perceptions and Synthesis

It is important to have a good understanding of how the various sections of a synthesizer work and how they connect to each other. Having a clear understanding makes it easier to conceptualize what your synth can do. This will allow you to relate the patch creation to our human perceptions:

Perception of Pitch:

  • No. of voices
  • LFO (Vibrato)
  • 8ve
  • Envelope (PEG)
  • Portamento
  • Detuning
  • Pitch Bend
  • Keyboard Note CV

Perception of Timbre:

  • Waveform choice
  • Filter Settings:
    • Filter Type
    • Keyfollow
    • Envelope (FEG)
    • Velocity
    • LFO (Wah Wah)
  • Phase settings
  • Filter Drive
  • Distortion
  • Frequency Modulation

Perception of Loudness:

  • Velocity Sensitivity
  • Envelope (AEG)
  • LFO (Tremolo)

Perception of Space:

  • Panning
  • Reverberation and Delay
  • Chorus/Flanging