Synth Glossary

A module that samples (captures) the voltage of a continuously varying voltage signal and holds (locks, freezes) its value at a constant level for a...

A module that generates a sequence of voltages or pulses in a controlled manner. It can be used to create patterns of notes, rhythms, or stepped control...

A shelving filter boosts or attenuates frequencies above or below a specified cutoff frequency. This is often used in equalization to adjust the overall...

Subtractive synthesis," often associated with Robert Moog, follows a different approach to sound design compared to "West Coast synthesis." Instead of...

The unique texture or character of a sound that distinguishes it from others, even if they have the same pitch and loudness. Timbre is shaped by the...

A trigger is a short control signal used in modular synthesis to initiate an event. Unlike gates, triggers are very brief, often lasting less than 10...

A Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (VCA) is a module that varies the amplitude of an incoming signal based on a control voltage. This control voltage can...

A wavefolder is like sonic spice—it takes a simple waveform, like a sine or triangle wave, and transforms it into a rich, peppery, complex waveform full of...

The shape of a periodic signal, visualized as a graph of amplitude over time. Waveforms represent how a signal behaves and are fundamental to sound and...

The physical distance between two consecutive points of a wave that are in the same phase, such as two peaks or two troughs. Wavelength is inversely...

"West Coast synthesis," often attributed to Don Buchla, takes an additive approach to sound design by enriching waveforms with few harmonics, like sine or...

White noise: Contains equal energy at all frequencies within the audible range, resulting in a "hissing" sound similar to the sound of air or static.

White noise is random noise with equal energy at all frequencies. It has a flat power spectral density (0 dB/oct). In synthesis, white noise is used to...