Subtractive synthesis,” often associated with Robert Moog, follows a different approach to sound design compared to “West Coast synthesis.” Instead of adding harmonics, subtractive synthesis starts with harmonically rich waveforms, such as square or saw waves, and removes harmonics using filters and other processing. The terms “East Coast synthesis” and “West Coast synthesis” originated from the geographical locations of Moog and Buchla, respectively, who were both developing synthesizers during the same era. These terms are now commonly used to differentiate between additive and subtractive synthesis techniques
Synonyms:
suctractive
