An essential component of digital emulations of subtractive synthesizer systems are the algorithms used to generate the classic oscillator waveforms of sawtooth, square and triangle waves. Not only should these be perceived to be authentic sonically, but they should also exhibit minimal aliasing distortions and be computationally efficient to implement. This paper examines a set of novel techniques for the production of the classic oscillator waveforms of Analogue subtractive synthesis that are derived from using amplitude or phase distortion of a mono-component input waveform. Expressions for the outputs of these distortion methods are given that allow parameter control to ensure proper bandlimited behavior. Additionally, their implementation is demonstrably efficient. Lastly, the results presented illustrate their equivalence to their original Analogue counterparts

Authors: Timoney, Joseph; Lazzarini, Victor; Carty, Brian; Pekonen, Jussi
Affiliations: Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo, Finland; NUI Maynooth, Maynooth, Ireland(See document for exact affiliation information.)
AES Convention: 126 (May 2009) Paper Number: 7792
Publication Date: May 1, 2009 Import into BibTeX
Subject: Sound Design and Processing
Permalink: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=14988

Click to purchase paper as a non-member or login as an AES member. If your company or school subscribes to the E-Library then switch to the institutional version. If you are not an AES member and would like to subscribe to the E-Library then Join the AES!

This paper costs $33 for non-members and is free for AES members and E-Library subscribers.

Learn more about the AES E-Library

E-Library Location: (CD 126Papers)   /126/7792.pdf

Start a discussion about this paper!