Analog modeling synthesizer
Encyclopedia
An Analog Modeling Synthesizer is a synthesizer
that generates the sounds of traditional analog synthesizer
s using DSP
components and software algorithm
s to simulate the behaviour of the original electric and electronic circuitry, in order to obtain the sound in a more precise manner from the simulated inner working of the circuitry, instead of attempting to recreate the sound directly. This method of synthesis is also referred to as Virtual Analog or VA. There is a vague consensus that while VAs can be useful and expressive instruments in their own right, they are not always a full replacement for real analog synthesizers; on the other hand, they exceed many analog instruments in reliability, lack of tuning
and heating issues, limited polyphony
, and they offer patch storage capabilities and MIDI support not found on all ancient (pre-1983) analog instruments.
Examples of VA synthesizers include:
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
that generates the sounds of traditional analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
s using DSP
Digital signal processing
Digital signal processing is concerned with the representation of discrete time signals by a sequence of numbers or symbols and the processing of these signals. Digital signal processing and analog signal processing are subfields of signal processing...
components and software algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
s to simulate the behaviour of the original electric and electronic circuitry, in order to obtain the sound in a more precise manner from the simulated inner working of the circuitry, instead of attempting to recreate the sound directly. This method of synthesis is also referred to as Virtual Analog or VA. There is a vague consensus that while VAs can be useful and expressive instruments in their own right, they are not always a full replacement for real analog synthesizers; on the other hand, they exceed many analog instruments in reliability, lack of tuning
Musical tuning
In music, there are two common meanings for tuning:* Tuning practice, the act of tuning an instrument or voice.* Tuning systems, the various systems of pitches used to tune an instrument, and their theoretical bases.-Tuning practice:...
and heating issues, limited polyphony
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
, and they offer patch storage capabilities and MIDI support not found on all ancient (pre-1983) analog instruments.
Examples of VA synthesizers include:
- Access VirusAccess VirusThe Access Virus is a virtual analog synthesizer made by the German company Access Music GmbH. It was first produced in 1997 and has since been upgraded frequently, with the company releasing new models about every two years. Early models include the Virus A, Virus B, and Virus C series, each...
line of VA synths - AlesisAlesisAlesis is a company based in Cumberland, Rhode Island, that designs and markets electronic musical instruments, digital audio processors, audio mixers, digital audio interfaces, recording equipment, drum machines, professional audio and electronic percussion products...
IonAlesis IonThe Alesis Ion is an analog modeling synthesizer. It was presented to the public on the Summer NAMM of 2002 . Unlike the Alesis Andromeda, Alesis's analog synthesizer, its sounds are synthesized using DSP chips to mimic the sound of analog audio circuitry and components.-Features:The Ion has...
, Micron and FusionAlesis FusionAlesis Fusion is a music production workstation produced by Alesis introduced in early 2005. The workstation is available in two models. The Fusion 6HD is a sixty-one note semi-weighted keyboard workstation. The Fusion 8HD is an eighty-eight note weighted keyboard workstation. The two models... - ClaviaClaviaClavia Digital Musical Instruments is a Swedish manufacturer of virtual analog synthesizers, virtual electromechanical pianos and stage pianos, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson.-The Company:...
Nord LeadClavia Nord LeadClavia Nord Lead is a virtual analog subtractive synthesizer, which was developed in Sweden, being released to the public by Clavia in 1995.The Nord Lead was the first synthesizer on the market to emulate analog synthesis. The now widely accepted term "virtual analog", was first coined by Clavia...
and Nord ModularClavia Nord ModularThe Clavia Nord Modular series is a line of synthesizers produced by Clavia, a Swedish digital synthesizer manufacturer. The Nord Modular series, in common with their sister range the Nord Lead series, are analogue modelling synthesizers, producing sounds which approximate those produced by...
series - KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
Z1, ProphecyKorg ProphecyThe Korg Prophecy is considered one of the earliest "virtual analog" synthesizers, although its synthesis capabilities went beyond many of its VA contemporaries....
, MS-2000Korg MS-2000The Korg MS2000 is a virtual analog synthesizer produced by the Japanese electronic musical instrument manufacturer Korg.-History and features:...
, microKORGMicroKORGThe microKORG is a MIDI-capable virtual analog synthesizer/vocoder from Korg featuring high-quality DSP analog modelling. The synth/keyboard is built in such a way that it is essentially a Korg MS-2000 with programmable step arpeggiator , a less advanced vocoder , lack of motion sequencing The...
, RADIASKorg RADIASKorg RADIAS is a virtual analog synthesizer, released by KORG corp. in 2006.RADIAS' MMT engine was based on Korg's Oasys AL-1 synthesizer module, providing for several different synthesis methods, two of which may be combined in a single voice e.g. Phase Distortion Synthesis can be combined with...
, R3 - Kurzweil PC3X
- Novation SupernovaNovation SupernovaThe Novation SuperNova is a virtual analogue synthesizer made by the British company Novation. It was the predecessor of the cut-down Nova and was considered, at the time, to be the company's flagship synthesizer.-Overview:...
, Supernova II, Nova, A-Station, K-Station, X-StationX-StationThe Novation X-Station is a virtual analog synthesizer, audio interface and MIDI controller made by the British company Novation. It is the end-result of adding an audio interface, a KS-class synthesiser and an effects section to the company's ReMOTE controllers. The product was sold for a short...
, XioSynth, Ultranova - Oberheim OB12Oberheim OB12The Oberheim OB•12 is a Virtual Analog synthesizer, designed and realised by the italian musical instrument manufacturer Viscount, in production between 2000 and 2005....
- RolandRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
JP-8000Roland JP-8000The Roland JP-8000 is an analog modeling synthesizer released by the Roland Corporation in 1997.- Overview :The Roland JP-8000 was released in early 1997 to compete with the other analog modeling synthesizers of the period such as the Access Virus, Clavia Nord Lead the Korg MS2000 and the Yamaha AN1x...
, JP-8080, V-Synth, SH-201Roland SH-201The Roland SH-201 is an analog modeling synthesizer introduced in 2006 by the Roland Corporation. The SH-201 is equipped with two analogue modeling oscillators , a multi-mode filter, ring modulator, and it allows routing an external audio signal into its own dedicated filter. The input signal can... - WaldorfWaldorf MusicWaldorf Music AG is a German synthesizer company. It was founded on 1 January 2003 to take over the actual business of the Waldorf Electronics GmbH which had become insolvent. Waldorf is best known for its Microwave wavetable synthesizer and Q virtual analogue synthesizer lines.- History :Waldorf...
Q, Q+ and MicroQ - Yamaha AN1xYamaha AN1xYamaha AN1x, produced by Yamaha Corporation from 1997 to 1998, is a DSP-based analog modeling synthesizer and while it was marketed as "Analog physical modeling control synthesizer", it doesn't employ actual physical modeling synthesis....