20 Things you should know about.

Synthesizers Electronic instruments usually with a keyboard Rotary controls (knobs) and sliders control the sound produced Types of synthesis = subtractive, additive, FM, physical modelling, granular, wavetable Subtractive synthesis = starting with a full waveform and filtering Moog Robert Moog created the first commercially available synthesizer Mini-Moog / Moog Prodigy / Creates a synthetic sound unlike any other musical instrument Alien sounds, Sci-Fi, futuristic Film, the Forbidden Planet Used in TV adverts for its unique sound Used by progressive rock bands (YES, Rick Wakeman) Oscillator creates square, triangle, sawtooth, pulse or noise waveforms Filter - filter sweep using the Cut-off control = wah wah sound ADSR envelope used to shape the amplitude (volume) of the sound Attack Decay Sustain Release LFO Low Frequency Oscillator Modulation created by the LFO Tremolo = Amplitude Modulation (AM) wobbling the volume Vibrato = Frequency Modulation (FM) wobbling the pitch The Prodigy 90s dance music band named after Moog syntheiszer Modern synth plug-ins use physical modelling Multi-track Recording Invented by Les Paul. He fitted an extra record head to a tape machine The ability to record different audio tracks, side by side, on the same tape Recording techniques - Overdubbing, track laying, double tracking Analogue tape liked for its warm sound. Reel to Reel tape machines - Studer, Revox (Ampex made the tape) Studio reel to reel machines had 3 heads - Erase, Record and Play Each head was split into a number of separate tracks multi-track Speed was 7.5, 15 or 30 inches per second (most common was 15 ips) Width of tape was inch, inch, 1 inch or 2 inch Faster speeds and wider tape gave higher audio quality Number of tracks = 4, 8, 16, 32, 48 track machines Tape machines could be synced together to get more tracks Tape machines were noisy so studios had a separate tape room Tape costs were high, typically 90 for a 20 minute multi-track tape DAW Digital Audio Workstation. A computer able to record many tracks Pro-Tools, Logic. Cubase, Sonar Analogue tape machines were synced to the computer Beatles used the studio like a musical instrument in the 60s and Prog Rock bands loved using large numbers of tracks in the 70s Studios need large mixing consoles with multiple group outputs to Adrian Smith

20 Things you should know about.

send to the inputs of the tape recorder or computer An audio interface is needed to convert the analogue audio into digital audio to be recorded into the computer. The same interface is used to convert the digital signal back to analogue so it can be heard

Drum Machines Electronic device that contains drum sounds Kick, snare, clap, closed hi-hat, open hi-hat, toms, cow bell Drum machines have an internal sequencer Short, one bar, sequences are stored as patterns Typically 16 steps were included in a 1 bar pattern (in 4/4) ( time could also be selected) Variations can be created by playing back different patterns Step Input or Real-time Input could be used to program a pattern Beats were automatically quantized Beats were machine-like and rigid Beats could be fast and very complex compared to a real drummer Influenced modern drummers as they tried to copy the beats Some machines featured tuneable sounds and sampled sounds The sounds were not realistic but influenced the sound of dance music 80s Pop Music The Human League, Gary Numan Dance Music, House, Techno Famous drum machines = Roland TR-808 (1980) and Roland TR-909 (1984) Linn Drum LM-1 (1980) 808 Sate 90s dance/pop band named after their favourite TR-808 Computer sequencers can be used to play the sounds in a drum machine MIDI is used to control a drum machine using an external sequencer As drum machines developed they became more complex including song modes for complex pattern arrangements, tuning of each drum, separate outputs and built in effects. Effects Plate reverb Spring reverb Digital reverb Reverb plug-ins Convolution reverb Tape delay / echo Digital delay Stereo delay, ping pong delay Modulation Effects Chorus Phasor Flanger Tremolo Distortion, overdrive, fuzz Adrian Smith

20 Things you should know about.

Compression Gate Enhancer Ring Modulation Bit Crusher Wah Filter Pitch Shift

Adrian Smith