Abstract Analog synthesizers are still popular with musicians because of their distinctive timbres, intuitive real-time control and flexible patching. Recently there has been great interest in simulating the analog signal chain with digital techniques. However, a literal time-domain translation of analog VCOs and VCFs is surprisingly challenging and computationally expensive. This report presents a new strategy for digital simulation based on spectral descriptions of analog modules and additive synthesis techniques.
Audio output is qualitatively close to that of analog synthesizers.
Introduction Analog synthesizers are still popular because of their distinctive timbres, intuitive real-time control and flexible patching. Since digital synthesizers are now cheaper to make and don't suffer from the tuning problems of their analog counterparts, it is interesting to simulate the analog signal chain with digital techniques. A literal time-domain translation of each analog functional module into digital form is surprisingly challenging. Creating band-limited sawtooth and square waves over a wide variety of pitches is computationally expensive. Some filter topologies used in VCFs are not realizable digitally.