SYNTHESIS · 01
Additive synthesis.
Build a timbre by adding harmonics. Listen and watch as each component transforms the sound.
Playback
BUILD THE TIMBRE
Harmonic amplitudes
H1 sets the pitch. The higher harmonics change the tone colour.
Spectrum
frequency →WHAT IS HAPPENING
From simple components to a complex timbre.
Additive synthesis builds sounds by adding sine waves. Their frequencies are multiples of a fundamental: f, 2f, 3f, 4f…
The fundamental defines the perceived pitch. Lower harmonics add body; higher harmonics add brightness and detail.
The profiles load familiar combinations. Sawtooth uses all harmonics with amplitude 1/n; square uses only odd harmonics. “Soft odd harmonics” reduces the high frequencies using 1/n².