__ TIMBRE _________________________________________

The sound of a piano is different than the sound
of a clarinet - even though they may be playing
the exact same melody. Each instrument has its own
unique sound. This unique sound is often referred
to as the instrument's "timbre", pronounced
"timber" or "tamber".

A synthesizer provides you with the means to create
and edit your own timbres. The basic parameters
that control a synthesized timbre are: synthesis
method (CONNECTION), envelope generation, oscil-
lator and level control.

__ SYNTHESIS METHODS ______________________________

Ad Lib compatible sound sythesizer cards create
sounds by one of two methods: Frequency Modulation
Synthesis or Additive Synthesis.

The outputs of two identical "operators" are com-
bined to make the sounds you hear.  One is called
the "Modulator" and the other is the "Carrier". In
Frequency Modulation synthesis,the output of the
Modulator modifies the frequency of the Carrier. In
Additive Synthesis, the outputs of the Modulator
and Carrier are combined, or added together.

__ ENVELOPE GENERATION ____________________________

The envelope controls the general "shape" of a
timbre. For example, a note played on an accordion
starts immediately, maintains its sound evenly and
then cuts off as abruptly as it started. On the
other hand, a plucked guitar string starts immed-
iately but the sound dies off.

The envelope is made up of several parameters:

 Attack Rate is the time it takes for a sound to
 reach its peak volume.

 Decay Rate is the amount of time it takes for the
 sound to fall to its sustain level.

 Release Rate is the time it takes for the sound to
 fade to silence after you release a key.

 Sustaining Sound (SUS SOUND) is used to keep the
 sound at the sustain level for as long as the note
 is held. If sustaining sound is off, the sound im-
 mediately fades to silence once the sustain level
 is reached.

 Envelope Scaling (ENV SCALING) is used to adjust
 the envelope shape the particular pitch being
 played. For example, on a piano the high notes are
 shorter than the low notes.

__ OSCILLATOR CONTROL _____________________________

Use oscillator parameters to control the frequency
attributes of your timbres.

 Frequency Multiplier (MULTI) enables you to change
 the oscillator frequency so that the sound played
 becomes a multiple of the note's frequency.

 Frequency Vibrato (FREQ VIBRATO) effects a slight
 fluctuation to the oscillator frequency.

 Modulator Feedback (FEEDBACK) is used to feed back
 the output of the modulator back to its input.

 Waveform Selection (WAVE) allows selection of the
 shape of the sound wave used to create a sound.
 Most natural sounds are made up of smooth "sine"
 waves. With synthesizers you may substitute other
 wave shapes to create unusual sounds.

__ LEVEL CONTROL __________________________________

These parameters deal with the overall output
levels of each operator.

 Output Level (OUTPUT) sets an operator's maximum
 volume. In frequency modulation, the modulator
 output level determines the intensity of the
 carrier modulation; the carrier's output level
 controls the overall volume of the sound.

 Level Scaling (KSL) adjusts the volume of the
 sounds according to its pitch.  This is used to
 reproduce the phenomenon on acoustic instruments
 where the lower tones sound louder than the
 higher notes.

 Amplitude Vibrato (AMP VIBRATO) effects a slight
 fluctuation to an operator's output level.

Use SoundSculptor to edit these parameters to make
your own custom timbres. Some of the concepts may
be unfamiliar but experimentation is the best way
to understand them.  Load a familiar sound and
change one parameter at a time and listen to its
effect.
