Recent technical enhancements to the fundamental digital sampling synthesizer with emphasis on vector synthesis, advanced vector synthesis, and wave sequencing

Abstract

Sampling technology is the basis for the vast majority of the current generation of electronic musical synthesizers. Almost all of the present day electronic music synthesizers are based on sampling technology in one form or another. Over the past several years, many innovative enhancements have been added to the basic sampling technology. Each manufacturer has added their own special ‘‘tricks’’ to the fundamental underlying sampling technology. This presentation will review basic sampling technology and briefly mention techniques used by several current manufacturers. The presentation will focus on vector synthesis introduced on the sequential prophet VS synthesizer and advanced vector synthesis introduced on the Korg Wavestation series of synthesizers. Vector synthesis is a synthesis method which uses four sampled waveforms blended together through a two-dimensional vector mixer. Advanced vector synthesis combines vector synthesis with wave sequencing. Wave sequencing is a technique for sequencing a series of sampled waveforms in order to create complex timbers which evolve over time. Audio examples will be presented.