Software synthesizer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is missing citations or needs footnotes. Please help add inline citations to guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (September 2008) |
A software synthesizer, also known as a softsynth or virtual instrument is a computer program for digital audio generation. Computer software which can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed are allowing softsynths to accomplish the same tasks as dedicated hardware. Softsynths can be cheaper and more portable than dedicated hardware, and easier to interface with other music software such as music sequencers.
Contents |
[edit] Hardware versus software
Dedicated hardware synthesizers can have software as complex as a soft synth. The distinction is that softsynths run on a general purpose computer with a sound card, and the hardware (dedicated) synthesizers have the custom software built-in. The advantage to dedicated hardware is that it can be more stable, and also that it often has a user interface that is physical (knobs and sliders) and therefore easier to manipulate during performances. Many softsynths use mathematical algorithms which directly emulate the electronic components and circuitry of the original hardware synthesizer. This results in an exceptionally authentic sound, as well as allowing for some of the inconsistencies, such as oscillator drift caused by the thermal sensitivity of the components, to be added.
[edit] Types of softsynths
One common type of softsynth is an simulator(note - emulators are hardware devices, simulators are done with software). There are a number of very popular synthesizers which are no longer manufactured. While some can be purchased second hand, many are expensive and temperamental. The emulation can even extend to having graphics that model the exact placements of controls. Some simulators can even import the original sound patches with accuracy that is nearly indistinguishable from the original synthesizer. Popular synthesizers such as the Minimoog and Yamaha DX-7, Korg M1, Prophet V, Oberheim OB-X, Roland Jupiter 8, ARP 2600 and dozens of other classics have simulators.
Some softsynths are heavily sample based. Computers have fewer restrictions on memory than dedicated hardware synthesizers. Some of these sample based synthesizers come with sample libraries many gigabytes in size. Some are specifically designed to mimic real world instruments such as pianos. Many sample libraries are available in a common format like WAV files, and can be used with almost any sampler based softsynth.
In comparison, an simulator, which uses modeling algorithm's, are heavily processor based. The downside being more latency (delay between playing the note and hearing the corresponding sound). Decreasing latency requires increasing the demand on the computer's processor. When the soft synthesizer is running as a plug-in in a host sequencer, both the soft synth and the sequencer are competing for processor time. Multi-processor computers can handle this better than single-processor computers. As the processor becomes overloaded, sonic artifacts such as "clicks" and "pops" can be heard during performance or playback. When the processor becomes completely overloaded, the host sequencer or computer can lock up or crash. Increasing buffer size will help, but also increase latency. Sample based soft synths do not tax the processor anywhere near as much as simulators, therefore being less at risk to latency issues, but can also crash the computer or host sequencer if adequate memory does not exist. Fortunately, at the time of this edit, memory is quite cheap and easily obtained for computers that are capable of being upgraded.
Another way of categorizing types of softsynths are by the way they run on the computer. Stand-alone softsynths run as a program on the computer, native to its operating system so additional software is not required. Plug-in softsynths require a host application such as a sequencer, which records the music that is played, or a "wrapper" which allows the plug-in to function as if it were a stand-alone soft synth (please note that a "wrapper" can also be a plug-in to allow a softsynth to run on a host sequencer that does not natively support its format, i.e. running a VST plug-in in a sequencer that only supports RTAS as its native format). Fortunately, many softsynths will function as both a plug in and a stand-alone.
[edit] Plug-in compatibility
It is common for recent softsynths to be compatible with technology such as Virtual Studio Technology (VST), which allow other music software to interface with the softsynth. Plug-in technologies include VST, DirectX instrument (DXi), Motu Audio System (MAS), Audio Units (AU), and Real Time AudioSuite (RTAS).
