Talk:Subtractive synthesis



Uh, hey. I just wanted to say that this article was really clear and I learned a lot from it, I hope it remains generally as it is.

Hello, I'm not the user above but I also wanted to say this article is awsome and very well written. The sound files also give a very clear sounding explanation. I hope you write more on this and other synthesis topics. 213.176.148.218 05:06, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

Would it be excessive to list several of the more popular subtractive hardware and software synths with links to their wikipedia articles here? Sheer panic 03:41, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

Strictly speaking it is not just overtones that are subtracted in subtractive synthesis. Neither is is harmonics as this implies only the harmonic series. I can't think of a better term?? Analog Hell 15:48, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

This is an exemplary article. Very clear and informative. --65.92.137.188 (talk) 15:06, 18 September 2009 (UTC)

The final sound file is missing: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Upload&wpDestFile=Subsynth-lfomod.ogg Truprint (talk) 07:41, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

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The phrase "analog synthesizers of the 1960s and 1970s" makes it sound as though analogue synths were only made in the 60s and 70s but they are still made to this day. This should be completely reworded. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.170.42.150 (talk) 09:54, 2 May 2012 (UTC)

I would like to add to the positive comments about this article. It does a very careful, clear job of explaining an important synthesis process. It is unfortunate that the references don't meet Wikipedia standards, but in terms of content, it's a keeper. Finney1234 (talk) 03:18, 24 May 2020 (UTC)

subtractive synthesis v. "subtractive synthesis"
this is an old issue that's been mostly forgotten, but certain people are likely to find this article maddening.

subtractive synthesis is indeed taking a waveform out - could be harmonics, overtones, or even something totally random. generally, this is done by adding an inverted waveform. meaning "subtractive synthesis" is just additive synthesis, but the special case where a waveform is removed by zeroing it out.

what happened when synths started being mass manufactured was the term "subtractive synthesis" became applied to the process of using filters to shape a waveform. your lpf example is "subtractive synthesis", rather than actual subtractive synthesis. in truth, it's not synthesis at all....

now, the thing is that this is, like, totally ubiquitous. any synthesizer manufacturer anywhere means "subtractive synthesis". but if you ask somebody into signals processing...