Linear arithmetic synthesis: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Method of sound synthesis}}{{Original research|date=February 2024|reason=}}

{{Unreferenced|date=November 2020}}

'''Linear arithmetic synthesis''', or '''LA''' '''synthesis''', is a termmeans of [[sound synthesis]] invented by the [[Roland Corporation]] when they released their [[Roland D-50|D-50]] synthesizer in April 1987.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.roland.com/global/promos/d-50_30th_anniversary/ | title=Roland - D-50 30th Anniversary }}</ref>

== Overview ==

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LA synthesis combines traditional [[subtractive synthesis]] with [[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]]-based samples.

The term ''linear arithmetic'' refers to synthesis that puts sounds together in a timeline. Typically a PCM transient begins a note, which is then continued with a subtractive synthesis prolongation. Roland did not use the term ''additive'', as [[additive synthesis]] already refers to a different synthesis method.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mixmag.net/feature/the-10-most-influential-synths-of-all-time | title=The 10 most influential synths of all time }}</ref>

This technology first appeared in 1987, in the [[Roland D-50]] synthesizer. At the time, re-synthesizing samplers were very expensive, so Roland set out to produce a machine that would be easy to program, sound realistic, and still sound like a synthesizer. Also, Yamaha had previously gained world market lead with their [[Yamaha DX7|DX7]] [[frequency modulation synthesis|FM synth]], which excelled at metallic, percussive sounds—something that Roland's synths using subtractive synthesis were less good at.

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Two partials grouped together created a ''tone''. Tones could be modified using up to three [[low-frequency oscillator]]s, a pitch envelope, a programmable equalizer, and on-board effects such as reverberation and chorus. Two tones grouped together created a [[patch (synthesizer)|patch]].

==Hardware==

** [[Roland CM-32L]]

** [[Roland CM-32LN]]

** [[Roland CM-64]]

** [[Roland CM-500]]

** [[Roland D-05]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.roland.com/global/products/d-05/ | title=Roland - D-05 &#124; Linear Synthesizer }}</ref>

** [[Roland D-10]]

** [[Roland D-110]]

** [[Roland D-20]]

** [[Roland D-50]]

** [[Roland D-550]]<ref>[https://encyclotronic.com/synthesizers/roland/d-550-r331/ Synthesizer Roland D 550] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

** [[Roland E-10]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roland E-10 Owner's Manual |url=https://cdn.roland.com/assets/media/pdf/E-10_OM.pdf |access-date=1 July 2025 |website=www.cdn.roland.com}}</ref>

** [[Roland E-15]]

** [[Roland E-20]]

** [[Roland E-30]]

** [[Roland Pro-E]]

**[[Roland JD-800]]

** [[Roland LAPC-I]]

** [[Roland LAPC-N]]

** [[Roland MT-32]]

** [[Roland MT-100]]

** [[Roland RA-50]]

==Similar concepts==

Yamaha's [[Yamaha SY77|SY77]], its rack-mount equivalent [[Yamaha TG77|TG77]], and successor SY99 introduced Advanced Wave Memory 2 (AWM2), enabling playback and digital filtering of samples. Notably, these also let AWM2 samples be used as transients to Advanced FM (AFM) synth sounds, as looped oscillators in their own right, or even as modulators of AFM carriers. This, like LA, enabled more realistic modeling of physical instruments, and in combination with FM, new possibilities for synthesis. The SY99 seemed to be the last FM workstation by Yamaha, and the later FM synth [[Yamaha FS1R|FS1R]] did not feature AWM — so SY99 was seemingly the last synthsynthesizer into whichcombine AWM andwith fully-fledged FM could be combined. This was until the [[Yamaha Montage|Montage]] in 2016, which combines a later version of AWM2 with FM-X (an offshoot of the FM engine from FS1R, without the latter's Formant Synthesis) - though without letting samples be used as modulators, as the 77/99 series did. In any case, AWM sampling on its own has become a mainstay of subsequent flagship Yamaha products, such as the Yamaha EX5, [[Yamaha Motif|Motif]], and Montage lines — which still use the umbrella term AWM2, though the engine's details have changed many times.

[[Casio]] has also developed a similar synthesis system known as ''Advanced and High Quality Large Waveform'', better known as AHL, for use on their portable keyboard line.

Earlier Casio keyboard models instead use ZPI, a similar but more advanced system. AHL was originally a simplified version of the previous ZPI, in which both are mostly optimized for acoustic instrument samples.

Ensoniq with the [[Ensoniq SQ-80|SQ-80]] called the same technique Cross Wave Synthesis. Kawai with the [[Kawai_K4Kawai K4|K4]] called the same technique Digital Multi Spectrum.

Korg's Modwave engine was designed to do both the morphing wavetable and sample synthesis, along with the usage of MS-20 filters due to its slope, which makes it closer to Roland's D-50 / D-550 / D-05 LA synthesizers. Some features are limited to layers instead of individual oscillators (e.g. filters).

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://llamamusic.com/d110/index.html ROLAND D-110 HOMEPAGE - A Website Dedicated To The D-110 Synth Module - Patches, Tones, Utilities, Info, DIY's, Reference Materials]

{{Sound synthesis types}}

[[Category:Sound synthesis types|L]]