Linear arithmetic synthesis: Difference between revisions

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

'''Linear Arithmetic synthesis''', or '''LA''' synthesis, is a term that was invented by the [[Roland Corporation]] when they released their ground-breaking [[Roland D-50|D-50]] synthesizer in 1987.

'''Linear Arithmeticarithmetic synthesis''', or '''LA''' '''synthesis''', is a termmeans thatof was[[sound synthesis]] invented by the [[Roland Corporation]] when they released their ground-breaking [[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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[[File:Roland_D-50.jpg|thumb|right|The Roland D-50 uses LA synthesis]]

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

The term "''linear arithmetic"'' refers to synthesis that isputs allsounds digitaltogether (linear)in anda timeline. Typically a summingPCM (arithmetic)transient ofbegins soundsa note, which is then continued with a subtractive synthesis prolongation. Roland was carefuldid not to use the term "''additive"'', as this[[additive issynthesis]] analready entirelyrefers to a different synthesis method.<ref>{{cite ofweb synthesis| 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 was first seenappeared in 1987, within the groundbreaking [[Roland D-50]] synthesizer. At the time, resynthesizingre-synthesizing samplers were very expensive, so Roland set out to presentproduce a machine to the general public that couldwould be easy to program, sound realistic, and at the same timestill sound like a "synth"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, somethingsounds—something that Roland's synths using subtractive synthesis were notless good at.

Roland understood that their subtractive synthesis method neededhad to be changedchange. One of the more complex parts of a sound to program is the attack [[Transient (acoustics)|transient]], so Roland added a suite of sampled attack transients to subtractive synthesis. As well as the attack transients, Roland added a suite of single-cycle sampled waveforms that could be continuously looped. Sounds could now have three components: An attack, a body made from a subtractive synth sound (saw or pulse wave through a filter) and an "embellishment" of one of many looped samples. (The looped samples also contained a collection of totally synthetic waves derived from additive synthesis, as well as sequences of inharmonic wave cycles. Thus, LA synthesis offered the realistic sounds of a sampler with the control and creativity of a synthesizer.)

The PCM waveforms could be modified with a pitch envelope and a time-variant amplifier. Waveforms from the sound wave generators could be further modified with time-variant filters for cutoff frequency and resonance. These modified waveforms were called "partials".

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 allowedlet AWM2 samples to 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 allowingletting samples to 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.

Ensoniq with the [[Ensoniq SQ-80|SQ-80]] called the same technique Cross Wave Synthesis.

[[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.

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 allowed AWM2 samples to 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 synth in which AWM and 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 allowing samples to be used as modulators, as the 77/99 series did.

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 K4|K4]] called the same technique Digital Multi Spectrum.

In any case, AWM sampling on its own has gone on to be a mainstay of subsequent flagship products by Yamaha, such as the Yamaha EX5, [[Yamaha Motif|Motif]], and Montage lines - which, to this day, still use the umbrella term AWM2, though the engine's details have changed many times.

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).

[[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.

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

AHL was originally a simplified version of the previous ZPI, in which both are mostly optimized for acoustic instrument samples.

* [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]]