Additive synthesis

Additive synthesis is a sound synthesis technique that creates timbre by adding sine waves together. The timbre of musical instruments can be considered in the light of Fourier theory to consist of multiple harmonic or inharmonic partials or overtones.

1. Is FM synthesis an additive?
2. Is additive synthesis better than subtractive?
3. Who created additive synthesis?
4. What is the main disadvantage of additive synthesis?

Is FM synthesis an additive?

In FM, oscillators are called Operators. It differs from additive synthesis in the fact that rather than combining the waves together, the output of one operator is sent to modulate, or "wobble", the next.

Is additive synthesis better than subtractive?

The more blocks you have the more realistic you can make your sculpture. Just like the more oscillators you have in an additive synthesizer the more detailed you can make your sound. Thus additive synths often have more oscillators than subtractive synths and do not require a filter.

Who created additive synthesis?

Additive synthesis dates back to the early 1900s. The theory of additive synthesis, called Fourier's Theorem by Joseph Fourier, goes back all the way to 1822.

What is the main disadvantage of additive synthesis?

The disadvantage with this form of synthesis is its inefficiency in that a great deal of data must be specified to define a sound of any complexity of detail.