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> Because they relied on audio samples rather than sounds that were designed from scratch, the Kurzweils were known as additive synthesizers. This is absolutel
by ssalazar 11y ago
> Because they relied on audio samples rather than sounds that were designed from scratch, the Kurzweils were known as additive synthesizers.
This is absolutely incorrect- this describes a wavetable synthesizer, which is what the early Kurzweil's were. An additive synthesizer works by adding individual sine waves together of various amplitudes and frequencies.
- ctdonath 11y agoThere was an additive synth, but it wasn't Kurzweil and there was only one model I knew of and saw advertised only once. With 128 sine waves to set, it could do everything but required everything to do something.
- brianmckenzie 11y agoThere were two (hardware) additives synths, both from Kawai - the K5 and the K5000 series. I have the K5000S, and it is relatively difficult to program. It sounds like nothing else out there, don't think I'll ever get rid of it.
- TheOtherHobbes 11y agoThe first Kurzweil was indeed additive, not sample-based - with hardware designed by Hal Chamberlin, who was famous for the Musical Applications of Microprocessors book. The other famous additive synth was the DKI Synergy. It was a preset-only version of the ludicrously expensive Crumar GDS ($27,500), although if hung a Keypro micro off it you could create your own sounds without the GDS. The Kawaii additive synths came a lot later. The most recent additive outing is Camel's Alchemy, which does additive and other synthesis types. It which was bought by Apple and bundled with Logic Pro 10.2. NI's Razor is also additive, although the programming model is strange. Additive can sound amazing but it's incredibly tweaky and time-consuming to program, so most people still prefer subtractive/analog.