BudjarnLambeth: Created page with "{{Wikipedia}} '''Additive synthesis''' is a sound synthesis technique that creates timbre by adding {{w|sine}} waves together. The timbre of musical instruments can be considered in the light of {{w|Fourier series|Fourier theory}} to consist of multiple harmonic or inharmonic ''partials'' or overtones. Each partial is a sine wave of different frequency and {{w|amplitude}} that swells and decays over time due to {{w|modulation}} from a..."

2026-04-07T04:27:24Z

Created page with "{{Wikipedia}} '''Additive synthesis''' is a sound synthesis technique that creates timbre by adding {{w|sine}} waves together. The timbre of musical instruments can be considered in the light of {{w|Fourier series|Fourier theory}} to consist of multiple harmonic or inharmonic ''partials'' or overtones. Each partial is a sine wave of different frequency and {{w|amplitude}} that swells and decays over time due to {{w|modulation}} from a..."

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{{Wikipedia}}
'''Additive synthesis''' is a [[synthesizer|sound synthesis]] technique that creates [[timbre]] by adding {{w|sine}} waves together.

The timbre of musical instruments can be considered in the light of {{w|Fourier series|Fourier theory}} to consist of multiple [[harmonic]] or inharmonic ''[[partial]]s'' or [[overtone]]s. Each partial is a sine wave of different [[frequency]] and {{w|amplitude}} that swells and decays over time due to {{w|modulation}} from an {{w|ADSR envelope}} or {{w|low frequency oscillator}}.

Additive synthesis most directly generates sound by adding the output of multiple sine wave generators. Alternative implementations may use pre-computed {{w|Wavetable synthesis|wavetables}} or the inverse {{w|fast Fourier transform}}.

Additive synthesis is useful for [[xenharmonic]] music because it allows timbres to be created to match a given tuning (eg for a [[17edo]] piece, one could use timbres with a weak 5th harmonic and a strong 11th harmonic).
[[Category:Instruments]]

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