Additive synthesis involves stacking harmonicsEvery fundamental frequency contains harmonics, which all follow the harmonic series. on top of each other in various amounts. This allows for the creation of complex sounds by combining simple sine wavesA sine wave is a smooth, periodic oscillation that is the purest form of sound.. Each harmonic is a sine wave at a different frequency, amplitude, and phase, contributing to the overall timbreTimbre is the characteristic quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume. of the sound.
The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency of a sound and is perceived as its pitch. The harmonics are integer multiples of this fundamental frequency. By adjusting the amplitude and phase of each harmonic, sound designers can craft a wide array of tones and textures.
The process is considered Fourier synthesis, named after the mathematician Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier, who demonstrated that any periodic waveform could be represented as a sum of sine waves. Additive synthesis is a powerful technique in sound design and music production, offering precise control over the spectral content of the sound.
