Combining Multiple Synthesis Types

Cutting-edge synths often let you combine several advanced synthesis methods at once – here are three of our faves The majority of today’s all-powerful synthesizers are jam-packed full of various synthesis types, ranging from frequency modulation (FM) and additive through to wavetable, phase distortion synthesis, subtractive and more. Having several types of sound-generating options all under one roof means you can combine these modes in futuristic new ways. Want to frequency-modulate two wavetable-morphing oscillators against each other? No problem! How about sculpting an additive oscillator with subtractive-style filters and envelopes? Of course you can! However, one caveat is that it can be easy to crank everything up to 11 and turn a smooth sound into an inharmonic mess – so go easy. With all this in mind, here are three top synths that let you mix and match synthesis types at will…

In Xfer Records Serum, if only one oscillator is assigned to subtractive or wavetable synthesis duties, you can modulate its frequency or amplitude with the other. Use the audible oscillator’s Warp dropdown – select FM or AM from the list, then ramp up...

Oh, Logic Pro X users, you lucky things. With Alchemy now included in the package as standard, you’ve got yourselves one of the deepest sample-based instruments around. Each patch’s four sources offer up granular, additive, spectral, sampler and VA.

Spectrasonics Omnisphere serves up a raft of synthesis options: subtractive, wavetable, granular, FM/ring mod and more – and you can even import samples and mess them up with the unique Harmonia and Innerspace algorithms.