Linear Arithmetic Synthesis
Linear Arithmetic Synthesis (LA Synthesis) changed how electronic music instruments make sounds when Roland Corporation created it in the 1980s. This special way of making sounds first appeared in Roland’s D-50 synthesizer and later showed up in many other Roland keyboards and sound modules. Roland’s engineers came up with this method to create rich, complex sounds without using too much computer memory, which was very expensive back then.
How LA Synthesis Works
The main idea behind LA Synthesis comes from mixing two different ways of making sounds: using real recorded sounds and creating artificial waves with math. The “Linear” part means it uses digital technology, making clean and precise sounds. The “Arithmetic” part refers to how it adds different sound pieces together, like solving a math problem.
The Attack Section
The beginning of each note, called the attack, comes from actual recordings of real instruments. These short samples capture the most distinctive part of a sound – like the pluck of a guitar string or the hit of a piano hammer. These recorded bits give LA synthesis its realistic feel, especially during the crucial first moments when people recognize what instrument they’re hearing.
The Sustain Section
After playing the recorded attack, LA synthesis switches to artificial waves for the rest of the note. These waves need much less memory than full recordings and give musicians more control over how the sound changes over time. Musicians can shape these waves using filters and envelopes, making the sound brighter, darker, louder, or softer as they play.
Why Roland Created LA Synthesis
Roland faced a big challenge in the 1980s. Musicians wanted more realistic sounds, but computer memory cost too much to store full recordings of every note. LA synthesis solved this problem cleverly. It only stored short recordings of the important starting parts of sounds and used less memory-hungry artificial waves for the rest.
Memory Efficiency
The D-50 synthesizer could fit many more sounds in its memory because it only needed to store short attack samples. A few seconds of recorded sound could provide attacks for hundreds of different musical possibilities when combined with various artificial waves. This efficient use of memory let Roland pack more features into their instruments without making them too expensive.
Creative Sound Design
LA synthesis opened new doors for sound designers. They could take the attack from one instrument and combine it with waves that sounded nothing like the original, creating totally new hybrid sounds. For example, they might use the attack of a trumpet with waves that sound like strings, making unique instruments that had never existed before.
Mixing and Matching
Sound designers discovered they could make amazing new sounds by experimenting with different combinations. The attack from a flute mixed with electronic waves could create ethereal pads. The hit of a mallet combined with metallic waves could produce otherworldly percussion sounds. These possibilities went far beyond what traditional synthesizers could do.
Impact on Music
LA synthesis made a huge mark on music in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Roland D-50 synthesizer became incredibly popular, and its sounds appeared on countless hit records. Musicians loved how they could get realistic-sounding attacks while still having the flexibility to shape the rest of the sound like a traditional synthesizer.
Famous Users
Many famous musicians embraced LA synthesis. Jean-Michel Jarre used the D-50 extensively in his electronic music compositions. Prince featured its sounds on several albums. Film composers discovered that LA synthesis let them create orchestral-like sounds when they couldn’t afford a real orchestra.
Technical Details
LA synthesis processes sound in the digital domain, converting everything to numbers that computers can understand. The system reads the attack samples from memory and generates the sustain waves using mathematical calculations. Special processors then combine these elements and apply effects like filters and reverb.
Signal Flow
The sound starts when someone plays a note. The system immediately plays back the stored attack sample. As the attack fades out, the synthesized waves fade in, creating a smooth transition between the two parts. Musicians can control exactly how this transition happens, adjusting the timing and balance between the attack and sustain portions.
Modern Influence
The ideas behind LA synthesis continue to influence modern music technology. Many current virtual instruments use similar techniques, combining sampled attacks with synthesized sounds. Digital workstations often include tools that let musicians layer samples and synthetic waves in ways that echo LA synthesis concepts.
Virtual Recreations
Modern software developers have created virtual versions of LA synthesis instruments. These programs capture the unique character of the original hardware while adding new features that weren’t possible in the 1980s. Musicians can now explore LA synthesis on their computers, often with more control than the original instruments offered.
Legacy in Music Production
LA synthesis changed how people think about making electronic sounds. It showed that combining different sound-making methods could create more interesting results than using just one approach. This hybrid thinking influences many modern sound design techniques.
Today’s Applications
The principles of LA synthesis appear in unexpected places. Mobile phones use similar techniques to create ringtones that sound realistic while using minimal storage space. Game consoles employ comparable methods to pack many instrument sounds into limited memory. Even some modern high-end synthesizers still use variations of this approach.
Historical Significance
Roland’s development of LA synthesis marked an important moment in music technology history. It bridged the gap between purely synthetic sounds and sampled recordings, showing a new way forward. The success of this approach influenced how later instruments were designed.
