Sample-based synthesis

Sample-based synthesis, which is sometimes known as Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), or sampling and synthesis (S&S) synthesis, is differentiated from subtractive synthesis mainly by the use of samples in place of oscillator waveforms.

The samples—digital recordings of existing sounds—are mapped across the keyboard. Typically, each sample is mapped to a note in the center of a keyboard range that spans a few notes that are unique to that sample. The reason for this limited range of notes is that samples tend to sound much less like the source sound if played more than a few notes higher or lower than the original pitch—due to the relationship between the pitch and playback speed of samples.

The pitch of each sample isn’t changed with a frequency control, unlike the oscillator waveform of a synthesizer. Rather, a sample is played back at a faster or slower speed to alter its pitch, which has a corresponding impact on the sample playback time. For example, a sample played back at twice the speed requires half the time to play through.

The Logic Pro for Mac version of Sampler is a sample player that can be used much like a sample-based synthesizer, due to the subtractive synthesis features that it offers. The Logic Pro for Mac version of Alchemy can also be used in this way, but adds additive and spectral resynthesis features that can result in very different sounds than are possible with subtractive synthesis techniques. Alchemy also provides a granular synthesis engine that offers further sample manipulation options, again extending the potential sonic outcome. See Resynthesis and Granular synthesis.

Popular instruments that use the sample-based synthesis approach include the Korg M1, O1/W, and Triton; the Roland JV/XP instruments; the Yamaha Motif series; and many others.

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Sample-based synthesis