Articles:
Technical Article:
Article: Oscillator and Filter Algorithms for Virtual Analog Synthesis
Authors: Vesa Valimiki, Annti Huovalainen
website: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220386519_Oscillator_and_Filter_Algorithms_for_Virtual_Analog_Synthesis
Non-Technical Article:
Article: A Beginner's Guide to the Synth
Author: Meg Neal
website: https://gizmodo.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-synth-1736978695
The journal entry “Oscillator and Filter Algorithms for Virtual Analog Synthesis” from the Computer Music Journal of 2006 mainly explains DSP theory and techniques in the field of music synthesizers, particularly the case of virtual analog synthesizers. The authors are highly respected researcher: Vesa Valimiki is a full professor of electrical engineering with a PhD, and Antti Huovilainen is a DSP engineer with a master's degree. The article is 12 pages long and is tightly formatted with its title, page labels, and citations. The article begins by introducing the history of synthesizers and the need for digital recreations of old synthesizers, and then goes into detail about some advanced DSP (digital signal processing) topics such as ways new digital oscillator and filtering techniques can be used for better sonic qualities. Specifically, the paper covers things such as traits of perfect digital filters for music, as well a specific analysis of a filter from the Moog synthesizer. The analysis includes z-transform value for the filter poles (which essentially describes the frequency rolloff of the filter), as well as a control theory diagrams of an improved emulation of the 4-stage ladder architecture of the filter.
The article “A Beginner's Guide to the Synth” was published in Gismodo in 2015; it primarily discusses the history and basic functions of analog and digital synthesizers. The Author is Meg Neal, a writer for Gizmodo whose credentials could not be found. It gives a brief and simple overview of the history and functions of synthesizers, and it explains why people often prefer analog controls and sounds to digital. The article is fairly short; it has a only few screens of scrolling text with several videos interspersed within.
The readership at which the pieces are aimed and the goals of the authors are very different with these two articles. The technical article is intended mainly for DSP programmers and theorists, and it aims to help them program better-sounding DSP filters and understand the underlying theory. The news article, in contrast, is intended for people who are interested in synthesizers but don't have much knowledge about them, and it attempts to help beginners better understand synthesizers and their history. Valimiki and Huovalainen performed this research to meet the demand for improved, better-sounding digital virtual analog oscillators and filters, whereas Neal fills Gismodo’s need for a very basic explanation of synthesizers for curious beginners.
The style of the writing and the information contained within also differs considerably between these two examples. The journal entry is very technical: it contains technical graphs and diagrams, control theory analysis, advanced signal processing theory, DSP code, and equations, and the writing is very jargon-heavy. In addition, the writing has a formal, academic tone. The news article, however, is nontechnical with no jargon, it contains videos and pictures in addition to text, and it is well written but has a breezy, informal tone.
These articles are about essentially the same subject, but they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The news article is aimed at total beginners with an interest in technology; the journal article, on the other hand, is directed mainly at DSP programmers and theorists with at least a college degree in computer science or electrical engineering. The former contains only vague generalizations and eye-catching images, while the latter includes highly specific information such as control theory diagrams, signal processing equations, and DSP code. Additionally, I noticed some minor factual errors in the Gizmodo article, such as calling Bob Moog an electrician (he is an inventor with a BSEE and a PhD in Engineering Physics), but they didn't interfere too much with the gist of the article. Such factual errors would seriously tarnish the Computer Music Journal article. I imagine that the authors of the journal piece were careful to use good information, as the article seems very sound. Despite any flaws, both articles are written and presented very well, and these pieces efficiently accomplish the goal of communicating clearly to their intended audiences.
References:
Valimiki, V., and A. Huovilainen. 2006. “Oscillator and Filter Algorithms for Virtual Analog Synthesis .” Computer Music Journal 30(2): 19-31.
Sources: Gismodo
Article: Oscillator and Filter Algorithms for Virtual Analog Synthesis
Authors: Vesa Valimiki, Annti Huovalainen
website: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220386519_Oscillator_and_Filter_Algorithms_for_Virtual_Analog_Synthesis
Non-Technical Article:
Article: A Beginner's Guide to the Synth
Author: Meg Neal
website: https://gizmodo.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-synth-1736978695
The journal entry “Oscillator and Filter Algorithms for Virtual Analog Synthesis” from the Computer Music Journal of 2006 mainly explains DSP theory and techniques in the field of music synthesizers, particularly the case of virtual analog synthesizers. The authors are highly respected researcher: Vesa Valimiki is a full professor of electrical engineering with a PhD, and Antti Huovilainen is a DSP engineer with a master's degree. The article is 12 pages long and is tightly formatted with its title, page labels, and citations. The article begins by introducing the history of synthesizers and the need for digital recreations of old synthesizers, and then goes into detail about some advanced DSP (digital signal processing) topics such as ways new digital oscillator and filtering techniques can be used for better sonic qualities. Specifically, the paper covers things such as traits of perfect digital filters for music, as well a specific analysis of a filter from the Moog synthesizer. The analysis includes z-transform value for the filter poles (which essentially describes the frequency rolloff of the filter), as well as a control theory diagrams of an improved emulation of the 4-stage ladder architecture of the filter.
The article “A Beginner's Guide to the Synth” was published in Gismodo in 2015; it primarily discusses the history and basic functions of analog and digital synthesizers. The Author is Meg Neal, a writer for Gizmodo whose credentials could not be found. It gives a brief and simple overview of the history and functions of synthesizers, and it explains why people often prefer analog controls and sounds to digital. The article is fairly short; it has a only few screens of scrolling text with several videos interspersed within.
The readership at which the pieces are aimed and the goals of the authors are very different with these two articles. The technical article is intended mainly for DSP programmers and theorists, and it aims to help them program better-sounding DSP filters and understand the underlying theory. The news article, in contrast, is intended for people who are interested in synthesizers but don't have much knowledge about them, and it attempts to help beginners better understand synthesizers and their history. Valimiki and Huovalainen performed this research to meet the demand for improved, better-sounding digital virtual analog oscillators and filters, whereas Neal fills Gismodo’s need for a very basic explanation of synthesizers for curious beginners.
The style of the writing and the information contained within also differs considerably between these two examples. The journal entry is very technical: it contains technical graphs and diagrams, control theory analysis, advanced signal processing theory, DSP code, and equations, and the writing is very jargon-heavy. In addition, the writing has a formal, academic tone. The news article, however, is nontechnical with no jargon, it contains videos and pictures in addition to text, and it is well written but has a breezy, informal tone.
These articles are about essentially the same subject, but they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The news article is aimed at total beginners with an interest in technology; the journal article, on the other hand, is directed mainly at DSP programmers and theorists with at least a college degree in computer science or electrical engineering. The former contains only vague generalizations and eye-catching images, while the latter includes highly specific information such as control theory diagrams, signal processing equations, and DSP code. Additionally, I noticed some minor factual errors in the Gizmodo article, such as calling Bob Moog an electrician (he is an inventor with a BSEE and a PhD in Engineering Physics), but they didn't interfere too much with the gist of the article. Such factual errors would seriously tarnish the Computer Music Journal article. I imagine that the authors of the journal piece were careful to use good information, as the article seems very sound. Despite any flaws, both articles are written and presented very well, and these pieces efficiently accomplish the goal of communicating clearly to their intended audiences.
References:
Valimiki, V., and A. Huovilainen. 2006. “Oscillator and Filter Algorithms for Virtual Analog Synthesis .” Computer Music Journal 30(2): 19-31.
Sources: Gismodo
This is the control block diagram of the improved Moog filter from the journal article. It is a serious engineering diagram and does not have any color.
This is a picture from the Gizmodo article. In contrast, all of the images in this article are simple, colorful, and meant to hold the attention.
