subtractive synthesis

Subtractive synthesis is a method used in electronic music synthesizers to create sound. It involves starting with a complex waveform that contains a fundamental tone and all its overtones, and then removing unwanted components. This process allows musicians to sculpt and shape the sound, producing a wide range of timbres that can go beyond traditional instruments.1

Music synthesizers are machines that electronically generate and modify sounds, often using digital computers. They are used for composing electronic music and in live performances. These instruments can produce sounds with a versatility and range exceeding conventional instruments by altering intensity, duration, frequency, and timbre. Early synthesizers, like the RCA Electronic Music Synthesizer developed in 1955, were large research instruments. By the 1960s, more compact designs like the Moog and Buchla synthesizers became available, featuring piano-like keyboards or touch-sensitive surfaces to control various aspects of sound. These analog synthesizers formed the basis for many instruments produced in the following decades.12