book

Designing Software Synthesizer Plugins in C++, 2nd Edition

by Will C. Pirkle

June 2021

Intermediate to advanced

304 pages

9h 2m

English

Focal Press

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1.1 What You Need to Know to Use SynthLab Objects and Projects1.2 SynthLab Synth Projects1.3 Synth Components1.4 Basic Software Synth Architecture1.5 SynthLab Voice Architecture1.6 SynthLab C++ Implementation1.7 Why SynthLab Uses This Architecture1.8 SynthLab Object Operational PhasesBibliography

2.1 Engine Behavior2.2 Engine Architecture2.3 Shared Data2.4 SynthEngine Constructor2.5 Audio and MIDI Block Rendering2.6 SynthEngine Operational PhasesBibliography
3.1 Voice Behavior3.2 SynthVoice Modules3.3 SynthVoice Parameters3.4 SynthModule Members3.5 SynthVoice Construction3.6 SynthVoice Operational Phases3.7 SynthModules and ModuleCores3.8 Module Cores3.9 SynthModule/ModuleCore Relationship3.10 ReviewBibliography
4.1 The Note-Event Lifecycle4.2 SynthEngine MIDI Processing4.3 SynthEngine Unison Detuning4.4 Voice State and MIDI Event Storage4.5 Voice-Stealing4.6 Polyphony and Voice Timestamps4.7 ReviewBibliography
5.1 Designing Modules with the SynthLab-DM Projects5.2 SynthLab-DM Modules Are Dynamic Linked Libraries5.3 Using SynthModules in Your Projects5.4 Using SynthEngines in Your Projects5.5 SynthEngine GUI Design and Parameter Update5.6 Programming the Modulation Matrix5.7 Getting WaveSequencer Status Meter UpdatesBibliography
6.1 SynthLab Mod Knob Mapping6.2 MMA Transforms & Calculations6.3 Sequential Circuits Vector Joystick Envelope Modulation6.4 Linear Frequency Modulation with LFO or EG6.5 BPM Sync6.6 Quantizing6.7 Ramp Modulation: Fade-in and Fade-out6.8 Pitch Calculation6.9 Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM)6.10 Phase Distortion6.11 Hard Sync6.12 Filter Key Track ModulationBibliography
7.1 Envelope Generator Fundamentals7.2 EG Implementation: Finite State Machine7.3 Digital EG Implementation: Rendering the Output7.4 Biased EG Output7.5 Analog EG Emulation7.6 Synth Module: EnvelopeGenerator7.7 EG Retrigger Modulation7.8 EG Core Programming Notes7.9 The Digitally Controlled Amplifier (DCA)7.10 ExercisesBibliography
8.1 Noise Oscillators and Generators8.2 Oscillator Clocking8.3 LFO Waveforms and Rendering Equations8.4 Render Modes8.5 Waveform Shaping8.6 Delay and Fade-in Times8.7 Starting Phase8.8 DC Offset8.9 SynthLFO and Cores8.10 LFO Core Programming Notes8.11 ExercisesBibliography
9.1 Wavetable Fundamentals: Table Lookup9.2 Wavetable Objects and Database9.3 Wavetable Sources and Database9.4 WTOscillator and Cores9.5 Wavetable Core Programming Notes9.6 ExercisesBibliography
10.1 VA Oscillator Fundamentals10.2 Band Limited Impulse Train (BLIT)10.3 Band Limited Step (BLEP)10.4 Polynomial BLEP Approximation10.5 Choosing the BLEP sinc Source10.6 Other VA Algorithms10.7 BLEP Square Wave10.8 VAOscillator and Core10.9 VA Core Programming Notes10.10 ExercisesBibliography
11.1 PCM Sample Playback Modes11.2 PCM Sample Storage11.3 Loading PCM Samples11.4 PCM Sources and Database11.5 PCMOscillator and Cores11.6 PCM Core Programming Notes11.7 ExercisesBibliography
12.1 Design Summary12.2 Q and Self-Oscillation12.3 Analog Magnitude Matching at Nyquist12.4 Zavalishin’s Virtual Analog Filters12.5 Resolving Delay-Free Loops in VA Structures12.6 VA Filters from Primitive Analog Block Diagrams12.7 VA Filters from Signal Flow Graphs12.8 VA Filters from Conceptual Signal Flow Graphs12.9 Nonlinear Processing and Self-Oscillation Control12.10 Synth Filter Objects12.11 Input Drive and Output Peak Limiter12.12 SynthFilter and Cores12.13 Synth Filter Core Programming Notes12.14 ExercisesBibliography
13.1 The Exciter-Resonator13.2 The Plucked String13.3 The Karplus-Strong Model13.4 Pluck Position13.5 Karplus-Strong Algorithm Equations13.6 Karplus-Strong C++ Objects13.7 KSOscillator and KSOCore13.8 KSOCore Member Objects13.9 Core Programming Notes13.10 Extensions to the KS Algorithm13.11 ExercisesBibliography
14.1 Modulation Inputs and Outputs14.2 Modulation Routings14.3 Mod Matrix Channel Routing14.4 ModSource and ModDestination for GUI Controls14.5 ModMatrixParameters14.6 The ModMatrix Object14.7 Initializing the ModMatrix14.8 Programming the ModMatrix14.9 Mod Matrix Transforms14.10 Running the ModMatrixBibliography
15.1 Wave Banks15.2 Wave Morphing15.3 The MorphWTCore15.4 MorphWTCore Programming Notes15.5 Wave Sequencing 1.015.6 SynthLab WaveSequencer15.7 The WSOscillator Object15.8 WSOscillator Programming Notes15.9 ExercisesBibliography
16.1 SynthLab Modulation Matrix16.2 SynthLab Render Phase: Modulators16.3 SynthLab Render Phase: Quad Oscillator Mixing16.4 SynthLab Render Phase: Filtering16.5 SynthLab Render Phase: Global Volume and Delay FX16.6 SynthLab-DX: the FM Synthesizer16.7 FM/PM Rules16.8 FM Operator16.9 SynthLab-DX Voice Render PhaseBibliography

Content preview from Designing Software Synthesizer Plugins in C++, 2nd Edition

Designing Software Synthesizer Plugins in C++

Designing Software Synthesizer Plugins in C++ provides everything you need to know to start designing and writing your own synthesizer plugins, including theory and practical examples for all of the major synthesizer building blocks, from LFOs and EGs to PCM samples and morphing wavetables, along with complete synthesizer example projects.

The book and accompanying SynthLab projects include scores of C++ objects and functions that implement the synthesizer building blocks as well as six synthesizer projects, ranging from virtual analog and physical modelling to wavetable morphing and wave-sequencing that demonstrate their use. You can start using the book immediately with the SynthLab-DM product, ...