Make: Analog Synthesizers

Chapter 3. Analog Synthesizer Building Blocks

In this chapter I’ll cover a number of analog synthesizer fundamentals and then present the main building blocks or modules that provide the analog synthesizer with its incredible sound-shaping capability.

Three Configurations: Normalized, Modular, and Hybrid

Analog synthesizers generally fall into three categories: those with normalized switching schemes, those with modules and patch cords, and those that are a hybrid of the two (see Figure 3-1).

A synthesizer with a normalized switching arrangement lets the user connect the internal modules in a straightforward way using switches and potentiometers on the front panel. With this type, the user can only connect modules in the way the designer of the synth ...