How to synthesize sounds?

Question

I\'d like to produce sounds that would resemble audio from real instruments. The problem is that I have very little clue how to get that.

What I know this far from real

Answer 1

Sound synthesis is a complex topic which requires many years of study to master.

It is also not an entirely solved problem, although relatively recent developments (such as physical modelling synthesis) have made progress in imitating real-world instruments.

There are a number of options open to you. If you are sure that you want to explore synthesis further, then I suggest you start by learning about FM synthesis. It is relatively easy to learn and implement in software, at least in basic forms, and produces a wide range of interesting sounds. Also, check out the book "The Computer Music Tutorial" by Curtis Roads. It's a bible for all things computer music, and although it's a few years old it is the book of choice for learning the fundamentals.

If you want a quicker way to produce life-like sound, consider using sampling techniques: that is, record the instruments you want to reproduce (or use a pre-existing sample bank), and just play back the samples. It's a much more straightforward (and often more effective) approach.