Generating audio in native Javascript is made possible by the controls of different signals, gains and effects, as if really playing with electronics and different waves. Oscillators uses complex mathematics to producing sinusoidale waves that renders to the audiocontext and this element is the basis of all music synthesis.

It’s by shaping this constant signal that we can create sounds, rythmes and music. All waves including music can be rationalized to a perturbation like a rock thrown into still water would create ripples and waves. By measuring the height the wave height at a moment in time we can speak of amplitude while the time needed for a wave to go from its minima to maxima would be defined by frequency.

The magic happens when waves are modulated by another signal, and I decided to use a technic called frequency modulation where the ryhtme at which the oscillator oscillate is controlled by another oscillator with lower frequencies.

The overall sound generation in Origin come from the implementation of different javascript classes in which different methods are chained to produce an audiograph. It reminds me of old music synthesizer where the different sounds are created by patching different inputs and outputs with cable. The use of classes make easier to chain, associate or patch recursively audio elements to creating the desired sounds.

Origin is made of 5 frequency modulation synthesizers each of them made of 10 oscillators which signal is shaped by Envelopes; an audio node which controls the intensity of the signal at different moment of time or more precisely elements like the pitch and duration of note playing. We can dissect this process in different steps called ADSR for attack, decay, sustain and release, variables that measures the time between the different phases.

Tuning these different parameters defines the character of the sound. For example with a low attack time the wave will reach its maxima quickly after a note is triggered creating a punchy effect that can be shaped further with the other parameters.

The 5 synthesizer used in Origin were tuned to obtain instrument like sounds or effects which different frequencies associate harmonically to creating an atmosphere and soundscapes. From a general javascript class defining the basis of an FM synthesizer other classes are extended creating the other instruments such as a Drone, a Pad, a Lead, Bell, Stab and effects.

Playing lower octave notes the drone is like a bass instrument playing successively the same chord without triggering the release of the wave creating the same way a warm deep background noise.

Widening the feeling of space and dimension in sounds, a Pad is a synthesizer with a high attack time creating soundscape that surrounds the different sounds. The stab and bell are punchy instruments playing notes with low duration to creating clipping effects like the sounds of water droplets while the lead fill the space with resonating medium frequencies.

All instruments sounds are then amplified with effects also implemented from scratch in javascript in the form of classes which methods can be chained or associated recursively while different parameters of audio elements are patched to creating other effects.

A Chorus effect is applied to each synthesizer modulated by a low frequency oscillator that acts on the timing of a delay effect creating more room to the sound. Creating a form of echo, a PingPongDelay balance the audio signal between left and right and giving the same way new tempos and emphasizing the simulation of a space in which the sound of instruments spread to slowly fade.

The overall atmosphere of origin is created by turning off the audiosignal at random intervals and load it into a buffer to later render it at lower speed creating a bouncing effect that rhythms the music in syncopation with the main beat.

The audio from each synthesizer is routed to a compressor that controls the overall volume of the music and which different settings give different character to the audio at the step of mastering reducing undesirable frequency and amplifying the core.

PHILMO