Wavetable Synthesis | Podcast

Bob Coover and Anthony Marinelli join Julian Rodgers to explore the history, evolution and creative potential of wavetable synthesis, from its early origins to modern instruments, discussing waveform morphing, iconic sounds and where the technology is heading next. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:43 - What Is Wavetable Synthesis 11:08 - Morphing Between Waveforms 14:42 - History Of Wavetable Synthesis 19:05 - The Wavetable Sound 24:41 - Software Using Wavetables 26:46 - New Instruments With Wavetable Synthesis 30:05 - Morphing Sounds With Tactile Controls 34:01 - Examples In Popular Recordings 39:12 - The Future Of Wavetable Synthesis #3rdwave #fairlight #ppg #serum Bob Coover Biog Bob Coover is co-founder and Principal DSP Engineer at Groove Synthesis, where he helped create the award-winning 3rd Wave series of advanced wavetable synthesisers. A veteran synth designer and software engineer, he previously worked with Sequential alongside Dave Smith, contributing to instruments including the Prophet-12, Pro 3 and OB-6. Before co-founding Groove Synthesis in 2021 with Andrew Silverman, Coover also spent many years developing music technology for companies including Avid/Digidesign. His passion for classic PPG wavetable synthesis inspired the creation of the 3rd Wave, a modern instrument that combines vintage-inspired sound with contemporary synthesis techniques. Through his work, Coover continues to push the boundaries of hardware synth design, creating instruments that balance deep sound-design capabilities with an intuitive, musician-focused workflow. https://groovesynthesis.com/ https://www.instagram.com/groovesynthesis/ Anthony Marinelli Biog Anthony Marinelli is an American composer, synthesist, producer and educator whose career spans more than four decades across film, television and popular music. A pioneer of synth programming, he contributed to Michael Jackson's Thriller and has worked with artists including James Brown, Lionel Richie, Van Halen, Supertramp and Herb Alpert. As a film composer he has ammassed more than 100 credits, including Young Guns, Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs and 2 Days in the Valley. An award-winning composer and sound designer, Marinelli is also recognised for his expertise in synthesis and music technology, sharing his knowledge through educational videos, courses and workshops that explore the creative potential of electronic instruments and sound design. https://www.anthonymarinelli.com/ http://instagram.com/anthonymarinellimusic https://www.facebook.com/anthonymarinellimusic https://x.com/amarinellimusic Julian Rodgers Biog Julian Rodgers is a freelance writer and audio engineer with a background in live sound. After many years working in education introducing new users to Pro Tools, he now lives by the sea in West Cornwall, where he plays keyboards in a couple of bands. He also plays bass and guitar equally badly, and remains an enthusiastic collector of microphones and opinions about all things audio. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-rodgers-04621926 Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts