Using FL Studio. -

A harmonic is a simple sine-wave that is an exact (integer) multiple of the starting frequency (in this case, 1,2,3,...128), the principle of Harmonic Editors is to allow you to perform 'additive synthesis'. That is to allow you to mix together harmonics (upper facing bars) and to adjust their phase (downward facing bars). This technique will allow you to create any wave-form. In the example shown below a square-wave has been created by adding the first 30 (or so) odd harmonics and adjusting their phase. Bars on the graph may be left clicked and moved up and down to adjust the relative level (upper) and phase (lower) values for a harmonic. After the mix is calculated, the shape amplitude is normalized to 100%.

Harmonic Amplitude: The top row sets the number and level of harmonics mixed with the shape (order increases from left to right). Left-click and drag inside the row to add harmonics to the shape. Right-click and drag to draw 'lines' inside the graph. Alt+click to reset the harmonics levels to neutral position. The scale of the amplitude levels is logarithmic, which helps with you need to add small amounts of a harmonic to the oscillator.

Some of the harmonic levels are darker - they mark frequency offsets in octaves for editing convenience (e.g. +1, +2, +3 octaves etc.).

Harmonic Phase: The lower row sets the harmonic phase (time offset in the range of one oscillator cycle).

Harmonic frequency: Please note that there are 128 harmonics available, to access higher harmonics use the horizontal scrollbar at the bottom of the graph (only the first 60 harmonic levels are visible by default) You can also Zoom sections of the graph using the Zoom box in the lower right.

NOTE: Harmonics are only active if the corresponding harmonic has a level higher than 0.

Keyboard Shortcuts - Lock/Unlock harmonic (CTRL + left-click), Focus on harmonic (SHIFT + left-click), Clear harmonic (ALT + left-click), Affect multiple harmonics (right-click + drag across harmonics).

SMOOTH - The smooth command applies smoothing to the levels in the harmonics editor (averaging the levels with the neighbours). When the odd/even harmonics are locked, only they will be smoothed (however, still all harmonics are considered when computing the average values to apply.

Additional Commands menu (

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Convert shape to sine harmonics - The default shape as set in each operator's shape settings is a sine shape. This makes working with harmonics easier and more predictable. You can use this command to convert an oscillator with non-sine shape to the closest version represented with a sine wave. If the shape is already a sine, this command has no effect.

Analyze single-cycle waveform - This command analyzes ('imports') an external sample and creates a matching oscillator shape. Please note the following restrictions: Only single cycle wave-shapes will be accurately imported. If the sample is too long and/or complex Sytrus won't explode, just the waveform will probably not be accurate. Also, note that the wave-data is not imported, rather, the harmonics of the sample are analyzed and translated into the harmonic editor. In this way the original wave-shape is 'emulated'.

Export single-cycle waveform - Creates a WAV file of the current waveform in the editor.

Lock harmonics - Use this to gain selectively control the harmonic bands. The options are None (default), All, Odd, Even, Inactive (note that if this does not appear to lock inactive bands they probably have a very small level that is not visible in the editor, ALT + left-click will clear a band) and Invert.

Transpose One Octave Up - This command "multiplies" the position of the harmonics to shift them up with an octave. Keep in mind information is lost in this manner (for all harmonics and the high end which go out of range /above 128'th harmonic/).

Shift Left/Right - Shifts the harmonics one position to left/right.

Smooth up soft/hard - These options smooth the harmonics a small amount (soft) or more heavily (hard). Hard helps to avoid clicking.

Attenuate Gibbs Phenomenon - Applies techniques to attenuate the Gibbs phenomenon as a preprocessing step applied to the harmonic levels. There's also a runtime "Gibbs attenuation" option you can use, found in the Main Panel. The "Gibbs phenomenon" causes "wiggles" (ringing) around the point of transition in oscillators with sharp transitions (discontinuous line). You can learn more about Gibbs phenomenon on the internet.

Randomize phases - Randomizes the value of any active phase bars. What did you think it did? :)

Copy/Paste - Allows you to copy the harmonic settings for an oscillator and paste it on another oscillator. The paste has several modes: Replace - the "classic" way to paste - the old data is replaced by the clipboard; Add - sums the existing harmonics with the clipboard; Subtract - subtracts the clipboard levels from the existing levels; Multiply - Multiplies the existing harmonic levels with those in the clipboard; Blend - sums the existing harmonics with the clipboard at 50%;

Sytrus - Working with the Harmonics Editor

Harmonic Editing

Additional Commands menu ( )