RISC REM

Synthesizers

John Chowning invented the algorithm that made possible the Yamaha synthesizer widely used in electronic music. Yamaha used Chowning's algorithm, called Frequency Modulation (FM) synthesis, to develop the world's first fully digital synthesizer and a chip found on computer sound boards that give many personal computers audio capability.

Relation Information:

Development of 'vBow' marks first step toward virtual violin
(Stanford Report, 8/7/02)

Yamaha, Stanford join forces on sound technology
(Stanford Report, 7/16/97)

Music synthesis approaches sound quality of real instruments
(press release, 6/94)

Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics


At the keyboard is John Chowning, a professor emeritus of music, whose algorithm made possible synthesizers that can be subtly modulated. Photo: Chuck Painter