Harmonics is an application originally developed as a teaching tool that aimed at illustrating the basic principles of additive synthesis. Harmonics allows you to create different waveforms by summing the amplitudes of a fundamental frequency and of its first 13 harmonics. The resulting wave can be played back through the speaker of your Macintoshﾂｮ computer.
Harmonics requires a 14" screen or larger.
Version 1.2.1 Changes
1) Purer sine waves
2) Amplitude of each Harmonic is displayed numerically below each amplitude control slider
3) The Harmonic sliders have been renumbered as multiples of the fundamental (1f, 2f, 3f etc..)
4) Added a volume control bar. That controls the sound level for "Harmonics" only.
5) Removed bug that prevented the updating of the harmonic numbering system.
Definition Bar +/-
This bar is used to set the definition that Harmonics will use in drawing the waves. A low definition setting provides less precision in rendering, but faster redrawing. A high definition setting compromises speed for smoother drawings.
Harmonics Only, Sum Only, Show Both Radio Buttons
Harmonics Only: This setting allows you to view the wave shape you have created, by viewing its individual components.
Sum Only: This setting will only show you the result wave, without showing its components.
Show Both: This setting overlaps the result wave to the individual components. The result wave is thicker.
Sine, Square and Sawtooth Buttons
These buttons allow you to recall preset wave shapes. When one of these buttons is pressed the amplitude of each harmonic is also set to the correct position.
The irregularities in both the square and sawtooth wave are due to the fact that harmonics only uses the first 13 harmonics for it's calculations.
All On and Random Buttons
All On: This button sets all the amplitudes to the maximum value.
Random: This button generates a random wave shape.
Amplitude Sliders
These are the sliders at the bottom of the window. They are used to set the amplitude of each harmonic.
Playing the sound wave
Open the Sound control panel and make sure the volume is not turned off. To play the sound wave through the speaker of your computer, push the Play It button or push and hold the Space Bar on your keyboard.
Fundamental Pitch Slider
This slider can be used to set the pitch of the fundamental. I included this feature because on some Macintoshﾂｮ models, the sound is more easily heard on a higher fundamental pitch. However this tends to distort the sound of the higher harmonics and, as a general rule, you should set this slider at the lowest setting possible. To find this position, begin by clicking the Sine button. Push the Play It button or push and hold the Space Bar on your keyboard. If you can hear the sound clearly, try moving the pitch slider down and push the Play It bar again. Continue until you find the lowest setting at which you can hear the pure sine wave.
Volume Slider
This slider controls the volume (amplitude) of the sound output. It is independent from the volume set in the Sound control panel. The default volume is 7.
NOTE
Harmonics will always try to draw the sum wave at its largest size possible, but in order to remain within the windows boundaries, it is at times necessary to scale the wave vertically. However, this does not affect the relative shape of the wave.
Distribution
Harmonics is ShareWare. It can be distributed freely, but it cannot be altered in any way or sold, either as individual program or as part of a package without the author's written permission.
You may try it free for 30 days. If after this trial period you decide to keep Harmonics, please send $10 to the address below. California residents add sales tax. Paying the registration fee entitles you to receive discounts on future upgrades.
Questions, Suggestions, Bug Reports
If you wish to contact us for help, to report bugs or to suggest improvements to this software, please don't hesitate to do so by either sending a letter to the address below, or through one of the e-mail addresses.
SLIMYFROG SOFTWARE
979 Golf Course Drive #213
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
eMail:
eWorld: SlimyFrog
AOL: SlimyFrog
Internet: SlimyFrog@aol.com
Harmonics - ﾂｩ1994 Marco Carra. All Rights Reserved
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computers Inc.
