Kernel Bob 

How are splines used in audio?

Spline curves and surfaces are ubiquitous in graphics: curves, surfaces, paths, colors, fonts, etc. But I can't think of any applications for splines in audio processing. Help me out; where do they occur?

Thanks!

#synth #audio

Apr 11 at 10:29pmWeb
Show threadGraham DunningApr 11
@kbob I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean, but immediately made me think of fade in/out curves, cross-fades, etc (in a DAW) then other automation curves for whatever parameter.
In the analogue realm you have your LFO shapes, envelope shapes (ADSR with various curves). FM synthesis might also use a bunch of these to enable shifting timbre.
Show threadKernel Bob Apr 11
@grahamdunning That's the right kind of thing. You're probably right about automation curves, though I don't know for sure. I've never seen an envelope or LFO use spline profiles; do you know of any?
Show threadGraham DunningApr 12
@kbob ah, guess I was thinking too broadly about curve shapes, rather than splines specifically.
I think FL studio has graphical envelopes in the channel sample editors, but can't remember if they use spline points.
Show threadTom AndersonApr 12
@kbob The challenge with splines is that when they are used on time domain or frequency domain data, they tend to have too much overshoot. Other interpolation functions are generally quite a bit better.