Roland System 700 Analog Synthesizer Modules
6. The Noise Generator
The Noise Generator module is classified as a generator, which is to say that its primary function is to generate a signal used in the audio path. It produces a dense band of frequencies which might sound to the ear like "hiss" or "static" on a radio and because of its lack of a specific pitch center, is useful in creating percussive type sounds. Actually the technical definition of noise is the presence of ALL frequencies.
On the Roland System 700 the Noise Generator is capable of providing 2 types of noise which can be defined as follows:
White Noise. All frequencies at equal amplitude. Since, technically, as pitch goes higher there are more frequencies available (the octave from 110 cps. to 220 cps. spans 110 cps. while the octave from 440 cps. to 880 cps. spans 440 cps.) this results in a noise band which sounds fairly high pitched. Useful for creating snare drum sounds, wood block sounds, maracca sounds, etc.
Pink Noise. All frequencies with equal total amplitude within each octave. This is accomplished by interjecting a filter which attenuates (cuts back) amplitude as the pitch gets higher (a low pass filter). The end result is that pink noise sounds like a lower pitched "hiss" than white noise. Useful for creating lower drum sounds, toms, bass drums, etc.
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