What’s in a waveform? How can we derive "do re mi” from only digits? Can synthetic sounds sing us a story?

In this talk, we’ll use the WebAudio API and the library Tone.js to explore the fundamentals of audio synthesis, building a drone synthesizer in the browser that creates a unique ambient soundscape based on a location’s current weather. Along the way we'll explore basic concepts in digital signal processing and audio engineering, as we create, shape, and add movement to waveforms to coax atmospheric sounds out of these atmospheric signals.

We’ll only scratch the surface of what WebAudio can do, but you'll take away a toolkit of techniques and inspiration to start making your own weird, wonderful waves with the web.

Special thanks to Clockwise, Firefox, Genio, IMA, Mindful Design, Parallax, Stac, Tetra Logical, With Jack, and WRK Digital for supporting this talk.