The instrument
The TG 33 synthesizer module belongs to the SY keyboard series and TG module variants. They are based on the idea of combining the two product lines of sample-based AWM synthesizers and FM synthesizers through vector synthesis. The two most important models, the SY 77 and TG 77, were released in 1989 and 1990. Their advanced architecture consists of AFM (Advanced Frequency Modulation) synthesis, AWM2 (Advanced Wave Memory 2) for ROM-based sample synthesis and their combination, RCM (Realtime Convolution and Modulation Synthesis).
The TG 33 is the rack version of the SY 22 keyboard, which was released at the same time, but has more to offer. It is 32-voice polyphonic (the SY22 is 16-voice polyphonic) and 16-voice multitimbral (the SY22 is 8-voice multitimbral). While the SY 22‘s multi mode is designed for performance, the TG33’s multi mode is intended for use with sequencers and is more similar to the SY 77's multi mode.
Details
The TG 33 offers 128 preset sound programmes, sixteen preset multimode programmes in ROM, and the same amount of memory for user programmes. Each sound programme uses two or four voices. The AWM section has no filters or other waveform shaping functions. The AFM section consists of two operators for sine waves and eight additional waveforms. The multi-mode combines up to eight sound programmes. The vector stick has level and detune functions to control the voices. It can either crossfade between two or four sound elements or detune them against each other.