Best way to learn synthesis
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 93 posts since 10 Mar, 2011
Hi,
Wondering if anyone can suggest some good online videos/articles/pdf's to learn synthesis.
Subtractive synthesis more so but would love some stuff on the other varieties too
Thanks!
Wondering if anyone can suggest some good online videos/articles/pdf's to learn synthesis.
Subtractive synthesis more so but would love some stuff on the other varieties too
Thanks!
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- KVRist
- 111 posts since 17 Apr, 2008 from Northern Michigan
Here are some good articles from Sound on Sound...
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm#Top.
Do a search on YouTube, lotsa stuff on there.
Enjoy.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm#Top.
Do a search on YouTube, lotsa stuff on there.
Enjoy.
Peace...
bluzkat
bluzkat
- KVRAF
- 3889 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
Syntorial is the best way, it teaches you by ear training how all the different parts of the synthesizer work and interact. No other tutorial focuses on training your ear and that why it really advances you so fast.
Download the demo and do the first lessons. http://www.syntorial.com/tour.php
Download the demo and do the first lessons. http://www.syntorial.com/tour.php
dedication to flying
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35098 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
How to make a noise ...
http://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make-a ... rogramming
Free book (pdf) on synthesis.
http://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make-a ... rogramming
Free book (pdf) on synthesis.
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- KVRist
- 441 posts since 7 Mar, 2011 from Pleasanton, CA
+1 for both Syntorial and Simon Cann's books. Both are great.
Seasoned IT vet, Mac user, and lover of music. Always learning.
- KVRAF
- 14943 posts since 26 Jun, 2006 from San Francisco Bay Area
I second Simon's book.wesleyt wrote:+1 for both Syntorial and Simon Cann's books. Both are great.
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Synthesi ... nth+wizard
I used it to teach a class in audio production and I found the students took to it pretty easily. Check out a program like MUX modular which is a nice and cheap visual way of hooking up modules and messing about with how they interact.
Zerocrossing Media
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
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- KVRer
- 14 posts since 8 Aug, 2013
Rob Papen has a great Book/DVD package called The Four Element Synth. Best one I've seen so far. Macprovideo has some nice courses on synthesis as well. Check out their Foundation of Synthesis courses.
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- KVRer
- 4 posts since 15 Dec, 2014
+1 for Syntorial, really you should look at it, it is an amazing way to learn by doing.
But if you don't want to pay for it, the best way to learn synthesis is to
But if you don't want to pay for it, the best way to learn synthesis is to
- Understand the basic components of a synth AND how they sound. Really important, because knowing how they sound is the key to good synthesis skills.
- Pick 1 and only 1 synth to learn inside out! Soo important! Resist the want and desire to use every synth available. You first need to build your skillset! Then you'll be able to move and pick more synths. But if you're learning synthesis, just pick 1 of the many synths available, and run just with it for a little while.
- Diversify your synth arsenal and start to appreciate the different sonic qualities each of them has.
- Practice practice practice, stop doing mental masturbation on knowledge. Once you know the basics, it's all about practice. You'll understand more by doing than by learning.
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- KVRAF
- 21191 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
Everybody learns differently. That's the first thing you need to understand and figure out for yourself.
For example. I learn best by simply diving into something head first and then, after I've gone as far as I can go on my own, I then seek out tutorials that might fill in some missing pieces.
Some people learn best by having somebody actually sit down with them and walk them through the subject, like you did in school. Unfortunately, on the Internet, this isn't a viable option most of the time. If you know somebody who lives close to you who is into synthesis and you learn best in this way, you might want to seek them out.
Others learn literally by opening a book and reading it, using each principle that they learn as they learn it such as, after reading the section on oscillators, going to their synth and playing with the oscillators, understanding how each tweak of the controls changes the sound.
I'm going to assume that you've learned how to do other things in the past and you have a pretty good idea of what works best for you.
I do agree with getting only one synth and learning it the best you can. After 35 years of programming these things I can tell you from experience that if you learn one very well, the rest will come a lot easier. Yes, there are some major differences between something like an analog subtractive (Minimoog), an FM synth (FM and something like Cycle (not really sure what the hell it is) that took me 3 days to figure out, but for the most part, synthesis is synthesis. Once you understand the principles, most synths shouldn't be too difficult to tackle.
But start with something simple. If you try to tackle a synth with too much going on in it, you might get frustrated. I haven't used Syntorial but I've heard lots of good things about it. It may not be a bad place to start.
And of course as the poster above said, practice a lot. You're not going to really get good at this by reading books or watching tutorials. You're only going to improve by actually getting your hands dirty and programming.
When the day comes that you're "bored" programming your old synth because there's just nothing left to do with it, that's when you'll know you're ready to move on.
Good luck.
For example. I learn best by simply diving into something head first and then, after I've gone as far as I can go on my own, I then seek out tutorials that might fill in some missing pieces.
Some people learn best by having somebody actually sit down with them and walk them through the subject, like you did in school. Unfortunately, on the Internet, this isn't a viable option most of the time. If you know somebody who lives close to you who is into synthesis and you learn best in this way, you might want to seek them out.
Others learn literally by opening a book and reading it, using each principle that they learn as they learn it such as, after reading the section on oscillators, going to their synth and playing with the oscillators, understanding how each tweak of the controls changes the sound.
I'm going to assume that you've learned how to do other things in the past and you have a pretty good idea of what works best for you.
I do agree with getting only one synth and learning it the best you can. After 35 years of programming these things I can tell you from experience that if you learn one very well, the rest will come a lot easier. Yes, there are some major differences between something like an analog subtractive (Minimoog), an FM synth (FM and something like Cycle (not really sure what the hell it is) that took me 3 days to figure out, but for the most part, synthesis is synthesis. Once you understand the principles, most synths shouldn't be too difficult to tackle.
But start with something simple. If you try to tackle a synth with too much going on in it, you might get frustrated. I haven't used Syntorial but I've heard lots of good things about it. It may not be a bad place to start.
And of course as the poster above said, practice a lot. You're not going to really get good at this by reading books or watching tutorials. You're only going to improve by actually getting your hands dirty and programming.
When the day comes that you're "bored" programming your old synth because there's just nothing left to do with it, that's when you'll know you're ready to move on.
Good luck.
- KVRAF
- 4129 posts since 11 Aug, 2006 from Texas
Online video sites are an excellent resource. You can watch a ton of free videos from companies showcasing their new products. If you ignore all the marketing hype and actually watch what they're doing with the device you can learn how components create or change a sound. Some notable examples:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... EFFA1493EF
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 3D3CFCB477
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... A994B13A64
http://vimeo.com/album/2218641
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 60BDB65AA2
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... yeinXztM3q
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 60F7CF76BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se31yZHNLLI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNmMCi4U4r0
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... V6J6l67yiD
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... F29218252D
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... UYQ6aQ1sTU
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 9spcnlwyd3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmGmcOc_F3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q_Ipy-QrkA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn0Cvf0RXJs
Focus on oscillators, filters, envelopes, modulation. Don't get swayed by the product marketing. Learn to associate certain common concepts with certain sounds: the sound of a saw osc, the sound of a 24db filter closing, the sound of an amp envelop with a large attack time, etc. It also often shows you how the developer of the tool intended for a knob to be used.
Hope this helps.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... EFFA1493EF
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 3D3CFCB477
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... A994B13A64
http://vimeo.com/album/2218641
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 60BDB65AA2
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... yeinXztM3q
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 60F7CF76BA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se31yZHNLLI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNmMCi4U4r0
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... V6J6l67yiD
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... F29218252D
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... UYQ6aQ1sTU
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 9spcnlwyd3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmGmcOc_F3s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q_Ipy-QrkA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn0Cvf0RXJs
Focus on oscillators, filters, envelopes, modulation. Don't get swayed by the product marketing. Learn to associate certain common concepts with certain sounds: the sound of a saw osc, the sound of a 24db filter closing, the sound of an amp envelop with a large attack time, etc. It also often shows you how the developer of the tool intended for a knob to be used.
Hope this helps.
- KVRian
- 809 posts since 25 Apr, 2004 from Windsor, Ontario
Along with most of the previously mentioned stuff, "Sound Synthesis & Sampling" is a good book by Martin Russ.
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- KVRAF
- 8414 posts since 4 Jul, 2012 from Alesia
Honestly if you want to learn Synthesis..beni_72 wrote:Hi,
Wondering if anyone can suggest some good online videos/articles/pdf's to learn synthesis.
Subtractive synthesis more so but would love some stuff on the other varieties too
Thanks!
Pick up a copy of Native Instruments Reaktor.
Inside it has most of the common algorithms and is an AWESOME learning platform.
You can get it cheap on the market place.
I would highly recommend you look into http://www.platinumears.com/theinsiders ... aktor.html to help you get it up and running.
A older free guide which covers Reaktor3 is located @ http://www.swiftkick.com/
Next thing go to https://www.wikipedia.org/ and look up topics on
FM Synthesis, Wavetable Synthesis, Phase Distortion, Granular Synthesis, Additive Synthesis, Physical Modelling Synthesis, Analog Modular Synthesis, etc
- KVRer
- 21 posts since 5 Jan, 2015
I see someone linked an ADSR tutorial video (at least one) above. I'm relatively new to this too, and I've seen several ADSR vids on YouTube that have helped me understand different functions of several different synths. They seem to have a wide variety of videos out there. This thread is beneficial to me too, so I also appreciate the suggestions. I see several things listed that I need to check out.