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Learning Synths

learningsynths.ableton.com

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Re: Learning Synths

#31

Post by naltroc »

weatherlight wrote: post #30

If you want to understand (Subtractive) synthesis. The best way is to get copy of VCV rack and follow a few tutorials. If you patch one subtractive mono synth voice once, you understand 80% of all subtractive synth architecture moving forward. https://vcvrack.com (open source and wonderful) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35OhojjqDs Happy patching :) There's a bunch of other really interesting types of synthesis and…

unpopular hot take:

subtractive synthesis isn't synthesis. It's a transformation.

Re: Learning Synths

#32

Post by skyyler »

naltroc wrote: post #31
weatherlight wrote: post #30

If you want to understand (Subtractive) synthesis. The best way is to get copy of VCV rack and follow a few tutorials. If you patch one subtractive mono synth voice once, you understand 80% of all subtractive synth architecture moving forward. https://vcvrack.com (open source and wonderful) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35OhojjqDs Happy patching :) There's a bunch of other really interesting types of synthesis and…

unpopular hot take: subtractive synthesis isn't synthesis. It's a transformation.

Well, "transformer" is already a kind of device. Do you have a suggested name to replace "synthesiser"?

Re: Learning Synths

#33

Post by weatherlight »

naltroc wrote: post #31
weatherlight wrote: post #30

If you want to understand (Subtractive) synthesis. The best way is to get copy of VCV rack and follow a few tutorials. If you patch one subtractive mono synth voice once, you understand 80% of all subtractive synth architecture moving forward. https://vcvrack.com (open source and wonderful) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35OhojjqDs Happy patching :) There's a bunch of other really interesting types of synthesis and…

unpopular hot take: subtractive synthesis isn't synthesis. It's a transformation.

Hold up, I'm going to send a email to every synth company that sells synths with filters and explain to them that they aren't selling synthesizers but transformers. I'm positive that it will be received well!

Re: Learning Synths

#34

Post by [deleted] »

naltroc wrote: post #31
weatherlight wrote: post #30

If you want to understand (Subtractive) synthesis. The best way is to get copy of VCV rack and follow a few tutorials. If you patch one subtractive mono synth voice once, you understand 80% of all subtractive synth architecture moving forward. https://vcvrack.com (open source and wonderful) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35OhojjqDs Happy patching :) There's a bunch of other really interesting types of synthesis and…

unpopular hot take: subtractive synthesis isn't synthesis. It's a transformation.

[deleted]

Re: Learning Synths

#36

Post by hypertexthero »

revskill wrote: post #6

What's the best way to learn piano via keyboard like a professional ?

So far for me this has worked well:

1. Choose a song you like and find out what chords are needed to play it.

2. Learn those chords and practice playing the song.

Use a keyboard with weighted keys for best results.

Refs:

https://hypertexthero.com/piano/

https://www.pianochord.org/

https://github.com/pianobooster/PianoBooster

Re: Learning Synths

#37

Post by ge96 »

That's a neat browser permission prompt asking about MIDI, haven't seen that one before

edit: side note making sound is one thing, making something actually worth listening to...

Re: Learning Synths

#38

Post by SeanLuke »

naltroc wrote: post #31
weatherlight wrote: post #30

If you want to understand (Subtractive) synthesis. The best way is to get copy of VCV rack and follow a few tutorials. If you patch one subtractive mono synth voice once, you understand 80% of all subtractive synth architecture moving forward. https://vcvrack.com (open source and wonderful) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V35OhojjqDs Happy patching :) There's a bunch of other really interesting types of synthesis and…

unpopular hot take: subtractive synthesis isn't synthesis. It's a transformation.

So I presume your complaint is that by synthesis you mean taking two things, smashing them together, and producing a new thing. In which case, sure, subtractive synthesis isn't synthesis unless:

- Two oscillators undergoing detune, sync, ring or amplitude modulation, or fm prior to getting fed into the filter?

- An LFO combined with an oscillator?

- An envelope (controlling the filter or amplifier) combined with an oscillator?

Perhaps these things might be considered combinations? I agree this is weak. You can blame the RCA Mark I and II for calling subtractive synthesizers "synthesizers".

Re: Learning Synths

#39

Post by criddell »

itishappy wrote: post #29
revskill wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Computer keyboard .

Don't. Computer keyboards are inexpressive. You'll be giving up the ability to modulate note velocity/volume, for starters. Get a cheap MIDI keyboard for a few hundred bucks. If instead of playing you're more interested in making cool sounds, I'd skip the keyboard completely and download a free DAW like Reaper, Ableton, or FL Studio. Whichever route you take, the secret is practice. It always is...

> Don't. Computer keyboards are inexpressive.

Constraints can be a great thing.

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