that's a nice wasm use case
Learning Synths
121–128 of 128 posts
Re: Learning Synths
#122If 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.
Somewhat true … maybe it’s really a hybrid, subtractive usually includes generating the initial sound to subtract from though (the oscillator) and even basic subtractive synths often have capability there (different waveforms, octaves, PWM, etc)
Re: Learning Synths
#123My browser put up a dialog asking for permission to control midi devices before the site showed anything. It's a good idea to show content before your page does anything that asks for scary permissions. (And, honestly, without knowing what the site does, its pretty scary to click on a link on hacker news and have a site ask for elevated permissions before it shows anything.)
I mean, the link is to ableton.com, the most popular professional music production software. You're not the target audience if you haven't heard of it.
Re: Learning Synths
#124If 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.
Yes, but all synthesis types are transformation unless you are just replaying/outputting a waveform in one way or another without manipulation so that is really an all encompassing way of describing all synthesis methods.
Subtractive synthesis has a particular meaning in common use whether it’s right or wrong.
Re: Learning Synths
#125They are trying to distract you from supercollider.
Re: Learning Synths
#126Earlier quoted context omitted.
I tend to thing that non-modular is a better place to start. Modular is great, I've wasted untold shameful consumerist dollars on Eurorack, but I think it's better to get the core concepts from a well-known fixed-architecture synth (like a Minimoog clone/VST) before moving on to modular. Modular can be very overwhelming when you're new.
I guess semi-modular is a good half-way :) Personally, I'm not into modular synths, so I don't recommend them as "Stop buying synths and start doing modular synths" but more like "If you're already into synths, but want to learn more about how they actually synthesize the sound, give VCVRack a try", merely as a learning tool.
That’s fair, I misunderstood GP’s post thinking you were making that recommendation to total noobs. Modular definitely has enough rope to hang yourself.
If someone is going to buy a hardware synth to learn on, I think a well laid-out semi-modular that has a good default signal path is a good way to go. Just ignore those funny 3.5” jacks until you’re ready.
Re: Learning Synths
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
I tend to thing that non-modular is a better place to start. Modular is great, I've wasted untold shameful consumerist dollars on Eurorack, but I think it's better to get the core concepts from a well-known fixed-architecture synth (like a Minimoog clone/VST) before moving on to modular. Modular can be very overwhelming when you're new.
To this point, are there any free/cheap apps/browser apps that clone simple/older/well known synths you'd (or others here) would recommend for skilling up a bit? Doesn't need to be anywhere near pro quality sound-wise, not what I'm after. A million years ago I had some analogue korg model and have been interested in playing around again. But I know myself well enough to know that my interest may very well be fleeting…
I’m a fan of Helm but it’s got some complexity under the hood.
If you’re an iOS user there are a ton of good soft synths on iOS that are criminally cheap. E.g. Moog has a version of the Mini that’s like $15.
Re: Learning Synths
#128For those so inclined, that want to play with synth in some more programmatic way, there is a lisp dialect ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyquist_(programming_language) ) for it.
Nyquist is super ancient. The links don't even work anymore on CMU. Common Music might still work but I can't imagine bothering with Nyquist. https://ccrma.stanford.edu/software/clm/ There is just not much reason to not use SuperCollider or Csound instead of these though. Edit: I did just find Nyquist has been rolled into Audacity scripting that sounds pretty cool https://audionyq.com/
Fun. Fact: that is how I learned about nyquist not long ago.
I posted that one, and not others, because it is a lisp dialect, and this community is typically inclined to lisp in a more than average %.