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Learning Synths

learningsynths.ableton.com

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Re: Learning Synths

#101

Post by core-questions »

munificent wrote: post #95
louthy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or go modular. Just be prepared to remortgage your house a year later. Seriously addictive [1] https://imgur.com/a/chegsO5 (my setup)

Non-snarky question: how much music do you finish ? Every time I think about getting more into synths, I worry that I'll just end up endlessly noodling and never actually complete any songs. Years ago, I bought a copy of Reason and had tons of fun playing with it, but eventually I realized that after every session, I was rarely any closer to having a completed work I could share with others.

I became productive with Reason probably around 5 years after I started noodling. Learning the sequencer inside and out was critical, and somehow the less obvious part of the system, as it breaks the physical metaphor - everything else is boxes connecting to other boxes, but the sequencer has no physical representation, no back-side where note lanes connect gate/CV to the synth, just magical software connections.

5 years after that I was releasing stuff that maybe, someone might want to listen to. Could have been a lot quicker with some training as opposed to just continually messing around with it.

I think in another few years I will have something that actually sounds good, sonically. Mastering is the hardest part so far.

Re: Learning Synths

#102

Post by mackrevinack »

munificent wrote: post #95
louthy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or go modular. Just be prepared to remortgage your house a year later. Seriously addictive [1] https://imgur.com/a/chegsO5 (my setup)

Non-snarky question: how much music do you finish ? Every time I think about getting more into synths, I worry that I'll just end up endlessly noodling and never actually complete any songs. Years ago, I bought a copy of Reason and had tons of fun playing with it, but eventually I realized that after every session, I was rarely any closer to having a completed work I could share with others.

i was only thinking about this a few days ago. ive been using reason on and off since version 4 and i have never finished a song! it was the same when i played guitar. i was never really interested in making music for other people and i got a lot more enjoyment out of just noodling around

Re: Learning Synths

#103

Post by _def »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #88
Sileni wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two real ways to go about it, it works about the same as learning guitar for a specific genre. Either find someone competent in that play-style to tutor you, or take a beginner-intermediate class in piano. Up to that point it will conceptually be similar. Once you feel like your basic technique is sound (rolls, fingering, rhythm), start learning songs you like. You'll pick up the specific techniques you need as you g…

Thanks! I share that experience - I've been mostly self-taught electric guitar, only to realize many years later that my unconventional (but seemingly natural) way of holding the pick is completely messing me up :O

I was there as well after years of learning guitar. It's never too late to relearn the pick holding. It takes some time, but it's worth it.

Re: Learning Synths

#104

Post by komali2 »

alexilliamson wrote: post #94
komali2 wrote: post #69

Wow weird coincidence, I've just started getting into Ableton and production, a sort of lifelong goal of mine, and just last night finally started watching some videos on Wavetable. I was completely blown away by the infinity x infinity possibilities. Totally overwhelming! This tutorial is great for helping me understand the concepts, very fortuitous. Now if I could actually sit down and make a song instead of just t…

Also wanting to get into this... would you mind describing your hardware setup? And any other software besides Ableton?

I started out with the Ableton 10 trial on a Thinkpad x1 carbon (newest generation and max'd to the gills on components) running windows 10. I am taking lessons on production at the local Guitar Center.

That was "good enough" to teach me the basics, which at first was just figuring out how the UX of Ableton works (the intro tutorial is good for that as well). The teacher teaches me stuff about sidechains and etc but that can be learned through youtube videos. Really I should spend more of my time with him bringing in my material and working with him to tweak it.

Anyway, because there's MIDI tools like "chord builders" (literally one called "jazz for dummies") and arpegiators, it's not exactly necessary to get a keyboard. I'd just plug one of those in, bang out a few chords, and hit ctrl+d (duplicate) a bunch of times, trying to learn more about the basics of songbuilding than really making custom tracks.

But that did get obnoxious not being able to tell which keys on my keyboard mapped to notes, so I got an entry level midi keyboard recommended on wirecutter, the Arturia MiniLab MKII https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSNIVKE/ref=ppx_yo_dt...

It's been fun and simple, and I bet it'll be even more fun when I figure out how to map the knobs to stuff and learn more about synths.

As for version of Ableton, now I'm running a pirated version until a few months go by without any big purchases, at which time I'll pick up Live Suite.

Re: Learning Synths

#105

Post by shadowoflight »

jf wrote: post #100
shadowoflight wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey! I'm not knowledgeable enough to endorse a specific national charity, so I'd suggest that you buy some local artist's merch or donate to your local/regional human or animal shelter!

Okay! I donated $30 to the SF SPCA. Thanks again for the tip! https://www.evernote.com/l/ABLjCal10i5CnYiRvlMhlxj_vGjFWojD2...

That’s a fantastic choice! Glad I could help you save a few (dozen) bucks.

Re: Learning Synths

#106

Post by mikorym »

33degrees wrote: post #48
mikorym wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A while ago I recorded two songs (inter alia) that each used a Logic / Garageband synth. I can't perform these songs live without using my laptop. Currently my setup is with a Nord Piano 2 (which does not use Apple synthesisers and there does not appear to be a way to convert to Nord's file format). Is it possible to go from first principles, starting with a sound that I have in mind (an Apple Logic default synth) an…

I'm not certain which synth you used, but you should definitely be able to get close with another synth

The two synths were called "solo star" and "hovering machine". They come standard with the default installation.

Re: Learning Synths

#107

Post by mikorym »

mft_ wrote: post #66
mikorym wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A while ago I recorded two songs (inter alia) that each used a Logic / Garageband synth. I can't perform these songs live without using my laptop. Currently my setup is with a Nord Piano 2 (which does not use Apple synthesisers and there does not appear to be a way to convert to Nord's file format). Is it possible to go from first principles, starting with a sound that I have in mind (an Apple Logic default synth) an…

AFAIK the Nord Piano (as opposed to the Nord Stage and others) doesn't have a full synth engine - but rather plays samples. You'd have to explore sampling the output of the Logic synth, and then converting and loading them into the sample engine on the Piano. https://www.nordkeyboards.com/software-tools/nord-sample-edi...

Cool, thanks. I've seen that sampler on my Nord installation disk but I assumed that there would be some level of loss of quality? Or can the output from the sample engine interpolate cleverly and recreate a faithful (or, at least, high quality) representation?

Re: Learning Synths

#108

Post by scarecrowbob »

munificent wrote: post #95
louthy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or go modular. Just be prepared to remortgage your house a year later. Seriously addictive [1] https://imgur.com/a/chegsO5 (my setup)

Non-snarky question: how much music do you finish ? Every time I think about getting more into synths, I worry that I'll just end up endlessly noodling and never actually complete any songs. Years ago, I bought a copy of Reason and had tons of fun playing with it, but eventually I realized that after every session, I was rarely any closer to having a completed work I could share with others.

Among a lot of other kinds of music, I like ambient electronic music.

I go through periods where I just get an okay sound going, and then play with it for 5-10 minutes, and record the stereo bus.

So after a period of this, I usually get 10-12 recordings.

I mean, it's not great. It's not the same as learning a bluegrass tune on banjo and polishing it till I can play it super fast, but I like the results enough to share them with people. So, in this context all the noodling _is_ the completed work.

Here's the result of the last period: https://westtexasjohn.com/category/synth-diary/

Re: Learning Synths

#109

Post by jacquesm »

NikolaNovak wrote: post #83
jacquesm wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you do end up going the 'learn piano' route check out 'pianobooster', it is the most patient teacher you'll ever have.

Awesome Sauce! I'm looking for Udemy courses for guided learning, but another way to practice is great - thx!

You're welcome, enjoy! Finding practice material it is best to look for midi files that are already split into two channels and tracks for left and right hand. Otherwise you have to split them yourself which can be quite a bit of work.

Re: Learning Synths

#110

Post by anigbrowl »

fermentation wrote: post #32
bbx wrote: post #5

The best resource I've ever seen for learning synthesis is Syntorial: https://www.syntorial.com/ It teaches you step by step all the aspects of a synth engine: oscillators, wave shapes, amplitude, filters, modulation, unison, FM… But most of all it trains your ear, which allows you to replicate the sound in your head and build it from scratch.

That looks really great, but a little pricey. Any recs for someone who isn’t sure if they want to invest the cash into learning synthesis?

VCV rack is free. Also look for the demo Nord Modular software, which has a few modules disabled and is limited to one voice but still insanely powerful. Synth Secrets is probably the best written tutorial on synthesis you'll find anywhere.

https://www.soundonsound.com/search/articles/%22Synth%20Secr...

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