Subtractive synths explained (2011)
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Subtractive synths explained (2011)
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Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#2For those who are interested in this topic, I highly recommend checking out VCV Rack, an open source application that lets you build Eurorack-style virtual modular synthesizers: https://vcvrack.com/
I've been going down this rabbit hole lately and it's really fascinating.
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#3I have an Arrick synth[1] (22 slots) and it can be fun to just explore the sound space that the filters can create. I also found it fun when I started building some FFT tools that I could use it as a complex signal generator and see the results in the FFTs I was computing. :-)
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#4I got this from Brian Eno's Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/dark_shark/status/1122355076360572928
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#5For those who are interested in this topic, I highly recommend checking out VCV Rack, an open source application that lets you build Eurorack-style virtual modular synthesizers: https://vcvrack.com/ I've been going down this rabbit hole lately and it's really fascinating.
Software modular synth is really good for learning about sound and signal. I use Alsa Modular Synth[0], which has its faults, but has a simpler interface than VCV Rack. I use it some times even to filter my voice when role-playing monsters on our online dungeons & dragons game (I love how easy these things are to do with JACK on Linux, used to do something similar in PulseAudio with LADSPA filters, but it was much more of a pain).
That said, I got myself a Moog Mother-32[1] recently, which is a hardware semi-modular synth, and I found it much more musical than software alternatives. I could immediately create much more musical pieces than I could with the software – even though I have MIDI peripherals for the software and the software can create any module I can imagine.
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#6For those who are interested in this topic, I highly recommend checking out VCV Rack, an open source application that lets you build Eurorack-style virtual modular synthesizers: https://vcvrack.com/ I've been going down this rabbit hole lately and it's really fascinating.
Software modular synth is really good for learning about sound and signal. I use Alsa Modular Synth[0], which has its faults, but has a simpler interface than VCV Rack. I use it some times even to filter my voice when role-playing monsters on our online dungeons & dragons game (I love how easy these things are to do with JACK on Linux, used to do something similar in PulseAudio with LADSPA filters, but it was much mo…
> Alsa Modular Synth
Another good option is SunVox; it's part modular synth, part tracker in a really cool UI. It includes a bunch of simple examples that demonstrate how to use the synth modules.
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#7For those who are interested in this topic, I highly recommend checking out VCV Rack, an open source application that lets you build Eurorack-style virtual modular synthesizers: https://vcvrack.com/ I've been going down this rabbit hole lately and it's really fascinating.
Since a lot of people here are technical, here's a fun tip: VCV Rack stores the rack as a (somewhat) human-readable JSON file.
A couple of friends and I are experimenting with collaborating using Github and pull requests.
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#8This is a pretty in-depth introduction to Subtractive synths, although I think it's probably a bit daunting for most beginners, particularly as the synths illustrated change, and in my experience showing a complex synth (even if it is made up of modules that a student understands) will make most people shut down in fear pretty quickly!
I'd suggest getting a simple synth (such as the ES M shown in the second image, or simple free VST synths if you're on windows, such as the PG-8X [1]) and spending some time playing around with the controls, and getting to know the sounds. There are usually 'Oh, THAT'S what that sound is' moments when playing around with the filters for the first time.
Once you're comfortable with that, move onto more complex synths (such as the Superwave P8[2]) and you'll find that many of them are not really more complex, but just have more of the sections you already know - a bit like learning a channel on a mixer, and then moving to a 72-channel mixer from an 8 channel one.
Modular synths such as VCV rack (mentioned elsewhere here) are really great for experimentation with the architecture of subtractive sound generation (as mentioned elsewhere in this thread), but for many they are intimidating initially, and have setup time cost if you're starting from scratch. I think they are for a certain kind of personality (myself included!), but not for everyone. The reason that the 'standard' architecture which is described in the OP exists is because people habitually used the same setup (osc > filter > amp with lfo and envelopes, as seen to a degree in the 'olympic rings' analogy), and manufacturers wanted to produce simpler, cheaper synths for a wider market. Often you end up making variations on that theme. The great advantage of software modular synths is that you can save (and load!) your setups, and you never run out of cables or modules (or money!).
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#9This is a pretty in-depth introduction to Subtractive synths, although I think it's probably a bit daunting for most beginners, particularly as the synths illustrated change, and in my experience showing a complex synth (even if it is made up of modules that a student understands) will make most people shut down in fear pretty quickly! I'd suggest getting a simple synth (such as the ES M shown in the second image, or…
I really liked the Superwave P8 back when I used Windows. Does anybody know if it can work in Linux?
Re: Subtractive synths explained (2011)
#10https://www.syntorial.com/ is pretty much the best way to not just learn the technical, but how each part sounds.