Learning Synths
learningsynths.ableton.com
Learning Synths
1–10 of 175 posts
Re: Learning Synths
#2Not the first time Ableton tutorial/informational content has been posted on here, and it's always a delight to see and use.
Re: Learning Synths
#3If you have an interest in synths, you owe it to yourself to read Synth Secrets by Gordon Reid. Published in 63 parts in Sound on Sound magazine, it remains the definitive tutorial on synth programming.
https://www.soundonsound.com/search/articles/%22Synth%20Secr...
Re: Learning Synths
#4Possibly unpopular opinion, but IMO to learn a synth it’s best to start with a simple physical subtractive monosynth.
Software synths are often built to model popular hardware instruments in both sound and interface. So learning the basic concepts on a “real” subtractive synth builds a foundation to learn more.
Plus a physical synth is far less distracting than a multitasking device. I find it much easier to create, experiment and learn when a screen is not involved.
Re: Learning Synths
#5The 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.
Re: Learning Synths
#6It's relevant also if you are interested in creating music and not specifically in synths because it very clearly explains many controls that you will find in popular music software.
Re: Learning Synths
#7Not directly related, but do you know of recent achievements with a wow factor in the physical modelling synthesis field [1]? Just as some offline rendered 3d scenes are amazing, It'd be nice to have a pure virtual instrument with its string and resonance chamber model, inter-string effects, plucking mechanism, and so on.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_modelling_synthesis
Re: Learning Synths
#8Not directly related, but do you know of recent achievements with a wow factor in the physical modelling synthesis field [1]? Just as some offline rendered 3d scenes are amazing, It'd be nice to have a pure virtual instrument with its string and resonance chamber model, inter-string effects, plucking mechanism, and so on. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_modelling_synthesis
Reaktor 5 ships with Steam Pipe 1&2, which are two cool physical modelling synthesizers. They're great for wind, string and percussive instruments
Re: Learning Synths
#9The 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.
Syntorial is a charm, definitely the best resource to develop your ear. There are possibly waay extensive resources like books, but as the nature of the medium it's good for getting information, but for practice and developing the ear, Syntorial is #1.
Re: Learning Synths
#10Possibly unpopular opinion, but IMO to learn a synth it’s best to start with a simple physical subtractive monosynth. Software synths are often built to model popular hardware instruments in both sound and interface. So learning the basic concepts on a “real” subtractive synth builds a foundation to learn more. Plus a physical synth is far less distracting than a multitasking device. I find it much easier to create,…
Absolutely. There is such a wide variety of cheap analog monosynths, it’s definitely the way to go.
For me, the knobs are the most important part. It’s an expressive medium after all, you need to feel the movement.