Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:25 am
(didn't know where to post this)
Since the last couple of months i started to document myself on the basics of synthesis. My interest grew from the beginning of 2020 and led me to finally buy a Minilogue XD this week to start actually make some experience with phisical stuff (TWSS) instead of randomly moving virtual knobs on Ableton.
The point is: i read a good mount of articles about Oscialltors, LFOs, EGs, etc.., but i would like to find some informations on how to get a certain sound, and i don't mean a video tutorial on how to do it that just shows me what knobs to turn without explaining anything, i want a thing more like "to build xxxxxx sound you should start with a saw/triangle/.. wave because of these reasons, and then sync it with a xxx wave because..." etc etc.
Probably it is just a stupid n00b question,I love to experiment (I spent the last days digging deep into it and starting patches from scratch to understand the behavior and interaction of each knob - and i already know have months of fun ahead) but i am also curious to learn more about the theory behind synthesis and how to create certain sounds.
Also, if anyone has some interesting sources about synthesis theory in general i'm happy to hear that too.
Since the last couple of months i started to document myself on the basics of synthesis. My interest grew from the beginning of 2020 and led me to finally buy a Minilogue XD this week to start actually make some experience with phisical stuff (TWSS) instead of randomly moving virtual knobs on Ableton.
The point is: i read a good mount of articles about Oscialltors, LFOs, EGs, etc.., but i would like to find some informations on how to get a certain sound, and i don't mean a video tutorial on how to do it that just shows me what knobs to turn without explaining anything, i want a thing more like "to build xxxxxx sound you should start with a saw/triangle/.. wave because of these reasons, and then sync it with a xxx wave because..." etc etc.
Probably it is just a stupid n00b question,I love to experiment (I spent the last days digging deep into it and starting patches from scratch to understand the behavior and interaction of each knob - and i already know have months of fun ahead) but i am also curious to learn more about the theory behind synthesis and how to create certain sounds.
Also, if anyone has some interesting sources about synthesis theory in general i'm happy to hear that too.
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Sat Jun 13, 2020 5:52 am
http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~clark/nordmodularbook/nm_book_toc.html
I have learned alot from spending hours reading this, it covers most types of synthesis and has a pretty nice overview of architecture too. You can download clavias modular demo to play along, the demo is a version upwards so it will not be exactly the same.
https://rhordijk.home.xs4all.nl/G2Pages/
I found this adressing the newer version, it is probably good too but really text heavy and like I just woke up so I won't be reading through it.
I have been meaning to watch this to learn Pure Data but it is really really basic from the start so I like can't do it so it is probably great for a noob. plus you get to learn pure data!
Lastly: just spend time with your minilouge, listen. What does this oscillator do? What will change if I use a bandpass instead of a lowpass here? Also try reverse engineering presets and see what the individual components do. Don't be afraid to ask either, people don't mind stupid question. The answer is always a pair of fat saws into an overdriven lowpass anyways
I have learned alot from spending hours reading this, it covers most types of synthesis and has a pretty nice overview of architecture too. You can download clavias modular demo to play along, the demo is a version upwards so it will not be exactly the same.
https://rhordijk.home.xs4all.nl/G2Pages/
I found this adressing the newer version, it is probably good too but really text heavy and like I just woke up so I won't be reading through it.
I have been meaning to watch this to learn Pure Data but it is really really basic from the start so I like can't do it so it is probably great for a noob. plus you get to learn pure data!
Lastly: just spend time with your minilouge, listen. What does this oscillator do? What will change if I use a bandpass instead of a lowpass here? Also try reverse engineering presets and see what the individual components do. Don't be afraid to ask either, people don't mind stupid question. The answer is always a pair of fat saws into an overdriven lowpass anyways
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Sat Jun 13, 2020 11:05 am
Those links look good. But I'm afraid I don't think there's a replacement for listening practice, especially when you're talking about traditional analog/subtractive synthesis! The more you play and listen to things you want to emulate the more you'll hear what is happening in other people's synth sounds, rather than just hearing nice sounds.
That said, I would be surprised if there isn't a thread on one of the synth forums with a collection of minilogue "patches". Something like that would be a great start. To be honest the same is true of any synth with a similar architecture, not just the minilogue.
That said, I would be surprised if there isn't a thread on one of the synth forums with a collection of minilogue "patches". Something like that would be a great start. To be honest the same is true of any synth with a similar architecture, not just the minilogue.
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:32 am
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Mon Jun 15, 2020 11:17 am
Oh wow yeah that looks perfect for what you're after.
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:29 am
Hey thanks everyone!
@ spacelordmother Yeah! That soundonsound series of articles is one of those i have started to read in the past weeks, definitely complete and extensive, i am (slowly) going on while i try to apply some of these concepts while playing with the synth for better understanding.
@qersty those links are super useful, thanks! the updated one is huge, and surely has more than i need right now, but it's a bible of informations! that being said, yesterday i went through the percussions synthesis chapter of the first link and found some really useful tips.
@cbs Agreed that practice is definitely the most important thing. The more i mess with it the more i realize that the interactions between the various parts of the synth make some drastic changes to the overall sound. Sometimes i start a patch with a clear idea of what i want but end up with something totally different just because i discover something new in a knob twist.
@ spacelordmother Yeah! That soundonsound series of articles is one of those i have started to read in the past weeks, definitely complete and extensive, i am (slowly) going on while i try to apply some of these concepts while playing with the synth for better understanding.
@qersty those links are super useful, thanks! the updated one is huge, and surely has more than i need right now, but it's a bible of informations! that being said, yesterday i went through the percussions synthesis chapter of the first link and found some really useful tips.
@cbs Agreed that practice is definitely the most important thing. The more i mess with it the more i realize that the interactions between the various parts of the synth make some drastic changes to the overall sound. Sometimes i start a patch with a clear idea of what i want but end up with something totally different just because i discover something new in a knob twist.
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Mon Jun 22, 2020 10:05 pm
This ain’t bad: http://www.herbert-janssen.de/doc/sy-prog.pdf
Re: Synthesis Theory & Beyond
Tue Jun 23, 2020 1:31 am
