How long does it take to program a synthesizer?

[Juljan]

Hey everybody,

I thought about digging into the said topic. How long does it take to learn a programming language (I presume C++) that great to program a complex synthesizer (like Zebra, Serum, ...)?

Thanks in advance.

– Juljan

[Music Engineer]

if you start from scratch, i.e. you have to implement all the oscillators, filters, modulation-generators, etc. before, then many years

wait - your headline says: "how long does it take to make a synthesizer" but in the post you say "How long does it take to learn a programming language". which is it? of course, the latter is a preliminary for the former

[syntonica]

If you can already program (java, JavaScript, c, Fortran, etc.), you can pick up the basics of c++ in a day, which is all you'll really need for programming VSTs. Regarding the GUI, you will need to go somewhat deeper, or use a framework.

If you don't already program, add a year to do smaller projects as you build your coding chops.

Learning DSP is apparently a lifetime achievement. I've been doing it for a year, and am STILL picking up just new terminology, let alone the math. (Math is easy, how it applies to real stuff is the hard part for me.) And you'll spend quite a bit of time just implementing and listening to different algorithms, especially since your synth will probably be offering at least a dozen effects...

Completing a synthesizer of high complexity, by yourself, you could do it in two years if you stuck to it daily. However, you'll probably already need a design of how it will work and how it will look. And at the end of that time, it will probably sound like crap!

So throw in another however long to learn more DSP and fix your VST and... it will probably still sound like crap since you know where all the weaknesses are, but it may be of use to others. Throw in another several months to build up a library of patches that sound good, or at least illustrate what your synth is capable of.

I am only being partially facetious, but it's a very deep rabbit hole to go down requiring programming skills, graphic design skills, sound design skills, math skills, listening skills, etc.

There are larger developers here with teams working on these kinds of synthesizers who can tell you how many man-hours it took to bring their creations to life and how much research was put in, etc.

[Xenakios]

I thought about digging into the said topic.

Why? There is nothing suitable already on the market for you to use? For fun? You think you can make a profitable business out of it?

[tehlord]

You'll find out when a developer actually finishes one.


hashtag snap

[Richard_Synapse]

A complex synthesizer can take a couple of years to make, for a single developer. Even if you can code the first version faster, the stuff you will want to add afterwards (e.g. you may not have a ProTools version initially, or you may not have a Mac version, or no high-res support, or no 64-bit support, only a small preset library, etc.) will keep you busy for that long. And that is assuming you already know all the basics. So it's quite a long time, but don't let that discourage you if you really want to get into it

Richard

[Juljan]

if you start from scratch, i.e. you have to implement all the oscillators, filters, modulation-generators, etc. before, then many years

wait - your headline says: "how long does it take to make a synthesizer" but in the post you say "How long does it take to learn a programming language". which is it? of course, the latter is a preliminary for the former

Thanks for your answer. You are right: My description was unclear. I am coming from a producing background, maybe a tiny little bit of DSP due to it. Programming would be a completely new sphere and just for fun. I would like to know how long it takes to learn programming so that you could program (kind of) a complex synthesizer.

[antto]

i never asked that question myself

at one point you either just throw yourself at it, or you don't

in my case, the answer is: years
i think i started somewhere around 2007-ish maybe?

making something that synthesizes some sound can be quick
putting it together properly, optimizing it, doing the GUI, polishing it, aka "finishing" that product into a usable state is the longer task

[Distorted Horizon]

How long does it take

As long as it takes, young padawan.

[deastman]

How long is a piece of string?

[syntonica]

How long is a piece of string?

About yay long.

[V0RT3X]

Depends on the synthesizer

On a minimoog, not long..

...Ok i'll go get me coat.

[BertKoor]

I am coming from a producing background, maybe a tiny little bit of DSP due to it. Programming would be a completely new sphere and just for fun. I would like to know how long it takes to learn programming so that you could program (kind of) a complex synthesizer.

You can take some shortcuts: create a synth with SynthEdit or SynthMaker. Less (or no) programming experience required. It won't ever be something like Diva that comes out of it, but it will be fun nevertheless.

If you want to start with programming and like producing, then have a look at http://sonic-pi.net to get the hang of it in a fun way.

[Aloysius]

200 years.

[kippertoffee]

So it's quite a long time, but don't let that discourage you if you really want to get into it
Richard

NIce to see when there's often so much unnecessary hostility round here.