Synth Recipes

[Equilibrium]

I've spend a great deal of the last year learning about synths and how they work, as well as mucking around with them a fair bit.

I have to say that I did expect more results considering the great deal of effort that I have put into it. With that said there have been some very pleasing results.

I kind of have two questiong really, one slightly philosophical, the other quite down to earth...

1) What advice would you give to a mediocre synth programmer? I basically do close to everything on a V-Station, and when I'm not intimidated some stuff on my FM7 (I've had no good results with the latter so far). I haven't really learned much about the physics of how other instruments work, and hence haven't applied any of that theory (expect for real basic stuff like sawtooth of trumpets, and square for woodwind). Does it ever get to a point where your feel really confident you can replicate the sounds in your head?

2) Do you know of any resources where I could find almost recipies for creating sounds. I think this would be quite beneficially, as I don't really have any set sounds that I know how to make

All advice is really welcome, I really would love to hear anything at all from some pros out there...

[Equilibrium]

Just as an example of a really simple idea. I've learned that my putting the filter mod up quite high and having the envelope set to not attack and a small about of decay, that creates a kind of hitting sound when a note is played. I love that sound to bits.

[nuffink]

Gordon Reids mighty Synth Secrets series in Sound on Sound.
Starts here goes on forever.

[jupiter8]

Forget about programming the FM7. Very few people now how to program FM with any confidence.I've only met 1 and frankly am surprised that i've met that many!!!
Focus on the V-Station instead. It is much easier to program.

[Equilibrium]

Gordon Reids mighty Synth Secrets series in Sound on Sound.
Starts here goes on forever.

yeah I've read a fair bit of that, and I have to say at times it's just like he is constantly throwing theory at you. I still read it, but it isn't quite as practical as he makes it out to be.

As for the FM thing, I really want to be able to program in FM, as it just sounds amazing. I have been warned off it by a fair few people, but I just really want to learn it.

[jkotz]

For me, the biggest problem I had with FM was trying to do it with FM7. NI's interface just makes the process horribly counter-intuitive (unless you're used to the old DX synths). Try working with Operator for Ableton Live, or Sytrus 2. You get a much better feel for what's happening with the routing and modulations.

[kuniklo]

I *highly* recommend Peter Gorges new book:

http://tinyurl.com/b2lha

Short on theory. Long on hands-on practical advice including methods for getting particular sounds.

[Equilibrium]

I *highly* recommend Peter Gorges new book:

http://tinyurl.com/b2lha

Short on theory. Long on hands-on practical advice including methods for getting particular sounds.

Thank you so much pal, that's just what I'm after. Nice one!

Also I will try some other FM synths, although I fail to see how the FM7 synth is counter intuitive, IMO it is a masterpiece that you could spend a lifetime learning.

[atomic_(no)afro]

Try this free e-book out:
How To Make A Noise

I found it useful for detailing some of the finer points in patch creation...

ATA

[vstliefhebber]

Hi,

Here you can find a copy of the out-of-print book "FM theory and application" by J Chowning. imo the best book written on FM. http://www.spoogeworld.com/music/instru ... a/main.php

Another temporary solution on easier learning of FM synthesis might be the free VSTi "Oxe fm synth". I think it's easier because it has everything on 1 page and conventional envelopes.

cheers,

[Equilibrium]

Try this free e-book out:
How To Make A Noise

I found it useful for detailing some of the finer points in patch creation...

ATA

I have checked that out but is the book any use if your not using the synths that it talks about?

[Equilibrium]

Hi,

Here you can find a copy of the out-of-print book "FM theory and application" by J Chowning. imo the best book written on FM. http://www.spoogeworld.com/music/instru ... a/main.php

Another temporary solution on easier learning of FM synthesis might be the free VSTi "Oxe fm synth". I think it's easier because it has everything on 1 page and conventional envelopes.

cheers,

Yes I have that book, I find it very hard to understand though, that's my problem I guess, but I'll keep on at it. I'm going to give that free sythn a go now.

Thanks for the responses people.

[atomic_(no)afro]

I have checked that out but is the book any use if your not using the synths that it talks about?

Yep, the book is general enough as to allow one to make good use of it without owning the synths that it talks about, especially with the early chapters. In fact, you may get more out of it by NOT having the synths in question, since it will force you to figure out the ins and outs of your own synths when trying to do what the book asks.

ATA

[vstliefhebber]

Hi,

Chownings book can be hard to understand. i didn't get it at all the first time i read it. Neither the 2nd time. the 3d time i had some notions. etc...

sometimes practice is better than theory. Here are found some patches of the original dx-series you can dissect (afaik FM7 can import them)
http://www.midipage.nl/nl_patches1.html
http://www.yamahasynth.com/products/dx/index.html

or some more tutorials

http://www.soundofmusic.se/synth/dx7/dx7.htm
(under "programming the DX7" the "basic FM synthesis" booklet and the Keyboard Magazine Article "How to program the DX7" seem quite nice.)

cheers,

[liqih]

Equilibrium,

it's hard to explain practically without a reference on a specific synth,

one thing you should learn IMHO is how to categorize sounds, and get accustomed to their characteristics,

the more you know about instruments, and how their sound is made, the better,

then each synthesis technique got its strong and weak points and you must discover those, that nees a lot of time
though


an idea, maybe we could start (or is it there already?) a Q&A thread where the experienced may reply to single short questions