How to make a noise: Free Book

[Remedial]

I haven't read the whole thread, but why would one not have access to those 6 synths? They all have demos. That's what I did a while ago with the free version of Simon's book. Now that I own 3 of the 6, and am getting a VSTi that utilizes the Wusik engine, I'm getting the hard copy. And if I really apply my ass, then hopefully I'll be prepared when Simon finishes his work-in-progress. Another very good and instrument specific synth tutorial is Howard Scarr's freely downloadable tutorial from the Virus site. And look at any issue of CM, they illustrate a specific concept with a specific synth. I don't see what the f**king problem is.

Simon please keep up the good work for the majority of your readers.

I understand your point, but then, what about a Mac user who doesn't have an Intel Mac or a version of Windows installed even if they do.

From what I can gather, Simon's book seem pretty exhaustive and contains many patches that greatly illustrate the concepts that he is trying to get across. But, for those of us who can't access these synths, we're kind of out of luck.

For example, on page 25 of the free version of the book, he has numerous examples that have accompanying patches to go along with his description in the text. Without access to Z3TA+, I cannot hear or see what changes he made on the synth parameters to get the sounds he is discussing. So, I'm either left having to try to "imagine" these sounds while continuing to read on or skipping this entire section and going to another section that is applicable to me.

For a Windows user, I would say there is probably no better book on the market today as an introductory course on synthesis. But, being the Mac user that I am, had I bought this book and then been faced with these limitations, I would have quickly returned it, not in anyway due to the "quality" of instruction contained within.

Ideally (and I know this is in hindsight):
1. A cd containing audio examples of the sounds of the patches being described could have been included for those of us that either don't have access to the synths or may be reading the book in an environment where we don't currently have access to our computers.

2. The patches could have been designed on multi-OS freeware synths so that the majority of the purchasing populace is covered.

3. Simon could have maybe contracted with a designer who could have maybe designed a synth or synths that could encompass the range of synthesis methods covered in the book. These synths could have either been freeware, their cost incorporated into the cost of the book, or they could have been bought from Simon's or the designer's website. I know that Native Instruments once designed a freeware synth for a synth programming series that was written by Peter Georges. I think it's still available, so, that could have been an option.

Now, once again, I'd like to add that these ideas are all just suggestions (and thought about in hindsight) and that Simon went way beyond other synth programming tutorials (like the SOS series) by even including patches for synths that are readily available and not providing instruction using vintage synths that most of us will never encounter in our lives.

Thanks for the great book, once again, Simon.

[Simon_Cann]

Hey Remedial

Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

You raise several issues that have been raised before, although it must be said that you are putting your view forward in a far more polite and well reasoned manner than many other people have put their views forward. As these are points that have been raised before (sometimes in other forums), I would like to respond and explain some of my thinking process behind the book, and also, talk about some other options for you to think about.

I understand your point, but then, what about a Mac user who doesn't have an Intel Mac or a version of Windows installed even if they do.

As you realize, there is a free version of the book (and you can preview the book using Amazon Search Inside the Book and Google Books), so if you like what you see, then don't buy the book!! No one has complained to me that most of the synthesizers in Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User (http://noisesculpture.com/csfptpu.html) don't run on a Mac or that Project5 (http://noisesculpture.com/p5p.html) doesn't run on a Mac, so why the problem with How to Make a Noise?

That being said, three of the synths (Cameleon 5000, Surge, and Vanguard) featured in How to Make a Noise are now available in Mac implementations.

For example, on page 25 of the free version of the book, he has numerous examples that have accompanying patches to go along with his description in the text. Without access to Z3TA+, I cannot hear or see what changes he made on the synth parameters to get the sounds he is discussing. So, I'm either left having to try to "imagine" these sounds while continuing to read on or skipping this entire section and going to another section that is applicable to me.

How to Make a Noise is (in essence) about creating SPECIFIC sounds with SPECIFIC synthesizers. If you don't have a PC and Z3TA+ (to use your example), then you're not going to be able to recreate the SPECIFIC sound I'm talking about. That being said, the sounds mentioned on page 25 of the free version of the book should be quite simple to recreate on any synthesizer.

1. A cd containing audio examples of the sounds of the patches being described could have been included for those of us that either don't have access to the synths or may be reading the book in an environment where we don't currently have access to our computers.

I actually think this is a bad idea in the context of How to Make a Noise.

The book was not intended to be "read" in the way you might read a conventional book—it's not a bit of light bed-time reading. The intention was you would have the book open and a synthesizer open so you could try things immediately—clearly this presupposes that you would have one or more of the synths available.

A CD (or similar sonic examples) might be useful for people with no knowledge of synthesis, but in my opinion, you can learn much more by actually getting your hands on a synth than by listening to sounds in the abstract.

However, while I don't think a CD is useful as a companion for How to Make a Noise, I am actively looking at the possibilities for an audio book introducing synthesizer programming and/or other ways that words/sounds can be combined in some form of synthesizer introduction. But these projects are a way off and may not happen for any number of reasons…

2. The patches could have been designed on multi-OS freeware synths so that the majority of the purchasing populace is covered.

The majority of the purchasing population was covered: most people use PCs—in the world of music, this is especially so outside of professional recording environments. Therefore when I started writing the book, I made the conscious decision to only cover PC-based software.

I also chose to base the book on the leading software synthesizers at the time I started writing. Leading being defined both in terms of popularity and what they were doing technologically and from a sound creation perspective (and was a subjective choice made by me alone).

At the time I started writing the book (2004) there was—in my personal opinion—no cross-platform freeware synthesizer that was of sufficient quality and had wide-scale acceptance. Equally the use of one synthesizer would have made the book very vulnerable—if the synth had gone out of production, the book would have been worthless.

3. Simon could have maybe contracted with a designer who could have maybe designed a synth or synths that could encompass the range of synthesis methods covered in the book. These synths could have either been freeware, their cost incorporated into the cost of the book, or they could have been bought from Simon's or the designer's website. I know that Native Instruments once designed a freeware synth for a synth programming series that was written by Peter Georges. I think it's still available, so, that could have been an option.

This sounds like a really good idea, doesn't it? However, without being rude, can we file the idea under "commercially naïve"? If it was that easy—and a profit could be made—then it would have been done.

Anyway, this leaves you at a point where there is no book that has been written which from the outset aims to use a synthesizer that works equally well for PCs and Macs. Well, I'm pleased to tell you that there is one coming and it will be here very shortly. It is called Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User and should be available around May this year (and you can pre-order it now at Amazon). You can read further details here: http://noisesculpture.com/synthwiz.html

As well as being cross platform (as far as possible), unlike How to Make a Noise this new book does not intend to focus on specifics. Instead, it is looking at the principles that can be applied to all and any synthesizer (so if you don't have one of the featured synthesizers, then you won't be left out).

Thanks again for your thoughts, Remedial. They are genuinely appreciated. I hope my response gives you some idea of how we got to the position we are in and what's happening next.

All the best

Simon

[Remedial]

As you realize, there is a free version of the book (and you can preview the book using Amazon Search Inside the Book and Google Books), so if you like what you see, then don't buy the book!! No one has complained to me that most of the synthesizers in Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User (http://noisesculpture.com/csfptpu.html) don't run on a Mac or that Project5 (http://noisesculpture.com/p5p.html) doesn't run on a Mac, so why the problem with How to Make a Noise?

Well, you wouldn't get anyone complaining about your Cakewalk book being useless to Mac users because, as you said, Project5 was strictly PC based. That's like someone who has no access to water complaining that this soap that they're trying to use isn't lathering, knowing beforehand that they need water to get the desired effect.

Anyone who would complain about your Cakewalk book being solely directed at PC users would either have to be someone who has too much time on their hands or is just trying to be a bother.


I could maybe see someone saying, "Why not do one for Reason?", but, I can see why that would be pointless when there are so much other Reason tutorial books on the market that also incorporate really great sections on synthesis.

Also, I'm actually the type of guy that likes to support individuals to put out a good product. For example, most of the cd's I buy nowadays, I get an mp3 version way before the album is actually released, but, because I like the artist and want them to continue putting music out, I'll send a little money their way. Same thing with authors. I just spent like $30 buying Rick Snoman's "Dance Music Manual" just 2 nights ago and probably would have done the same even if it was available in a "free" format.

I would have done the same with your book if it had fit my needs.

How to Make a Noise is (in essence) about creating SPECIFIC sounds with SPECIFIC synthesizers. If you don't have a PC and Z3TA+ (to use your example), then you're not going to be able to recreate the SPECIFIC sound I'm talking about. That being said, the sounds mentioned on page 25 of the free version of the book should be quite simple to recreate on any synthesizer.

Well, if it's about making specific sounds with "specific" synthesizers, then it should have been marketed as such, just as your Cakewalk book was done. I'm not saying you need to change your text or anything, but, I can see how misinformation (not majorly due to your efforts, but maybe on the end of a book retailer not providing enough information or the consumer not checking out the web page or the free version first) could lead to some dissatisfied customers.

I actually think this is a bad idea in the context of How to Make a Noise.

The book was not intended to be "read" in the way you might read a conventional book—it's not a bit of light bed-time reading. The intention was you would have the book open and a synthesizer open so you could try things immediately—clearly this presupposes that you would have one or more of the synths available.

A CD (or similar sonic examples) might be useful for people with no knowledge of synthesis, but in my opinion, you can learn much more by actually getting your hands on a synth than by listening to sounds in the abstract.

However, while I don't think a CD is useful as a companion for How to Make a Noise, I am actively looking at the possibilities for an audio book introducing synthesizer programming and/or other ways that words/sounds can be combined in some form of synthesizer introduction. But these projects are a way off and may not happen for any number of reasons…

I understand and you are rightfully allowed to have this opinion as it is YOUR book. I was just presenting it as an option that could be used to make the book's utility be more inclusive of the reading populace. For example, you might have the guy that really has no interest in actually synthesizing a damn thing but just wants to be well versed on the topic. This would allow him to use the book to the fullest extent that he deems necessary.

But once again, that's just my humble opinion.

I also chose to base the book on the leading software synthesizers at the time I started writing. Leading being defined both in terms of popularity and what they were doing technologically and from a sound creation perspective (and was a subjective choice made by me alone).

At the time I started writing the book (2004) there was—in my personal opinion—no cross-platform freeware synthesizer that was of sufficient quality and had wide-scale acceptance. Equally the use of one synthesizer would have made the book very vulnerable—if the synth had gone out of production, the book would have been worthless.

Understood. The synths that you used are all of great quality. And, yes, cross-platform "capable" synths were very far and few between at that point. And, yes, depending on one synth could have lead to a travesty, unless you came to agreement with that synth creator and was allowed to keep a copy that you could distribute if they ever failed.

This sounds like a really good idea, doesn't it? However, without being rude, can we file the idea under "commercially naïve"? If it was that easy—and a profit could be made—then it would have been done.

Anyway, this leaves you at a point where there is no book that has been written which from the outset aims to use a synthesizer that works equally well for PCs and Macs. Well, I'm pleased to tell you that there is one coming and it will be here very shortly. It is called Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User and should be available around May this year (and you can pre-order it now at Amazon). You can read further details here: http://noisesculpture.com/synthwiz.html

As well as being cross platform (as far as possible), unlike How to Make a Noise this new book does not intend to focus on specifics. Instead, it is looking at the principles that can be applied to all and any synthesizer (so if you don't have one of the featured synthesizers, then you won't be left out).

Thanks again for your thoughts, Remedial. They are genuinely appreciated. I hope my response gives you some idea of how we got to the position we are in and what's happening next.

All the best

Simon

I understand that my suggestions may be easier said than done, especially since I have never attempted such a venture of that nature. As always, they were merely my humble opinions.

I do check your website regularly and saw mention of the new book. I probably will give that a purchase. I thought it was supposed to come out in Feb., but, better later than never.

Looking forward to it and thanks for your efforts. I really enjoyed the tone you utilized in the free version of How To... and wish that more authors would keep more of a "jovial" tone rather than the cold, scientific one that is used in so many other texts.

[Simon_Cann]

Hey Remedial

Thank you for your further thoughts.

Well, if it's about making specific sounds with "specific" synthesizers, then it should have been marketed as such, just as your Cakewalk book was done. I'm not saying you need to change your text or anything, but, I can see how misinformation (not majorly due to your efforts, but maybe on the end of a book retailer not providing enough information or the consumer not checking out the web page or the free version first) could lead to some dissatisfied customers.

This is a very significant point and one I take very seriously. Unfortunately there is little I can do to influence how retailers market my book—that is the nature of putting things into the retail channel.

However, I can do a lot about my website, and IN MY OPINION the How to Make a Noise page (http://noisesculpture.com/htman.html) makes the link with the six specific synthesizers sufficiently that there should be no misuderstanding.

However, that is just my opinion, and at the end of the day, I am not the guy who will be buying my book and ending up disappointed. If you disagree—or think it could be improved upon in any way—then I would welcome your input. Rather respond here, perhaps you could drop me a quick note (use the Contact form at the Noise Sculpture website http://noisesculpture.com/contact.html and it will get to me).

I was just presenting it as an option that could be used to make the book's utility be more inclusive of the reading populace. For example, you might have the guy that really has no interest in actually synthesizing a damn thing but just wants to be well versed on the topic. This would allow him to use the book to the fullest extent that he deems necessary.

But once again, that's just my humble opinion.

And it is a very valid opinion, in my opinion, hence it is an area that I have actively under consideration (largely for the situation you outlined and for people who are completely new to the area).

I do check your website regularly and saw mention of the new book. I probably will give that a purchase. I thought it was supposed to come out in Feb., but, better later than never.

If you want to keep on top of my new publications, the most reliable source is my news feed which you can subscribe to using this link: http://simoncann.com/news-feed/rss.xml That will let you know as soon as the book is out.

If you're disappointed that the book won't be out in February and you're looking for more things to read from me, then you could check out my latest book (Made it in China) which has just been published. Details are here: http://madeitin.com/china.html and you can download an extract/view a preview there too.

Looking forward to it and thanks for your efforts. I really enjoyed the tone you utilized in the free version of How To... and wish that more authors would keep more of a "jovial" tone rather than the cold, scientific one that is used in so many other texts.

Yes, Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User will have a similar conversational approach.

Cheers

Simon

[post edited 16 September 2010 to update the URL for my news feed]

[jamescarter]

Thanxs for the web address

[ruckus49]

hey simon i bought your patches from your website and the rhino ones are unreadable. i load the bank in and i do not see any instrument names, just crazy characters like $#)(%yHSHH$66$

[Simon_Cann]

hey simon i bought your patches from your website and the rhino ones are unreadable. i load the bank in and i do not see any instrument names, just crazy characters like $#)(%yHSHH$66$

Hey Ruckus499

I'm sorry to hear you're having a problem. Drop me a note (http://noisesculpture.com/contact.html) and we'll get it fixed.

When you write, could you please:

>>tell me which version of Rhino you are using

>>tell me EACH and EVERY step you follow to load the patches. Get specific about every detail--give me the full file name of every file you try to load, give me the full text of every error message, and so on. Unless you can give me full details, I won't be able to replicate what you are doing.

As soon as you get on to me we'll get it sorted.

Cheers

Simon


As a side issue for anyone else: if you have a problem with the patches, please drop me a note directly. Don't raise the issues here as it's not my support forum and I don't come past here very often.

Thanks all

Simon

[cmhansen]

Great info. Thanks... With the other info I've learned here, think I'll try to make a few banks of my own.

[Simon_Cann]

hey simon i bought your patches from your website and the rhino ones are unreadable. i load the bank in and i do not see any instrument names, just crazy characters like $#)(%yHSHH$66$

I'm sorry to hear you're having a problem. Drop me a note (http://noisesculpture.com/contact.html) and we'll get it fixed.

Hey Ruckus49

I haven't heard anything from you and so I wanted to make sure that you had sorted everything out.

Drop me a line if you've still got any problems.

Cheers

Simon

[bpblog]

great book, a must have. really helpful if you're a beginner and feel unsure of how to work with synths.

[electrogear]

I bought this book, it was a pretty good read whilst I was on holiday last year, and gave me some inspiration. It would be good to see a book like this from a more technical point of view that isn't aimed at specific software. I'm not doubting that the author doesn't know what he's talking about - he obviously does, but it seems to me it is aimed at people who want to be told what to tweak rather than people who want to understand the processes. Maybe I'm wrong, these are just my personal thoughts. Otherwise it was a good book and I did actually use it for a couple of quotes on my Synthesis & Sound Design module at uni, in terms of creative processes. Thanks, was well worth the money when you consider it's 6.99 for an issue of a certain popular music tech magazine where you might not learn anything...

[declassified]

bought

[christian.anderson]

Thank you.

[TFF]

Thank you very much for this. Eager to get some real instructon in synthesis.

[Mod & Op]

Simon Cann is a really nice guy and this book is great I just got done reading it.