Need an easy to understand guide on synthesis

[TasmanianAngel]

Can anyone recommend a good tutorial on basics of synthesis? Right now I'm mainly using presets, cause I don't know the first thing about synthesis, and every time I try to make a sound on my own, it pretty much boils down to random messing about with the knobs.

I need an easy to understand guide on which setting is for what - which setting makes the synth sound like a lush pad, or like a bass, for instance. I want to learn how to go from having a sound in my head to reproducing it on the synth.

[garryknight]

These 3 videos should get you started. Old but still valid.





Or a different approach: The Synthesizer Academy

As a follow-up, everything you ever might want to know about sound synthesis.

Also, if you say which synths you own, someone might be able to point you to tutorials for one or more of them.

[TasmanianAngel]

Thanx, I'll have a look. There are loads of great tutorials out there, but almost none of them explain the basic controls of synths and how they shape the sound. You know how when you watch a tutorial and the guy says "Oh this is sounding a bit ~~~~, I need to tweak ~~~~".

It's really irritating, having the sound in your head and not being able to reproduce it (even though the synth can do it).

I own Serum & Hive, plus of course all the freebies.

[synzh]

I know, right? That part where it is explained how to develop certain sounds, given that you already know the basics of your synth, seem so rarely discussed. I found Syntorial because others on here were talking about it, and it has a demo (and I found the demo to be much more interesting than I had initially assumed once I started into it a ways). It helps you learn, by doing exercises, how to make different sounds, why they sound that way, and to discern the differences between a tweak on this knob or that knob: http://www.syntorial.com/

[Mariosprt]

Well I can recommend the site where I learned http://www.adsrsounds.com/category/ni-m ... tutorials/

I learned by following their tutorials (you can also go through their YouTube channel) step-by-step and got to understand what each component did and how it affected the sound. Even if I wasn't interested in that particular sound, it was always good learning.

In the beginning it was all about NI Massive - which is what I had and wanted to learn - but now it's grown and you can find Tutorials on most SoftSynths and then some.

It goes without saying that once you learn subtractive synthesis on one instrument, you can do the same on almost any other except for FM exclusive synths and a few others.

[rod_zero]

I know, right? That part where it is explained how to develop certain sounds, given that you already know the basics of your synth, seem so rarely discussed. I found Syntorial because others on here were talking about it, and it has a demo (and I found the demo to be much more interesting than I had initially assumed once I started into it a ways). It helps you learn, by doing exercises, how to make different sounds, why they sound that way, and to discern the differences between a tweak on this knob or that knob: http://www.syntorial.com/

Yeah, get Syntorial and stop wasting time, all tutorials are way too much bla bla bla and not much about making sounds.

Download the demo and convince yourself!

[DJ Warmonger]

Serum is one of the simplest synth to understand and learn. Massive was quite not intuitive for me.
Did you actually read the manual for both your synths? If not, then go do it now.

Later go and check some good tutorials on how to synthesisze particular sounds (bass, pad, whatever). If a guy tweaks a knob for minutes without saying what is going on, then it's bad tuorial.

[thecontrolcentre]

Read "How To Make A Noise" ... it's a free download.
http://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make-a-noise

[TasmanianAngel]

It helps you learn, by doing exercises, how to make different sounds, why they sound that way, and to discern the differences between a tweak on this knob or that knob: http://www.syntorial.com/

Whoaa, just tried it, loved it! Did the first 4 lessons today and already I have the feeling I learned something new. It really seems to be just the tool I needed. I did notice one thing - the most basic thing is the hardest for me - telling the difference between the saw and square signal. Most of the time I got everything right except that. I'm quite sure that's the reason why I am having such a hard time figuring out the synths i general.

And thanx for the other suggestion people, will check them out once I get the basics done with Syntorial.

[ere2learn]

The saw/square thing will come with time,took me about 6 months maybe even longer

[TasmanianAngel]

The saw/square thing will come with time,took me about 6 months maybe even longer

Oh, that's fine then - I thought I was being stupid again

[Aleatoriac]

Play notes on keyboard (or anything)->Oscillator(s)->envelope(s)->filter(s)->effects as desired = FUN

[mrgrim3]

its one of those dark arts that you need to just get the feel for doing

i find that rarely any tutorials help much

except for the manual of the product you are using

other than that just use and get the feel for the synths

[Libertine Lush]

Does Syntorial ever go on sale? It think it looks really promising too, the most instructive of what's out there.

[rod_zero]

Does Syntorial ever go on sale? It think it looks really promising too, the most instructive of what's out there.

Yeah, it has gone on sale before, for 90 USD