KVR Audio

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:51 pm

ES1 does not even seem to be close to be good as a tutorial synth and as a synth limited to Logoc and Mac it is not a good choice anyway.

I would choose emulations of classics like e.g. Arturia Jupiter 8V, Arturia Mini V or Arturia Prophet V (the Prohet 5 emulation, not the VS).

Of course Diva would offer a lot too and the interface is quite straightforward as it has a classical Osc + filter + 2 envelopes design.

As a free synth OBXD seems to be a good choice for learning. It hasa classic 2 Osc + filter + 2 enveloeps design but also includes more advanced features like a simple mod mattrix, OSc Sync and Crossmodulation.

While my first dedicated synth was a Kawai K11 that more or less had a 2 OSc subtractive synth design (while it also offered samples) and had a not so nice interface i really learned synthesis when i had both a real Roland Jupiter 8 and a real Moog Minimoog Model D.
Speaking about hardware synths also a Clavia Nord Lead 2X seems to be a good choice (was the only Clavia synth i had owned besides a Nord Modular G2 Engine that was an external DSP + software combination)

Some of my favorite software + hardware synths would maybe not be so good choices as a tutorial synth.
Anyway Waldorf Largo would be a good choce if you want to do both basic and more complex stuff. The interface seems to be simple enough for beginners but you could also do really complex stuff with it.

Dúnedain · Post by **Dúnedain** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 4:59 pm

thecontrolcentre wrote:AD Basic

http://www.audiodamage.com/effects/prod ... ?pid=AD033

Cool. They even mention it is intended as a tutorial synth

Although I am a bit surprised the head of the department didn't came up with Iblit (VST only).

One day not long ago, we were speaking with the music department head of a local college; he lamented the fact that there really wasn't a commercial-quality low-cost three oscillator subtractive mono-synth available for the educational market. This puzzled us, because there's no shortage of synth plug-ins out there, and this seems like a fairly glaring oversight.

So we did some market research, and discovered he was right. All the available options are either slavish recreations of classic synths, with all the foibles and strange UI decisions intact, or modern behemoths with every feature under the sun. We decided to tackle the challenge of an inexpensive, simple 3-osc mono-synth that followed the classic subtractive style, and Basic is the result.

While it is designed with ease-of-use, low cost, and simplicity in mind, the panel sits in front of a powerful modern synthesizer engine with an aggressive tone and self-resonating filters that scream when pushed. We're sure every electronic musician will find a place in the mix for Basic.

Dúnedain · Post by **Dúnedain** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:29 pm

When people mention TAL Bassline then I coin up Logic's ES P which got its inspiration from the SH-101 as well. However ES P, just like lot of other synths, does not have the clear relation between velocity and impact on the envelope. I definitely appreciate that at ES1.

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:33 pm

FAW Circle , Basic and Fabfilter Twin2 hace the best interfaces for learning.

Dúnedain · Post by **Dúnedain** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:40 pm

Yeah this one is great

btw: wasn't this one of the synths that were initially developed for the UK mag Computer Music?

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:41 pm

Dúnedain wrote:Yeah this one is great
btw: wasn't this one of the synths that were initially developed for the UK mag Computer Music?

No. The guy who developed it is also a KVR member. Just search for it, then you'll see.

Dúnedain · Post by **Dúnedain** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 5:48 pm

FAW Circle 2 looks like a great synth but it seems like it is a modular synth? Am I right?

Lot of great replies over here btw. Discovered lot of great and easy synths and didn't know yet

The grip I have with the more expensive synths is there is always something trivial missing (eg. no PWM at Sylenth1) and if it is not then it is zealously complicated like Falcon or Alchemy.

urlwolf · Post by **urlwolf** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:00 pm

There's UFO zone edition that has oscilloscope live on oscillators and filter section. That's pretty much as close as ideal for learning. Interface is trying though. Wish they made it bigger, how difficult can it be?

Naenyn · Post by **Naenyn** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:28 pm

Syntorial + Primer!

garryknight · Post by **garryknight** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:33 pm

There are a number of synths that are good as tutorial synths because they're simple and straightforward for the most part. Carbon Electra is one such, and the manual even has a tutorial section. Hive is another one that's simple, and the modulation can be programmed using drag'n'drop, so you really get to understand the concepts of 'source', 'via', and 'target' in that context.

But a few things occur to me:

1) The best synth to learn on might be the one that already has the best tutorials. Sylenth1 is well represented on YouTube, for example, as well as on sites like Groove3 and ADSR Tutorials. Massive likewise, and it also introduces the idea of wavetable synthesis at the same time as simple subtractive synthesis.

2) However you learn, whether it's by watching videos, reading manuals, or via web pages, it can be a benefit if you try out new things on two different synths. This can get you used to different ways of implementing the same concepts. For example, Carbon Electra doesn't have a modulation matrix - its modulation capabilities are fewer than in most synths and are fixed; Hive's modulation, as I said, can be programmed via drag'n'drop, or you can set the source and target using drop-down menus; Massive is also done by drag'n'drop; and Dune (versions 1 and 2) has a complete modulation matrix laid out on its own tab. I learnt by using several synths and it has made it simple to get to grips with new ones I haven't used before.

3) Not everyone who starts learning synth programming gets on with it. So rather than shell out for something that you might later want to sell, I'd always recommend starting out with a free one. Several good ones have been already mentioned and all I'd add is that if you buy Computer Music magazine you can get maybe a good dozen free ones either on the DVD or by download from the Vault.

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:50 pm

If its about tutorials nothing beats Syntorial, really the fastest way to learn about synthesis.

Dúnedain · Post by **Dúnedain** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:53 pm

Naenyn wrote:Syntorial + Primer!

rod_zero wrote:If its about tutorials nothing beats Syntorial, really the fastest way to learn about synthesis.

They have too much FX on board imo. It should educate in synthesis, not mixing.

Dúnedain · Post by **Dúnedain** » Sun Jan 10, 2016 7:56 pm

Ah yes Carbon Electra is great. However a bit too much FX I must admit. However the rest of the synth compensates for that.

Igro · Post by **Igro** » Mon Jan 11, 2016 12:17 am

Kilohearts One!

layzer · Post by **layzer** » Mon Jan 11, 2016 8:40 am

Dúnedain wrote:Yeah this one is great
btw: wasn't this one of the synths that were initially developed for the UK mag Computer Music?

thats v.1.4.

The latest 2.0 version does 7 note polyphonic unison.

Best tutorial synths