Hi. I am pretty computer savvy, but know next to nothing about creating sound effects. Usually when I wanted a sound effect for something I would download a sound that I think would best fit the situation and maybe run it though a sound processor to change the pitch or add some effects to it.
Now I want to synthesize my own sound effects using my PC. I dont have any hardware outside of that, and wondered how to get started. Im into open source and want to try and using something that is not under a restrictive license. I downloaded VSTHost which is where I found out about this form, looking for some software that would help me create some sound effects for a windows 10 desktop theme I want to create. I opened it up and it looks daunting. I have the documentation, but Im not sure if this thing is designed for creating sounds from a piece of hardware such as a keyboard, or if it creates sounds itself. Before I got into the documentation I wanted to see if I was on the right track.
I hope I made myself clear, if not please let me know.
Thank you for your time, trinsic.
newbie to synthisers
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240 - KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
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- KVRAF
- 2547 posts since 15 Jan, 2013 from L'Écosse
Get a proper DAW such as Reaper which you can try for free for 60 days. Then download some free synth VSTs to get yourself started. For instance, Podolski or Zebralette from u-he.com. This will keep you more than busy for a while learning how to synthesize sounds and output them.
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 37262 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from Scottish Borders
Check out VCV Rack for free standalone synthesis ... it's a virtual modular with more than enough modules to keep you in sound effects for the rest of your life. https://vcvrack.com/
You might find this book useful too ... https://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make- ... ogramming/
You might find this book useful too ... https://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make- ... ogramming/
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 2 posts since 27 Oct, 2018
AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.
Awesome, this seems exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.thecontrolcentre wrote: Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:07 pm Check out VCV Rack for free standalone synthesis ... it's a virtual modular with more than enough modules to keep you in sound effects for the rest of your life. https://vcvrack.com/ (https://vcvrack.com/)
You might find this book useful too ... https://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make- ... ogramming/ (https://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make-a-noise-a-comprehensive-guide-to-synthesizer-programming/)
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- KVRAF
- 3735 posts since 17 Sep, 2016
+1 on the free ebook "How to Make a Noise". That is the best intro to synth programming that I know of. 
Any virtual analog (subtractive) synth would be good to follow along with the tutorials, as the example synths in the book are a bit dated. But the concepts are the same. The basic synth elements such as an oscillator, filter, envelope, LFO, etc. has not changed in years. It's just the workflow that combines them to generate sound that evolves. There are some new synthesis types as well, but it's always good to learn the basics first!
The freeware Synth1 would be a good place to start: https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1 ... da/details
The recommendation to try the Reaper trial as a DAW (to host your synth plugin) is a good one. If you decide to buy, it is probably the best deal for the money, and the developer is not greedy. It is only $60 for a license. https://www.reaper.fm/
Reaper is commercial and not open source, but there is a good support community and lots of downloadable mods available.
Another list of the best free synthesizer plugins: http://www.synthanatomy.com/2018/09/the ... st-au.html
From the ones on that list that I have tried, in addition to Synth1, I would recommend TAL Noisemaker and u-he Tyrell N6 as decent analog emulations to use for following the tutorials in that ebook.
Some of the other synths may be very cool, especially the ones from u-he like Zebralette, but they may not follow the basic conventions of analog subtractive synthesis. Try them out later!
Any virtual analog (subtractive) synth would be good to follow along with the tutorials, as the example synths in the book are a bit dated. But the concepts are the same. The basic synth elements such as an oscillator, filter, envelope, LFO, etc. has not changed in years. It's just the workflow that combines them to generate sound that evolves. There are some new synthesis types as well, but it's always good to learn the basics first!
The freeware Synth1 would be a good place to start: https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1 ... da/details
The recommendation to try the Reaper trial as a DAW (to host your synth plugin) is a good one. If you decide to buy, it is probably the best deal for the money, and the developer is not greedy. It is only $60 for a license. https://www.reaper.fm/
Reaper is commercial and not open source, but there is a good support community and lots of downloadable mods available.
Another list of the best free synthesizer plugins: http://www.synthanatomy.com/2018/09/the ... st-au.html
From the ones on that list that I have tried, in addition to Synth1, I would recommend TAL Noisemaker and u-he Tyrell N6 as decent analog emulations to use for following the tutorials in that ebook.
Some of the other synths may be very cool, especially the ones from u-he like Zebralette, but they may not follow the basic conventions of analog subtractive synthesis. Try them out later!
Windows 10 and too many plugins
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- KVRian
- 1114 posts since 20 Oct, 2018
I got help from Leonard Bowman with some useful links in this post:
viewtopic.php?p=7217417#p7217417
viewtopic.php?p=7217417#p7217417
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- KVRist
- 381 posts since 21 May, 2018
Hello and I am guessing you might be using Linux or at least intrested in Cross Platform tools?
There are a ton of Open Source instruments. Personally I love Helm https://tytel.org/helm/downloads/.
Here is a github list of some Open Source Projects. https://github.com/webprofusion/OpenAudio
Open Source DAW are a little harder to fill. I am a bit more pragmatic and so will purchase restrictive licensed tools if they fill my need.
Personally I use Waveform 9 from Tracktion and Bitwig Studio both are available on Linux. Tracktion 7 by the same company that makes Waveform 9 is available for free and is cross platformed and if you just want to record a sound and export it Trackition 7 is more then capable. You can also use Reaper which if you want to do audio recording in a traditional sake is a better tool, but I have found I love Waveform's tools for making digital based music.
Personally I have settled on just learning a few synths. You can get sucked into the habit of having too many and not know how to use them since they take dozens of hours to properly under stand them and create a sound from scratch with them. So if you are looking at learning to create sounds pick a subtractive synth and learn that one very well. Then move onto other forms of synthesis like wave table, FM (Using Dexed) or additive (Which is ultimately the future of all sound design).
Just keep at it and learn one new thing everyday in your process and you'll be up and running before you know it.
There are a ton of Open Source instruments. Personally I love Helm https://tytel.org/helm/downloads/.
Here is a github list of some Open Source Projects. https://github.com/webprofusion/OpenAudio
Open Source DAW are a little harder to fill. I am a bit more pragmatic and so will purchase restrictive licensed tools if they fill my need.
Personally I use Waveform 9 from Tracktion and Bitwig Studio both are available on Linux. Tracktion 7 by the same company that makes Waveform 9 is available for free and is cross platformed and if you just want to record a sound and export it Trackition 7 is more then capable. You can also use Reaper which if you want to do audio recording in a traditional sake is a better tool, but I have found I love Waveform's tools for making digital based music.
Personally I have settled on just learning a few synths. You can get sucked into the habit of having too many and not know how to use them since they take dozens of hours to properly under stand them and create a sound from scratch with them. So if you are looking at learning to create sounds pick a subtractive synth and learn that one very well. Then move onto other forms of synthesis like wave table, FM (Using Dexed) or additive (Which is ultimately the future of all sound design).
Just keep at it and learn one new thing everyday in your process and you'll be up and running before you know it.
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Bitwig is my DAWs and UHe and Tracktion Synths are my Bae. I maybe buy one synth a year. REMEMBER SELF just one synth a year!
Bitwig is my DAWs and UHe and Tracktion Synths are my Bae. I maybe buy one synth a year. REMEMBER SELF just one synth a year!
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- KVRAF
- 4589 posts since 7 Jun, 2012 from Warsaw
Disagree. Do no pick any modular unless you have at least 10 years of experience in music production. Otherwise you'll just find yourself making unarticulated blips and blops, but no actual music.thecontrolcentre wrote: Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:07 pm Check out VCV Rack for free standalone synthesis ... it's a virtual modular with more than enough modules to keep you in sound effects for the rest of your life. https://vcvrack.com/
As of freebies, Synth1 is often recommended. Just use KVR search and try the popular ones.
Blog ------------- YouTube channel
Tricky-Loops wrote: (...)someone like Armin van Buuren who claims to make a track in half an hour and all his songs sound somewhat boring(...)
Tricky-Loops wrote: (...)someone like Armin van Buuren who claims to make a track in half an hour and all his songs sound somewhat boring(...)
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- KVRAF
- 1766 posts since 1 Aug, 2006 from Italy
Maybe not 10 years of experience but... yeah, I wouldn't start with a modular. Unless there's someone teaching me how to use it.
I would start with a fixed architecture synth, probably a subtractive synth, to learn the basics (Synth1 is a good choice)... then I'd play with the modulation matrix (if the synth has one...) and only I'll look at modulars only when you're skilled enough.
A modular synth has a lot of flexibility/power and it's great for making weird sounds, but it's also more complex to use...
I would start with a fixed architecture synth, probably a subtractive synth, to learn the basics (Synth1 is a good choice)... then I'd play with the modulation matrix (if the synth has one...) and only I'll look at modulars only when you're skilled enough.
A modular synth has a lot of flexibility/power and it's great for making weird sounds, but it's also more complex to use...
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- KVRAF
- 3735 posts since 17 Sep, 2016
A fixed architecture synth will, in most cases, force you to follow a common sense signal path, from the oscillator to the output.
Sometimes limitations are useful!
A modular synth that lets you connect anything anywhere will leave you without that fixed structure. Great for experimentation, but it could take a while to get anything sounding decent by accident.
Sometimes limitations are useful!
A modular synth that lets you connect anything anywhere will leave you without that fixed structure. Great for experimentation, but it could take a while to get anything sounding decent by accident.
Windows 10 and too many plugins
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- KVRAF
- 1791 posts since 17 Sep, 2002
If you don't know the first thing about synthesis, might I recommend trying the free demo of Syntorial?
It's a synth with built in video lessons. It starts you with like 2 controls and progressively unlocks more as it teaches you about each part. You then have to advance to the next level by doing an interactive quiz using the synth to replicate the sounds it presents to you. That style of learning is not for everybody, but if you like a little more structure than just downloading a synth and experimenting, it might be worth checking out.
It also comes with a plugin version of the synth (though I think only the full version does, not the demo), though the concepts it teaches you apply to pretty much any virtual analog.
It's a synth with built in video lessons. It starts you with like 2 controls and progressively unlocks more as it teaches you about each part. You then have to advance to the next level by doing an interactive quiz using the synth to replicate the sounds it presents to you. That style of learning is not for everybody, but if you like a little more structure than just downloading a synth and experimenting, it might be worth checking out.
It also comes with a plugin version of the synth (though I think only the full version does, not the demo), though the concepts it teaches you apply to pretty much any virtual analog.
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- KVRAF
- 4079 posts since 28 Jan, 2011 from MEXICO
Syntorial is great, everyone starting should check it out.funky lime wrote: Sun Nov 18, 2018 2:00 am If you don't know the first thing about synthesis, might I recommend trying the free demo of Syntorial?
It's a synth with built in video lessons. It starts you with like 2 controls and progressively unlocks more as it teaches you about each part. You then have to advance to the next level by doing an interactive quiz using the synth to replicate the sounds it presents to you. That style of learning is not for everybody, but if you like a little more structure than just downloading a synth and experimenting, it might be worth checking out.
It also comes with a plugin version of the synth (though I think only the full version does, not the demo), though the concepts it teaches you apply to pretty much any virtual analog.
dedication to flying
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- KVRian
- 1241 posts since 25 Jan, 2017
+1 for Syntorial... great interactive course and very good investment overall.
I think nothing beats it for building up somewhat solid subtractive synthesis fundations.
Discounted for Black Friday, by the way...
https://www.kvraudio.com/news/syntorial ... -off-43156
I think nothing beats it for building up somewhat solid subtractive synthesis fundations.
Discounted for Black Friday, by the way...
https://www.kvraudio.com/news/syntorial ... -off-43156