Hi
Just wanted to ask you: How did you get to learn synths? Im not thinking of 'what is a filter' or 'what does an envelope do' but of 'how do you make this and that sound?' Just curious.
Bosqoue!
getting to know synths
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
Hi, Bosqoue, and welcome to KvR. I'm a musical hobbyist but have been playing with analog synthesis for about three and a half decades.
How did I learn sound design? Sat down at a Moog C-III (with some System 55 modules), draped an assortment of patchcords around my neck, and messed around until the sounds came out that I wanted. :-) There was also an ARP 2600 and a Minimoog but the C-III was what I understood.
This was in the early 1970s... in a special school for the humanities... ah, the good old days!
Where are you coming from? Comparing your own experiences to other folks', or getting a handle on the whole sound design thing so you can make a start at it? If the latter, you'll be wanting something more concrete and helpful than my nostalgic reminiscences. :-D
Best of luck,
Meffy
How did I learn sound design? Sat down at a Moog C-III (with some System 55 modules), draped an assortment of patchcords around my neck, and messed around until the sounds came out that I wanted. :-) There was also an ARP 2600 and a Minimoog but the C-III was what I understood.
This was in the early 1970s... in a special school for the humanities... ah, the good old days!
Where are you coming from? Comparing your own experiences to other folks', or getting a handle on the whole sound design thing so you can make a start at it? If the latter, you'll be wanting something more concrete and helpful than my nostalgic reminiscences. :-D
Best of luck,
Meffy
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 184 posts since 22 Sep, 2004
Im a kind of beginner. I've been playing around with synths for one and a half year, and know the basic things, like adding a vibrato by using a LFO and making filtersweeps with an envelope, but would really like to get deeper into synthesizing. I recently ditched all my free VSTi's and bought Z3ta at the group buy to start from a clean slate.
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- KVRAF
- 2139 posts since 15 Jul, 2003 from ex-NJ, PA
There are good articles here: http://www.soundonsound.com
and these were decent: Keyboard Mag Sound Forum
and these were decent: Keyboard Mag Sound Forum
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- KVRAF
- 7672 posts since 9 Nov, 2003 from Netherlands
The best way to learn still (I think) is take time to try every button out in extreme settings and listen carefully what happens. From there slowly learn to control the changes in the tone and how to achieve them. Music-theory and all is great but but getting to learn the coherence of parameters and moreso making happy mistakes.
I have yet to touch the z3ta here myself so I can't give any pointers there, but be prepared for endless possibilities.
And as always; enjoy
I have yet to touch the z3ta here myself so I can't give any pointers there, but be prepared for endless possibilities.
And as always; enjoy
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- something special
- 8627 posts since 16 Mar, 2002 from Birmingham, Alabama
I think z3ta+ is a bit heavy to start learning on.
go back to the free ones and grab triangle, read the articles torhan
suggested and begin twiddling knobs.
go back to the free ones and grab triangle, read the articles torhan
suggested and begin twiddling knobs.
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- KVRist
- 106 posts since 9 Jul, 2004
study existing presets and learn about the share ofBosqoue! wrote:How did you get to learn synths?
each parameter when building the overall sound. replace
identified parts (envelopes, modulators, oscillators,
etc.) with other items and check if the result compares
to your expectation ("...it then should sound/behave
like this..."). once you know about the interaction
try to rebuild a sound from scratch.
yes, and it needs lots of trial'n training
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- KVRist
- 261 posts since 24 Jul, 2002 from Tennessee
The best synths to learn on are the ones that have all the controls visible on one screen. This way there's no hidden stuff impacting the sound that you can't find.
So for learning... Wasp, FreeAlpha, or Vanguard would be better than say z3ta+ or Sytrus. The latter are better when you want to explore sound-design with fewer limits. Z3ta, Sytrus, Rhino, WusicStation, Albino, etc. all have tons of LFOs, oscillators, envelopes , and FX to play with.
So for learning... Wasp, FreeAlpha, or Vanguard would be better than say z3ta+ or Sytrus. The latter are better when you want to explore sound-design with fewer limits. Z3ta, Sytrus, Rhino, WusicStation, Albino, etc. all have tons of LFOs, oscillators, envelopes , and FX to play with.