Intimidated by MSoundFactory

[PabloHassan]

Hi there, I've finally got some time to dabble in MSF, though as a newbie to this insta-buy, I just want to ask the most obvious question: Where does one start with this modular beast?

Don't kill me please. Just point me in the right direction. Thanks!

[David]

Start to do what exactly?

[dakkra]

Start out with simple subtractive stuff. Add in some oscillators, put in a filter or two, shape the envelopes how you'd like them.

From there, start experimenting. Add extra fun modulations, play with interesting effects, delve into additive, FM, physical modelling, etc...

Start with what you know, and build/expand on it. Sound design is mostly the art of smart experimentation, with a hint of skill when you have something specific in mind.

[Tagirijus]

Load in some generators like the oscilator maybe, play some notes, add in a filter after that and play around with the frequencies a bit. Maybe start to play around with some mod linking a bit (maybe also search some videos in the web; Chandler on YouTube does great stuff with MSoundFactory). Also do not miss to "open" the edit screen of the factory devices to learn from them. Look what modules were used, how things are linked with per voice mods (the grean indication), etc.

[dmbaer]

Start with the Melda video tutorials - there's about three hours of them a newbie should watch (and that's not counting the time to watch some of them more than once!).

Not to toot my own horn, but I wrote a fairly in-depth review of MSF that can be found here:

https://soundbytesmag.net/review-msound ... roduction/

At the very bottom is a list of URLs at which all these videos can be found.

[David]

Start with the Melda video tutorials - there's about three hours of them a newbie should watch (and that's not counting the time to watch some of them more than once!).

And that’s not counting the MSF-specific videos from Chandler!

It's very good advice if you ever expect to really know what you're doing with MSF, and don't fancy months of stumbling around in bafflement and posing lots questions here (which will usually get replies soonish…it's a very generous and useful group, as a rule). Well, the stumbling and asking could happen anyway—it did to me, and I DID watch hours of video:)

The problem with the generic Melda video tuts is that lots of them are years old, from WAY before MSF was a gleam in anyone's eye, and definitely before quite a few update cycles had rather seriously changed the interface.

So, in lieu of any more specifics from you about what exactly you want to head towards, out of the vast array of optional directions, I'd say start with the Chandler MSF-tuts YT list and pick the ones that look most interesting, then do what he does. At least you'll be looking at the same device and from the present more or less!

There's also a few videos I made back when I was near then end of my few months of stumbling, and was just barely starting to feel like my feet had touched land. So, they're not from an expert, but they are based on my not finding anything like a basic intro to MSF, and figuring I might as well try to make what I wished I had found right at my own baffled starting point.

What I wanted exactly then was building-stuff info, so if that's what you want, too, maybe they'll be useful to you. Along with a few of the Melda videos I particularly found pertinent to my own interests, they're here:

Here's another playlist I assembled of Melda videos I found particularly useful:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 54dYHXT8xm

[DarkStar]

You could start by exploring this one: viewtopic.php?f=138&t=546754 and keep at it until you understand every part of it. You can always ask specific questions on that thread or general questions as new threads.

[Hexspa]

Start with the Melda video tutorials - there's about three hours of them a newbie should watch (and that's not counting the time to watch some of them more than once!).

Not to toot my own horn, but I wrote a fairly in-depth review of MSF that can be found here:

https://soundbytesmag.net/review-msound ... roduction/

At the very bottom is a list of URLs at which all these videos can be found.

Definitely great articles. Was reading the ones on Melda multiband prior to purchase. Cheers.

[PabloHassan]

Thanks so much for the responses everyone! I'll check out the thread and videos.

Last question:

Am I supposed to see that when I load the synth? I thought there would be more categories to choose from.

MSF.jpg

[DarkStar]

That browser shows the available tags; those in green are assigned to one or more Devices. Selecting the tags filters the results - as shown in the scrollable list below. You can also browse the Device list by navigating the folders (click the [+} icon to expand a node).

Click any Device in the list to load it, then start playing your keyboard.

[PabloHassan]

Okay I get it now. Thanks again !

[PabloHassan]

One last question. Where can I get custom made instruments? I see the download presets option for factory content, though I would like to see what the community came up with. Similar to the Reaktor User Factory ensembles.

My answer probably lies in this busy forum. I guess...

[David]

There's no special Exchange just for devices (aka instruments), AFAIK. But there are a few tossed in amongst the mostly not-devices in the Global presets exchange. No way to tell which are which unless you try them all:)