Preset Deconstruction is a vital skill

[CinningBao]

I think this is an important skill for any burgeoning electronic artist or producer, it can teach you a lot about why a synth designer made certain decisions, how to take advantage of those enhancements or limitations, and also how and why preset/sound designers make the decisions they do to get the sounds they want.

So here's a long-winded movie-length video about how to deconstruct presets in 5 synths; Lokomotiv, Zebra2, Serum, Alchemy and MassiveX. Chapters in description so you can whizz to your synth section.

[ralfrobert]

Thanks a lot.

[Synthman2000]

I am sure the video will be useful to a few people, but I am not sure how helpful knowing why a synth designer made certain decisions is to making sounds or music.

I think it is only helpful if you wish to recreate a sound in another synth or you enjoy making specific types of sounds that follow a common construction pattern, maybe as a supplement to learning synthesis basics, but could be too complex.

As a general rule I won't spend 1 and a half hours watching 1 Youtube video, though I appreciate you wish people to dive into a specific synth in the video.

Deconstruction is something I have done very little of. I can usually work sounds I hear out in my head roughly. It might take between 5 mins and 2 hours to get close to a sound. I would not want to make a replica anyway so the little things you do on the way always create something slightly different. Arguably this is sometimes slightly worse than the sound you want. It might just be you picked the wrong synth, you get close enough usually but sometimes not quite all the way.

I often listen to the sound and decide what are the 2 most likely synths to recreate that sound well knowing their strengths and weakness. Then I try those 2.

[ralfrobert]

The video is quite long... and quite good. I checked it and will watch it when I want something detailed, not too complicated but useful nonetheless ... instead of a movie. Good channel. Easy going but 100% helpful.

And now I will deconstruct one or two presets. This really gave me some ideas.

[CinningBao]

I am sure the video will be useful to a few people, but I am not sure how helpful knowing why a synth designer made certain decisions is to making sounds or music.

I think it is only helpful if you wish to recreate a sound in another synth or you enjoy making specific types of sounds that follow a common construction pattern, maybe as a supplement to learning synthesis basics, but could be too complex.

As a general rule I won't spend 1 and a half hours watching 1 Youtube video, though I appreciate you wish people to dive into a specific synth in the video.

Deconstruction is something I have done very little of. I can usually work sounds I hear out in my head roughly. It might take between 5 mins and 2 hours to get close to a sound. I would not want to make a replica anyway so the little things you do on the way always create something slightly different. Arguably this is sometimes slightly worse than the sound you want. It might just be you picked the wrong synth, you get close enough usually but sometimes not quite all the way.

I often listen to the sound and decide what are the 2 most likely synths to recreate that sound well knowing their strengths and weakness. Then I try those 2.

The point of the video isn't to understand why particular sound designers made particular choices, it's about understanding the choices which are available to _you_ in synthesisers, and understanding how to exploit those choices when _you're_ in the thick of designing sounds, whether you are targeting a certain sound or just exploring and looking for that lucky sound!

Perhaps this video isn't for you, based on the way you approach sound manipulation, I mean, we all learn this stuff differently, and are inspired by different things in the sounds we hear.. and if you're happy with your process, it isn't my place to insist on changing it!

This video is more for folks who are just beginning to touch the edges of synthesis and want to understand a useful way to approach looking at noises in order to actually learn from them rather than just play the nice noises.

A lot of my vids are quite lengthy and tedious so I'm always sure to put chapters in so folks can go where they want and consume it in a way which suits them. Although I would argue there's a certain charm to watching 90 minutes of a Logic screen with moving knobs and sliders accompanied by a calming narration explaining everything that's going on, but it isn't for everyone

[CinningBao]

Thanks a lot.

My pleasure!

[ralfrobert]

One thing I would like to add: The process of deconstruction can be tedious and deterring for beginners. Your video breaks it down in a way that makes it accessible, removes the fairy dust.

Be sure this can help a lot.

[Calagan]

mmm. Very interesting...
To answer synthman2000 critics, I think the main way to progress in any skill is to copy the masters, and to use what you learn in copying you need to understand how is made the masterwork you are copying...
It's like when you learn saxophone (copying Coltrane or Charlie Parker), painting (copying Velazquez or Bacon), or anything else...

Just as a note : I'd like more of this kind of video with differents synths, like Diva, Repro or any mini moog copy.... I understand it's just an introduction to retro-design, but it's still easier to follow when you know the synth well...

[CinningBao]

mmm. Very interesting...
To answer synthman2000 critics, I think the main way to progress in any skill is to copy the masters, and to use what you learn in copying you need to understand how is made the masterwork you are copying...
It's like when you learn saxophone (copying Coltrane or Charlie Parker), painting (copying Velazquez or Bacon), or anything else...

Just as a note : I'd like more of this kind of video with differents synths, like Diva, Repro or any mini moog copy.... I understand it's just an introduction to retro-design, but it's still easier to follow when you know the synth well...

I am more than happy to do more of these with synth suggestions. And you hit the nail on the head; as much as I can 'overview' each synth to describe the general signal flow, folks probably just want to understand their favourite synth. I'll add those 2 and a good minimoog emulation to the list.

Thanks for the feedback!

[harryupbabble]

i just use preset randomizers.
if my ears like what the randomizers spits out, i save those.
same with melody randomizers.
same with drum rhythm randomizers.
randomizer reliance, but most of all... ear reliance.

[harryupbabble]

too bad lyrics randomizers are harder.
can't use ears for that.

[ralfrobert]

mmm. Very interesting...
To answer synthman2000 critics, I think the main way to progress in any skill is to copy the masters, and to use what you learn in copying you need to understand how is made the masterwork you are copying...
It's like when you learn saxophone (copying Coltrane or Charlie Parker), painting (copying Velazquez or Bacon), or anything else...

Just as a note : I'd like more of this kind of video with differents synths, like Diva, Repro or any mini moog copy.... I understand it's just an introduction to retro-design, but it's still easier to follow when you know the synth well...

I am more than happy to do more of these with synth suggestions. And you hit the nail on the head; as much as I can 'overview' each synth to describe the general signal flow, folks probably just want to understand their favourite synth. I'll add those 2 and a good minimoog emulation to the list.

Thanks for the feedback!

Perhaps for... old Massive, Surge, Vital, Phaseplant, Ana 2. Many have Massive, the following two are free, Phaseplant is the new darling of many, Ana is just good.

My 2c.

[CinningBao]

i just use preset randomizers.
if my ears like what the randomizers spits out, i save those.
same with melody randomizers.
same with drum rhythm randomizers.
randomizer reliance, but most of all... ear reliance.

I mean, if that gets you to places you like, that's what works for you! I'd argue that you aren't really learning anything about the synth (unless you already know enough to adjust the randomised presets you get) and the point of this exercise is to have a game to play with your synths in which you can learn about the synth and about the choices the preset designers made.

If you don't actually load anybody's preset ever, then this video is not for you!

[harryupbabble]

some built-inpresets are great. some i use as is but some i morph.
there's too much to learn. but like in scrabble, 99 percent of the time i just play and maybe 1 percent of the time i study or learn intentionally. besides, by just playing, i learn also, unintentionally

but true. everyone has their own ways of doing things. it may be right, it may be wrong.

[harryupbabble]

but i have to admit, i suck at musicmaking. so i may be wrong. but still, the process is fun. i like doing it, wrong or right.