which first synth to explain synthesis ? substractive & additive

[Vince]

Hello,

I would like to start teaching sound creations and synthesizers use to my 10 years old son.

Ideally, I would like to start with a synth with 1 oscillator ( 2 max ), some ADSR control, filter + 1 LFO because kids can be intimidated by many buttons, and parameters. If there's an oscilloscope integrated, it would be a bonus.

I own NI 14 Komplete Ultimate, Tone2 Icarus, the whole Arturia Collection, Zebra & ACE, Rob Papen Explorer 9, Synthmaster 2, FL Studio complete ( all of them are legit guys, so please do not PM me to get a copy ).

Is there in my bundles a tiny synth that I have missed that could fit my requirement ? or a freebie ?

Thanks for your help

Kind Regards
Vincent

[chk071]

My usual recommendation: TAL-Noisemaker.

Relatively simply architecture, sounds pretty good, is easy to use and to understand.

[mholloway]

Any Roland Juno emulation is the best kind of synth to learn on, imho. I'd go with TAL U-No-LX (Juno 60) but any Juno works fine.

[chk071]

Any Roland Juno emulation is the best kind of synth to learn on, imho. I'd go with TAL U-No-LX (Juno 60) but any Juno works fine.

Problem I always had (and always will have) with those: Only one oscillator, only one shared amp and filter envelope. Very limiting.

[cryophonik]

It sounds like you're set on a (presumably cheap or free?) software synth, but I'll just throw this out there for the heck of it: Korg Minilogue XD. Super fun and easy to use analog/digital hybrid synth with a built-in oscilloscope. Being a father of a 16-yo, I would bet that your son would get a lot more enjoyment from and have more interest in a genuine synth, while also minimizing his screen time. Not to mention that you could also use in your own productions. If you buy it used, you can always turn around and resell it for about the same amount. Just something else to consider.

[pdxindy]

Hello,

I would like to start teaching sound creations and synthesizers use to my 10 years old son.

Ideally, I would like to start with a synth with 1 oscillator ( 2 max ), some ADSR control, filter + 1 LFO because kids can be intimidated by many buttons, and parameters. If there's an oscilloscope integrated, it would be a bonus.

I own NI 14 Komplete Ultimate, Tone2 Icarus, the whole Arturia Collection, Zebra & ACE, Rob Papen Explorer 9, Synthmaster 2, FL Studio complete ( all of them are legit guys, so please do not PM me to get a copy ).

Is there in my bundles a tiny synth that I have missed that could fit my requirement ? or a freebie ?

Thanks for your help

Kind Regards
Vincent

ACE would make a good learning synth. Ignore the ability to wire stuff and only use the default. It has a built-in scope.

[chk071]

It sounds like you're set on a (presumably cheap or free?) software synth, but I'll just throw this out there for the heck of it: Korg Minilogue XD. Super fun and easy to use analog/digital hybrid synth with a built-in oscilloscope. Being a father of a 16-yo, I would bet that your son would get a lot more enjoyment from and have more interest in a genuine synth

I'm sure he would. I'm sure I would have.

Software is cool, but, you bind much more with something physical you can control physically.

[k2006]

a synth in which he can see the shape of adsr graphically is better,like free Hi-poly https://plugins4free.com/plugin/3150/
or free Helm synth https://tytel.org/helm/
and charlatan v3 (also has additive oscillator) viewtopic.php?t=602708

[Vince]

I'm pleasantly impressed by all the positive responses. Thanks !

[stoopicus]

Software: Syntorial is the best bet, hands down. The synth is simple but capable (and sounds pretty good!), and the lessons are great intro to subtractive synthesis, getting up through pretty complex at the end, and are hands-on and interactive. You could do the lessons together (and *you* may even learn something )

Otherwise, any good Prophet clone, either the Pro-One or Prophet-5. I like Arturia's but very much not free.

Hardware: I'd suggest an older Arturia Minibrute or Microbrute. I *really* like faders over knobs for envelopes where possible, so those are good. I am biased though, I just bought a Microbrute RED.

[BBFG#]

Agree with the previous suggestions and will add AAS Analog Session. Similar to TALNoisemaker. Maybe suggest the Full Bucket as extra credit before moving to the KVR usual suspects through CM and Discord.

[egbert101]

Maybe the Arturia Microfreak (hardware synth) might be a good starting synth for a kid, as it's full of features yet simple.

[audiouser720]

I would just like to second the Juno emulations. Juno 60 / 106 really is the easiest platform to learn subtractive synthesis on.

However, it might sound crazy, considering your son is only 10, but actually, I would highly recommend getting him into modular, and Reaktor Blocks as such. Even the free version is enough. Modular is learning synthesis from the ground up and understanding the fundamentals. It really is an asset. Reaktor Blocks is very user friendly, sort of a cartoonish version of a modular (not the sound quality, just the looks) and is a lot of fun. It is basically just like lego.

[swilow11]

I cut my chops on Reasons Subtractor synth. Simple GUI, can do subtractive and basic FM, simple modulation options. From Arturia, probably the Juno emulation would work.

Sounds like fun tbh

[BBFG#]

Not seeing as much additive that the OP also asked for, so I'll throw out this mixed bag that would eventually hit every thread.
Although they're perhaps a little more than beginner there's the
KVR Usual suspects:
Surge XT
Vital Free
Osiris
Vavra
Vaporizer2
Alternate explorations with the u-He free synths and for the price of a single CM issue:
BazilleCM, DuneCM, ZebraCM and more

The nice thing about those Discord synths is that it also gives those developers a working beta lab and a place for students to interact directly with developers.

Of course, you could just make them all sign up on KVR, see what they come to class with and just teach the survivors.