What's your favorite synth for sound design?

[Sound_Bear]

Anyone here liking the Krotos stuff and can comment on it for somone pondering to buy?

My favorite is VAZ Modular v3. Was way ahead of its time and still beats any other synth aside from Cherry Audio Voltage in terms of how comprehensive it was.

[KBSoundSmith]

Yeah, big fan of the u-he synths. Bazille is special, and Zebra2/ZebraHZ is always in my rotation; it's a synth that grows with you -- you get better at synths, you unlock another tier of appreciation for what it brings to the table. I also use Hive2 and Diva.

I have barely touched the original Massive, so for now I don't have much I can say about it (I got both Massive and Massive X just recently when I finally got Komplete). As for Massive X, I have invested time into it, and it really is a fantastic synth. Extreme diversity in the sounds you can get out of it, great sound quality. If you take your time to study it in depth, you'll be rewarded.

Great. Got the Diva as well! I was sold Repro and Bazille and maybe it was my mistake.. Maybe will back them on this forum...I also like U+?-HE synths a lot... but once again at this moment I got just Zebra and Diiva...

Nothing wrong with moving on from a synth if it isn't working for you. Bazille is great, but the workflow might not be for everyone. You can always download the demo and look up educational material on using that specific synth to see if it's for you. If not, no shame in that. Use what works best for you.

My problem with Bazille, is I don’t understand how the oscillators work. I would love to find a tutorial that teaches how to use the oscillators, but I haven’t found one. I understand that it is some form of FM, but that’s about all I understand from it.

I assume you've gone through the manual a bit. Did you have specific questions? I'm sure I could demystify it if you wanted.

As a general tip for Bazille, it's easy to get overwhelmed if you look at the interface as a whole. But if you break it down by individual components and learn only that component (eg, oscillators are all the same, so you have 1 thing to learn, not 4), it will become far less intimidating.

[audiojunkie]

My biggest problem is that I don’t understand FM synthesis. It all seems like guesswork. I don’t understand how those controls shape the wave. I’d like to understand it, but I’m struggling with how it works.

[KBSoundSmith]

Ah, I see. Quick question: if any, which synths do you have available for FM? (I know you're on Linux, so I have no clue what you can or can't use). If we have any of the same synths, I could use that for an example, otherwise I could just generically use an FM synth with a matrix to explain some simple things (assuming you have any interest, of course).

[KBSoundSmith]

My biggest problem is that I don’t understand FM synthesis. It all seems like guesswork. I don’t understand how those controls shape the wave. I’d like to understand it, but I’m struggling with how it works.

Btw, I looked at Tracktion F'em system requirements and see they have a Linux version, so if you can ever get that on sale (it's been on blowout sales for super cheap), that would be the ideal synth to learn on.

[audiojunkie]

Ah, I see. Quick question: if any, which synths do you have available for FM? (I know you're on Linux, so I have no clue what you can or can't use). If we have any of the same synths, I could use that for an example, otherwise I could just generically use an FM synth with a matrix to explain some simple things (assuming you have any interest, of course).

I have Dexed currently. I have considered F'em before, but felt that it was way beyond me and probably would be wasted money.....

[audiojunkie]

My biggest problem is that I don’t understand FM synthesis. It all seems like guesswork. I don’t understand how those controls shape the wave. I’d like to understand it, but I’m struggling with how it works.

Btw, I looked at Tracktion F'em system requirements and see they have a Linux version, so if you can ever get that on sale (it's been on blowout sales for super cheap), that would be the ideal synth to learn on.

I'll keep an eye out for a sale.

[KBSoundSmith]

Ah, I see. Quick question: if any, which synths do you have available for FM? (I know you're on Linux, so I have no clue what you can or can't use). If we have any of the same synths, I could use that for an example, otherwise I could just generically use an FM synth with a matrix to explain some simple things (assuming you have any interest, of course).

I have Dexed currently. I have considered F'em before, but felt that it was way beyond me and probably would be wasted money.....

FM isn't nearly as scary as people make it out to be, but it does take a little getting used to. Maybe it's overdue for someone to make an FM sticky-guide for the forum. Perhaps I'll download Dexed so examples can be 1:1. I probably will start a new thread, so this one doesn't get totally hijacked by FM talk. If you have any questions, send me a PM and I'll work them into whatever I write up.

[audiojunkie]

Ah, I see. Quick question: if any, which synths do you have available for FM? (I know you're on Linux, so I have no clue what you can or can't use). If we have any of the same synths, I could use that for an example, otherwise I could just generically use an FM synth with a matrix to explain some simple things (assuming you have any interest, of course).

I have Dexed currently. I have considered F'em before, but felt that it was way beyond me and probably would be wasted money.....

FM isn't nearly as scary as people make it out to be, but it does take a little getting used to. Maybe it's overdue for someone to make an FM sticky-guide for the forum. Perhaps I'll download Dexed so examples can be 1:1. I probably will start a new thread, so this one doesn't get totally hijacked by FM talk. If you have any questions, send me a PM and I'll work them into whatever I write up.

This would be a great idea! I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on Subtractive synthesis. I have an excellent understanding of sampling concepts, including granular. I have an ok understanding of Wavetable and wavesequencing synthesis. But, FM is like dark voodoo. With talk of ratios and mathmatics and calculations to come up with certain sounds..... I would love to participate in your new thread!

[swilow11]

I will eagerly read this FM thread. I can comfortably use FM to make gritty psytrance stuff, simple bells, and the notorious donk bass but beyond that, I'm also flying at night.

[KBSoundSmith]

Alright then, seems like it may be worth the effort. I just think it's crazy that FM synths have been out this long, people consistently complain about confusion/fear of programming, yet still no one has bothered to make a simple guide to direct people toward. I'd have thought developers would have an incentive to make sure potential buyers are confident enough to spend money on a product.

In any case, don't expect anything immediately, I'm more of a "measure twice, cut once" sort. And I can probably wrangle it into a two-birds-with-one-stone situation parallel to one of my own projects, so it shouldn't threaten to be a waste of time.

[swilow11]

Alright then, seems like it may be worth the effort. I just think it's crazy that FM synths have been out this long, people consistently complain about confusion/fear of programming, yet still no one has bothered to make a simple guide to direct people toward. I'd have thought developers would have an incentive to make sure potential buyers are confident enough to spend money on a product.

In any case, don't expect anything immediately, I'm more of a "measure twice, cut once" sort. And I can probably wrangle it into a two-birds-with-one-stone situation parallel to one of my own projects, so it shouldn't threaten to be a waste of time.

There is the How To Make a Sound FM book by...can't remember who. Which was really helpful for me getting a feel for FM8. But I find the GUI so soulless and uninspiring that can barely stand working with it. And as FM requires time and a bit of finicky clickery, one needs the synth of choice to at least feel welcoming.

I've never used Dexed so maybe should dl it. I do have the Arturia DX7 as well as Algoritm in Reason. The latter is probably rhe nicest interface for an FM synth I've seen.

[martiu]

Reaktor is my favorite, i have also Massive X and that one is starting to grow on me

[Synthman2000]

I have really enjoyed Sylenth1, Viper, the original Massive and Diva. I like Rob Papen synths as well. The original massive has something that draws me in, it's like sitting by a warm cosy fire in the evening, a very homely synth.

Serum is good but I cannot say I have enjoyed it, more like a utilitarian synth to get a modern sound.

[KBSoundSmith]

My biggest problem is that I don’t understand FM synthesis. It all seems like guesswork. I don’t understand how those controls shape the wave. I’d like to understand it, but I’m struggling with how it works.

Btw, I looked at Tracktion F'em system requirements and see they have a Linux version, so if you can ever get that on sale (it's been on blowout sales for super cheap), that would be the ideal synth to learn on.

I'll keep an eye out for a sale.

@audiojunkie and @swilow11
Tracktion F'em is currently on sale for $24 at JRRshop. Obviously you don't have to buy the synth if you don't want, but if it runs on your system, I highly recommend it.
https://www.jrrshop.com/tracktion-f-em

Unfortunately, serious family matters have prevented me from making much progress on an FM guide (it will get done), but in the meantime, I can point you to a post I made a while back so that you can at least demo Tracktion F'em with some degree of confidence: viewtopic.php?p=8492696&hilit=f%27em#p8492696

I've also attached an INIT preset I made for F'em (because it doesn't actually come with one...) so you can have a sensible starting place.