Book Recommendations on sound design Technique and Concepts

[blindingSlow]

Hello! I'm self-taught in the world of synthesis and interested in deepening my knowledge.

I'm not a complete beginner, I know the basics of how subtractive synthesis works and understand the function of and how to use generators and modifiers, however, being my own teacher, there is a lot of gaps in my knowledge.

My main interest is to read something more about concepts and techniques and less about patch recipes. I will also appreciate YouTube channels recommendations.

Concept meaning: What is and what is the function of a given module, such as a wave shapper, for example.

Technique meaning: How to achieve x result using y technique.

Thanks

[PanRaubichForever]

Peter Gorges "Programming Sythesizers" might be of interest. Hard copy will be hard to find, but you might be able to find a PDF version.

[PanRaubichForever]

And for FM synthesis specifically, this: https://www.javelinart.com/FM_Synthesis ... uments.pdf

[ugo]

I know this isn’t quite what you are looking for, but there are some synth glossary sites that might be helpful for at least basic overviews.

https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal/s ... F#A-letter

https://learningmodular.com/glossary/

To be honest though, you may gain more from looking up terms and synth history at Wikipedia because the articles tend to go much more in depth. The extra info can be very helpful for learning not just what things to but how they do it, clarifying related concepts, learning how things may have multiple applications, or how a developer used something in a way you had not considered to achieve specific characteristics and functionality.

[Winstontaneous]

Curtis Roads:
Computer Music Tutorial
Microsound

Allen Strange:
Allen_Strange_-_Programming_and_Meta-Programming_the_Electro_Organism

McGill University:
Advanced Programming Techniques for Modular Synthesizers

Andy Farnell:
Designing Sound

[Shabdahbriah]

My main interest is to read something more about concepts and techniques and less about patch recipes. I will also appreciate YouTube channels recommendations.

Concept meaning: What is and what is the function of a given module, such as a wave shapper, for example.

Technique meaning: How to achieve x result using y technique.

Thanks

If your interests lean in any way towards 'granular synthesis', as mine and many others here have for decades, I would highly recommend this one, which I believe can even be used in the freebie version of VM:

Adroit Synthesis1.png

Currently available for the ridiculously low price of $19.50, here:

https://store.cherryaudio.com/bundles/granular-synth-1

First exposure/introduction:


Load it/use it walk-through:"First Encounter"


An over-all excellent page about granular synthesis in general, and this application in particular: "introduction to the Granular Synth and the main reference material"

https://adroitsynthesis.com/granular-synth/

More refined details, and some presets:

https://adroitsynthesis.com/granular-synth-operation/

[whyterabbyt]

Winstontoneous gives a good list, to which I'd add the following which are focussed on specific synths, but applicable to a wide variety of gear

James Clarke's book on synthesis with the Nord Modular, now at https://github.com/aolney/nord-modular-book/tree/master
Roland's "The Synthesizer" Books, working links in the post by chplsd at https://modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 4#p1482149
Howard Scarr's Programming Analogue Synths (Google will lead you)

As well as the Buchla Easel manual above, Allen Strange also wrote the classic Electronic Music Systems, Techniques and Controls which was republished recently, you can probably Google for that.

There's also 'How to Make a Noise' of which there were free editions that are still floating around. (even more Google)

[TotcProductions]

The original Arp 2600 manual is a gem as well. Korg has a decent copy of the PDF on their website.

[pekbro]

I think to do it well you gotta understand the math.

[ugo]

I think to do it well you gotta understand the math.

It depends on how you learn and work best. Some need the math to understand it, but others understand it perfectly well by ear, experience, visualizations, concepts, signal paths, etc. This includes stuff often thought of as particularly technical like additive and FM. Just as with many other things in life, you can learn the what/how/why without ever needing to rely on numbers to learn the process or explain the results.

[luciansyn]

The Computer Music Tutorial is really hard to top. Especially if you translate the ideas to Reaktor or a musical programming language as you go. I love granular synthesis but I found Microsound not that useful.
Reading the manuals of synths, even if you don't own them will teach you a lot too.