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Question about synths and sounds
I want to make sure I demystify synths for myself so I thought one of you OGs could help a brother out.
Basically my intuition and understanding make it apparent to me that sound is caused by vibration, and oscillators are the source of “vibrations” when it comes to our synths. Now when it comes to manipulation of those vibrations we have different type of synthesis, effects, etc. We can add or take away from those vibrations and that’s is essentially sound designing.
Is that pretty much the jest of it? In theory, could we have a synthesizer with the ability of infinite manipulation of sound waves so that it would need no additional effects? Or is there something I am missing?
I keep buying synths lol and I think it’s time I learn them better, and I also get a little less groupie about them. Anyways I appreciate anyone who has the time and kindness to help a rambling lunatic over here. Peace!
Comments
That's pretty much the gist of it yeah. And if it makes you laugh, then it's the jest of it
If you can afford the cost, then I highly recommend Sarah Belle Reid's "Learning Sound & Synthesis" online course. Really in-depth, accessible, ..a fantastic introduction to synthesizers for the novice (like me!)
Thanks man, it’s slightly funny in that is not as complicated as I thought, and in that I meant to say gist…
Thanks for your reply and the suggestion, I will look at it.
An by “not complicated” I mean that there is no “magic” involved lol
That synthesiser is the universe. Most of it, is beyond our perception though, but we slowly peek beyond the veil.
That sounds so accurate!
Maybe but still quite vague.
To turn an oscillator into a synthesizer it needs control of pitch, duration and loudness.
For variation over time „envelopes“ (describing how parameters change) are used and often their properties can be set by faders or dials.
But that‘s pretty much it.
Yes, that‘s possible and there are synths that generate „effects“ directly with their internal sound engine, like chorus/flanger or delay/reverb. For example by modulating a 2nd voice.
But convincing effects (like room reverbs) are resource demanding, and so it‘s more efficient (and more flexible) to build dedicated fx units, instead of blowing up each single instrument voice.
Life is a synth. Humankind is a slow LFO that modify the white noise of the universe.
It’s all about a handful of things that exist as variables in sound
Harmonics give the sound the kind of texture or surface or feel that it has, like the difference between paper and concrete and glass and wood and cats and fish and sand and clay
The amplitude envelope shape is another characteristic – although it’s only the volume level going up and down, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s only the volume level going up and down, it defines the identity of the instrument being synthesised, as distinct from some other instrument
Dynamics are a third characteristic – how do the above two things change over time? Is there an evolution or repetition of harmonic content, over time? Is there a repetition or modulation of amplitude over time?
Those are the things that characterise a sound as compared to another sound. The typical synth has tools that allow you to put those situations and also dynamics of those situations into play.
There’s things that give harmonics - different harmonics. There’s things that take away harmonics if there’s too much harmonics. There’s things that affect volume changes. There’s things that give you envelope shapes so you can trigger an envelope and up it goes up to the max, then down it goes down to the floor (maybe sustaining for a while along the way). There’s things that give repetitive shapes which you can use to change the harmonics or amplitude. There’s a few more tricks too, but that’s about the basics.
The good thing with synthesis - or better, modular synthesis which gives you freedom to combine elements the way you want - is that you can make it as simple or as complicated as you want.
And there can be a hell lot of magic involved that can take years to master.
I recently traded away a Minilogue for a bass to a musician friend who wanted something new to fiddle with. About an hour after I dropped it off, I get a text saying, “Wait, all these sounds (presets) were made using some combination of all these knobs? I thought they were just individual computer sound files.” And the world opened up to him…
One big thing is the amount of memory something like that would need to run all that modulation, etc in real time.
The free ableton web course is great. Interactive.
Nice! 😄
BTW which bass did you get?
Standard Fender Mustang PJ bass, like new. Looking it up now, looks like it’s a cream-colored Sweetwater exclusive, so prob not more than 5 years old, if that. I’m not a huge fan of short-scale basses but I didn’t have one period, like the PJ configuration, and have long been anti-Minilogue.
Seeing the retail price of the bass just now made me do a double take. I kinda came out of the swap like a bandit, at least based on retail price. I did spend countless hours writing and playing and helping him get a professional-sounding record out for free over the last year, so that eases my conscience. Plus, no more bugging people to borrow their bass.
@oat_phipps Wow, sounds like a great deal
I'm about to get me a Yamaha TRBX 4-string. From the demos I've heard it does my beloved funky sound quite well and owning a Yamaha RGX121, it seems like the Yamahas are really decent playable and rugged instruments for the price.
Hmm, that’s a great point! I think that’s one of the reasons why synths might have limitations. Thanks!
Yeah, I purchased mirack and was blown away at how mysterious it all is. I can’t imagine how much you must know to truly use it to its full potential.
I will most def check this out.
Thank you so much man for the detailed explanation. This is extremely helpful.
Very poetic!
You guys really helped me with the explanations and comments that I stopped caring so much about using presets and effects like magic dice. I felt like it was kinda cheating a little, but after reading the comments I now feel that as long as I like the sound it doesn’t matter how I got them. As long as it’s not stealing someone else’s work or claiming to have designed them from the ground up of course. It also helped me feel less afraid of messing with the synths. Here is something that I made last night inspired by the comments.
Haha. Plot twist!
Haver you tried an additive synth? Spent hours/days/weeks making one patch?
I have a few core synths that I've learned and spend a lot of time with. It would take several lifetimes to learn the others that sit collecting dust.
That sounds pleasant. Don't worry about cheating, just think of those 'cheats' as your secret weapons.
Thanks man. I just always felt like music had to be done some sort of way to be authentic but now all that is changing. I am starting to believe authenticity has more to do with intention rather than perspective. I’ve always been afraid of being judged and this forum is literally helping me spread my wings lol. It’s been liberating, personal, and kinda crazy for me. Anyways thanks for checking my video out!
KQ Dixie is a Yamaha DX7 implementation that can upload Yamaha presets from the 90’s. Don’t ask how it works. Just keep picking favorite presets you like.
FM synthesis is some deep voodoo but can make great bells.
For me WaveTables are the top of the pyramid. They tend to produce sounds that morph over time which is like turning analog synth knobs all at one in repeatable ways.
Nave seems to be my fav.
Korg iWaveStation is epic.
For me sound design is like trying to enjoy watching grass grow. It takes patience and the ability to appreciate when the results are getting better and not just different. Thankfully we have @Spidericemidas to do the hard work and we get to eat the cakes he gives away: Continua with his patches/presets is one of my favorites.
The Brambos “Mononoke”Is in a class of its own and based on some specific piece of hardware everyone wants.
But dig in if you have the right temperament to dial in the right sonic garden.
Try and out do the greats.
Oscillators are just the gateway drug. 50 years of innovations followed Robert Moog’s creation called the synthesizer.
This world is made of smaller nested worlds. “It’s turtles all the way down”. Google for context.
MCD you alway drop some insane Bible type of ish so thanks for the tips and comment. How is wavetable different from granular synthesis? I don’t know anything about wavetables other than drambo can do them because of a special someone who always drops drambo down lol.
"I am starting to believe authenticity has more to do with intention rather than perspective".
I think it's a mix of both intention, perspective, and a bunch of other things. It's like what's in your head and what's going on around you. I too never posted anything here, but finally did today.
What do you do with all of your AUM stems/recordings?
I have to check out your post. Lately I feel like this forum is like having access to a bunch of exclusive encores. So much cool stuff going on.
The AUM files I have are pretty much in a folder called “test” with 13 files called Test 1 - Test 12 with one of them having a b version. I have posted a bunch of them on YouTube and also here. I see them as part of my journey in mastering the tools that will allow me to share what’s in my mind with others.
When RAM cost your first born child Wolfgang Palm created a synth that stored a table of waves (oscillations) that replaced the crystal driven oscillator hardware in a synth.
Now with software and cheap ram you can set up a table with waves and create synths like the Waldorf’s Wolfgang designed. An oscillator that morphs is the main feature.
Later when ram got really cheap they filled ram with samples of actual instruments like a grand Pianos to save the traveling musician from house pianos. Ray Kurzweil made one for Stevie Wonder. Now we do all this magic in software and the iPad chip is our ram master.
Soon you too will have favorites and can just stop buying more apps, right guys? @Lady_App_titude has a rule: buy something and make something before you buy anything else. She spends effort on her music so it saves her enough to buy a first born.
(Call back).
I just saved a few hard earned dollars with that advise. Thanks for the explanation of wave table synthesis too!!