Understanding Synths - TranceAddict Forums

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Understanding Synths

Posted by Nudge XS on Jun-20-2007 19:52:

Understanding Synths

Hi Guys

I'm fairly new to music producing and am now looking deeper into synths and trying to understand how to get the best sounds out of them. I've only got a few - Vanguard, Synth1 & Superwave8 (free downloads) and the standard ones that come with Cubase SX3

I've noticed on most synths there are the terms or similar too

saw
pulse
white noise & a few others

could anyone shed any light for me what they mean and how it's best to use / combine them?

thx for your time

Nudge

Posted by JustinMead on Jun-20-2007 20:09:

Trial and error ftw

Posted by paulc_dj on Jun-20-2007 20:49:

They are waveforms, that generate different types of sounds: ie: Saw (raspy, White noise (Whooshy) etc...

Hope this helps.

PC

Posted by SPAWNmaster on Jun-21-2007 03:50:

don't expect anyone to flat out teach you how to use a synthesizer...they teach college courses on such matters. use google and the TA search feature and teach yourself the basics of additive, FM, subtractive synthesis then read the manuals for all your synths. production's a steep learning curve but its a lot of trial and error as well so play around!

edit: meant to say that college courses are TAUGHT on such matters, i mistyped.

Posted by hereander on Jun-21-2007 11:24:

get the free ebook at http://www.noisesculpture.com/index.php
it is very comprehensive. it uses vanguard (among other synths) for its examples

Posted by MrJiveBoJingles on Jun-23-2007 09:45:

I wrote a three-part tutorial on subtractive synthesis:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

It was supposed to be four parts, but I never did end up writing the last one.

Posted by Fledz on Jun-23-2007 10:49:

Posted by MrJiveBoJingles on Jun-23-2007 15:52:

I'll try to get it done within the next week, covering LFOs, FM, glide, and velocity modulation.

Anything else you think should go in the fourth part?

Posted by Nudge XS on Jun-23-2007 18:38:

quote:
Originally posted by paulc_dj
They are waveforms, that generate different types of sounds: ie: Saw (raspy, White noise (Whooshy) etc...

thx for the info mate - i'd heard of waveforms but didn't know what they were - gives me more to go on now

thx again

Nudge

Posted by Nudge XS on Jun-23-2007 18:45:

quote:
Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
I wrote a three-part tutorial on subtractive synthesis:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

It was supposed to be four parts, but I never did end up writing the last one.

Absolute quality!!

just what the doctor ordered. thx for this, it is just what i needed and i'm sure a lot more people will make use of it too.

Nudge