synth stuff

[DT4L]

I would love it if someone could tell me where i can learn about synths and crating sounds and stuff, currently i have no idea.

[Zorbas]

For some reason I I still can't bring myself to learn about and understand what an LFO, envelope or a filter is.

People have explained it to me (once on this board I think) but for some reason I find it difficult to relate to the explanation.

[Luca_Capozzi]

1) ProgSounds (http://www.progsounds.com/forum)
2) Synth Secrets (http://www.soundonsound.com/search?page=3&Section=8&Subject=12)

see ya

[Rosie]

I think an LFO is some type of oscilator, which shapes the vibrato of the sound. An envelope is what determines how the sound "Behaves" volume wise through it's playing and can DRASTICALLY alter the sound. Messing with a saxophone using this can get it sounding like a nice violin, for instance.
A filter is something that alters the sound in some way, strengthening some frequencies and cutting out others, and generally "reinterpreting" the sound.

[Luca_Capozzi]

LFO
an LFO is a Low Frequency Oscillator. Is same thing as oscillator but it cycles slowly.. you can set, as example, a cycle every 30 seconds or let it run fast at 2Hz.. usually LFOs cycling speed are below audible range so they are used as modulators. You can do little pitch variation (LFO to Oscillator pitch), a sweep sound (LFO to filter cutoff), a vibrato (LFO to Amplitude) and so on. They are a key part of synthesis.. choruses and other similar effects are made with delay lines and LFOs.

Filters
Filters are one of most important tools into subtractive synthesis. They simply block certain frequencies and let others pass due to a frequency chosen. What they blocks and let pass differs due to type of filter. Low pass filters blocks all frequencies ABOVE the chosen CutOff. High pass filters does the opposite, blocking all frequencies BELOW the CutOff. Band Pass are similar to a couple of Lowpass and Highpass, they blocks all frequencies above and below the cutoff and wideness of filter... its shape is like a bell. Notch filters cuts all frequencies in the CutOff range. There are All pass filters that let all frequences passes with same amplitude response but phase response are arbitrary.

Envelopes
Envelopes controls how sound change in the time. Usually are used for amplitude to shape the sound.. Most familiar type of envelope is ADSR, stands for Attack/Decay/Sustain/Release. Each steps begins when previous one ends.
Attack is the amount of time between the key pressed and the max amplitude. An organ have a fast attack while a slow cello have a longer one.

Decay is the segment that regulates how the sound falls and when. Pluck a guitar string and let it vibrate until no sound is produced... the time between the full amplitude (attack ended) and no sound is the effective decay of the string.

Sustain is the segment that reculates how the amplitude of the sounds stands when you keep the key pressed. Image the sustain as the blow that you breath into a trumpet.

Release act similar as decay but starts only when you release the key.

You can apply envelopes to any other synth block. You can use them on filters, to shape its behaviour.. as well on oscillators pitch, amplitude and so on..

Luca

[Farren]

Go here and download "How to make a noise":

http://www.noisesculpture.com/

It's a free book you can read in Foxit or Acrobat all about synth programming. Highly recommended.

[Omega Monkey]

Actually vibrato is pitch modulation and TREMELO is amplitude (volume) modulation. Tremelo is great for getting that classic Rhodes "wavy" sound from the 70s.

[Bert]

Actually vibrato is pitch modulation and TREMELO is amplitude (volume) modulation. Tremelo is great for getting that classic Rhodes "wavy" sound from the 70s.


Hmmmmm...

TremOlo.

-- B

(sorry, couldn't resist. Mr. Grammar Person stikes again!!)

[aquatarkus]

StRikes again ?

[Zorbas]

That's the thing. I try and read that stuff and for some reason I get bored to tears whenever I start reading about low band oscillators or whatnot. Besides, it's the kind of thing that you have to try out for yourself on a synth to understand.

I really got to spend an afternoon in front of Reason with the tutorials in the book that explain how to work the devices. Probably start out with the basic on how to program the Subtractor synth. That seemed to cover the basics of synth sound programming.

[Farren]

It's not quite as simple as coming up with a tone on a guitar amp. There are so many parameters on most synths that simply tinkering around won't get you very far, especially considering many variables that are dependent on others. You're going to have to read, boring or not :/

[Luca_Capozzi]

Synthesis is hard if you refuse to learn basics. It's not so difficult.. almost all synths are subtractive.. you have a lot of waveform other then basic single cycle ones. All synths have filters, envelopes and LFOs. You have only to learn how a filter behave and how to modulate sounds.

Is the same thing as playing... I see same thing.. a lot of people that wanna shred.. go fast and fast and fast and faster but whitout praticise and no theory. The only matter is to run fast. bha..

On synths: everyone wanna make powerful sounds. Almost all people i've seen wanna make famous lead tones, very complicated one, but without know ANYTHING about synthesis basics. And what when you try to help them? They're bored to learn and practicise...

Music is a discipline and needs passion, heart, soul, patience and costance.. synthesis as well. If you don't have them you can't get results.

My 2 cents,
Luca

[Rosie]

Keyboards are hard to figure out, unless it's a crappy Yamaha PSR with no control over the tone.

I just realised that I don't have an EQ on my board, which is a little disappointing :/ I might have it somewhere I'll keep looking :P

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Actually vibrato is pitch modulation and TREMELO is amplitude (volume) modulation. Tremelo is great for getting that classic Rhodes "wavy" sound from the 70s.

Yeah, that's the easiest way to understand it. Unfortunately, dictionaries don't back those definitions up. They basically define vibrato and tremolo as being interchangeable (and also define "tremolo" as involving fluctuation in speed as well, for example, the typical mandolin "tremolo picking." Blame the guitar manufacturers, they're the the ones labelling whammy bars as "tremolo bars" and "vibrato arms." ;)

[Farren]

http://www.noisesculpture.com/


At the risk of coming off as a salesman, I've gotta promote this book again. I found it over at the kvraudio forums and a lot of people here would gain a lot from giving it a read through. Once again, it's free.

[rifaa]

Here´s another link, very basic, very compact, it sort of gets you started (and not too long, so you might not be too bored before you´ve finished the reading!):

http://www.music.swt.edu/tech/synthprogramming.html