13 ms·

Bored on vacation, what's the best way to learn synths in 2022?

pier25 4y ago
Syntorial if you want some structure. If not, just get Vital and start messing around. There are tons of Youtube tutorials.
tomduncalf 4y ago
Ableton have a really cool web based intro to synthesis https://learningsynths.ableton.com/ https://learningsynths.ableton.com/ (and also one for learning music: https://learningmusic.ableton.com/ https://learningmusic.ableton.com/) Syntorial (on desktop or iPad) is an app which teaches you synthesis by doing - it’s a full synth which you can use in its own right, and it introduces you to each part and gives you challenges to recreate a certain sound using that part. I can’t say I’ve done the full thing but it’s a cool concept. You can also just download some free/cheap synths (or get a free trial of Ableton or some other music making software which comes with its own included synths) and start messing around of course haha, there are a tonne of good ones around, including on iOS if you use an iPad (the advantage being the touch screen makes it maybe more fun than using a mouse). GarageBand on Mac is maybe a fun place to start experimenting too. Happy to advise more if you have specific things you’re interested in!
- ROTMetro 4y ago
  Vital is an amazing free virtual synth. It rivals the pay ones at this point and makes it on most of my tracks (though Arturia Pigments is my favorite VST).
- bbgm 4y ago
  I have a 9 year old who’s learning all about synths via a combination of the synths in garage band and my OP1. Great combo IMO
  - ROTMetro 4y ago
    The only bummer about synths now is that at 9 I learned a lot of networking concepts from having to adjust the MIDI setup of my keyboards/drum machines/sequencer (and then be able to get them back how my dad wanted them without him knowing I changed everything). Other than that I can't imagine if I would have had these capabilities at an early age. I mean, oh, you want a free symphony to play your music? OK. https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/bbc-symphony-orchestra-discover/ https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/bbc-symphony-orchestr... https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-so-discover/application/ https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-so-discover/application/
brunorsini 4y ago
I second the Syntorial recommendation — https://www.syntorial.com https://www.syntorial.com. By far the best method I've seen, largely because you learn in practice.
ROTMetro 4y ago
Post a way to get you info and I have an Ableton Live Lite license if you want.
lsaferite 4y ago
One aspect that might be interesting, depending on what you are looking for, it's eurorack and more specifically software like VCV Rack that lets you emulate the experience in an app really easily. https://vcvrack.com/ https://vcvrack.com/
lsaferite 4y ago
I recommend checking out Pigments https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/pigments/overview https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/pigmen...
SV_BubbleTime 4y ago
Be on vacation. Synths will be there when you get back.
nonrandomstring 4y ago
Get into Pure Data.
- bowsamic 4y ago
  I think Max/MSP generally sounds better and is more fully featured out of the box
  - nonrandomstring 4y ago
    > Max/MSP generally sounds better True, because Max comes with bandlimited oscillators and envelope generators ready to go. In Pd you need to build them yourself or import libraries. > and is more fully featured out of the box True. See above. A lot of things you'd make from scratch in Pd come in the standard namespace of Max. That said, there's nothing you can do in Max that you couldn't do in Pd is you're a decent DSP coder, and that low-level entry point is half the fun IMHO. Don't forget they were originally the same codebase. MSP is Miller's initials (For those who don't know Miller Puckette named it Max as homage to Max Matthews).

Syntorial if you want some structure. If not, just get Vital and start messing around. There are tons of Youtube tutorials.

tomduncalf 4y ago

Ableton have a really cool web based intro to synthesis https://learningsynths.ableton.com/ https://learningsynths.ableton.com/ (and also one for learning music: https://learningmusic.ableton.com/ https://learningmusic.ableton.com/) Syntorial (on desktop or iPad) is an app which teaches you synthesis by doing - it’s a full synth which you can use in its own right, and it introduces you to each part and gives you challenges to recreate a certain sound using that part. I can’t say I’ve done the full thing but it’s a cool concept. You can also just download some free/cheap synths (or get a free trial of Ableton or some other music making software which comes with its own included synths) and start messing around of course haha, there are a tonne of good ones around, including on iOS if you use an iPad (the advantage being the touch screen makes it maybe more fun than using a mouse). GarageBand on Mac is maybe a fun place to start experimenting too. Happy to advise more if you have specific things you’re interested in!

ROTMetro 4y ago
Vital is an amazing free virtual synth. It rivals the pay ones at this point and makes it on most of my tracks (though Arturia Pigments is my favorite VST).
bbgm 4y ago
I have a 9 year old who’s learning all about synths via a combination of the synths in garage band and my OP1. Great combo IMO
- ROTMetro 4y ago
  The only bummer about synths now is that at 9 I learned a lot of networking concepts from having to adjust the MIDI setup of my keyboards/drum machines/sequencer (and then be able to get them back how my dad wanted them without him knowing I changed everything). Other than that I can't imagine if I would have had these capabilities at an early age. I mean, oh, you want a free symphony to play your music? OK. https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/bbc-symphony-orchestra-discover/ https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/bbc-symphony-orchestr... https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-so-discover/application/ https://www.spitfireaudio.com/bbc-so-discover/application/

brunorsini 4y ago

I second the Syntorial recommendation — https://www.syntorial.com https://www.syntorial.com. By far the best method I've seen, largely because you learn in practice.

ROTMetro 4y ago

Post a way to get you info and I have an Ableton Live Lite license if you want.

lsaferite 4y ago

One aspect that might be interesting, depending on what you are looking for, it's eurorack and more specifically software like VCV Rack that lets you emulate the experience in an app really easily. https://vcvrack.com/ https://vcvrack.com/

lsaferite 4y ago

I recommend checking out Pigments https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/pigments/overview https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/pigmen...

SV_BubbleTime 4y ago

Be on vacation. Synths will be there when you get back.

nonrandomstring 4y ago

Get into Pure Data.

bowsamic 4y ago
I think Max/MSP generally sounds better and is more fully featured out of the box
- nonrandomstring 4y ago
  > Max/MSP generally sounds better True, because Max comes with bandlimited oscillators and envelope generators ready to go. In Pd you need to build them yourself or import libraries. > and is more fully featured out of the box True. See above. A lot of things you'd make from scratch in Pd come in the standard namespace of Max. That said, there's nothing you can do in Max that you couldn't do in Pd is you're a decent DSP coder, and that low-level entry point is half the fun IMHO. Don't forget they were originally the same codebase. MSP is Miller's initials (For those who don't know Miller Puckette named it Max as homage to Max Matthews).