Analog Synthesis Primer

Started by Elantric, June 28, 2012, 11:01:00 AM

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Elantric

Quote3.1 Before the synthesizer
The use of electronics for audio started with the invention of the telephone in the last part of the nineteenth century. Before this, microphones were very insensitive and produced lots of distortion, and loudspeakers were very quiet! Since then electronics has developed enormously  . . .
Log in and Download the attached PDF for a good primer course on Analog Synthesis by Martin Russ
This is a MUST Read for most folks here.

arkieboy

... just a note that while modular synthesisers had a box called an 'envelope generator' and you could plug it into absolutely anything with a control voltage input, Roland usually hardwire their filters and amplifiers each to a dedicated envelope generator, and then call them different things.  Roland usually uses 'Time Variant Amplifier' (TVA) for the amplifier instead of VCA and 'Time Variant Filter' (TVF) for the filter amplifier. 


If you have any questions about how to translate this document - or Gordon Reid's 'Synth Secrets' series on the Sound on Sound website - into GR55 speak, or indeed any of the other many synthesisers you might plug into - post a question to this topic and well try to keep a glossary going.


Steve
Main rig: Barden Hexacaster and Brian Moore i2.13 controllers
Boss SY1000/Boss GKC-AD/Boss GM-800/Laney LFR112

Other relevant gear: Line 6 Helix LT, Roland GR-33, Axon AX100 MkII
Oberheim Matrix 6R, Supernova IIR, EMu E5000, Apple Mainstage, Apple Logic, MOTU M4

Elantric

#2
Excellent !

QuoteRoland usually uses 'Time Variant Amplifier' (TVA) for the amplifier instead of VCA and 'Time Variant Filter' (TVF) for the filter amplifier.

If you have any questions about how to translate this document - or Gordon Reid's 'Synth Secrets' series on the Sound on Sound website - into GR55 speak, or indeed any of the other many synthesisers you might plug into - post

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

arkieboy

Just noticed this.  Probably of more interest to GR owners than VG owners ... pricy but might prove useful to those who find a multimedia approach easier to digest than traditional prose/diagrams


http://www.timespace.com/product/SOSS-100/3/9999916/rob_papen_the_secrets_of_subtractive_synthesis_(book_&_dvds).html


Steve
Main rig: Barden Hexacaster and Brian Moore i2.13 controllers
Boss SY1000/Boss GKC-AD/Boss GM-800/Laney LFR112

Other relevant gear: Line 6 Helix LT, Roland GR-33, Axon AX100 MkII
Oberheim Matrix 6R, Supernova IIR, EMu E5000, Apple Mainstage, Apple Logic, MOTU M4

Elantric


Elantric

#5


http://www.matrixsynth.com/2012/01/intro-to-synthesis-part-1-building.html

QuoteNew York School of Synthesis - Intro to Synthesis
Intro to Synthesis Part 1 - The Building Blocks of Sound & Synthesis

YouTube Uploaded by matrixsynth on Jan 4, 2012

Dean Friedman of New York School of Synthesis back in the day. This is a great intro to sound & synthesis. Parts 2 below and Part 3 will follow.

I want to thank Dean Friedman for giving me the permission to put these up and swissdoc for sending them.
Dean Friedman on Wikipedia -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Friedman

be sure to see his full bio for his musical accomplishments. The following is just a portion pertaining to his book on synthesis, the "New York School of Synthesis", and this video:

"In 1985, Friedman produced a seminal work on the newly emerging synthesizer industry called Complete Guide to Synthesizers, Sequencers, and Drum Machines. Whilst dated, this tome is still of use in evaluating devices that crop up on the second-hand market. Friedman also set up the "New York School of Synthesis" and provided a series of videos entitled "Intro to Synthesis". Friedman presents the rudiments of this topic in an audio-visual format, whilst incorporating a unique sense of humor." Note the videos must be from 1988 or later as they reference the Korg M1. Thanks goes to Caixa in the comments for catching this.

You can find Dean's website here: http://www.deanfriedman.com/

Synth Trivia: At the end of the video the credits mention the synths were provided by The Music Connection in Happinger Falls, N.Y. I did a quick search on them and nothing came up.


Note: I added a link to this post in both the Synth Books and Synth Movies sections. There's actually two copies of Complete Guide to Synthesizers, Sequencers, and Drum Machines on Amazon [link] at the time of this post.


http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Synthesizers-Sequencers-Machines/dp/082562410X/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=matrixsynth-20&linkCode=ur2&qid=1325840967&camp=1789&sr=8-1&creative=9325






rolandvg99

#6
These books from Simon Cann are great for figuring how to program the synths of the GP-10, VG-99 or similar.


http://noisesculpture.com/how-to-make-a-noise
To V or not to V: That is the question.

My little Soundcloud corner

guitarno

Thanks for posting this link!  ;D I need to get better educated in synthesis skills to take advantage of the features in the GP-10 and other synths. Definitely not my strong suit  -Yet
8)
Suhr Classic Pro SSS, PRS Hollowbody II Piezo, Breedlove Oregon Concerto E, Fractal FM3, Mesa Boogie LoneStar Special


Elantric

#9
Jeff Baxter

Talks about Frequency spectrum, Synths, Music Scales, Steely / Doobie Studio talk,  - with Boss SY-300

Elantric


admin

Avatar wrote>
https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=16392.msg132639#msg132639

I learned synth programming on an ARP Odyssey and an ARP Avatar ( the same animal ).
People having trouble with the SY 300 , need to learn how to creat a sound from its basic form.
I recommend the book that helped me learn. It's called " Learning Music with Synthesizers"
By David Friend. The book is out of print , BUT ! You can download it for Free on a .pdf

The Actual scanned book ( Which  I prefer  )

Scanned Book pdf

http://thesnowfields.com/manuals/LearnMusicWithSynths1974.pdf

Or

Typed  reproduction -

https://archive.org/stream/synthmanual_Learning_Music_With_Synthesizers/Learning_Music_With_Synthesizers_djvu.txt

You'll have to put your thinking caps on guys and really LEARN.
( not just turn knobs ) as we guitarists are used to.

Elantric



SECRETS OF ANALOG AND DIGITAL SYNTHESIS | Steve DiFuria | VHS instructional course | 1985

https://youtu.be/tivES-sjHc4?list=PLOZFmHAvUT6dhsk8m83ycIeS4FlptBpoA



tbeltrans

Somebody in one of these threads was kind enough to mention this site:

   www.syntorial.com

I just purchased the software yesterday and downloaded the Cakewalk Z3TA+2 add-on tutorial set which applies everything learned in the main course of 199 lessons to this software synth.  So far, this package looks quite good.  It is interactive, using its own VST synth to do the lesson programming "challenges" on.  The idea in this course is lesson on the science behind synthesis, and instead focusing on how to get what you want to hear from a synthesizer.

You purchase the Syntorial software, and then there are several choices of add-on packages at no extra charge.  You can load as many as you want.  I only have the Z3TA+2, so that is all I downloaded, but they have Sylen1, Massive, and then the Moog Voyager.  the site says the author is planning to add more, but I can't speak to that other than to say that you can email and ask him for an add-on for a specific synth.  He does seem to reply in a timely manner.

I must say that these forums have been a wealth of information for me.  I learned about the RMC filter board for my GR-55.  I was able to read all about the SY-300, which impressed me enough to run over to Guitar Center and grab one. :)  You guys should get a commission!  Now I am interested in learning how to really program the SY-300 and of course, the Z3TA+2.

Edit: I almost forgot that it was in these forums that I learned about the upcoming Mooer Ocean Machine, which I have pre-ordered.

Tony







chrish

#19
https://rhordijk.home.xs4all.nl/G2Pages/HrmDistortion.htm#HrmDistortion_5617_999845

Harmonic distortion
Introduction

"The purpose of harmonic distortion is to generate new partials from an existing audio signal and add those partials to the original sound. If these partials are harmonic to the partials in the original sound they will blend with the original sound and subtly change the timbre. The effect of harmonic distortion is different to the effect of filters, as filters tend to take away and emphasize existing aspects of a sound while harmonic distortion can create and add new aspects to a sound. ...."

"VCA-based harmonic distortion element
The element that is to be described here can emulate both germanium diodes and tape saturation. The idea is to create a gain cell that, when no input is applied, is at exactly unity gain. Then, when the amplitude of the waveform at the input increases, the gain cell will reduce amplification with an approximately logarithmic curve..."


Applied to modular synth circuit:

https://llllllll.co/t/overdrive-everything-overdrive-distortion-fuzz-etc/10573/122

"Basically you mult a signal to both inputs of a ring modulator to double its frequency, and then use that product to apply negative amplitude modulation to the original signal. There are so many ways to play with the tone and it sounds absolutely lovely. Really nice for delay feedback too given its self-limiting behavior."