The Synthesizer


Book Description

Electronic music instruments weren't called synthesizers until the 1950s, but their lineage began in 1919 with Russian inventor Lev Sergeyevich Termen's development of the Etherphone, now known as the Theremin. From that point, synthesizers have undergone a remarkable evolution from prohibitively large mid-century models confined to university laboratories to the development of musical synthesis software that runs on tablet computers and portable media devices. Throughout its history, the synthesizer has always been at the forefront of technology for the arts. In The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument, veteran music technology journalist, educator, and performer Mark Vail tells the complete story of the synthesizer: the origins of the many forms the instrument takes; crucial advancements in sound generation, musical control, and composition made with instruments that may have become best sellers or gone entirely unnoticed; and the basics and intricacies of acoustics and synthesized sound. Vail also describes how to successfully select, program, and play a synthesizer; what alternative controllers exist for creating electronic music; and how to stay focused and productive when faced with a room full of instruments. This one-stop reference guide on all things synthesizer also offers tips on encouraging creativity, layering sounds, performance, composing and recording for film and television, and much more.







The Complete Synthesizer


Book Description

Discusses the fundamental principles of electronic music, supplies clear instructions on how to operate an electronic synthesizer, and surveys the various types of synthesizers and accessory equipment




Synthesizer Basics


Book Description

Here is the fundamental knowledge and information that a beginning or intermediate electronic musician must have to understand and play today's keyboard synthesizers. This basic primer, newly updated from the classic original edition, offers step-by-step explanations and practical advice on what a synthesizer is, the basic concepts and components, and the latest technical developments and applications. Written by Bob Moog, Roger Powell, Steve Porcaro (of Toto), Tom Rhea, and other well-known experts, Synthesizer Basics is the first, and still the best, introduction available today.




How to Make a Noise


Book Description

How To Make A Noise: a Comprehensive Guide to Synthesizer Programming is perhaps the most widely ready book about synthesizer sound programming. It is a comprehensive, practical guide to sound design and synthesizer programming techniques using: subtractive (analog) synthesis; frequency modulation synthesis (including phase modulation and ring modulation); additive synthesis; wave-sequencing; sample-based synthesis.




Analog Synthesizers


Book Description

In this book, the technical explanation of the nature of analog sound creation is followed by the story of its birth and its subsequent development by various designers, manufacturers and performers. The individual components of analog sound creation are then examined in detail, with step by step examples of sound creation techniques. Then the modern imitative analog instruments are examined, again with detailed instructions for programming and using them, and the book is completed with appendices listing the major instrument lines available, hints on values and purchasing, other sources of information, and a discography of readily available recordings which give good examples of analog sound synthesis. The CD which accompanies the book gives many examples of analog sound creation basics as well as more advanced techniques, and of the abilities of the individual instruments associated with classical and with imitative analog sound synthesis.




Frequency Synthesizers


Book Description

The landmark text on frequency synthesizers-now in paperback Frequency Synthesizers: Theory and Design, Third Edition is the newest edition of Vadim Manassewitsch's definitive treatment of the subject. Updated to include the latest achievements in the performance of crystal-controlled oscillators, the design theory of fast-switching-time synthesizers, and an example of their practical applications, the book continues to be a complete guide for everyone who works with synthesizers. Intended to formulate basic design principles and to demonstrate design procedures meeting several stringent requirements simultaneously, its emphasis is on high-speed synthesis and its new applications in radar, spread spectrum communications, automatic test equipment, and nuclear magnetic resources. Manassewitsch describes numerous approaches to ultra-stable signal sources generating spectrally pure signals of high accuracy, and shows how various building blocks such as mixers, oscillators, and frequency multipliers and dividers are used in frequency synthesis. To meet the needs of engineers in this rapidly growing field, Manassewitsch has added several novel frequency synthesis techniques, developed the principles of high-speed synthesis, and described new synthesizers using important design approaches. A summary of the most recent developments in frequency generation and control, the book is firmly based on the realities of current design practices in the United States as well as abroad. With an intermodulation products chart among its figures, a computer program that calculates the frequencies of mixer intermodulation products among its appendices, and a bibliography of more than 190 references, Frequency Synthesizers: Theory and Design continues to be an invaluable aid for engineers, managers, instructors, and students.




Korg Volca Modular - The Expert Guide


Book Description

Korg Volca Modular - The Expert Guide is a goldmine of patches, tutorials, information and inspiration. World-renowned Volca expert Tony Horgan unravels the mysteries of the Volca Modular with mind-blowing patches, clear concept visuals and straight-talking text. Across more than 200 pages, every patch point, module, button and feature is explored and explained in detail, with the help of over 60 patches for you to recreate and adapt yourself. Learn how to create musical sounds, sound effects, drones, rhythms, process other instruments with the Volca Modular reverb effect, pass another instrument through the Volca Modular, control the Volca Modular from other instruments, create random self-generating sounds, connect to audio devices, add swing effects, master the sequencer, transpose patterns, play in different scales and so much more. 218 Pages, 61 patches Contents 01 About this book * About the author, ways to make contact 02 About the Volca Modular * About the Volca Modular * Patch cables * Front panel patch point inputs and outputs * Front panel connecting lines * What is CV (Control Voltage)? 03 Patches and sounds * Talking Droid * Space Out Feedback Loop * Correct Answer * Low Frequency Sweep * Buzz Bass * Automatic Bassline * Automatic Player * Tuned Kick Bass * Brain 04 Quick-start guides * Tips and hacks * Make a "patch" * Select and play a pattern * Select and play a pattern chain * Keyboard notes * Record a pattern * Save a pattern * Record a motion sequence * Synchronise timing with other Volcas * Connect to audio devices 05 Source * About the Source module * Source Pitch Input * Trampoline Bounce - Source Pitch Input example * Source Ratio Input * 2-Tone Hooter - Source Ratio Input example * Source Fold Input * Throb - Source Fold Input example * Source Mod Input * Space Oboe - Source Mod Input example 1 * Simple Drone - Source Mod Input example 2 * Source Modulator Wave Output * Sub-bass - Source Modulator Wave Output example * Source Carrier Output * Throat Singing - Source Carrier Output example 06 Functions * About the Functions * Function 1: Attack, Hold, Release generator * Function 1 Gate Input * Self-generating Random Gate - Function 1 Gate Input example * Function 1 Attack Input * Function 1 Release Input * Function 1 Positive Output * Brass Bugle - Function 1 Positive Output example * Function 1 Inverted Output * Slow, Fast, Slow - Function 1 Inverted Output example * Function 1 End Trigger Output * Bounce Back - Function 1 End Trigger Output example * Function 2: Rise, Fall generator * Function 2: Rise, Fall generator "LFO" * Function 2 Trigger Input * Function 2 Shape Input * Release Shape-Shifter - Function 2 Shape Input example * Function 2 Time Input * Alien Visit - Function 2 Time Input example * Function 2 Positive Output * Metallic Bounce - Function 2 Positive Output example * Function 2 Inverted Output * Function 2 End Trigger Output * Computer Processing - Function 2 End Trigger Output example 07 Clock / Sequences * Clock and Sequences * Slow, Faster, Slower - Clock Offset Input example * Sequences 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 Gate Output * Accents and Polyrhythms - Sequences 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 Gate Output example * Sequences Gate Output * Sequences Gate Output example * Sequences Pitch Output * Reverb On High Notes - Sequences Pitch Output example * Portamento - Sequences Pitch Output example 2 08 Dual LPG * Dual LPG explained * LPG 1 Signal Input * Easy sub-bass - LPG 1 Signal Input example * LPG 1 Level Input * Amplitude Modulation - LPG 1 Level Input example * LPG 1 Signal Output * Pitch Explosion - LPG 1 Signal Output example * Play It Louder - LPG 1 Signal Output example 2 * LPG 2 Signal Input * Organ Bass - LPG 2 Signal Input example * LPG 2 Level Input * Time Machine - LPG 2 Level Input example * LPG 2 Signal Output * Fuzz Bass - LPG 2 Signal Output example * Cutoff 09 Split * About the Split module * Split Input 1 / Output 1-A, Output 1-B * Split Input 2 / Output 2-A, Output 2-B * Power Station - Split example * Split mixer * Lift Off - Split mixer example * Lift Off (Extra Bass) - Split mixer example 10 Utility a, b, c * Utility a, b, c * Signal Input a * Signal Input b * Signal Input c * c knob * Intensity Control - c knob example * Volume Fluctuation - Utility a, b, c example * a+bxc Output * Self-generating Sound - a+bxc Output example 1 * Basic Wave Mixer - a+bxc Output example 2 * a-bxc Output * Pulse Width Modulation - a-bxc Output example 1 * If I Was A Pitch Man - a-bxc Output example 2 11 Woggle * About the Woggle * Woggle Sample Input * Video Game Jump - Woggle Sample Input example * Noisy Reverb - Woggle Sample Output example * Woggle Trigger Input * Simple 4th Note Trigger - Woggle Trigger Input * Woggle Stepped Output * Random Release - Woggle Stepped Output example * Woggle Smooth Output * Space Bee - Woggle Smooth Output example 12 Space Out, Microtune * About the Space Out module * Space Out Signal Input * Add reverb to an external sound source * Carrier Wave Always Audible - Space Out Signal Input example * Space Out Amount knob * Space Out Amount Input * Dry / Wet Foghorn - Space Out Amount Input example * Space Out Signal Output * Rocket Explode - Space Out Signal Output example * Microtune 13 CV In, Gate In, Sync * CV Input, Gate Input * Using CV and Gate to play notes * Calibrating (tuning) the CV Input * CV Output 1 * CV Output 2 * CV Input mixer example * Sync In / Out * Sync connections * Receive swing from another Volca * Sync problems 14 Volume, audio out, headphones * Volume * Headphones Output (audio output) 15 Buttons * Play, Active Step * Record (live recording) * Step Record * Memory, Write * Func 16 Keyboard * About the keyboard * Scale * Tonic * Microtuning * Microtuning keys * Octave keys * Randomize keys * Gate * Sequencer mode: Bounce * Sequence mode: Stoch. * Motion sequence keys * Clear keys 17 Power * Power options 18 Global parameters * Global parameters * System update (firmware update) 19 Module circuit diagrams * Source circuit diagram * Clock / Sequences circuit diagram * Functions circuit diagram * Split circuit diagram * LGP circuit diagram * Utility a, b, c circuit diagram * Woggle circuit diagram * Space Out circuit diagram




The Fundamentals of Synthesizer Programming


Book Description

The Fundamentals of Synthesizer Programming provides an introduction on how to program a synthesizer for creating music in the studio and on stage. Used as a textbook for the introductory electronic music course at the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University, it covers the components and controls, of both hardware and software synthesizers, that are used to create a patch on a typical synth. Concepts are explained thoroughly with block diagramming, and practical examples are given with Reason Studio's Subtractor and a Moog Voyager.