Learning Synthesis (For Beginners)

In this lesson you will learn about the function of an oscillator and how it generates sound. There are 4 basic waveforms generated which are sine, sawtooth, square and triangle. Everything else is a variation of these waveforms.

Understanding both additive and subtractive synthesis is essential for progressing through this course and for grasping synthesis as a whole. Fortunately, this is a straightforward topic just like waveforms, additive and subtractive synthesis are fundamental building blocks when it comes to programming a synthesiser.

Filters on a synth do exactly what the name suggests—they filter out parts of the sound. The most common types are low-pass and high-pass filters. A low-pass filter allows only the low frequencies to pass through, cutting out the highs, while a high-pass filter does the opposite, letting the highs through and removing the lows. Filters are crucial in shaping the tone of your patch, especially in trance, where modulating the cutoff can add movement, energy, and life to the sound.

The modulation matrix is always seen as the no go zone, the land of confusion. Here in this lesson I will show you exactly what the modulation matrix is and how to use it. Modulation is the process of automating a parameter within the synth to further design sound. Such as using an LFO to move the panning left to right.

It's not as scary as you think.

The envelope, to put it simply, is a shaper of sound over time. Commonly known as ADSR, standing for Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release. Attack controls how fast the sound begins, Decay sets how quickly it drops, Sustain holds the level, and Release fades it out when the key is lifted.

The humble LFO stands for "Low Frequency Oscillator" and you may think these are extra oscillators but they do not generate sound but actually use the shape to modulate parameters within the synth. Such as using an LFO on panning to modulated the sound left and right.

LFO's are typically the same shapes as the oscillators, Sine, Sawtooth, Square and Triangle. But more modern synth have other shapes and some let you create you own shapes.

This final lesson our walkthrough the basics of a synth covers the effects and a few other details you will need to know as a beginner.

The effects are last in the chain of sound design and help shape the sound further and or create finishing touches to a sound. You have the usual suspects in there such are delay, reverb, distortion etc. This lesson explorers what is available in the free synth Vital.

Learn how to build a simple trance bass preset using the techniques you've picked up throughout this course. The final preset is also available to download, perfect for reverse engineering if you prefer a more hands on approach.

Learn how to build a simple trance lead preset using the techniques you've picked up throughout this course. The final preset is also available to download, perfect for reverse engineering if you prefer a more hands on approach.

Learn how to build a simple trance pad preset using the techniques you've picked up throughout this course. The final preset is also available to download, perfect for reverse engineering if you prefer a more hands on approach.

Learn how to build a simple trance pluck preset using the techniques you've picked up throughout this course. The final preset is also available to download, perfect for reverse engineering if you prefer a more hands on approach.

Learn how to build a simple trance effect preset using the techniques you've picked up throughout this course. The final preset is also available to download, perfect for reverse engineering if you prefer a more hands on approach.