Synthesis 101: Logic Retro Synth

Name: Synthesis 101: Logic Retro Synth
Rating: 4.5 (37 reviews)

Logic Retro Synth

Created byBen dudding

Last updated 3/2022

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Synthesis fundmentals
Electronic Music Production

Course content

6 sections • 30 lectures • 1h 57m total length

Welcome1:14
Chapter 1: Welcome
Hi everyone and welcome to Synthesis 101 with Logic Retro Synth.
In this course you will learn the principles behind the most common forms of synthesis.
Most of the content covered is transferable to other synthesizers so you’ll be a synth ninja before you know it!

If you are a beginner and are intimidated by all those knobs and controls on synthesizers,
or if you have been making music for a while but want to be able to move beyond the presets and create your own sounds then this is the course for you!
We look step by step at all the controls in retro synth and explain the fundamental concepts behind synthesis using visual animation so you can really understand what it is you are doing.
There’s also practical example patches demonstrating how you can design common types of sounds such as basses, leads and pads.
So are you ready?
Lets get into it!

What is sound?3:06
In this section we learn about fundamental audio concepts that we will be referring to throughout the course.
Harmonics3:00
In this section we learn about harmonics and the harmonic series. These are the component frequencies that make up any sound and that we can shape through synthesis.
Tour of the interface1:54
Tour the logic retro synth interface and its four synthesis methods—analog, sync, wavetable, and frequency modulation—showing how the interface adapts with each mode and supports beginner learning.

Building blocks of subtractive synthesis2:54
In this lecture you will learn about the fundamental building blocks of subtractive synthesis.
Oscillators6:11
Filters8:41
Explore retro synth filters, adjusting cutoff and resonance to sculpt harmonics; switch between low-pass, high-pass, and band-pass types, with envelope and LFO modulation shaping the tone.
amp and effects3:19
Reset to the default patch, blend two sawtooth oscillators with a sine level and low-pass filter, then shape flange and chorus effects using mix and rate controls.
envelopes8:37
LFO (low frequency oscillator)5:12
Vibrato2:05
Explore vibrato on the retro synth by adjusting the vibrator dial and lifo linked to oscillator pitch, using mode wheel and viper auto to shape modulation.
Oscillator Sync2:37
Global Settings4:25
Glide3:13
Discover glide in the retro synth: turn glide on to slide between pitches, adjust the time dial, and choose mono or legato modes while exploring portmanteau across oscillators.
Example: Sequence Bass3:36
Create a sequence bass using one oscillator with a square wave. Use an envelope to drive the filter cutoff and resonance for a fast attack and short decay.
Example: Wobble Bass5:00
Example: Sync Lead2:14
Explore a sync lead in Synthesis 101 by enabling oscillator sync, using legato mono voices and square waves, and shaping the tone with a filter envelope, glide, and delay.

Wavetable Theory1:42
Explore wavetable theory as a form of digital synthesis and how a wavetable is a series of single-cycle waveforms scanned to produce sounds, tracing origins to Wolfgang Palme's PPC wave.
Wavetable Oscillators3:16
Explore logic's wavetable oscillators in wave table mode, load factory wave tables—from vowel to glassy sounds—for an evolving pad, and detune oscillator 2 against oscillator 1 to thicken the chorus.
Modulating the Wavetable Shape2:55
Custom Wavetables3:04
In this lecture we learn to create our own custom wavetables from audio files.
Example: Motion Pad6:37
Explore creating an evolving paired sound with wave table synthesis, starting from organ waves and tuning. Adjust envelope, LIFO motion, and filter to shape a wide pad and add reverb.
Example: Vowel Lead3:58

FM Theory4:49
Explore frequency modulation synthesis (fm synthesis) and how modulating the frequency of one oscillator with another creates harmonics, from the D7's 1980s sounds to modern bass and harsh leads.
FM Operators7:01
Explore fm operators in synthesis by hearing the carrier and modulator, and how frequency modulation shapes the carrier. Adjust harmonic, inharmonic, and shape controls to create a palette of sounds.
FM Modulation4:34
Create motion in afm sounds by saving an initialized patch and using the lfo and filter envelope to modulate fm and the harmonic slider, with attack and decay shaping.
Example: Deep House Bass3:27
Learn to craft a spiky deep house bass using a simple envelope, modulating fm amount with the filter envelope, and configuring mono voice for a solid bass sound.
Example: FM Pad4:38
Demonstrates crafting a pad with a sine oscillator, fm modulation, and a filter envelope, using slow attack and decay, unison voices, chorus, and reverb for a lush evolving tone.
Example: Chiptune Lead2:37

Requirements

Description

This course is targeted at beginners and intermediate level students who want to make electronic music in Logic Pro.

It covers fundamental audio concepts and the building blocks of sound synthesis such as:

Amplitude
Frequency
Oscillators
Filters
Low Frequency Oscillators
Envelopes
Frequency Modulation

The software being used is Logic Pro X’s Retro Synth, but the underlying concepts are transferable to the majority of other software and hardware synthesizers on the market.
Retro synth is a great user friendly beginner synth to learn on as it has a simplified user interface and covers many different types of synthesis including:

Subtractive synthesis
Wavetable synthesis
FM (frequency Modulation) synthesis

This course is structured progressively, covering all the building blocks and different methods of synthesis commonly used.
Throughout the course there are animations demonstrating the concepts visually, so you can see as well hear the sound.

There are also example patches available to download that cover common types of sounds such as:

basses
leads
pads
sequences

This course is designed to be an in depth, comprehensive look at synthesis and on completion you will have all the basic knowledge required to kick start your own sound design journey.

So if you are ready to ditch the presets and learn how to create your own original sounds then this is the course for you!

Who this course is for:

Beginners and intermediate music producers

Synthesis 101: Logic Retro Synth

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Welcome1 lecture • 1min

Introduction to Synthesis3 lectures • 8min

Subtractive Synthesis13 lectures • 58min

Wavetable Synthesis6 lectures • 22min

FM Synthesis6 lectures • 27min

Outro1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: