Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User is now available. Check out the video for details.
The book covers:
- The principles of synthesis and sound design, focusing on how to create the sound you want and the sound that is right for your music. These principles can be applied to any synthesizer.
- The building blocks of synthesis, looking at the elements of synthesis, the function of each element and its effect on the sound, and how each element interacts with the other elements.
- Synthesizer construction principles, focusing on the choices that are available from different oscillator and filter types, through to the audio path construction, the modulation that can be applied, and the implications of those choices in terms of flexibility, control, and sound.
If the video does not show, then go to noisesculpture.com/becoming-a-synthesizer-wizard or youtube.com/watch?v=McmLei_YgBc to see the video.
The book looks at subtractive (analog) synthesis, frequency and phase modulation, sample-based synthesis, and additive techniques. It makes extensive use of illustrations from four popular modular synthesizers—Zebra 2, KarmaFX Synth Modular, VAZ Modular, and SynthEdit. The book is also accompanied by a free downloadable synthesizer (in PC VSTi format) which illustrates further some of the sound design and synthesizer construction principles.
Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User is for people who are new to synthesis as well as for musicians who want to consolidate and expand their knowledge of the subject.
The book is also for anyone who wants to create (and perhaps sell) their own synthesizers. With SynthEdit (one of the featured synthesizers) you can create your own synthesizers. The free synthesizer accompanying the book was built with SynthEdit and you are walked through the construction of this synthesizer. In addition to the synthesizer itself, the underlying SynthEdit files are also available for download, so you can further develop your understanding.
If you want to take those first steps From Presets to Power User, or if you already know something about synthesis and you want to consolidate that knowledge and become a Synthesizer Wizard, then you can check out the book at noisesculpture.com/becoming-a-synthesizer-wizard.