Intro to Synthesis
About Course
This beginner-friendly course demystifies the world of synthesizers by introducing students to the building blocks of synthesis and how to apply them musically. Using accessible tools and hands-on projects, students will explore sound design techniques across subtractive, wavetable, and digital synths, learning to create leads, basses, pads, effects, and more. Whether you’re producing beats, scoring, or DJing, this class provides the essential knowledge and creative skills to confidently build your own sounds.
Topics
- Synth Components and Signal Flow
- Identify oscillators, filters, envelopes, LFOs, and trace audio from oscillator to output.
- Subtractive Synthesis Basics
- Shape tone with filter types, cutoff and resonance, and series vs parallel paths.
- Wavetable Synthesis Basics
- Scan wavetables, route modulation, and create or import custom tables.
- Modulation and Movement
- Animate sound using LFOs, envelopes, rates, random sources, and audio-rate ideas for AM and FM.
- Macros, MPE, and Performance Control
- Map macros, velocity, aftertouch, and controllers for expressive play.
- Effects and Sound Enhancement
- Build creative chains with reverb, delay, saturation, EQ, and modulation FX.
- Classic Patch Design and Reverse Engineering
- Rebuild reference sounds like Juno-style pads, Moog-style basses, supersaws, and 303 acid.
- Instrument Emulation
- Imitate plucks, bells, brass, and EP tones with envelopes, filtering, and subtle modulation.
Goals
- Build a personal patch library of 3–5 original presets that cover at least two categories such as lead, bass, pad, or FX.
- Design one animated patch that uses two or more modulation sources with at least one tempo-synced movement.
- Recreate two classic sounds from references and document oscillator shapes, envelopes, filters, and FX choices.
- Produce a 16–32 bar loop or short composition that showcases your sonic identity using only self-made patches.
- Transform a dry patch into three FX variations (ambient, aggressive, rhythmic) using three or more processors per chain.
- Present a final patch walkthrough that demonstrates mapped macros or mod wheel and explains design decisions.