The Rules of Production: Use Presets, Modify Presets, Sample and Create.

1. The best way to create music is to use other people's preset sounds.

2. Change them up. If they aren't quite right, you can try modifying them.

3. Borrow and sample. If you like a sound on someone else's music you should sample it!! Create a new music from old.

4. Add effects. Effects put a new spin on any sound instantly.

5. Demo presets against other peoples music. This is a time saver. You can tell if the sound has enough energy, style, etc. to make your final track. You can also tell if you need to adjust the effects (eq, reverb, panning, compression).

Its nice to know how sound works, however, thats not necessary to know in order to make music. Learning your synth in its entirety is a long process. Lots of artists haven't explored what their hardware is capable of, but its also not necessary.

Korg Monotribe Cake (Pic)

Nom Nom!

Video: Analogue Solutions Vostok by Arthur Joly

Listen to this modular jam! "That's so heavy it should be ilegal!"

On Vimeo

 

Roland V-Synth Tip: 2x The Number of Cosm Filters

Using the direct outputs (not the main) on the V-synth, you can bring the sound back into itself and filter it again with 2 more COSM filters. This method uses a second layer as a gate which finally passes it to the multiFX.

1. Connect your direct ouputs to your L & R inputs.
2. Have a sound source on Layer Split 1. Set the output to Direct Out in the EFX setup tab.
3. In layer 2, turn on OSC 1
4. Change the oscillator to EXT audio input.
5. Play Layer 1 and 2. The second layer will gate the first.
6. Turn on COSM filters for layer two and go wild. Make sure the second layer is passing effects to the multiFX block.

You now have a patch with 4 COSM filters! You could also pipe your main output into the a second layer, which diverts audio into the direct outs if you want to gate reverb or the master effects. BE CAREFUL OF FEEDBACK. If you don't think things through, the audio will go through an infinite loop.

Sega FM Drive YM2612 Synth

Youtube user Aly James is working on a VSTI for windows that emulates the Sega Genesis sound chip. So far it looks really fun and the sound is very good.

Exploitive Products & Synthesizer Electronic Waste

You are a giant nerd. You can get any analog monosynth for 599, shipped to your home. What are you really thinking when buying it? You've been tricked by marketing. Avoid "exploitive products" where marketing trumps the actual uses of the product. It used to be that you could get something that produces an entire song, for cheap, and thats barely true today. Many instruments being sold are not enough to make a full song. You have to think about what you are buying and why now more than ever.

The Korg MS-20 is definitely a toy, an electronic buzzer. If you wanted one you would have already purchased one on ebay ten years ago. The marketing and actual use of of the product doesn't meet the price considering today's computing power. The purpose of the product is to exploit nerds in the same way rebooted movie franchises. They aren't as good as the original and trap certain types of susceptible people and their money.

Anything "analog" from modern instrument producers is definitely a trap. High prices on vintage synths are an ebay trap. You are paying their fees and a jacked up price.

You have to remember you are buying an over glorified buzzer. Most likely nobody will want to listen to your amateur noise. There is no art in copying another persons sound or producing more crap people have already heard. Do you want to pay $600 for "music" no one will listen to? What are you aspiring to be? Modern instruments are a better choice, and nothing analog today could be considered modern. The computer is a much better choice, especially for new creators.

Today's synthesizers are made in China for cheap and failing components will make the entire thing become garbage. They won't last as long as the originals made in the 70s, 80s, or 90s. The environment is taking a hit. You are part of the chain if you buy products from companies that are trying to exploit you.

Please be aware of people in china and the environment etc when you order an instrument. It should be something designed to last forever and give you infinite use. Cheap goods, even with a high price, will never satisfy you totally. It just might be that you are deriving little musical value from the instrument and everyone is paying a high price. Don't let the companies take advantage of you. When it comes to synths, stay digital, save the environment, and save your money. Don't be susceptible to the nerd economy.

Please re-use your stuff! Trade and find new uses for old things. Don't pay too much. No need to buy new.

My Favorite Free Channel Plugin for Mac: Channel 3

Channel 3 is a console channel sim. It does SSL, API, and NEVE. This plugin beefs up some the harmonic content and gives some overdrive to the sound. My favorite is the API setting with drive set to 60% It is for Mac. The GUI is very simple, but it sounds good. I will probably end up using it a lot.

Air Windows has lots of great free plugins!

This website has a whole list of free saturation plugins for mac and windows.