Understanding Synthesis

$149 or 4 monthly payments of $45

Understanding Synthesis

Course
15 Lessons

Designed to help you learn the building blocks of synthesis so you can create patches and sounds that fit your taste and your music. After learning the basics, we'll learn to implement those basics and put them into practice by making patches together. We'll use a variety of synths so that you can see how these common techniques translate to whatever synths (VSTs included) you might have in your arsenal.

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This course is for you if you’d like to:

Stop relying on presets and learn how to craft your own unique sounds
Reduce G.A.S. by learning to get the most out of synths you ALREADY HAVE
Become familiar with basic terminology, architecture, and subtractive synthesis techniques through ACTUALLY MAKING PATCHES with me in a hands on, step-by-step process
Learn how to implement the broader concepts in specific ways which you can then use to create your own sounds to your own individual taste
Walk through how I make patches on the Moog Matriarch, so you can see how these concepts are implemented on a physical hardware synth (where it’s easier to understand if you’re a more visual learner)
Learn to apply these techniques to VSTs or any synth you might already have in your arsenal
Get an introduction to the world of MODULAR SYNTHESIS and patching with the Moog Matriarch (a semi-modular synth)
Have direct, PRIORITY ACCESS to me if you have questions about synthesis, and be part of a growing community of other students enrolled in the course

Not for you if:

You are already a synth/sound design wizard
You are cool with just using presets
You hate synthesizers - what are you doing here anyway??

Here's what enrollees are saying:

I’ve really enjoyed this course, as it offers a structured yet relaxed approach to synthesis that takes the student from beginner concepts to pretty deep synthesis techniques in an easy to follow format. Rather than show the student how to use one particular synthesizer, universal concepts are demonstrated, allowing one to apply these lessons to any free virtual instrument on the computer or to a more complex modular setup. The progression feels natural, and I’ve been more inspired to incorporate so many new ways of thinking when it comes to patch design.

Justin K.

This (course update), along with all the vastly expansive updates that we're already enjoying here, is greatly appreciated, Jameson!! None of this surprises me given the expansive & exploratory nature of both your YouTube videos & the music that you compose & produce. So, while it doesn't come as a surprise, it is indeed quite pleasant, quite exciting, most generous &, again, greatly appreciated.

Rocco H.

I have an Iridium and I was also struggling with the harsh sounds of wavetables - this is super useful in understanding wavetables and obviously the Iridium interpretation. I actually spent a bunch of time searching YouTube for a decent tutorial, not realizing you had one as part of this course! Thank you!

Jon S.

Welcome and Introduction

Welcome! In this course, we will learn about the building blocks of subtractive synthesis, and more importantly, how we can use those building blocks to explore and create sounds that fit our own personal taste and music.

Subtractive Synthesis - Introduction and Welcome

Preview

Module 1: TERMINOLOGY AND WORKFLOW

A comprehensive walkthrough of the building blocks of subtractive synthesis. Due to its easy to understand, visual layout, we'll be using the Moog Matriarch to demonstrate the basics and how we can use them to make better patches. I've also added a deeper explanation of Envelopes since that was a specific request made by several current enrollees.

Module 1 - Subtractive Synthesis Terminology and Workflow.mov

Preview

SUBTRACTIVE SYNTHESIS_ Terminology, Signal Flow, and Architechture.pdf

Module 1 (Supplement) - More about Envelopes.mov

Module 2: MONOPHONIC PATCH WITH MATRIARCH

A hands-on look at making our first patches on the Moog Matriarch. If you don't have a Matriarch, don't worry. I use this synth because everything is laid out in an easy-to-understand way on the front panel. These techniques can be transferred to any subtractive synth.

Module 2 - Monophonic Patch with Matriarch.mov

Paraphonic vs. Polyphonic

Mod 3: POLYPHONIC PATCH WITH PROPHET 6

In this module, we explore patching with the polyphonic classic, the Sequential Prophet 6. We'll take a look at some classic 80s-esque patches, as well as more experimental sounds with the Prophet's FM-based Polymod feature.

Module 3 - Polyphonic Patches with Prophet 6.mov

Mod 4: AN INTRODUCTION TO MODULAR SYNTHESIS (MATRIARCH)

Here, we start to discover the power of modular synthesis using the Matriarch once again. Since it's a semi-modular synth, we can explore new sounds and concepts not possible in synths with a fixed architecture.

Module 4 - Getting Modular with Matriarch.mov

Making a Generative Ambient patch with the Matriarch

Mod 5: USING WHAT WE'VE LEARNED WITH VITAL (FREE VST)

Here, we'll apply everything we've learned on the hardware synths to a great, FREE software synth - Vital. We'll learn this synth together, and it'll be a breeze because we have already learned about the tools and building blocks of subtractive synthesis and modular synthesis in the previous modules of this course. We'll also talk a bit about wavetables and the possibilities digital synths can present (to be further explored in Module 7).

Module 5 - Translating the Basics to VSTs (Vital).mov

Mod 6: THE MODULATION MATRIX

An in-depth look at synthesizers with a modulation matrix, and how we can use it to create much more complex patches.

Module 6 - Exploring the Mod Matrix, pt. 1.mov

Module 6 - Exploring the Mod Matrix, pt. 2.mov

Mod Matrix Tip: Creating Happy Accidents

Mod 7: WAVETABLE SYNTHESIS

A more in-depth introduction and explanation of Wavetable Synthesis, including how to utilize them to their full potential and shape them to fit your music.

Module 7 - Wavetable Synthesis, pt. 1 (Iridium)

Module 7 - Wavetable Synthesis, pt. 2 (Pigments)

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

If you learn nothing from this course within the first 30 days, you get 100% of your money back. No questions asked, and no hard feelings.