Synth School Synth Tutorials and Free VSTs

"Synth School is an online school for teaching the secrets of sound synthesis. It's goal is provide the best solutions for learning sound synthesis and digital music production. Synth School's teachers are all experts in their own fields, using innovative tutoring techniques that provide the students with maximum practical impact."

Free VSTs current include a free ARP Odyssey emulator and eFemme a 4 operator FM/PM (Frequency modulation / phase modulation) synthesizer, both made with SynthMaker.

The following are the first four videos from the SynthSchool YouTube channel.


Overtones, harmonics and Additive synthesis

YouTube via SynthSchool — March 30, 2010 —

"Overtones are the basic building block of sound. Come and learn how to construct sounds at http://www.synthschool.com

This video is about additive synthesis, and how sounds can be constructed by pure sine waves. If you are a musician or sound engineer, this video is a must for you!

On our site there is also a download for the harmonic explorer, which is the device used to create this video. so you can explore for yourself!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

SDIY L.A. April 2010 Tag Team Patch

YouTube via bigcitymusic — April 05, 2010 — "Here we are at the synth meet this weekend in L.A. This is our friend DK's massive modular system. Here's a little tagteam patch we did."

sonic wire sculptor composition 1

YouTube via organofqwerty — April 05, 2010 — "created on my iphone with sonic wire sculptor."

sonic wire sculptor on iTunes:

Rick Melick and Tom Brislin on the VAX77

YouTube via InfiniteResponse — April 05, 2010 — "Rick Melick (legendary keyboardist whose career spans three decades) and Tom Brislin (Yes, Meatloaf Reunion Tour) show their stuff on the VAX77 made by Infinite Response"

Vektron modular

Vektron modular from Niklas Roy on Vimeo.

"A presentation of a modular, algorithmic synthesizer.
The device plays compositions which are stored on microcontroller modules. The modules in this presentation are based on the Atmega family and are programmed in GCC (Arduino) and Bascom. In general, the synthesizer can work with any other TTL Microcontroller as PIC, Propeller or even ones which don't exist yet, as the computation happens on the module and the Vektron itself only provides the peripherals."

See niklasroy.com for hi-res pics and more. follow-up to this post.

NOISE-O-BOT standalone

YouTube via lastkidontheblock — April 04, 2010

via this auction

"The NOISE-O-BOT features 2 LFOs and 2 oscillator. The oscillator can be controlled by light. The LFOs can modulate the oscillators. You can choose between the LFOs and a external voltage."

Korg Sigma Modifications

"Sigma is an extremely interesting synthesizer. Essentially a preset monophonic synth, it offers many of the same features as other preset monosynths - a 3 octave keyboard with aftertouch sensitivity, a range of preset sounds (19 in Sigma's case) and various performance controls.

Unlike other preset monosynths, however, it does not feature a single VCO-VCF-VCA signal path with a diode matrix or diode and resistor matrix to select the preset sounds."


via Richard Atkinson's blog here where you'll find the full details.
via Richard Atkinson in the comments of this post.

Korg Sigma

YouTube via ikworgek — December 28, 2008 — "Korg Sigma with a Kenton pro-solo. Weird old Korg synth with nice filter (same as MS20) and ringmodulation"

Suzuki sx 500 / Siel EX-80

YouTube via ikworgek — March 15, 2009 — "A litlle demo of my Suzuki SX-500. All parameters are accesible by Midi CC!
Nice synth wich is the same as the Siel EX-80.
You can open it up and screw around with the potmeters to make it sound more aggressive. In this case the resonance is adjusted by me.
Midicontroller used is a Kenton Spindocter but any midicontroller wil do. Sequenser is a Mam SQ16.
You hear only the Suzuki with a litlle delay.

enjoy!"

casio HT 3000

YouTube via ikworgek — April 19, 2009 —

"Casio HT-3000 keyboard/ synthesizer for synthsounds.
drums are from the soundmaster styx ST-305 synced by a Kenton pro-solo. Sequenser is the Mam SQ-16."