Demystifying Audio Synthesis: The Basics

Learn how synthesis actually works, how to sculpt sound with filters and envelopes, and how to craft your own synth patches, including leads, pads, drums, and bass.

Introduction

• Learning synthesis

1. Tone Generation

• Synth concepts are a universal language
• It all starts with the sine wave
• Building complex tones with additive synthesis
• Working with oscillators

2. Shaping Your Sound

• Exploring filters
• Sculpting sound with envelopes
• Combining envelopes with filters
• Enriching with low-frequency oscillators (LFOs)
• Frequency modulation

3. Making New Sounds

• Tutorial: Making a synth lead
• Tutorial: Making a rich pad
• Tutorial: Making a drum sound
• Tutorial: Making a synth bass

Conclusion

• Next steps