Recommended Reading For Patch Programming?

[mrjason]

I'm a software developer by profession and would like to learn how to make interesting sounds through development of my own patches for a synth.. (i think..). From looking through the forums here it sounds like patches are a collection of settings for a synth sound..

I've been to a guitar center store or two and briefly clicked around in some of the higher-end nord or roland synths and seen some interesting logic diagrams with NOR gates and sine waves and the like, but I dont understand what any of the patch diagrams on the synths really mean.

I would like to purchase something like a Nord G2x, but I'd like to do my research beforehand to figure out if i'd be able to program that synth.

My musical setup at this point is apple's garageband and the m-audio 49e keystation midi controller. Garageband is fun to fiddle with, but I'd like to be able to do more and really make my own synth sounds & effects. I'd like to understand what reverb really is and what distortion is. I'd like to know what those little nor gates diagrams are, and I'd like to be able to make an informed decision on purchasing a synth.

Whats a good place to start in learning patch programming? Is it possible to program some of these synths with actual code on a computer? If not, is the UI of the synth pretty easy to pickup? Would you recommend another synth for a beginner?

[elektro80]

First of all, pick up the Clavia software demo of the G2 from http://www.clavia.se This is a software synth, basically intended to give you some ideas about how the real hardware synth behaves and what it can do.

This software app will help you to understand some of the basics.

Instead of hardware, you could settle for a software synth for now until you have really learned the basics. Then you will have a better idea about what you need and why.

[cebec]

Welcome, indeed.

I agree that the G2 software demo would be especially useful to learn the fundamentals of subtractive synthesis due to it's modularity, primarily.

If you just want to focus on learning subtractive synthesis (what analog and virtual analog style synths use), I might hold off on approaching the lower level languages like Csound, Processing, Chuck and Supercollider. But do research them as you might find that they make more sense to you or appeal to you more.

Here're some tutorials I found on subtractive synthesis:

http://www.computermusic.co.uk/tutorial/a_sforbeg/a_sforbeg.asp
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/2288/2ansynth.htm

There're some good books that are out-of-print for learning subtractive synthesis, but you can find much of what you'll need on the web.

You might consider picking up a used Nord Micro Modular and following along with this brilliant text, here:

http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~clark/nordmodularbook/nm_book_toc.html

I recommend an original Modular because it's not as easy as it looks to convert the tutorial patches (which can be downloaded when you click on each picture) to the G2 format. Still, this book is an invaluable resource.

Here's a link to Rob Hordijk's G2 Workshop page... While not as 'basic' as the above material, it's still critical to getting the most out of the G2, IMO, and reads like an extension or companion to the official manual.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~rhordijk/G2Pages/index.htm

However, last but not least, is the Sound On Sound (UK magazine) series 'Synth Secrets'. It's considered definitive, by many, and is oft-cited.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may99/articles/synthsec.htm

I hope this helps!

[Mohoyoho]

It's a soft synth, but a great one to learn on:

Arturia's Moog Modular V

The trouble with synths like the Nord Lead 2 is all the menus hide the signal and modulation paths. That makes learning subtractive synth tough. The Moog Mod V has everyhing out in front. And there is instant gratification.

[cebec]

[mrjason]

thanks for all of the suggestions! i'll definitely look into the soft synth version of the g2 and those primers to subtractive synth.

[klangumsetzer]

hi,

here is a nice and well written tutorial for programming patches on the access virus but applicable for most subtractive synthesizers: http://www.access-music.de/downloads.php4?product=viruskb (scroll down to or click documentation/virus programming tutorial).


best regards

eike
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[mrjason]

i'm having trouble figuring out how to make the G2 software demo actually make some sound.

i see a midi keyboard and an on-screen "virtual" keyboard, and i've tried to follow some of the basic toturials in hooking the midi keyboard into an oscilater and hooking that into an envelope and then hooking that into a "2-out" box, but i can't click the "run" button at the top of the software.

I'm having trouble figuring out what component i need to put in to make the virtual keyboard work, and then which component the output should go into to make sound come out of my sound card.

is there a way to do that? can someone point me to a simpler tutorial or make me a very basic starter patch with an oscillater, envelope, and amplifier in it that i can click on the 'virtual keyboard' and hear sound from?

[Kassen]

Remember there are some softsynths that get "patched" purely by writing code like ChucK or SuperCollider. There are also extentions for normal languialges like Lisp or Forth to use them in making music or sound.

Aproaching the G2 as a "programer" will probably make it feel limited; no classes or functions, no real arrays and so on. The G2 is designed from the perspective that there is a ratio between power and convenience and taht for most people code goes too far in the "inconventient" direction.

I'd say the Nord are fun and easy to get into but if you want a programers angle on making sounds you should at leat look at these people; http://toplap.org/