Currently obsessed with synthesizing

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I really want to learn how to play with electronic sounds and remix stuff

Anyone have any experience with it?

i have some experience with synthesizers and this is what i can suggest:

step 1. i would first suggest trying out the synth instruments in garageband as these are simple to use and give you an idea into what is possible with synthed instruments.

step 2. you can then move on to finding a real synthesizer. hardware synths can be expensive to set up but the korg kaosillator is fairly cheap and effective. alternatively you could look for a software synth package like propellerhead reason.

on top of that all you need is fairly decent musical experience and some imagination.
feel free to reply to me if you need any more help.

Software's probably the most inexpensive and space-saving place to start. There are a lot of different programs, if you want a good all-in-one starter I recommend Reason 4 or possibly even Fruity Loops (last I remember though Reason has a good leg or two up on Fruityloops in terms of quality though). If you get really good - go for Protools; its more complex and of course you would need not only the plug-in synths and things of that nature (Absynth, Massive, FM8, etc.) but you'd need to buy pro refrence monitors or at least a bedroom version of them to effecitvely use Protools.

If you want to go the hardware route there are some rather nice digital analog out there. I mostly grew up on grooveboxes (like the Roland MC-505, the Yamaha rm1x, have a Yamaha RS7000 in my closet now gathering dust). If your looking for something that would be just fun to toy around with and looks weird, the Chimera is pretty interesting. Other than that I've played with the Korg MS 2000 and liked that, Korg has some newer ones as well I think, and its also tough to go wrong with Access (aka. Access Virus A or B, Indigo), Novation (Supernova, Nova, Bass Station - had the Nova for a while), and Waldorf (Pulse, Microwave, etc.). I've fallen a bit out of the loop of course on hardware because I've been able to get most of what I want out of software lately.

On remixing though, if you want to do a comprehensive remix of someone's work you need the separate sounds from them. There was for instance a remix competition I was looking at with Laptop Rockers of Loxy & Resound - Typecast; that was sent out as such. Other than that though, if it isn't pre-planned you can either try to sample bits and pieces of the song and if you need the words free of background noise you'd probably need an acapella version of the song.


I know that'll only help so much but still, its really all practice.

1. Garage Band is great for sequencing, and it sounds better than anything else around, but it's terrible for composing. Don't use it for this.
2. Hardware synthesizers are expensive, and you don't need them. If you get really serious about it, though, you may want to get a keyboard. Some of them are not too bad.
3. Software is also expensive. Don't use commercial software.

If you want the most basic/cheap setup just to play around, a DS with the Korg DS-10 is not a horrible option. If you want to play around with old synth sounds. If you already have a DS, it's a very reasonable investment.

I started with freeware Midi sequencing software called jazz++. I'm more into composing and writing my own stuff than remixes and loops and producing... though I'm starting to head down that path...

I picked up a MacBook with Logic Express, and it does everything I want. I added some more software instruments down the line too.. If you are in school, the education discount is good to look into... even if you don't want a Mac. Some of the other software you want will probably be discounted if you are in school. Check out http://www.academicsuperstore.com

I wouldn't try GarageBand for anything really serious, but Apple have a more professional sequencer software package called Logic Studio 8 which you might want to check out. For PC users I would probably recommend a sequencer called Cubase. Reason can be easily used together with either of these packages, and it's multi-platform(PC and Mac).

However, it is ESSENTIAL that have some sort of MIDI input device, even if it's just a simple 25-key USB keyboard.

1. Get a midi keyboard (any old keyboard will do, as long as it has MIDI port out at least)

2. get a USB MIDI converter (Mine is called M-audio)

3. Beg borrow or steal, some software: (Mac = garage band for free, but if you got cash/feel guilty, or got limewire get: Native Instruments collection (FM8, KORE, Absynth, B4, Massive Guitar Rig, or the best: Reason)

4. Start turning knobs and sum crazy sounds.


5. Send me a msg when you are at this point and I can give you: unlimited drum loops, instruments, and template settings. . . also, we can collaborate on songs over the web, by emailing an open song file back and forth and each adding tracks. . ..

enjoy!

Difficult, but powerful option-

SuperCollider is an environment and programming language originally released in 1996 by James McCartney for real time audio synthesis and algorithmic composition.

download Supercollider for free

learn the lingo

SuperCollider language wiki

Create your own infinitely powerful synthesisers using software. This is limitless. You can do anything with it.

Here is a useful resource for getting started.

Hope that helps. Remember- it's 100% free! And I suppose for many aspies learning such a cool programming language is a great hobby.

I am 100% sure I posted in this thread...I don't know where it got off to.

I got a magazine recently called Computer Music (December 08..I think), with a DVD's worth of computer mixers, recorders, synths, effects, etc. Supposedly it can let you do about anything.
There's loads of VST instruments out there; do a search for that, and you should have enough to fill a Hard drive with)

FL studio pro/Sony Vegas

1000 hours learning 39000 to go.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=51048461