Sound Design & Synthesis
Learn subtractive synthesis from the oscillator up: waveforms and their harmonics, filters, envelopes and LFOs. Finish by building five staple sounds from concrete settings.
Start the course5 lessons · 41 min · free
What you'll be able to do
- Choose an oscillator waveform by the harmonics a sound needs
- Shape tone with filter type, cutoff, resonance, slope and key tracking
- Use ADSR envelopes and LFOs to make a sound move over time
- Build a sub bass, reese, pluck, supersaw pad and lead from scratch
Lessons
- 1Oscillators and WaveformsThe four classic waveforms and the harmonics in each, plus how detune and unison turn one thin oscillator into a wide, rich sound.8 min
- 2Filters: Cutoff, Resonance, Slope and Key TrackingHow low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and notch filters shape a waveform, and what cutoff, resonance, slope and key tracking each change in practice.8 min
- 3Envelopes: ADSR for Amplitude and FilterWhat attack, decay, sustain and release do, typical times for plucks, pads, basses and leads, and how a filter envelope makes each note move.7 min
- 4LFOs and ModulationHow low-frequency oscillators create vibrato, tremolo, wobble and movement: rates, tempo sync, waveforms, depth and where to route them.8 min
- 5Recipes: Sub Bass, Reese, Pluck, Supersaw Pad and LeadFive staple synth sounds built from concrete starting settings, with what to tweak for each genre and the mistakes that most often spoil them.10 min
Next up:
Arrangement & Songwriting
Turn a loop into a song people listen to all the way through.