Questions tagged [synthesizer]
A synthesizer ("synth") is a hardware or software musical instrument that outputs synthesized audio signals. The method of synthesis depends on the type of synthesizer (e.g. Additive, Subtractive, FM, Wavetable or Granular). If your question refers to a specific type, please also add that tag, e.g. "additive-synthesis".
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How Does A Filter Work?
I was reading secret synths, and understood how the phase shift between two identical signals can result in filtering. But the way it'd written makes it seem like the filters attentuating is different ...
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Can this sound be created without electronic means?
I'm currently developing a game for which I'll need quite a few sound effects. I found Pixabay to attempt to get royalty free sounds, but although some are great, I'm not quite happy with all and ...
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Waldorf Blofeld Firmware Recovery on a bricked unit
I recently tried updating my Waldorf Blofeld desktop synth to the latest firmware and it bricked.
I performed a rescue on the unit and then loaded the firmware again, but now there is no sound. After ...
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Technically speaking, can all synths of a given type make identical sounds? Why or why not?
I am trying to learn whether or not there is a sort of "Turing completeness" type of situation for synthesizers. Here is a definition from Wikipedia of Turing completeness:
In colloquial ...
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How do I recreate this sound (in Ableton)?
I've been trying to recreate this sound from a song I made when I was quite young. I used GarageBand for this, not Ableton, but due to the advanced level of Ableton I thought I'd still be able to ...
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Can't get my bass to sound like Trax BT's "RAWWW" bassline
The main bassline in this song, I'm pretty sure it's a sawtooth reese stacked with a kick, but I can't seem to get it to sound close or as nice.
It's the one at the very start of:
https://soundcloud....
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What is a "forlorn"?
In Zebra plugin, a well-known synthesizer, there is a version with Hans Zimmer's custom presets. In this particular version of Zebra, there is a preset called "Hans Forlorn" which is a ...
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How is this synth sound made? (WarGames, 1983)
I'm studying the soundtrack to WarGames (1983) - this track in particular, History Lesson:
There's a repeating phrase throughout, here's a short clip: https://www....
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What is Sound Design in the context of synthesizers
When reading opinions about various synthesizers, I very often encounter a phrase like "instrument A is better for sound design than instrument B". What does it mean in this context? Does it ...
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Stacked detuned voices sound different in Synthmaster compared to Serum
I tried to recreate the sound from this tutorial here
(1:58). It's essentially a Sawtooth with 16 voices, somehow detuned and spread out in stereo, done in Serum.
Doing ...
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Attempting to recreate a sound from track
I have been producing music for some years now but I have never taken steps in learning how to build sounds from the ground up. I am currently practicing by recreating sounds from tracks that I enjoy.
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How to make the bass synth in Regal - Fenix (Amelie Lens Remix)?
I would like to reproduce the bass synth that we can hear in Regal - Fenix (Amelie Lens Remix). From the link, we can hear it alone until 1:30.
What strategy can be used to produce this sound?
I ...
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How do I make a MIDI file to reset the Reverb and Chorus on my Roland synthesizer?
When playing different MIDI files on my Roland SC-55 I found that not all of them explicitly set their own Reverb and Chorus. This results in the playback of subsequent files having otherwise random ...
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The output from my synthesizer is only 32 kHz. Is there any reason to record at a higher fidelity?
I'm doing some recordings off of a vintage Roland SC-55 MIDI synthesizer which is capable of 16-bit @ 32 kHz. Is there any reason to record the audio at 44.1 or 48 kHz in my recording software or to ...
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Synthesizer models for (rapidly) re-excited strings like guitar?
In piano a sting is typically dampened (safe for pedal use) from one note to another that sound banks with a large number of individual recordings are used in commercial quality piano synths.
I do ...
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How to procedurally generate basic percussive sounds (e.g. metronome like clicks)?
I'm wondering if there are some standard techniques to procedurally generate basic percussive sounds like metronome like clicking sounds?
Regarding periodic sounds, I'm aware of many procedural ...
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Connecting a synthesizer (Prophet Rev 2) directly to speakers/monitors
I intend to buy a Prophet Rev 2 synth very soon, but before I do, I want to make sure the setup I have in mind will work.
This synth has 4 quarter inch (unbalanced) audio outputs, as illustrated on ...
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Why does a square wave make a sound?
Forgive me for questionining the fundamentals and this question therefore being not very smart, but I am currently beating my head against the concept of sound generation itself.
I understand so far ...
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Since 96Khz and 192Khz can change the sound of a synthesizer is it best to record the synthesizer?
I understand that setting your audio interface to 96Khz or 192Khz can change the sound of a software synthesizer. So would it be best to record the synthesizer at 96Khz or 192Khz?
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Music Sound Design Thesis Ideas! [closed]
I'm about to start my thesis and I'm a bit confused as what to start with. I like to make music in my free time so I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn more about sound design in the ...
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What amplitude ratio to achieve "sound pressure level" ratio?
I would like to create a sound with three sine waves. The first sine wave is the fundamental frequency (f0), the second wave is a harmonic (f2), the third is also a harmonic (f4) of the base frequency....
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Is my synthesizer too quiet?
My synthesizer (Yamaha mx88) is plugged into the back (which has no gain controls) of my audio interface (Focusrite Scarlett 4i4) and that is plugged into my laptop (MacBook pro) running Focusrite ...
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Can I use guitar cables to connect my keyboard to my audio interface?
I have a Yamaha MX synthesizer and would like to record in stereo using the Scarlett 4i4 audio interface connected by two TS cables I use for my guitar. Should I use the TS cables or should I buy two ...
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Guitar with a Synth sound and chunky palm muting
I love the sound of the guitar in this video: (starts at 21 seconds)
I've tried a number of things to recreate it, but I'm no expert sound designer so how you suggest ...
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How do I make this smooth string-like saw lead?
There's a very specific smooth, string instrument-esque lead that's been used a lot in songs made by producers in a small electronic niche. It originated with the band Point Point, and since they ...
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How to make realistic instrument sounds digitally from scratch?
I am looking at basic JavaScript Web Audio API examples, such as building simple synthesizers and such, hoping to find something where they create the sound of a drum or the sound of the human voice ...
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Why does a synthesized polyphonic sound completely different from the “real” one?
I am making a software audio synthesizer and so far i've managed to play a single tone at once.
My goal was to make it polyphonic, i.e when i press 2 keys both are active and produce sound (i'm aware ...
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Loading Cakewalk TTS-1 synth presets into the Step Sequencer (Cakewalk)
Cakewalk's built-in synth TTS-1 gives the ability to record notes in the Step Sequencer.
However ,only the first preset in the active bank loads into the step sequencer automatically and the ...
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What's the difference between additive and subtractive synthesis?
It seems that most hardware synths use subtractive synthesis techniques, while in the digital realm it's common to see synths that work with different degrees of additive synthesis.
What's the ...
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How do I make this airy pad sound?
At the beginning of this track, it starts with an amazing airy pad, which I have no idea how to design.
I have sylenth, spire, serum and vps avenger,
I would appreciate it if someone could suggest ...
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Recreating the Bass sounds of Daft punk's Voyager and Avicii's Peace of Mind
I was trying to recreate the quite similar Bass sounds of Avicii's Peace of Mind and Daft Punk's Voyager. I suspect they used a saw wave and pushing the resonance on the filters, but I fail with my ...
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Roland D5 Acoustic Piano
I just got synthesizer roland D5 from family member and trying to playing some piano patch but sounds really bad. Can roland D5 have grand piano sounds or acoustic piano sound? Please let me know how ...
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In what situations is it ok to mix stereo VST synths using "Balance" or "True Stereo Panning"?
I make ambient music with usually about 4 - 6 vst instruments (maybe 1 or 2 arpeggiated synths, 1 pad/strings, a lead, a bass, sometimes a little drums/percussion). I've been running vst synths from ...
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How to single out a sound
I have a track that I made with a synth patch that I've lost and am unable to recreate by ear. I read somewhere that it is possible to single out a sound if you have one track with the sound and one ...
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How do I recreate this detuned synth?
I've been looking to recreate this sound from All I Want by Rome In Silver for a long time and I can't figure it out, can anyone help? It's the detuned chords in the intro and that come in at the ...
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Filter to make music sound like it's being played in a mall?
I'm trying to conceptualize how I want the music for my game to sound, and as I have no musical experience, there are some ideas I have trouble describing, but the musical aesthetic I want for my game ...
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How can I recreate Grant's signature sound using a vocoder on a synthesizer?
So there is a music artist named Grant, and in most of his songs there is a signature style of sound design that he uses, and I am almost 100% sure he just runs synths (sometimes guitars) through a ...
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What's the difference between "FM synthesis" and "MIDI synthesis"?
I'm trying to understand how "FM synthesis" and "MIDI synthesis" are relative to each other.
For example, in one article that I found on the Internet (here it is) it is said that...
the process by ...
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Is it possible to use frequency modulation synthesis to play human voice?
Wikipedia says "yes":
It was initially designed for radios to transmit voice by modulating one waveform's frequency with another's. This is why FM radio is called FM (frequency modulation).
-- ...
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Mini Synth via external soundcard
I recently bought a Korg Monotron Duo. To record with my laptop that lacks an internal mic I also accquired an external USB soundcard with one mic and two headphone jacks (rather cheap device). The ...
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I've learnt how to use an advanced synth, but don't know how to make advanced sounds
About two or three years ago, I bought Logic Pro X. Since then, I've been learning how to use most of the synthesisers that come with it. My favourite is definitely Alchemy, which I use for almost ...
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Using Ableton, how can I replicate the synth used in this song?
Heads Will Roll by the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs features a synth that sounds like a mix of a number of instruments. Perhaps a stringed instrument or a wind instrument, among others.
This question is ...
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How do you make this huge distorted analog bass/pad sound?
I would really appreciate information on how to create this analog sounding bass/pad sound at 0:02 and 1:13 onwards.
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What is the effect used here that resembles a distorted guitar?
I am building a project for my music technology module in University and would like to know how to imitate this effect. Originally, I thought it was guitar but after having watched a video of the band ...
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Safe to record a synth with a 1/4" cable instead of MIDI?
I have a synth that has MIDI and 1/4" output jacks. Which should I use for recording? I believe MIDI is the standard, but would there be a noticeable lack of quality if I used a 1/4" Y-cable instead?
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What's the difference between pad and drone?
I'm learning how to program software synthesizer. I came across with these two types of patch described as "pad" and "drone". They sound somewhat similar for me.
Could someone explain what the ...
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How can I recreate this sound?
can you help me recreating this? (The sound starts 0:06 - 0:13)
https://www.facebook.com/kygoofficial/videos/1455768857819576/
Here's another example (The sound starts 0:00 - 0:05)
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Sync Korg SQ-1 with DAW (Logic)
I'm trying to sync my Korg SQ-1 with DAW (Logic Pro X). SQ-1 is connected via USB to computer and Logic recognizes it. I've updated MIDI settings in Logic to make SQ-1 receive MIDI clock and tempo ...
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Play MIDI from DAW with Korg Volca FM
I want to be able to play MIDI notes written in my DAW via my Korg Volca FM.
I checked several articles and the general idea consists of these steps:
create MIDI track in DAW
DAW track sends MIDI ...
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Possible Harmonium/Reed Organ Synthesizing Techniques
I am working on a project to make a synthesizer for RaspberryPi capable of playing Harmonium/Reed Organ using an external MIDI keyboard. I am making it in Python 2.7 using NumPy. Till now, I have ...
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