Can anyone recommend any books or video material to help me understand synthesizers please?

I’m wanting to know the basics of how they work as I think it might help me understand the terminology used in manuals etc.

These online articles are superb:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

Wow that looks like a great source of information, many thanks :-)

jg666 - 26 December 2015 12:09 PM

Can anyone recommend any books or video material to help me understand synthesizers please?

I’m wanting to know the basics of how they work as I think it might help me understand the terminology used in manuals etc.

Yamaha Synthesizer Parameter Manual:
http://download.yamaha.com/file/60487

MIDI info:
http://www.midi.org/
http://www.blitter.com/~russtopia/MIDI/~jglatt/

More specific…
Concerning the MOXF (which I believe you have):
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/moxf_articles/
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/moxf_videos/

Much of the MOX information will also apply:
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/mox_articles/
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/support/mox_videos/

Excellent thanks very much 😊

jg666 - 26 December 2015 02:44 PM

Excellent thanks very much 😊

You’re very welcome.

There’s lots to learn - but the more you know, the more you can do and the more fun you can have.

Indeed. The main reason I bought the MOXF6 was so that I’d have a keyboard which I could play straight away so I can learn how to play using the pre-set voices, but then there would be the added interest with the synth part of it.

I would get bored just learning to play the keyboard so I need something else - the synth ‘twiddly bits’ to learn about :-)

I’ve been a software developer for about 30 years now so the synth programming side of it holds many interests.

Over the years I’ve written some synth-related software, such as editor/librarians. They mostly involve using SysEx messages.

A while back I released something for MOX (not MOXF) users:
http://www.motifator.com/index.php/forum/viewthread/472111/

By the way, if you don’t already have it, I suggest downloading this…
MOXF6/MOXF8 Data List:
http://download.yamaha.com/file/60483
...which covers SysEx and more.

OK this question is not easy to describe and is about synths such as the Moog Sub 37....

When you load a ‘voice’ or whatever it’s called on a Moog, do all the knobs get reset to the positions they should be at for that particular voice/patch?

Another question follows. Assuming you create a sound you like and decide to save it, do you need to make a note of the positions of the knobs?

jg666 - 14 March 2016 12:00 PM

When you load a ‘voice’ or whatever it’s called on a Moog, do all the knobs get reset to the positions they should be at for that particular voice/patch?

NO

jg666 - 14 March 2016 12:00 PM

Another question follows. Assuming you create a sound you like and decide to save it, do you need to make a note of the positions of the knobs?

NO

Synthesizers are similar to adventures: Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things!

You’re going to need to find your courage OR a magic ring will do.