How to learn any synthesizer

In this video I show you:
- A quick overview of how ALL synthesizers work
- A simple workout on how to familiarize yourself with with any synth you get
- Some simple synth recipes
- An example of this process using the Roland SH-101
- A sound design technique called "self-oscillating" filters, to create sounds like Jamie XX - Gosh.
The Synth Basics image in HQ: -we.tl/t-J66S6jeru5
Find Oscar's video courses here: courses.underdog.brussels 🖤🖤🖤
Join the Underdog Discord channel: / discord 👾👾👾
Sign up to the mailing list here: tinyurl.com/yy92sx5u 💌💌💌
Pledge to the Patreon: ​ / underdogmusicschool 🌱🌱🌱
Instagram: @underdogmusicschool
At Underdog Electronic Music School we run interactive online classrooms for all levels of music producers. We do "bootcamps" for beginners (no prior knowledge required!) and "deep dives" for intermediate producers. We are also available for private coaching and advice.
Contents:
0:00 Introduction
1:07 Subtractive synthesis concept
3:20 The synthesis diagram
3:39 The synth workout
5:44 Synth fomulas
6:16 The value of a limited synth
8:09 The synth workout on an SH101
13:01 Doing the synth fomulas on the SH101
15:32 The advantages of more advanced synths
17:42 Sound design technique: Self-oscillating filters

[@OscarUnderdog]

Find Oscar's video courses here: courses.underdog.brussels 🖤🖤🖤 Join the Underdog Discord channel: discord.gg/z5N9CTA 👾👾👾 Sign up to the mailing list here: tinyurl.com/yy92sx5u 💌💌💌 Pledge to the Patreon: ​ www.patreon.com/underdogmusicschool 🌱🌱🌱

[@dolaymobile9744]

8m

[@emilandreasyan2533]

@Jamis Billson h. Eft

[@jadrajadra3200]

@@emilandreasyan2533 у

[@sopheaka8966]

@@emilandreasyan2533 2o00

[@chuckgillespie1]

Awesome - Thank you sir.

[@djtall3090]

This is how "How To" videos should be made. Straight and to the point, no BS

[@gaetanlepage5385]

09:44 "Sounds pretty good to me..." (three seconds later @ 09:47) "Great! That's everything we need to know; we now understand how the oscillator works."

[@bauhausoffice]

If he was my teacher in every class in school I’d be an effing genius today running the world.

[@OscarUnderdog]

Hahahahaha

[@danielrivera1833]

Get your kids a private tutor like the elites do..

[@estesenor7248]

But he's our teacher online so whats your Excuse?

[@bauhausoffice]

@@estesenor7248 I am complementing him you fool.

[@estesenor7248]

@@bauhausoffice ok boomer

[@Meknassih]

If this is the quality of your "free courses", I can’t imagine the value that is in your paid courses. Exceptional teaching skills !

[@alwayslate4081]

Was thinking exactly the same

[@harrisbeatsfrankou6304]

100% mate

[@ricardojmestre]

Oh they are totally worth the money!

[@aleksdizhe]

​@ricardojmestre what courses did you take? (just interesting, thinking about paid courses too :) )

[@eljeffrinho]

I feel like I've learned more in an hour from watching a couple of your videos than I did in a decade of tinkering around with synths! What an absolutely amazing teacher

[@OscarUnderdog]

💛

[@diemcarl5546]

Same 😂🎉❤

[@_bleaux]

Dude thank you so much!! I have been trying to figure out what VCO VCA VCF means for so long online and I didn’t know what to even google

[@MashterMusic]

you are killer . Covering concepts with so much clarity. hats off to u.

[@OscarUnderdog]

Cheers 🤠

[@djnebuchanezzer]

should've said hi-hats off to you

[@Babidibubidi]

@@djnebuchanezzer should have said hi-hats offbeat to you

[@djnebuchanezzer]

@@Babidibubidi haha i didnt see that one :)

[@abrahamofei1063]

I'm dazzled by this guy's teaching skills.

[@spidericemidasiosmusicprod1309]

My Synthesizer obsession started with a Korg MS10 at 11 years old in middle school music classes (1981). Amazingly by an interesting turn of events and coincidences 24 years later in 2005 I actually became the owner of that very same Synth from my old school. It was just about to be thrown away in a skip, still in fair working order, but in need of a good cleanout, new CMOS Chip and re-calibration. I got it for no money at all! I stripped it down for cleaning and then sent it to Korg UK for the technical repairs. Still looking and working good as new now in 2021. I cannot describe how wonderful it felt to be reunited and the owner of my first love after all those years ❤️ These days I’m a synth sound designer for the iOS platform but still love to tinker with my old MS10 and a few other remaining hardware synths.

[@OscarUnderdog]

What a beautiful story 😊💚 Thanks for sharing!

[@aleksdizhe]

What a story!

[@rosateresacastro-vargas8592]

Finally, I understand synthesizer. I’m a musician, classically trained, and I’ve been wanting to understand synths forever. Thank you. Please, talk about the fm ones soon. I have one!

[@YourFreeBeats]

You are kidding me. This is surreal (or fake). First what exactly did you learn. Seriously. I am a “musician” too. I guess. I have been playing instruments since the early 70’s…most notably the….synthesizer. So perhaps it’s hard for to delineate but I saw him read a script about the three attributes of sound (pitch, tone, volume ) and what the Control names on most synths are. Seriously I am in straight screen saver mode just staring at your comment. So… you have been wanting to understand synths “forever”…but then you watched this video and now you feel you insert and synths? What ones do you own and how did you apply anything from this video to it? Once again not talking these comihrer epigrams because if you are musician then you (wait for it…play actual instruments so which ones have you struggle with but then this video opened your eyes? I am being serious. Not trying to get you upset or anything but this is literally surreal to me (but part of me things it fake or…well,….WOWg

[@YourFreeBeats]

By the way re: FM synthesis, trust me dude doesn’t know about that stuff. He will read somethint then do a video. Now, I have quite a few FM synths. I implemented FM additive, subtractive, wavetable, etc. FM is altered through modulation. Here are some examples. FM synth - soundcloud.app.goo.gl/zaA2PWFzDe4h9R1a8 WaveTable - soundcloud.app.goo.gl/4qhfToVCtPasVN1z9 Analogue - soundcloud.app.goo.gl/UbWhjejp119X6sSt8

[@Mr.J2U]

@@YourFreeBeats Lol, you're such a hater... Why do you care so much that this dude gave the OP a compliment? And the way you not so subtly humble brag is hilarious considering... Let's just put it this way: You're def not god's gift to music production lol! You shouldn't talk so much shit.

[@paulklasmann1218]

@@Mr.J2U Those are the ones with the least skill and never really progress. It's also called hubris. Good luck exploring synths.

[@ir0npichulka]

@@YourFreeBeats The video is perfectly explained, i was able to understand Synths in a few minutes, aswell as music theory and a lot more from his other videos, he explains the subjects really well, calm, in a mature and straight forward way, wich i really like. If you are using synths since the 70s,that means you are an old adult, and you come here, braggin about your knowledge, talking shit about Underdog, plug your own stuff from soundcloud and on top of that, you are what? 60 yo? and you go by "check a bitch beats" .... lame.

[@sebastianshuster5229]

When I started watching your channel I think you had a smidge over 1k subscribers. Now you’re over 36k in such a short time. The reason is quality content and anticipation of your next quality content. I even hit the bell 😬 and I hardly ever do that! Congrats and thank you very much for bringing us interesting quality videos filled to the brim with awesome musical knowledge.

[@OscarUnderdog]

It's so great to hear this. Thanks for the support, I think KZbin is quite sensitive to this kind of positive signals, it's the reason the channel has grown so much I think! ✨🙏🐩

[@Andre-gu5qd]

yes , same here never hit the bell, but his content has been really relevant so far

[@danvandal4127]

@@OscarUnderdog Keep doing it, it's great and the world needs better informed musicians or artists!

[@ravirana2001]

@@OscarUnderdog I bet you will get 1 mil within this year keep teaching great things congratulations in advance 🙏

[@DeiNostri]

@@OscarUnderdog The possitive response comes from you releasing good material. Making better content than the majority of channels and doing that in a relaxed humble manner is what makes some channels, like yours attractive to new and old electronic musicians around the world. This channel helps alot of people learn new things, and rediscover old methods.

[@evanredmon3877]

In 17 minutes this guy explained how to use a synthesizer. Valuable.

[@Vimana]

Thanks for the video. I've been creating synthesizer patches for many years. I might as well add some more information here. This might be useful if you're just starting out with a synth. First a couple of recommendations: "Yamaha Reface CS" is a great little synth and very suitable for a beginner. It's very easy to use but you can still create large amounts of unique sounds with it. The same can be said about "Novation Bass Station II" but it can be more complicated when you're just starting out. Now here's some more explanations and a few more tips: 1. As we've seen and heard from this video, The filter's cutoff frequency selector cuts off the frequencies above the selected point (if you're using a standard "Low Pass Filter"). (The "low pass filter" is the default and it's the only option on many synths.) When you add some resonance then it creates a volume peak on that selected cutoff point. You can create some very specific timbres by selecting a frequency with the cutoff and adding resonance. If the cutoff is at full amount, then the filter is fully open and the resonance adds a volume peak to a frequency, which is very often way beyond our hearing range. If the filter is indeed fully open, then be aware that it can get very loud when you start lowering the cutoff and the resonance is at full amount or almost at full. 2. If you're going to modulate the filter (default is always the filter's cutoff frequency) with an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) or with an envelope, then it's good to know that the selected cutoff point from the filter is the lowest frequency that the modulation can go. When the filter is fully open the modulations don't really have an effect at all. 3. Using an envelope to modulate the filter's cutoff is one of the best ways to make a sound that's more alive and even responds to your playing. Just remember to add some "envelope amount" at the filter controls. In this video you can see that control just named as "ENV" in the emulated version of the Roland SH-101. If the "envelope amount" is at zero then there's no effect at all to the sound. I've seen people being confused about that. One more confusing thing is that some synths have a positive and negative value, just like the "ENV" controls seen on this video. The middle is the zero point in this case. Using negative amounts is the same as using inverted envelopes and it might be too complicated for a beginner. Just use a positive amount until you're really used to the behavior of envelopes. 4. The Attack (time), Decay (time), Sustain (level), Release (time) of the ADSR envelope can be a bit confusing. Just remember that all of them except the sustain behave as "time". Sustain is a level where the sound volume drops after the decay stage when you're using the amplifier (VCA) envelope. Using zero amount of sustain on the amp (VCA) envelope means that the volume goes to zero even if you keep pressing the key(s) for a long time. If you use an ADSR envelope to control the filter's cutoff, then the sustain level is the filter's cutoff frequency level where the sound stays after the decay stage. Zero amount of sustain is where the cutoff frequency has been set on the filter. Remember that when you're quickly pressing the keys then all the ADSR stages of the envelope aren't always going to complete. You can use that to your advantage and create sounds that respond to your playing style. (Some synths are also velocity sensitive and have an aftertouch option. Most vintage synths don't have those options.) 5. If you want to use the envelope for the filter and keep experimenting with it, then it's definitely recommended to use a longer release time in the amp envelope (VCA envelope). Then you can hear all the ADSR stages of the filter envelope without the sound stopping too early. Adding more release time to sounds is recommended anyway. Then the sound still keeps playing a bit when you stop pressing the key(s). Many instruments sound like that. You could almost think that adding more release time is like adding some reverb to the sound. You just need to use a polyphonic synth like the Yamaha Reface CS for example. Try playing a slow arpeggio using a longer release time. If you aren't familiar with chords then just play the first, third, fifth and sometimes also the seventh white note one by one to play a chord as an arpeggio. (Select a high pitch like the 4 or 2 from the "VCO" of the Roland SH-101, then start at the lowest white key from the left and go from there...) The longer release time is "blending the notes together" creating some beautiful harmonies. Just remember that you need to have a polyphonic synth to hear that. (Most polyphonic synths can also be set to a monophonic mode.) 6. Using an LFO to slightly modulate the pitch of an oscillator in a moderately fast speed is the same as vibrato. You often hear vibrato on many other musical instruments and especially on vocals. Adding some vibrato to a lead sound for example is a great way to make the sound more alive and to stand out in a mix. 7. One more thing... if you have an arpeggiator (or a looper or a sequencer) and it also has a "latch" option I definitely recommend to use that. You can select or play some notes and the synth then keeps repeating them while your both hands are free to experiment with the controls. Use a slow speed at first with the arpeggiator. That way you can hear the changes made by an envelope and other changes to the sound more clearly. Getting used to the filter and the envelopes and experimenting a bit with an LFO will get you started. Those were just some quick explanations and tips. I hope it was useful. Enjoy your synth and have a fantastic day.

[@OscarUnderdog]

What a heroic comment. Thank you so much for sharing!!!

[@TuXuuTT]

jeez this helped me not less than video itself. Thanks you for knowledge sharing

[@Vimana]

@@TuXuuTT You're very welcome. Take care and I hope you're having a great day.

[@DanielStepp]

Incredibly concise and easy to follow. If you had a full course on synthesis, I'd buy it for sure

[@andrewhertzberg6889]

Massive respect for how careful and clear these videos are. Thank you.

[@jonashellborg8320]

I found it a nice exercise to try those 4 sounds in a kata, ie from a sequence i try to switch between those sounds. It’s rapidly showing me the key settings on my particular synth to achieve those sounds. Super helpful.

[@stuartleighton]

This is awesome, exactly what I have been looking for. Thank you.

[@PSYBERDOG]

At last a tutor who say's it how it is. Awesome explanation of the basic workings of a Synth that has greatly increased my knowledge and understanding of the way a Synth works.10/10.

[@rishabhparmar4482]

Thank you for helping us. Really appreciate your work ❤️

[@Garethduffy707]

This is great, love how clear and well explained everything is

[@5150quintis]

That was so awesome! Thank you!! Learned alot!!

[@breadman7733]

Yep another amazing video. Thank you Oscar! I love your energy

[@Karinsky77]

I really enjoy your straight to the point approach in all of your videos. Bravo!

[@Ryan-id9rj]

Amazing tutorial. You explain everything so easyily in all your tutorials - thanks mate!

[@ty.Tibor123]

Absolutely fantastic!

[@tommyflowers7098]

This is pure gold. Thanks!

[@yashsurana3216]

this is what is i was looking for! ❤❤❤❤❤ you're the best. 👌

[@hazehunter_au]

This is the exact video I was looking for as a beginner, to help understand synths! thank you so much! 🙏🏼🙌

[@kostiqueify]

Brilliant, as always.

[@danieljohnson2271]

Oscar & Underdog - thanks so much for these videos. I'm addicted! GREAT content! Can't wait for more and more and more and more. Inspiring!

[@TheirIAre]

thank you! You are so concise. The best !

[@Badgerr99]

Another great overview video, thanks Oscar 👍😎

[@skroll71]

This is absolutely brilliant. Thanks a lot!!

[@kalebstattmiller8301]

Thank you so much for this.

[@hothatchpa]

EXACTLY what I was looking for. Saving this as I ramp up to my first synth from my electric piano.

[@TheYub33]

This video is changing my life. Thank you so much Oscar !

[@TheDavBag]

now it is more clear to me, thanks a lot!

[@reesewaller846]

Every tutorial is right to the point and Excellent.

[@leonm.burroughs4807]

I love the synthesizer so it's really cool to see in depth videos like this Thanks!

[@charlierobson]

Top quality tutorials. Thanks!

[@rafeek6730]

Cant be more happier to see ur channel grow day after day 🥳

[@SamuelHaak]

Dude this was amazingly helpful. Thanks!

[@Cubase-sb8nn]

Really nicely laid out tutorial with clear explanations and examples. Thanks very much !

[@DiscoTuna]

Looks like you are picking up about 5k new users every couple of days! Good for you. So well deserved, and so good for us to have you churning out this awesome informative content.

[@plunderclat221]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks for the info

[@siprturo]

Oscar, I honestly can't begin to thank you enough. I have been looking all over the place for such quality of teaching and such attention to detail and such focus on the important basics of electronic music and I couldn't find anything like this, free or paid. Every other "beginner" production course goes straight into creating tracks on Ableton and I would always get stuck as I needed to understand exactly those basics. Please don't stop making those videos, I am willing to pay you for production lessons if need be.

[@crybo]

Such a great channel. Excellent stuff as usual.

[@marcoszappia]

love it , thanks !!

[@adieumusique]

what a great explanation! thank you so much!

[@italdisc0]

I wish I had this video years ago when I bought my first synth, now it makes me appreciate my Prologue even more. Thanks a million!

[@david41127]

Thanks for this workshop, it was very instructive and I hope that this video will stay forever !

[@ipezmusic]

Clear and straight to the point!

[@Reis_mit]

Great content as always.

[@belartnouveau]

excellent tutorial, thank you!

[@paulonuneesx]

Great explanation, thanks!

[@feliksaksyonov7191]

I am so lucky to find this channel! Good luck with your project!

[@ariannagabriellegressiruiz4511]

I was looking for any good tutorial of how to use this, thanks for existing Oscar 🖤❤️🖤❤️

[@taimer6825]

Top notch video as usual!

[@matthewmargetts8516]

Excellent resource. Thank you.

[@charleyeastman1795]

MOST helpful synth video I’ve ever seen. Every beginner is lucky to have this resource. I’ve never used the “four recipes” approach, so I’ve gone back into my synths to try it. Fun!

[@Superlotuswaves]

Thanks - awesome presentation as well

[@samterr]

Truly great, thank you.

[@minisynthmaniac]

Thank you immensely for your work. Really helpful.

[@JustACuteWolf]

It really helped me a lot understanding synths. Thanks a lot!

[@JayX974]

Insane video mate ! keep up the good work !

[@psyonaraevents]

this is the best music production channel out there !! Thanks for your work ! Keep up the good stuff ♥

[@frankvaleron]

Really superb overview thanks

[@user-wi1gq9kh2c]

Brilliant explanations! 👏🏾

[@freddyperezmusicentertainment]

Great video, i have been looking for this for years. Thanks

[@jessiewaynewalker9221]

Thanks for the info 👍

[@Eseckiels]

I just wanted to play around with synths and electronic music. But the more you talk about it. The more i wanna dive into it

[@fviannaval]

Thank you. The best synth tutorial I've ever seen.

[@Kuzurinibubu]

Really great Video for getting into the topic. Thanks alot for your work!

[@maskiri9638]

Thanks for this video ❤️

[@VincentBA2011]

Super helpful tutorial as always. Thank you 😊

[@sarkarparijat]

Such an incredibly well explained and clear video - thank you for sharing this knowledge!

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Absolutely wonderful video! Thank you

[@dangercat8919]

Great job! I learned a lot.

[@dkolko]

Very helpful. Concise and informative. Love it.

[@KRISH-dp6qn]

Lovely & Clear tutorial at its best, Thank you👏🏻

[@vishnusekhara]

Yours is one of the best you tube channel for production learning...everything so well explained in simple and detailed manner...Plz keep up the good work...Its really helpful for us producers all across the globe...thank you

[@kackaritze3476]

I like the calm way you explain things. And your methods, for example the use of flowcharts, fit extremely well and are very catchy. Also that you manage to reduce the topics to their core information. Thumbs up 👍🏻you are a good teacher

[@nanotedot]

Excellent video mate. Thanks!

[@goldcoastmotors37]

Very well explained - learned a lot - Thx!

[@ambientthrill6687]

Huge respect sir 🙏🏻 you covered all these amazing concepts of synth with such an ease that it is ultra simple now ....thank you very much.

[@aminebrahem841]

U re the best . Straight to the point

[@marielanunez5435]

Thank you so much for this informative video. May you have a wonderful rest of your day

[@thenakedandfamousS]

absolute fantastic video!

[@cathaldeegan2067]

Awesome video. Just so precise and easy to understand. Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us the way you do!

[@tiagocavalcante2854]

My god, this is top notch content. Thank you so much for this!

[@DrBenOne]

Brilliant, many thanks. I'm coming back to watch some more. Very helpful to understand the architecture and function of synth components. I wish I'd seen this a long time ago!

[@paulochon4415]

Amazing teaching capacity! Clear, no repetition, straight to the point and an amazing knowledge! Thank you very much

[@arkheavyindutries]

This was incredibly useful and instructive! Thank you very much!

[@user-vd3cu5es4d]

Superb tutorial. Thanks.

[@ryancaille2749]

This is so helpful. This video really makes understanding synths much easier. Once you tie everything together in the "Doing the synth fomulas on the SH101" section it's like a lightbulb went off in my head.

[@urphakeandgey6308]

I knew a lot of these concepts already, but your "nasal" example of resonance was so good! Always wanted to try and emulate it vocally or something.

[@sdeondotson]

Thank you so much!!!

[@huly-beat]

this really helps me a lot

[@wolfgang4468]

That's a good breakdown and starting point for any novice!

[@Pablo_Anunnaki]

Great. This video was added to my musical production box. I´m practicing this with the Surge XT synth. Now I´m beginning to understand it. Thanks so much.

[@richtrelo]

Another top Video! Great stuff.