Synth Basics (Everything You Need to Know)

[@masteringcom]

Get the free synthesizer cheat sheet (along with ALL of our other mixing cheat sheets) for free here: www.musicianonamission.com/start-ytorg

[@johne1599]

Great video! Thanks! Unfortunately, none of your cheat sheet links work. If you have a new link, that would be great, otherwise, thanks for the great video!!

[@Alvsyn]

Your link is broken. Oof.

[@amorak223]

broken link

[@LarsVanNistelrooij]

it doesn't work anymore!! :(

[@FourthWayRanch]

vids showing how to create / mimic patches for popular music maybe?

[@The0Stroy]

LFO is basically like an extra hand that twist knobs for you.

[@zt3853]

*no innuendo intended*

[@nervousneighbour]

@@zt3853 Everything was fine until you brought it up. Now, I can't unsee it.

[@phonybologna1697]

I love it

[@Bolockaye206]

Like a compressor

[@The0Stroy]

@@Bolockaye206 Not quite because compressor can twist knobs. LFO do it in repetitive pattern, Compressor takes value from outside imput.

[@caseyspaos448]

OMG! Someone actually explaining this stuff to total newbies like me! Thanks, brother!

[@jc-fd7kj]

This is the first time Ive felt like I might actually be able to understand how to use a synth. Very clear and extremely helpful. thanks so much!

[@masteringcom]

Glad it helped!

[@rytaray]

Saaaame!!😊❤

[@tinikadavis2412]

I KNOW RIGHT LMAOOO

[@jeremya9675]

Perfect video. This is how you teach someone who is seeing this for the first time

[@PutlOfficial]

I don't comment very often, but this is an incredible video.. The review is so helpful and you describe it well. Thank you man

[@masteringcom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@perkysid]

You don't comment very often but when you do.. you get a like and a comment from the creator himself

[@PutlOfficial]

@@perkysid I guess this youtube is run by God

[@genegagnon7162]

this is my first ever comment and I second this 👌🏼

[@jamz9756]

@@PutlOfficial oooooh god bless him you comment in this video twice

[@Siralantoon]

Your explanation of the LFO was a thing of beauty. As a newbie synth owner in my 70th year I have had difficulty in creating a coherent visualisation of how things function and interact. The clarity of your description has been such a help. Thank You.

[@isaacdynys6518]

This is the most engaging synth video I’ve ever watched

[@godsmacker744]

Absolutely fantastic. Pedagogic, comprehensive, engaging and understandable. High quality content. Please consider making a second part to this, where you further explore the different aspects that make up the synthesizer.

[@hockeytalk6084]

You present this information in a way such that I am able to clearly process it and really, REALLY let it marinate. This is awesome man. You just filled in so many dots for me in terms of things I’ve been avoiding trying to understand for too long. Excellent tutorial. I actually finally feel like I’m ready to dive into some of these synths and start designing my own sounds

[@djturnup6695]

This is by far the best synthesis/synthesizer tutorial video out of 30+ that I’ve watched.

[@vibrantvibes326]

I wanted to tell you that your teaching style was excellent. I have watched countless videos trying to learn different things on youtube and your teaching was one of the best I've seen. You were straight to the point, without being too animated and you did a little review at the end, which solidified the knowledge for me. Thanks for making this video and you should look into teaching if you are not already a teacher. It might be your calling!

[@pohjarummuttaja]

I've been a pianist all my life but since I've been playing in different bands I've been almost forced to try out some synths as well. But not knowing anything about them it has usually been just scrolling through the sound lists and trying to find a preset that I mostly like and use that. Now as I'm starting to use synths even more and more I began to think myself that maybe I should really start to learn some basics about them. I'm glad I found this video. What a perfect way to start my journey with synths. Thank you!

[@c.j.arellano2347]

This is the synth tutorial I needed in my life. THANK YOU!

[@gerryk9]

the best tutorial for beginners that i have watched. and ive watched sooo many

[@lancearn7332]

Many thanks Drew. I have no musical or Synth experience, but some electrical knowledge and I have spent the last 2 months scouring the internet for tutorials on synth design and construction. This little tutorial of yours is exactly the right information I needed to get me started on understanding the simple basics of DIY synthesizer construction. If I ever get it finished I shall be sure to send you a pic, maybe even a vid of it (hopefully) working..

[@LanNguyen-iu3oe]

wow, thanks so much! this is such an amazing beginning tutorial. ive been into msuic for a while now, mainly just playing instruments but recently i've been curious about production. My first midi keyboard I ordered is coming in a couple days, so I'm super stoked to try out your tips here! Thanks again, Drew!

[@DJMikeron]

I now understand how a sound is built and what the 4 Blocks are. Now I can go ahead and build a sound because I understand the structure how it’s done. Great help and explained with simplicity. I really appreciate your work thank you. .

[@distvill-6812]

I brought my first synth a few days ago and I’m very excited. This was so helpful in helping me understand how making sounds work

[@masteringcom]

So glad we could help! Enjoy your new synth!

[@karlhudson7209]

what did you buy?

[@qm9797]

This is a superb tutorial. Love how clear the info gets in to my mind and also love the pronunciation of the audio terms.

[@xutsider]

this is the best synth tutorial ive ever watched.. and its only a basic tutorial lol.. dont ever delete this video

[@yesfredfredburger8008]

I watch a lot of educational youtube, and I play a lot of guitar, but I DO NOT watch a lot of music education content. This is by far the best music tutorial I've seen in video format

[@FilipeSalgueiroo]

This would have been so valuable a couple of months ago when I was trying to figure all of this out eheh Great content!!

[@martinak.8226]

Absolutely helpful! I’m a total beginner and THIS is the video I was desperately looking for! Great job, thanks!

[@gabrielamarutakaleja3567]

Oh my god !!!! I never comment on videos but this is literally the only tutorial that REALLY helped me to understand synths in a very simple way. Thank you!!!!!

[@jennypapworth1426]

Such a great video, really appreciate how you've broken each part down and demonstrated how they work while still keeping the video clear and concise.

[@CJ-km5zz]

This is seriously one the best video ever. I genuinely can't believe how clear, concise and thought through it is. I thank you

[@phiwolgast]

Great video! I think it's very important to note, even as a beginner, that *most* synths have more than 1 ADSR: one for amp (the one you mentioned) and one for filter, so really not all ADSR envelopes are for amplitude. Otherwise great!

[@phonybologna1697]

I've watched a ton of synth videos and this is the first one that explained the basics a clear and logical fashion. What it is nic!!

[@bringerofdoom3750]

Good, clear, simple video. One of the better explanations I have heard.

[@steve6888]

this video is absolutely GOLDEN, as someone who's totally new to synths and is learning, this has helped a ton. Thank you so much!

[@SaranjitDosanjh]

I bought a Meris Enzo synth guitar pedal to get some swells and arpeggios. The Enzo manual assumes you know how to use a synth, even though it's aimed at guitar players. So this is perfect, thanks musicianonamission!

[@royevans4581]

That was an excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@riOdariot]

This is the type of explanation that only someone that has well understood the topic can actually give. Easy to understand. Thank you!!!

[@hanselxyb5825]

So in other words, most musicians have no idea what certain knobs and switches do. If they did, they would've explained them well.

[@riOdariot]

@@hanselxyb5825 Not even that, but rather the fact that most people memorise things or simply understand that by doing action A, they will have result B, but have no real understanding of what they are really doing or how it fits in the big picture.

[@hanselxyb5825]

@@riOdariot exactly. Ive observed the same in computer programming as well. Most dont have a good grasp of a particular topic.

[@Johncressey]

Fantastic Video! Will recommend to anyone who asks me about synthesis!! You are natural born teacher.

[@freestyletherapy]

1. Oscillator - The Foundation - The part of the synth that makes the sound. Creates Waveforms. 2. Filters - Cut of frequencies 3.LFO - 4.ADSR (Amplitude Envelope)

[@tarifanocturnajazz7564]

Your channel is very good and profesional, I've been playing and mixing from when Logic Pro X was called Supertrak in a commodore 64 rise to 128 through Atari Notator and so. You have the ability of telling all that is in each part of this big world called the acoustical . Mix, play, modulate, look at yourself and stop for a while ... and many things. Let me congratulate you. And is easy understand your langwich with in my case is not English but Spanish. I could make money just translating your videos that are wide and massive information. I'm Antonio Perales Mellado thank you

[@SmokeChamp]

I had to get the synthesizer cheat sheet!!! I watched his 23 min video about taking your music to the next level and what it takes to make it there, and I admit there is so much about the basics that I don't know. Thanks to this video and all the different cheat sheets, I can learn.

[@chillmanhillman2946]

I would go as far as to say this is the most informative video on synthesis on KZbin for beginners on the subject. This all just seemed to click the way you explained it. Thats a skill in itself! More like this PLEASE !!! bless

[@ryanlu9004]

Wow. Drew you are fantastic. Words cannot express how helpful this video is... Love it. This vid deserves at least 10 times more view...

[@MrBmic]

Great explanation of the oscillator. Simple and straight to the point. Thanks.

[@boosterbeats3650]

Thanks so much for the amazing tutorial! You explained so well that i really got excited

[@henrythebee8179]

This video is really really great he really tries to get us to under stand and he repeats things incase we didn’t hear the first time amazing job !

[@twiglet2214]

Drew me in and left with wisdom.Oscillator awareness,filter familiarity and in the know with an LFO which means i can cope with an envelope even though i may not have ADSR at the moment.

[@madhadda_rotla]

This is the best breakdown for a synth that I've ever seen. Automatic subscribe. Thanks!

[@shaunsummerfield7798]

Excellent tutorial, one of the best I've seen - goes a long way toward clearing up the confusion. Thankyou fine sir. Much appreciated.

[@sakuracloud__]

you are incredible at explaining things and structuring a lesson. thank you so much

[@Kabodnm]

PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST SYNTH VIDS....THANK GOD FOR U MAN

[@literallyhax9554]

ive spent 20 minutes to hear what i already knew didn't regret

[@ProfessorSaibertin]

The best synth explanation I have ever seen. Thank you!

[@masteringcom]

Glad it helped!

[@subi5701]

THIS GUY HAS LITERALLY EVERYTHING I WANT TO KNOW

[@LearnerChess]

These are the best produced videos I've ever seen on KZbin, hands down. I've made some videos myself, and I know how time-consuming it is to make them this good (well, actually, I've never made any THIS good, but I've done okay). You guys have hit it out of the ball park!

[@masteringcom]

Thanks, Donald!

[@LearnerChess]

@@masteringcom I was just watching a documentary about Making of The Doors' LA Woman, and I came across a 2 1/2 minute section that really showed the power of Audio Engineering. I have my music in in 24 bit 48,000 Hz FLAC, which I think is the fundamental quality one needs to get the best listening experience. The link I'm providing is something I got off of KZbin (where I watched the documentary), so it's only in 248 mp3, which is higher than what I recorded it from, but you'll get the idea once you hear it. Two specifics are behind why I recorded it for you and uploaded it to Google Cloud: one is Jim's unmixed voice and the other is Robby's playing of the lead, which he did for the doc directly from his home speakers. It really gets across the POWER that using a DAW offers. drive.google.com/file/d/1PA-M3mZTXIe2XENSJAhQ5asa5Di_df0H/view?usp=sharing

[@schoontube]

Thanks!

[@Sheepyhead]

Great video but there's no cheat sheet on the given link - just a form to insert first name and email address, kinda sus

[@kaimai2203]

This really is a clear and intuitive tutorial, thanks for your effort

[@shannonia81]

Your explanation of an LFO was so helpful!

[@gerryk9]

I finally understand LFOs. Thank you

[@pablowentscobar]

This was awesome. I just picked up one of those Behringer VS pro mini with the joystick to blend the 4 oscillators. This vid cleared up some questions I had, Thanks.

[@stuartquate7500]

This is one of the best music tutorials on KZbin.

[@marcin_bruczkowski]

You are a fantastic educator. Can you please make such tutorials for everything I need to learn in life? :) A vast majority of tutorials for beginners on YT are not much more than features overview, too fast and assuming prior knowledge.

[@Alex-no3co]

This is the best beginner synth tutorial I have watched. Thank you!

[@ilovenycsomuch]

I really appreciate basic videos like these

[@itsadamtruitt]

this is the best tutorial on synth. You demystified it effortlessly. Thank you for this resource.

[@lotus8203]

Seriously thank you SO much! I know basically nothing about music, but I keep wanting to learn how to make synth music. I really appreciate you!!!!

[@RichardFriendartist]

this was excellent. Today is the first day I am trying to learn this stuff (and not just turning on a VST and plucking around). This helps a lot!!

[@nutelu3462]

I have been trying to understand ADSR for a while now, but you explained it very well and I understood it immediately. Huge Thanks!

[@jimfogle184]

First time I've viewed one of your video tutorials. Fantastic video. Great content, well thought out script, good timing, professional production. Best of all, I learned what I hoped to learn from watching your video. Thank you!

[@PracticallyVocal]

Extremely helpful. Thank you for the thoughtful presentation!

[@DonnyNSN]

Thanks Rob. That was very informative. We've all got to start somewhere, and that's as good a place as any I've seen on the tube.

[@notbobbypropes]

SUPER informative and fantastic video. This is EXACTLY what I needed to get started. Thank you, kind stranger.

[@Tokiofritz]

Brilliant tutorial. So many of them overcomplicate and waffle. Thanks man!

[@eburone]

Man, I learned a ton! Thanks a lot for the effort you put in! Excellent video!

[@darrenjharris9907]

Great video for beginner sound designers/synth users. Well done.

[@asahelleberg1925]

Hi there! Excellent school for me, thank you. Just wrapped up my brand new Medusa from Polyend. Making music will be different and so much more creative from now on. So much more playful. And if it wasn’t for this easy to learn video, we never know when new traps would pop out.

[@masteringcom]

Awesome! Glad we could help!

[@UndolaMondrin]

thank you for doing such videos and sharing the knowledge in a very simple and easy to understand way.

[@yamittuiran1458]

Excellent explanation, earned yourself a like and a new subscriber. Also the cheatsheet is extremely clean, complete, and organized. Thanks for your work! Greetings from Colombia.

[@ashleeisaac12]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, it is the only one that taught me the basics properly...

[@echterrosenquarz9443]

SO GLAD I stumbled over this video!

[@Hyper_Dreamer]

The clearest video for beginners I have seen, cool. And thx for the great cheat sheets!

[@rootbearame]

Thank you (or you guys) so much for this video! I am a bit of a newb to synths, and this made everything so much clearer!

[@jumbyvt6839]

What I understood about the LFO is: a tool that lets you put on a filter to a specific characteristic of the sound/synth (pitch, volume, etc).

[@imunzni7069]

Finally! I understood it all. Thanks man! This video was really helpful.

[@Frank.Zimmermann]

Hey Drew! Very well explained. 👍 Thank you so much, and of course thanks for the cheat sheet! Greetings from Berlin!

[@adamlandry7265]

Fantastic tutorial. I've been messing with presets for too long. Way simpler than I thought it would be!

[@dwpix]

Awesome explanation for a total newbie (like me). Thanks!

[@hihiepshihi2964]

This is an amazing tutorial. You explained this so good for a noob like me. Thank you so much!

[@wildspowell196]

SOLID video bro. Synths are intimidating at first but you connected a lot of the dots

[@nessadove1369]

Greaaat tutorial! Best I’ve seen. Simple. Informative. Illustrative. Thank you!🙌🏽

[@poisonedcheeseproductions]

coming from music engineering, i always thought the "frequency" term referred to the EQ in LFO, but this video helped me recognize it is directed toward the length between the crests of the wave itself (physics!)

[@kalesalad1]

Thank you for making this video!! I love the way you organize the information. So easy to understand.

[@RamnathSundar]

Brilliant simplistic explanation of all about synthesis... Kudos !!!

[@donflippin1086]

Thanks! At least I got more confident in their use, and now I'm able to create some nice sounding synths! Will definetily continue my journey to synthesizing.

[@paulhazel]

Good introduction. My only criticism would be in terms of process, i.e. how you actually go about creating a sound. To me, yes, set your basic oscillator shape. BUT, then, the next step is obviously the envelope: more than anything else this determines the character of the sound. Then filters, then any twiddling with LFOs come last. As you say yourself several times in the video, the envelopes "are the most important thing."

[@XxKonneyxX]

i whish i could like this more than just one time. This Video is awesome! I'm hopefully gonna be a teacher in the near future and i just can give lots of probs to you my friend, very well explained and didactical structured! Keep it going! :)

[@Jon-py7vw]

A lot of good info here. I’ve played around with some analog machines that look like the pilot dash controls on a plane and they’re always very intimidating to me lol. THANKS!

[@cael_i]

Thank you for a great, explanatory, video! I actually took notes during this video. Heading off to my Bass station II to try these principles out!

[@afungangmusic]

I had a professor who always said, 'when you can explain something complex in a simple manner, and a novice understands it; you've been a master at that subject.' I'm not MOAM are master of music, but damn.. they're as close as you can get!!! 💜💜

[@derekhuntingtonmarti]

I thought this video was going to be too basic at first, but it actually taught me a lot.

[@jonathansnead644]

Definitely the best explanation I’ve seen. Thank you!

[@darrellpidgeon6440]

Newbie here. Thanks for this extremely helpful info. Four basic elements.....It's all so simple now. Take the sounds in steps. Perfect tutorial. I think I'll grab that cheat sheet. Just because. Subscribing.....just because. lol.