Your method for learning sound design from the ground up?

[bigdaveo11]

Hey guys,

Not particularly interested in a specific sound, just looking for others thoughts on how to improve sound design skills and possible resources. The dance music manual was my first book related to production and they had a few general programming suggestions (ie bass, leads, pads).

I know my synths inside and out (massive and sylenth) regarding what the parameters control, modulation etc.

I am also familiar with multiband processing and resampling/splitting frequencies etc to alter a sound.

I know alot of the synth sounds these days (my favorite being trance/house) are layered and processed but i figure they all had to start somewhere with basic patches, how did you guys develop your basic skills? any tips? info? tutorials?

I have followed lots of "how to sound like" tutorials and also stripped down presets in my synths to see how the sound changes and train my ear if you will.

Thanks again. Apologies for the broad question(s).

[ChadDub]

just read manuals and turn knobs

[deadly_habit]

experiment. knowing how the basic waveforms sound solo (and with pwm etc) helps a lot as well

[Ongelegen]

experiment

This x100! Most fun part of production imo

[B-Frank]

Only way to put it is... Trial and error.

[subfect]

What's already been said - basically just playing around. My best sounds have come around by accident. Once I create them by accident a few times, I know how to make them moving forward

[B-Frank]

I made a lot of average sounds following tutorials. I made all of my best sounds stumbling upon them unknowingly.

[atticuh]

Experimentation is a huge part of learning synthesis, but IMO, you should learn the fundamentals of synthesis first. Additionally, a lot of effective synthesis is usually complementary of the composition, and not just automation either. For example if you're making a synth to play a bar of 16th notes, you wouldn't set the attack and release on the amp envelope to 10 seconds, because the sound you're creating wouldn't be able to convey the melody as written. I think this is something a lot of newer producers initially overlook, and it leads to all sorts of problems in the process of writing a tune.

[subfect]

*like*

[sunny_b_uk]

i like approaching sound design as differently as i can, i try 2 make up stupid methods just to create new sounds. i dont like 2 just use 1 filter on a sound either i like using quite a few in the chain. also tonnes of automation

[bigdaveo11]

great advice guys, couldn't agree more.

And yes my approach consisted of reading manuals and sound design books to learn the fundamentals and what each knob specifically does to affect the sound. Then learning the synth inside out (First one was massive, love the interface). It was difficult for me to jump straight into experimenting at first because I needed a set structure/guidelines or some kind of "direction" That being said I am really enjoying jumping into the experimentation process currently, after learning some solid background information, sound properties and how to navigate the VST itself.

thanks again for sharing.

[Sine69]

I just fuck around until I make a cool noise

[DrastikMeazures]

I've got my trusty tascam dr03. I like to record sounds when I'm out walking the dog, then stretch'em out and pitch them ridiculously hi and low and try piling on tons of effects and huge delay's and reverbs. Fun to do when your stuck for ideas.

[mtl6]

pick one or two synths to really work with. then watch a ton of youtube "how to sound like _____" video tutorials and other tutorials until you can kinda predict what will happen next in the videos. eventually you will see patterns like adding dimension expander in massive, etc. then you just gotta experiment really

[bigdaveo11]

haha I am learning that screwing around with literally any sound/preset and then adding further processing is lots of fun. Initially I would get frustrated because I like everything to be structured with a "plan" but as mentioned above in regards to the tutorial videos, you get a sense of specific patterns and my ear is becoming accustomed to what different parameters and FX are going to due to the sound even before I create it.

I guess layering/processing different freq. bands is one area I am intimidate by. Sometimes I feel like I MUST apply lots of processing/resampling/layering etc.. in order to get a "professional" sound even though I know thats not the case always and there are many factors. I am still learning/practicing on how to EQ all the different sounds so they fit together, if I am layering a lead with 6 different sounds with similar frequency ranges, even though I know it is probably better to find sounds that fit together well first and then EQ. anyway thats for another thread

oh and to drastik meazures...going out and recording sounds would be awesome! haha. bet you get some sweet results.

[SunkLo]

http://www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=153739
Basically just remove yourself from the confines of acceptable conventions in music and go on mad scientist tangents. Pretty general consensus on that.

[bigdaveo11]

great link. thanks.

[SpungE]

I think the only sound I didn't learn through experimentation was reese bass.

[slothrop]

It can help a lot to have an init patch that consists of a plain sine wave and then learn to build up patches from there - start with one oscillator, then add another, then bring in some modulation, then add filters, then more modulation, then FX etc. At each stage see what range of things you can achieve using only the new thing you're adding in, so you really find out what each element does to the sound...

[hasezwei]

learn the basic effects and filters.

learn lowpass, highpass, bandpass and notch filters so you can spot them when listening to a tune (easy)
learn flangers, phasers, chorus, delays, reverbs and distortion. learn to spot them, use them on sounds in many different ways and combinations.
these are your basic weapons and if you're good at using them the rest will come naturally.