Studio One Mai Tai Explained

If you use Studio One as your DAW, you have an incredibly powerful analog-modeling synthesizer available to you called Mai Tai. In this Mail Tai video tutorial course, virtual instrument guru Larry Holcombe teaches you all of its features and functions, plus how to coax all kinds of inspiring and exciting tones from this sonic tour de force. After completing this comprehensive course, you may begin to wonder whether you need to invest in any other soft synths at all! This video is for new users of Mai Tai.

Videos

• Introduction & Interface (02:42) - In this first video, we introduce the series and cover the different areas of the interface.

• Oscillators (09:14) - Discover the parameters of the oscillators next, including PWM, spread, sub, and sync. This allows us to stack waveforms for fatter, thicker pitched sounds.

• Noise Generator (01:37) - Next up, we introduce the color, level, and pan parameters of the noise generator, allowing us to create a range of different noise-based tones.

• Character (03:57) - Explore the Character module next, where we can color the tone of our sounds in different ways. We add analog warmth and saturation, vowel-type formant sounds, and harmonic excitation.

• Filter (07:08) - Next up, we outline the function of the controls of the filter, including cutoff, resonance, drive, and punch. With the filter, we can sculpt the frequencies of our oscillators to create a wider palette of sounds.

• LFO Section (05:02) - This video focuses on the LFO section, allowing us to implement cyclical modulation such as vibrato, tremolo, and wah wah effects.

• Envelopes (06:22) - Discover how we can affect amplitude to widen our palette of sounds by using the envelope. We also assign the two freely assignable envelopes to make a more complex sound.

• Global Settings (03:38) - See how the global settings allow us to change the output volume, velocity sensitivity, and play modes. We can also set glide time, number of voices, and playback quality.

• Effects Section (10:18) - This video demonstrates the effects section, which contains seven different effects that can be placed into two separate slots. You can also add a rhythmic trance gate-style effect.

• Mod Matrix (02:37) - Examine the mod slots A and B, which allow us to create modulation routings directly and via an additional controller. This is demonstrated using an expression pedal.

• Analog Kick Drum (05:56) - This video focuses on creating an analog-style kick using a fast-decaying pitch envelope and a white noise attack.

• Analog Snare Drum (03:54) - Learn to create a snare drum next with a woody body and a white noise attack.

• Analog Hi-Hat (01:56) - Next up, Larry builds a white noise hi-hat which has its pitch linked to decay time, which we can use to create varied hi-hat lengths.

• 80s Bass (04:15) - In this video, we create a bass sound with an envelope-modulated filter. This is thickened up using a second oscillator using the sub parameter to add weight. We also add delay to provide an extra element of rhythmic interest.

• Big Pad (09:07) - Discover how to create a big, modulated pad sound.

• Ravey Lead (05:58) - Finally, we build a distorted, gated, rave-style lead sound.