Reverse Engineering Synth Sounds Explained®
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6:01 Selecting Synthesizers
Thomas introduces the course and shows you how selecting different types of synths can help you make the various different synth sounds.
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11:31 Listening to Oscillators Pt. 1
This video covers the basic subtractive synthesizer waves and how they sound in context, and also discusses which waves to chose for different types of sounds.
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8:10 Listening to Oscillators Pt. 2
Now learn how to listen for different types of wavetable oscillators and what makes them sound different from one another. This video also shows you how to go about re-creating different wavetable sounds.
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9:40 Noise Layers
Discover how to identify and re-create different types of noise layers.
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7:14 Unison & Detuning
Learn how to hear the difference between Oscillator Detuning and Unison Controls, and when to use each of these features.
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13:14 The Filters
Learn what the different filter types sound like and when the use them to create different sounds.
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5:37 Volume Envelopes
In this video, Thomas explains how to identify the different parts of a volume envelope and how each part shapes the sound that you are wanting to create.
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9:33 Filter Envelopes
Now see how to approach and tweak filter envelopes when re-creating synth sounds.
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7:23 LFOs & Modulation
Learn how to identify LFOs, their effect on synth patches, and how to re-create the effect they are having on a sound.
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11:04 Applying Effects
This video covers how to approach using effects on sounds, what different effects layered together sound like, and how to identify them.
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11:08 Recreating a Lead Synth Pt. 1
Thomas uses a lead patch from the Serum synth and applies the methods discussed earlier to re-create the patch from scratch.
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5:32 Recreating a Lead Synth Pt. 2
In this video, Thomas wraps up the discussion on the lead by making some final adjustments to the patch.
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9:37 Recreating a Bass
Thomas now auditions a bass patch from the Serum sound bank and uses the methods learned previously to re-create the patch from scratch.
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16:17 Recreating a Pad
In this final video, Thomas shows you a pad patch from the Serum sound bank and utilizes the methods shown to re-create the patch from scratch.
Product Overview
Synth guru Thomas Cochran presents awesome synth sound design video tutorials! Have you ever heard a killer synth patch and wondered how it's made? Follow along with Thomas as he shows you how to listen to a patch and then recreate it from scratch, using any modern synth! These videos are designed for beginner hardware or virtual synth users.
Thomas greets you and then shows you how to first select the right synth for making the various different synth sounds heard throughout history, followed by an in-depth look at where any synth sound starts, with the Oscillators. Thomas also covers different kinds of synthesis including subtractive and wavetable based, which can produce an almost endless palette of sounds.
Applying noise layers is then explored, plus you'll see how using Unison modes and Oscillator Detuning can beef up your patches dramatically. Thomas then moves onto the Filter section of the synths, where you can sculpt your sounds and set their overall character creatively and dynamically.
Throughout the rest of the videos Thomas covers how to use LFOs, Modulation and routing, applying effects to sculpt your sound, and then gives you real-world examples of how to reverse engineer patch staples like Leads, Basses and Pads, all from scratch.
To see what these detailed synth sound design tutorials show you, and how they'll help you to understand and identify what's going on in any synth patch, see the individual synthesizer sound design video tutorial descriptions on this page. Turbocharge your synth programming skills now... Watch "Reverse Engineering Synth Sounds Explained®" today!
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Reviews
Submitted 6 months ago
One of the most helpful sound design courses I've seen
This is one of the most helpful and well organized sound design courses I've seen. I wish I had this when I was first starting out. Essential viewing for any synth player, producer or engineer. Although there was some weird problem with the sound, where any time he would play his synth patches you could hear some scratchy noise over the top. Might be the mastering or something. Had to take a star off the quality of video for that.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 7 months ago
Terrific for beginners; less for intermediates
This is a terrific course for beginners because it covers every aspect of synthesizers and is then directly applied. It's also great that this course is synthesizer independent: Serum is used in most of the examples but you can use any wavetable synth should you prefer. It's a bit strange though that the author assumes you already have basic synthesizer knowledge and then goes on covering envelopes, LFO's, etc... in detail, which is pretty basic info in my opinion. As an intermediate synth sound designer I expected some more advanced topics and skipped through most of the course. But for beginners this is absolutely great.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 7 months ago
Excellent!
This course is excellent. It's not just for intermediate users, but I think if a beginner wants to learn some basics about sound design, this would be the perfect starting point. The author has explained all the important things clearly and nicely. Thank you, Groove3!
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 7 months ago
A great sound design tutorial!
This is a very well thought out and easy to follow tutorial on synth sound design. If you want to understand how to create your own synth sounds, start here! Highly recommended!!
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 7 months ago
A MUST View For Beginner & Intermediate Synth Students
This is an absolutely terrific video tutorial on why a synth patch sounds the way it does - and how to recreate a similar sounding patch using your own synth. It covers some very important synth basics as well as providing lots of drill downs on how key synth parameters work. Love the visual combination of keyboard display with parameter tweaking and resulting waveform shaping. You really get to see and hear, at the same time, how things work - all combined with very clear explanations. This video is the real deal!
I am a: Student, Hobbyist, Musician, Sound Designer, Reason
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Reviews
Submitted 6 months ago
One of the most helpful sound design courses I've seen
This is one of the most helpful and well organized sound design courses I've seen. I wish I had this when I was first starting out. Essential viewing for any synth player, producer or engineer. Although there was some weird problem with the sound, where any time he would play his synth patches you could hear some scratchy noise over the top. Might be the mastering or something. Had to take a star off the quality of video for that.
Submitted 7 months ago
Terrific for beginners; less for intermediates
This is a terrific course for beginners because it covers every aspect of synthesizers and is then directly applied. It's also great that this course is synthesizer independent: Serum is used in most of the examples but you can use any wavetable synth should you prefer. It's a bit strange though that the author assumes you already have basic synthesizer knowledge and then goes on covering envelopes, LFO's, etc... in detail, which is pretty basic info in my opinion. As an intermediate synth sound designer I expected some more advanced topics and skipped through most of the course. But for beginners this is absolutely great.
Submitted 7 months ago
Excellent!
This course is excellent. It's not just for intermediate users, but I think if a beginner wants to learn some basics about sound design, this would be the perfect starting point. The author has explained all the important things clearly and nicely. Thank you, Groove3!
Submitted 7 months ago
A great sound design tutorial!
This is a very well thought out and easy to follow tutorial on synth sound design. If you want to understand how to create your own synth sounds, start here! Highly recommended!!
Submitted 7 months ago
A MUST View For Beginner & Intermediate Synth Students
This is an absolutely terrific video tutorial on why a synth patch sounds the way it does - and how to recreate a similar sounding patch using your own synth. It covers some very important synth basics as well as providing lots of drill downs on how key synth parameters work. Love the visual combination of keyboard display with parameter tweaking and resulting waveform shaping. You really get to see and hear, at the same time, how things work - all combined with very clear explanations. This video is the real deal!
I am a: Student, Hobbyist, Musician, Sound Designer, Reason
Thomas Cochran electronic musician and multi instrumentalist from Austin Texas, who now lives in Los Angeles. He focuses on creating electronic music that features both ambient and classical influences.
1. When did you start dabbling in music?
I started playing music at a young age, starting with classical guitar. This started my love for music and eventually expanded into learning other instruments as well. To date, I have had over ten years of classical experience and training as well as additional instrumental experience.
2. What training have you had?
I grew up studying classical guitar and composition and eventually started applying my classical knowledge to learning other instruments as well, ranging from violin, cello, keys, and drums.
3. When did you get intro recording?
I got into recording out of necessity when me and some friends started a band back in high school and couldn't afford studio time. Through this, I learned about music production and recording and haven't looked back since.
4. Why are you so good at training people?
I love learning about the technical aspects of music production, this helps me understand the how music production works under the hood. I have also worked for several years creating music production tutorials online.
Products by Thomas
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tutorial videoAbleton Live: Beginner's Guide to Beat Making
Thomas Cochran shows you how to make your very first beat with Ableton Live! See how to produce your first beat from scratch, using nothing but Ableton Live, including software installation and understanding Live's layout, all the way to exporting your finished beat and more. This series is designed for the absolute newcomer to Ableton Live.
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tutorial videoANA 2: Sound Design Vol. 1
Synth guru Thomas Cochran presents an in-depth ANA 2 video tutorial series! Follow along with Thomas and see how to create awesome, powerful sounds and presets for the ANA 2 virtual synth. These videos are great for those who know their way around ANA 2 and some basic synth terminology.
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tutorial videoBeat Making with MASCHINE
Thomas Cochran brings you beat making videos using Native Instruments MASCHINE! Learn to make a cool beat from scratch using nothing but MASCHINE. These MASCHINE tutorials are for those just starting out with MASCHINE as well as intermediate MASCHINE beat makers. You also get the MASCHINE project file so you can follow along and experiment.
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tutorial videoDark Synthwave Sound Design Explained
Synthesizer wiz Thomas Cochran brings detailed you dark synthwave sound design video tutorials! See step by step how to make sounds from scratch that define this popular genre. In these videos Thomas uses some great 3rd party virtual instruments like TAL-U-No-LX, Serum, Korg Mono/Poly and u-he Diva, but you can apply the info to any comparable virtual or hardware synth. This series is for those who have a basic understanding of synth sound design and want to focus on understanding and creating the sounds found in dark synthwave music.
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tutorial videoDAW Terminology Explained
DAW Terminology Explained™ is your definition based resource for quickly finding the meaning of common digital audio workstation and pro audio terms, features and functions! This growing collection of terminology definitions are short and sweet, and are designed for the beginner, to make sure you understand the basics and foundations of modern recording technology.
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