Author Topic: How did you learn sound design? (Read 40879 times)

birdwork · « **Reply #15 on:** February 18, 2016, 06:46:46 am »

For me, I learned everything backwards. I had a Virus TI and other soft synths with every synthesis option under the sun for years, and eventually got a Moog Little Phatty. The Moog basically basically only has a square/saw wave, a ASDR envelope, and a LFO. But the variety of sounds that could come out of that simplicity blew my mind. Now I am back to the Virus and soft synths not trying to turn every little option on, but being more purposeful in building a sound. Maybe try limiting yourself to the basics of synthesis.

Lydian · « **Reply #16 on:** February 18, 2016, 06:49:13 am »

Quote from: dslyecix on February 17, 2016, 06:17:52 pm

Basically people, stop treating sound design as if it's magic.

Glitch-hop & Dubstep sound design is magic af tho.

Final Kindgom · « **Reply #17 on:** February 18, 2016, 07:10:30 am »

Youtube tutorials. I'm a visual person, so it's hard for me to sit and read somewhat boring manuals. Videos are (sometimes) straight to the point and I can hear the changes. From there I just applied what I learned and experimented further.

Tentronic · « **Reply #18 on:** February 18, 2016, 01:00:26 pm »

For me, I pretty much learnt what every parameter on the synth does and how it contributes to the sound overall and then literally just experimented. Best thing it to try thing that usually wouldn't be right and try fit them in. You achieve more unique results!

SKEEV_IRWIN · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2016, 09:39:45 pm »

Quote from: dslyecix on February 17, 2016, 06:17:52 pm

Quote from: Lydian on February 17, 2016, 07:58:31 am
Once you realize that 50% of the sounds out there are some sort of variation of a saw wave or a square wave you've already won half the battle.
That, and what ADSR is and how to use it. I'm still such a noob at production, but it even blows *my* mind that people ask "how do you make this pluck" or "how do you make these wobbles"... IMO those people should not be given the direct answer or patches, but instead directed towards an understanding of what makes a pluck a pluck, etc.

If you know what ADSR is and have watched a couple examples being made you don't NEED anyone to tell you how to make the pluck. You understand (or can figure out) what's happening to make them sound that way. Then you go to your favourite synth, you make a pluck-shaped envelope, and you experiment with the filters, tweak the envelope shape, effects etc.

Basically people, stop treating sound design as if it's magic.

Pretty much this. Took me way to long to figure out that basically everything is a series of even and odd harmonics with different phase relationships. SeamlessR made me see the light though. And since saw waves are literally every harmonic in the FFT series that makes them great for subtractive synthesis. After that it's only a matter of learning what every effect sounds like, i.e. frequency shifters(chorus, flanger, phaser), distortion(overdrive, saturation, waveshaping, downsampling), dynamic processors(compressors, limiters, transient shapers), time based stuff like delays and reverbs, and all the other weird effects you can find. Of course there's a lot of obscure stuff like granular synthesis and spectral effects but most of the time you'll be able to hear distinct signs of that going on in a sound.

Marrow Machines · « **Reply #20 on:** February 19, 2016, 12:41:12 am »

Quote from: Lydian on February 18, 2016, 06:49:13 am

Quote from: dslyecix on February 17, 2016, 06:17:52 pm
Basically people, stop treating sound design as if it's magic.

Glitch-hop & Dubstep sound design is magic af tho.

not really, once you learn a few things about audio manipulation, and i do mean bouncing your stems, then you can pick up on what is going on.

It took me like years to actually hear what an LFO does, is, and sounds like in application. the summation of the parts is what makes it sound complicated, but the integration process isn't that big of a deal.

Lydian · « **Reply #21 on:** February 19, 2016, 07:38:31 am »

Quote from: SKEEV_IRWIN on February 18, 2016, 09:39:45 pm

Pretty much this. Took me way to long to figure out that basically everything is a series of even and odd harmonics with different phase relationships. SeamlessR made me see the light though. And since saw waves are literally every harmonic in the FFT series that makes them great for subtractive synthesis. After that it's only a matter of learning what every effect sounds like, i.e. frequency shifters(chorus, flanger, phaser), distortion(overdrive, saturation, waveshaping, downsampling), dynamic processors(compressors, limiters, transient shapers), time based stuff like delays and reverbs, and all the other weird effects you can find. Of course there's a lot of obscure stuff like granular synthesis and spectral effects but most of the time you'll be able to hear distinct signs of that going on in a sound.

I think you really hit the nail here. Explained it better than I could. I expected to get trolled at first but you my friend deserve a glass of wine.

Quote from: Marrow Machines on February 19, 2016, 12:41:12 am

not really, once you learn a few things about audio manipulation, and i do mean bouncing your stems, then you can pick up on what is going on.

It took me like years to actually hear what an LFO does, is, and sounds like in application. the summation of the parts is what makes it sound complicated, but the integration process isn't that big of a deal.

Marrow, will you be my Senpai?

I don't understand glitch-hop/dubstep sound design for ass minus the basic wobbles, yais, and growl.

If you have a Skype and would be willing to help me understand how to make this type of stuff you will be mommy af.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkwtq2uhbmU 1:37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYaeoeLHva8 0:34

Marrow Machines · « **Reply #22 on:** February 19, 2016, 05:59:41 pm »

Quote from: Lydian on February 19, 2016, 07:38:31 am

Quote from: SKEEV_IRWIN on February 18, 2016, 09:39:45 pm
Pretty much this. Took me way to long to figure out that basically everything is a series of even and odd harmonics with different phase relationships. SeamlessR made me see the light though. And since saw waves are literally every harmonic in the FFT series that makes them great for subtractive synthesis. After that it's only a matter of learning what every effect sounds like, i.e. frequency shifters(chorus, flanger, phaser), distortion(overdrive, saturation, waveshaping, downsampling), dynamic processors(compressors, limiters, transient shapers), time based stuff like delays and reverbs, and all the other weird effects you can find. Of course there's a lot of obscure stuff like granular synthesis and spectral effects but most of the time you'll be able to hear distinct signs of that going on in a sound.

I think you really hit the nail here. Explained it better than I could. I expected to get trolled at first but you my friend deserve a glass of wine.

Quote from: Marrow Machines on February 19, 2016, 12:41:12 am
not really, once you learn a few things about audio manipulation, and i do mean bouncing your stems, then you can pick up on what is going on.

It took me like years to actually hear what an LFO does, is, and sounds like in application. the summation of the parts is what makes it sound complicated, but the integration process isn't that big of a deal.

Marrow, will you be my Senpai?

I don't understand glitch-hop/dubstep sound design for ass minus the basic wobbles, yais, and growl.

If you have a Skype and would be willing to help me understand how to make this type of stuff you will be mommy af.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkwtq2uhbmU 1:37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYaeoeLHva8 0:34

Yea, but you'll be required to take notes, do home work assignments, and practice. other wise you'll be fired.

Lydian · « **Reply #23 on:** February 19, 2016, 08:31:18 pm »

Quote from: Marrow Machines on February 19, 2016, 05:59:41 pm

Yea, but you'll be required to take notes, do homework assignments, and practice. otherwise you'll be fired.

DOWN!

RAVÉN · « **Reply #24 on:** February 26, 2016, 09:10:47 am »

I believe that the best way to learn how to make cool sounds is by just playing with the synth you are using. Also if you are getting an analog synth, go for one with plenty of knobs, they are fun to use.

fxbip · « **Reply #25 on:** February 27, 2016, 09:07:43 pm »

Having only a few plugins but knowing them very well.Like 8-10 vsti that you really like or even less and learning to do everything with them.

neotron · « **Reply #26 on:** May 26, 2017, 03:57:43 pm »

Quote from: birdwork on February 18, 2016, 06:46:46 am

For me, I learned everything backwards. I had a Virus TI and other soft synths with every synthesis option under the sun for years, and eventually got a Moog Little Phatty. The Moog basically basically only has a square/saw wave, a ASDR envelope, and a LFO. But the variety of sounds that could come out of that simplicity blew my mind. Now I am back to the Virus and soft synths not trying to turn every little option on, but being more purposeful in building a sound. Maybe try limiting yourself to the basics of synthesis.

You may check for some Access Virus tutorials here. There are many more little tricks explained here that can be used not just for the Virus, but also for any subtractive modelling synth. Learning Virus may take some time, as it is a quite complex instrument, that's why I made that video to help you.

Author Topic: How did you learn sound design? (Read 40879 times)

birdwork

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Lydian

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Final Kindgom

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Tentronic

Re: How did you learn sound design?

SKEEV_IRWIN

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Marrow Machines

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Lydian

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Marrow Machines

Re: How did you learn sound design?

Lydian

Re: How did you learn sound design?

RAVÉN

Re: How did you learn sound design?

fxbip

Re: How did you learn sound design?

neotron

Re: How did you learn sound design?