Logic Pro X: Introduction to Subtractive Synthesis Part 1
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- Logic’s collection of instruments is awash with synthesisers and whilst the EFM1 provides some Frequency Modulation synthesis and Sculpture lets us dabble in the world of Physical Modelling, most of Logic’s synths are based on a Subtractive Synthesis engine.
This week, we’re going to go back to school to find out what Subtractive Synthesis is and to understand how we can use the ‘modules’ of a synthesiser to shape and build new sounds. For many years, I’ve found that explaining Subtractive Synthesis works well if you picture the Olympic rings - five overlapping circles, with each one representing a different module of a Synthesiser. And as it’s an Olympic year, why wouldn’t we?!
Here is Part 1; an introduction to one of my favourite subjects.
00:00 Intro
00:43 What is Subtractive Synthesis?
02:24 The Olympic Rings
03:21 What is an Oscillator?
05:28 Synths as musical instruments
07:21 Filters
08:32 Volume/Amplifier
09:23 Synth signal flow
10:43 Sound shaping
11:36 LFOs
16:00 Envelope overview
18:02 ADSR
21:35 Theory summary
22:06 ES M Oscillator and Filter
26:00 Volume section and Decay
28:49 Filter Decay
31:07 Velocity within the ES M
32:15 Overdrive and Glide
32:45 Filter Resonance
35:45 Filter Env with Resonance
36:44 Summary
Brilliant revisory video for me. I’ve been messing with synths since the mid 80s, so if I don’t know this stuff by now then I never will. However, you never stop learning and it’s always useful to listen to someone else explain things in a slightly different way to how you, yourself would. What I would have given for content like this back in 1986 😮
When you got to the resonance section I was hoping you were going to get your Mopho synth out 😂. I had one of those and the filter in that thing was so aggressive it really did blow one of my speakers 💥. That thing has attitude !
Thanks so much! You're right about the Mopho. I think it's the same colour as a wasp for the simple reason that it packs a hell of a sting! I'm so glad the video was helpful.
Jono, that was brilliant! You have such a gift to explain complex stuff clearly and make it understable and enjoyable - thank you so much! It really is such a privilege to get to learn from you.
You're most welcome. Thanks!
Wonderful. Thanks for saving me having to put my daughter through university!
Ha! You're welcome, though I'm not sure a degree from the University of JB Music would carry sufficient weight. ; )
This video of yours made my day, Jono, it is wonderful! Thank you so much!
Thanks BF! Hope you enjoy Part 2 as well.
Thank you so much for this tutorial Jono. It's like you have lifted a fog in my mind. Dying to try some this stuff out. The idea of inventing your own unique sound is so cool and synthesis is like a the magic tool that help us do that. Looking forward to the next parts already.
Thanks again, John. Part 2 next week and then more to come on this topic a little further down the line. I'm so glad it's helpful.
Once again a fascinating simplification of what looks like total confusion. This was very helpful Jono! So, thanks!
Thanks so much. I'm glad it was useful.
Nicely explained, Sir!
Thanks Peter! Much appreciated, as always.
Another great teaching video.
Thank you!
You’re a great teacher! Thank you JB! 🤟🏽
Thank YOU!
I learn so much in your videos, thx so much
Thank you!
Brilliantly articulated. Thanks, Jono!
Thanks so much, Chris.
Thanks!
John, thank you so much - that's incredibly generous.
Master class!!
Kind words, thanks so much!
Thank you again Jono, all your video’s have been really helpful! I have a question for you: Is there a possibility that you make a video in which you explain how to do proper balancing on logic pro x projects? I’m struggling to find the right order to do so. If you can, it would be great.
Thanks so much for the kind words. The word 'balancing' means slightly different things to different people! Do you mean 'mixing' tips, or videos about arrangement? Let me know and I'll either point you in the direction of episodes which might be relevant, or happily add your ideas to the list for future episodes.
@@jonobuchananmusic You’re right! I’m sorry, i wasn’t precise enough. What i actually meant to say is that i’m struggling to find the right way to make a good balance between tracks in terms of volume. I have this big project and i’m looking for a convenient way to set my volume settings for the tracks in this project. So its definitely a ‘mixing’ thing. Maybe there are good strategies to do so, or maybe it isn’t rocket science. Anyway, i was wondering if you could explain how to do this properly., especially for the bigger projects. Thanks again Jono👍🏻
my precious. x5
Ha!
If i understand correctly, sidechain compression has a similar effect to the sound as LFO? That pulsing sort of quality as it moves out the way if other elements?
Great question. The answer is yes and no. Sidechain Compression uses one external signal - which could be any sound - to act as a dynamic controller for a Compressor. So if the external signal isn't a pulsing wave, it won't behave like an LFO. Also remember that in Sidechain Compression, ONLY dynamics are affected, as Compressors don't affect Pitch and Tone. One useful way to think about LFOs is to think of them like one breath of wind after another. You can't 'see' wind, but you can see the effect it has on trees. Similarly, you can't 'hear' an LFO but you can hear the effect is has on an Oscillator, as its waveform forces pitch to rise and fall; or a Filter (as that waveform forces tone to open and close); or the Volume/Amplifier, which is where that waveform will make a sound louder/softer. So yes, both a Sidechain source and an LFO are external signals which can be 'patched into' another signal source but they are different too. I really hope that helps.
@@jonobuchananmusic thank you, Sensei!
Tremendously helpful!
🤍🤍🤍
: )
If logic would simply redo their interfaces and make them more like serum or massive they would get so many more users and alchemy would become so popular but instead they are busy giving us patches and updates that aren't nearly as desired or needed or necessary
I know what you mean and to some extent I share your frustration (as you'll perhaps have seen in my video about the Multipressor, for example). Apple are getting there - each new update does bring re-skinned plug-ins but ultimately, it matters most how they sound and there's no doubt that both the instruments and plug-ins are capable of really good things. And I think there will come a day when we'll miss the original ES1!
@@jonobuchananmusic what bothers me is I find these incredible sounds in alchemy and on the ES one and the ES two.... but the ability to automate the movements of those sounds is so complicated
At this point if I want to use alchemy and I want to customize the sound of the alchemy synthesizer I am pretty much left to use latch mode and manipulate things from that end
And it is frustrating because the potential of the sounds within alchemy if they would let us attach LFO tools to knobs to automate them like we do in serum would open up the possibility for amazing creation and it's just right there and they don't do it
I'm not gonna lie I did and do the new AI mastering tool
I just want to be able to use alchemy on the same level and control that I can use serum
I’m not a huge fan of the Logic interfaces but they have improved. I started using Logic in 1990 when it was called Notator and back then it was as basic as you can get. I remember the first time they released a version of Logic that had plug ins and the ability to record audio. That was mind blowing! My poor Pentium PC almost had smoke coming out of the back of it as it struggled to playback 5 or 6 tracks with a reverb bus 😂.
One thing Im not a fan of with Logic - and Im guessing this is as much to do with Apple and thats the colour scheme of the arrange windows. Too many colours that look like a bag of Skittles. I would prefer more pastel shades, or even grayscale !!
@@DorisDay-lw4xs I agree 100 on that color issue
I would love for my DAW to look classy and clean instead of a toy that a child plays with at the age of three
ES2.
Well quite! ; ) All good things come to those who wait!
Ive always avoided that one. The interface is a bit of a headache for me. Same with Sculptor. Sometimes I think Logic’s GUI needs an overhaul.
Dude Apple has changed the name to just "Logic Pro" half a decade ago and you are still making videos with the old name in 2024?
You’re right. But a huge number of people still search for content with the ‘X’ included, hence the naming. Definitely something we’ll phase out over time.
@@jonobuchananmusic Ha, there's gratitude for ya. Rest assured, there are plenty of us out there who don't care about such trivial things and are very appreciative of these tutorials, Jono! Keep up the great work.
Well, that has forever ruined my future recording plans 😱.