[DJD9]

Ok, I'm familiar with normal music theory, I have a background in classical, and I know a bit about writing trance and the like, but I'd also like to look over some theory that pertains only to Electronic music.

An example:

The acoustic relationship between a saw and square wave, what frequencies are associated with what percussive / lead / bass elements most commonly, which (high, band, low pass) filter provides the best results on a sound at what frequency and of what waveform, how much attack to put on a kick to get the right punch in a song that's already nearly in EQ hell, the differences between analog and digital synthesis and what is possible with each, what sounds fit best in what genre...

You know, the fun stuff.

[thom]

Jeez. i don't know where to start.


You sound like the guy that will go the extra mile and have fun doing it.

Hm. With you're background, you're already familiar with many notions that would make modular systems very intuitive, to some extent.

There is soooo much to read about, try, listen, understand, apply ... Yes... the fun stuff indeed!

I say: dive into modular synthesis. Either by getting a Nord Modular, Reaktor, Max/MSP, Buzz... It's hard for me to say which one would be better from an academic standpoint. Personally, Reaktor enables me to do anything my musical/mathematical/etc brain can imagine.

[metalwood]

check out "The Theory and Technique of Electronic Music" by Miller Puckette. Its definitely what youre talking about. The examples all use Pd, which I find a little more difficult to use than Max/MSP or Reaktor, but it is free so i don't mind.

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This stuff is core-a@#. Hope it helps.

Ben

[DJD9]

Thank you very much for the link, exactly what I was looking for!

About hardware synths, I don't really have the money to do much except for virtual studios, plus its just much easier to make things work for me. However, I've had my eye on a TB-303 devilfish for a while now. I just love the squelchy acid sounds, maybe pair it up with an 808 for maximum minimal acid trance enjoyment.

Perhaps jumping off Cubase and FL and maybe trying to learn Reason in the absence of actual hardware would do it? I guess I'll find out...

[emmanuel.d]

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And much more but I have to go

[zongo]

The best tool I had to learn about basic synthesis was (is, always) my Clavia Nord Modular. I had other synths before the Modular, but this one was the most didactic and it pushed me to go further. I bought this synth in 1998 and I will never sell it ! It's really great when you have an idea about synthesis, it's just like a notepad. Pull 5 oscillators, 3 different filters, 4 LFO, 3 envelopes, and so on... Also there are some useful modules like boolean operations. Combine those with all the sequencing modules and your Modular can play itself for the whole night.

If you can grab one (I heard there are not very extensive on Ebay) or even a Micro Modular, you won't regret it

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