Intro to Synthesizers | A Beginner's Guide

We understand that synthesizers can be intimidating at first, so we asked Dave Stutts to give us an introduction. We want you to be bold and take synthesizers head on! So, check out this nice intro lesson as we try to demystify the world of synth.

How To

The Sam Ash How To series aims to give you a first hand look at exactly how to do something that's musically awesome.

[soulassassing]

Bro, imagine if Mozart was around today how much he would love this thing.

[rachelpurity]

YOOO.
IT TOOK ME UNTIL 2:17 TO REALIZE THIS DUDE HAD AN OPEN SHIRT AND NOT JUST A FUNKY TIE!!!!

[triviadude]

13:41 "Hardcore synthesizer sh-stuff" nice save haha

[DrGargani]

realizing how impossible it is to narrow this down to a single video, you have done a tremendous job of simplifying it as much as possible, yet still covering all the basics....great job!!

[SamucaGamer]

I am a guitarist but now i think i should have a synth. Every musician should own one actualy

[bigburrito]

0:50 Monophonic vs Polyphonic
02:20 Analog vs Digital Synths
2:45 Programs/Presets/patches
4:10 Initialize Preset (New Sound)
4:20 Synthesizer Layout (Processing Chain)

5:30 Oscillators (He doesnt go over Sine wave I think so just know thats an option too)
5:38 Saw Wave
6:00 Triangle wave
6:26 Square Wave
7:02 Building a Sound (Based around a saw wave)
7:20 Shape Knob
7:40 Octave Switches
8:00 Trangle Bass Wave (Bottom Octave)
8:20 Mixer Levels
9:00 Noise Oscillator

10:35 Portamento (Note pitch glide)

11:20 Cuttof Section

11:45 Cutoff Knob (Cutting off certain frequency bands)
12:30 Keytracking (Higher notes = More pitch resonance)

13:20 Amp Section

13:30 ADSR Envelope

17:55 Filter Section

18:00 Filter Envelope
21:25 LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) Note: Adds Rhythmic Texture
23:50 LFO Applied to the Cuttoff Knob
25:20 LFO Applied to pitch

26:00 Your Analogs Potential "Effects Rack"

26:50 Sequencers (Pressing a note plays a recorded sequence)
27:15 Arpeggiator
28:30 Detuning

[fujiwaratsubasa]

I like your video because you are using simple and understandable languages. No idioms, no insider's phrases. Thank you!

[cancelcancel]

If i had a penny everytime he says "Pretty cool" it'd be pretty cool

[NealCaen]

this has helped me understand synths so much . THANK YOU GOD BLESS YOU ALL IM SO STOKEDDDD

[dictabeat]

First dude on YouTube I've seen who explains a synth in a comprehensive way.
This guy is gold. Thanks a lot!

[knobs]

Drinking game : Everytime you hear 'Pretty cool'
Side note, good entry for beginners ;)

[anguspollerd]

7:18 I love how he is trying to create vibrato by moving his finger, makes me miss my Seaboard :(

[junkyardfrog]

Literally the best synth overview i've seen on youtube. The envelope Generator/Cutoff/intensity section explained something so clearly that has been baffling for months. Thanks so much, Dave!

[pianojoe]

I have to say... This was pretty cool!

[xaviermccloud]

I really appreciate this video. I am just getting into beat/instrumental production. 29, never played an instrument in my life and got an MPC Touch and a Komplete Kontrol M32 Keyboard.


I just ordered the Deepmind 6 yesterday and was looking for some beginner/how to videos and this was perfect. I really appreciate the time you took to walk us through everything. You just taught me about the different wave types and I always wanted an explanation of that.

[jenkemaddict]

Love this guys passion! Makes the video so easy to watch.

[Sheblah]

My first proper lesson and it suddenly seems less complicated than I imagined (feared!), thanks for this intro dude

[stabgan]

Can't believe I watched it whole . I'm a noob guitar llayer

[nathanclark]

It would be unfair for me to say anything else apart from Pretty Cool. Thanks for this. I really appreciate the work.

[toma]

Summary: Everything about synth is pretty cool.