An Introduction to Analog Synthesizers (featuring Moog Mavis)

In this video, I take the all new MOOG MAVIS out for a spin. In the process, I go over how classic analog synths (aka subtractive synths) work.

[zachsanchez]

every time i watch a video like this my wallet cries

[KieranShort]

You are a brilliant speaker and presenter. I'm a lecturer, and your timing and emphasis is perfect. Your choice of when leaving silence when your speaking is just fantastic. 👍
And it is a nice sounding synth too 🤣

[rosekennedy]

Moog should hire you because you’ve sold me on this product.

[melonycarlson]

music production, especially synth music has always seemed like such arcane wizardry to me, ur videos actually make it seem pretty straightforward and easy to understand

[devildog-]

This video was very thoughtfully put together. It was crisply shot and narrated not to mention very informative, it was exactly what I needed to see. Thank you for creating it.

[chk_yt]

Hello David. This was one of the clearest, most educational and enjoyable walk-through of this type of synth I have watched. It helped me a ton to grasp some of the concepts and interactions. Million thanks for this and your gem of a channel. ❤️❤️❤️

[andrewbrehaut]

Regarding the tiny knobs, the Mavis’s predecessor, the Werkstatt has the same or similar. I got an adapter kit from Thonk in the UK that contained brass sleeves and appropriately moogy knobs, and it made a massive difference to ease of use. Well worth investigating equivalents for the Mavis

[JH-lout]

Very nice introduction to analog subtractive synthesis!

Just one thing I would have added:
Recording the bassline or lead as a sequence on the keystep, then playing around with the filter cutoff and resonance.

Sequencing is such a big part of electronic music, as it frees up your hands to sculpt the sound in real time.
This is to me what really sets synthesizers apart from other instruments.

Maybe material for a follow-up video.

[maxverse]

David, you're a very gifted teacher. I'm delighted and captivated by your explanations - a lot of "synth stuff" that "sort of made sense...ish" is a lot clearer when you talk through it. Thank you for taking the time!

[azzy-]

Man I wish I watched a video like this a five years ago, I had to teach subtractive synthesis to myself with no prior knowledge about synthesizers. makes me really appreciate the simplicity of synthesizers, even though I didn't really understand anything I could still reverse engineer it by trial and error. would love to get an analog synthesizer one day.

[ia]

I know nothing about synths, this video was my first introduction to how they actually function. Despite this, I've been watching your other videos and have been absolutely loving them! I really do enjoy hearing about the history as well as the music you make out of the devices. Whether synths, violins, or a bicycle wheel, I've been finding that you're style of music is just incredible.

I'm quite happy to find that you have quite a lot of music you've made on SoundCloud, it will for sure become a staple to my music listening

[einatom]

it is utterly INSANE how this dude manages to just throw me into a complete new world every time he produces some music in those videos. I really really enjoy it!

[DstnLaPres]

Dave, you are a brilliant producer. As others have commented, you are certainly an excellent presenter, speaker, teacher... But beyond that, everything about your videos is simple and IMHO; perfect. I especially like your video/camera work. Each of your videos has a crisp, High definition feel but it's even more than that. Like how the camera is in or out of focus in the perfect places. The sharp colors. The smooth, well put together layout and presentation. Finally, your speaking parts are simple, illustrative, and accessible for everyone from the absolute beginner, to the Musical Genius. I am a published Author & Freelance writer, singer-songwriter, and Guitarist myself, and I find well educated, professional, composers, and creators inspiring. What I'm not, Is a formally trained & educated, full spectrum+composer like yourself...or as I like to call them; Professional Musician. I am not even a patron of the electronic instruments, synthesizers, or any of the other amazing electronic synth type products. Even still, as a consumer; I can watch your videos, and learn new things watching hours of your videos. It is creators like you who make @Youtube Great, and it is people like you who attract amazing new talent to Musicianship. Praying for Fair Winds and Following Seas on your journey my friend--Godspeed.

[Furyflow]

I am not an engineer even though I had many natural science disciplines during my studies (I am a health scientist) and a couple of things are just mindboggling for me. The first one is how these universal laws of nature pop up in the most random places, the second one is how music is really just math and physics and the third one is how similar brains operate to music and how we have used many concepts that are introduced here in this video for example for brain imaging technologies like EEG.

[LoyalTreeFriend]

i was craving for this from the start explanation since a while. thanks i finally understand how analog synths work... at least a bit ;)

[richardjonsson]

Truly brilliant to show the visual presentation of the wave while playing/modding it. I've become quite curious about analog synthesis but have little to none experience and really need to "see what I'm hearing" to understand whats going on.

[mojophonic]

Brilliant. Love the engaging, knowledgeable and enthusiastic approach you have to your content. Keep it up!

[eldipi]

Just recently got into synths. Thanks for this, made my learning process a lot easier

[Jack-upsb]

I don't really know anything about synths, electronics or music production but your videos are so calming to me, everytime I hear the end piece of music you make with the kit it's so satisfying to me, this is like my version of ASMR 😂

[JamesVytas]

You gave the clearest and most succinct explanation I’ve heard for beginners about the parameters and elements of a synthesiser.