Recordings
Prepare
Try downloading and installing VSTs, starting with these:
- Synths:
- Effects:
LANDR best free plugins list – I would suggest thinking of specific needs before browsing this list, or use the list to see what the categories are (a lot of them will make more sense soon)
Explore
Dave Smith on how MIDI came about
Apple movie (ad?)
Reaper Tutorials
ReaSynth
Note: This second video is not intuitive and requires fairly advanced knowledge of how synthesis works. I’m linking this here to show how it is possible to design something with ReaSynth, more akin to a modular synth. You can try coming back to this after you have your basics down!
Sound Design Course from Woochia
This is a good overview of the various components and stages of making sounds with virtual instruments. The breakdown can help grasp a more modular approach to sound design, where Reaper can be very powerful.
A single synth might have all these components – which can be great from a workflow perspective. A good synth design gives you all the different components you need at your fingertips, in an intuitive interface.
But recognizing these as individual devices from early on can help you design your own instruments, or create more complex instruments from simple ones.
Syntorial
Best paid tool to learn synthesis – explore plenty of free resources first to decide if you want to invest in learning synthesis.
Where to start?
Synth, Sampler, Groovebox, Sequencer
As you get into virtual instruments more, it can be a little confusing in the beginning to categorize things, especially complex instruments which are often more than one thing as discussed. This is a good start for an overview, but don’t get too bogged down by figuring it all out in the beginning, and focus more on exploring!
Don’t buy! But learn synth history from massive product bundles
The Analog Lab can be a good way to explore the V Collection, feel free to grab the demo!
TAL also makes nice emulations for a little less!
Komplete Start and Spitfire Audio LABS are two other freebies you can explore.
Breaking Down Studio Tools Further
Beyond Woochia’s super quick overview within the context of his tutorial, you can go a little further using the Music Production on a Budget playlist.
The channel has a lot of historically grounded information, including on synths. If you ever want to consider buying large libraries of classic synth emulations like the ones Arturia makes, consider watching this series first to know what they actually do and the context in which they became popular:
You can think of this as a practical ‘doing’ counterpart to someone like Alex Ball’s channel, who’s videos on Roland is linked in Week 4.
Apply
Build a Reaper template with tracks preloaded with different instruments.
