Synthesis in Music & Sound Production

15+ engaging sessions and over 7 hours of in-depth content and associated PDF resources for beginners and intermediates.
What you'll learn
Understand the core building blocks of sound: waveforms, frequency, harmonics, envelopes, filters, and modulation.
Navigate common synth architecture and signal flow (OSC → FILTER → AMP → MOD).
Understand and use major synthesis types: subtractive, additive, FM, wavetable, granular, sample-based, phase distortion, physical modelling, and modular.
Design a wide range of sounds including basses, leads, pads, plucks, and FX using different synthesis methods.
Shape sounds creatively using filters, ADSR envelopes, LFOs, and modulation for movement and expression.
Build classic and modern patches such as analog basses, evolving pads, FM bells, and hybrid layered textures.
Develop a structured sound-design workflow for any genre, context, or emotion.
Work confidently with both free and paid synths (Vital, Dexed, Serum, Pigments, Alchemy, etc.).
Create your own signature sound and showcase it at the end of the course.
Requirements
No experience required
Mac/PC computer or Tablet device with FREE Synth Apps
Headphones
Description
Unleash your sound-design creativity, there is no prior knowledge or expensive synths required!Whether you're a complete beginner, a self-taught producer, or an experienced musician ready to understand how your favourite sounds are made, this course is your friendly guide into the world of synthesis. From warm analog basses to evolving pads, shimmering FM keys to cinematic textures, you'll learn the tools, techniques, and mindset needed to design sounds with confidence.You don't need hardware. You don't need expensive plugins. And you definitely don't need a physics degree.Using a blend of free and optional paid software (Vital, Dexed, VCV Rack, Serum, Pigments and more), you'll explore the foundations of sound and the full landscape of synthesis types in a clear, musical, and practical way. If you can listen, click, and tweak a knob, you can learn synthesis!Across 15 structured sessions (around 30 minutes each), you'll build a rock-solid understanding of how synthesizers work, from oscillators and filters to envelopes, modulation, FM operators, physical modelling, wavetable scanning, granular techniques, and modular routing. Each lesson mixes short explanations, real-time demonstrations, and hands-on patch-building tasks so you learn by doing, not just listening.You'll start with the basics of acoustics and classic subtractive synthesis, then move into modern and advanced methods such as additive, FM, wavetable, granular, sample-based synthesis, phase distortion, and physical modelling. You'll learn how to design basses, leads, pads, plucks, sound effects, hybrid textures, and even your own signature patch. Along the way, you'll discover how to sculpt emotion and movement using envelopes, LFOs, filters, effects, and modulation routing.This course includes step-by-step video lessons, downloadable PDFs for quick reference, patch-design challenges, and creative tasks that help you apply each concept immediately. Everything is taught in a warm, encouraging, jargon-free environment designed to make synthesis feel fun, accessible, and inspiring, no matter your experience level.Perfect for beginners, bedroom producers, creative kids & teens, teachers, DJs, sound designers, composers, beat-makers, instrumentalists, or anyone who wants to finally understand how to design the sounds they hear in modern music and film.By the end of this course, you'll not only understand the major synthesis methods used across the industry, but you'll have the skills, vocabulary, and confidence to create your own unique sounds from scratch.Important tip: For the best learning experience, please use headphones or good-quality speakers.
Who this course is for
Beginners & Intermediates who are interested in sound design, music production and synthesisers
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