Program:

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The beginning of the 80ies saw the quick rise of the first digital FM synths such as Yamaha’s DX's series including the legendary Yamaha DX7. Throughout the years these instruments have gained legendary status. With the revival of “vintage” FM synths (e.g. reissue of DX7 by Yamaha) and relentless development of new versions (Elektron Digitone), FM synthesis has become a fundamental key element of today’s electronic music scene. In contrast to analogue synthesis, FM synthesis techniques are often quite difficult to understand, master and effectively use in a musical production.

The workshop “Digital Sound Synthesis I (focus on FM syntesis)” gives a practical, in depth and hands on answer to this question. In this the workshop, the first in a broaders series of workshops on digital sound synthesis, focus is thus set on FM Synthesis (with synths like NI FM8, Ableton’s Operator, Dexed, Yamaha’s DX7 or Reface DX). You’ll be provided with an in depth training how to design and sculpt your own sounds using any FM or wave table synth.

The workshop is intended for musicians, music producers, composers, sound designers or artistic creative interested minds. No previous knowledge required.

This workshop is organized into three sessions:

Sesssion 1: 2 hours on day 1 (23/04)

In this first session you learn to get acquainted with the basic principles sound synthesis, digital audio and the building blocks of any FM Synth. We'll end the session with building some first practical examples withing an FM Synth.

Concrete program:

-Basics principles of sound synthesis

---Oscillator types and basic waveforms

---Overtones series

---Spectral decomposition of sound wave

---Link between sound synthesis and real world instruments

-Basics of digital audio and sample based synthesis

-Basics of classification of sound

-Basic components of FM synthesizer

---operators

---envelopes

---modulators (LFO, scaling)

-First practical hands on synthesis examples

Sesssion 2: 4 hours on day 2 (24/04)

The second day of the workshop is we'll dive into the fundamental principles and techniques of FM synthesis on our concrete FM synth. Subsequently you'll learn how to apply this knowledge to synthesize various concrete instrument types.

Concrete program:

-Fundamental of FM synthesis

---carriers and modulators

---C:M ratio's

---FM algorithms

---overview of envelope types (organ like, acoustic and impulse envelopes)

---working with envelopes

---generating basic waveforms (saw, square, pulse, noise)

---modulator levels

---working with LFO's

---setting up and working with modulations

-Practical synthesis of string and pad sounds

-Practical synthesis of brass sounds

-Practical synthesis of woodwind sounds

-Practical synthesis of bass sounds

Sesssion 3: 4 hours on day 3 (25/04)

For the third day of the workshop is you'll further refine your knowledge of the workings and principles of FM synthesis using some concrete hands on examples and patches. After this you'll apply the new knowledge to synthesize various additional instrument types on any FM Synth.

Concrete program:

-Fundamental of FM synthesis part 2

---working with feedback

---working with multistage envelopes

---monophonic and polyphonic LFO's

---filter types and working with filters

---adding effects

---velocity scaling

---keyboard scaling

-Practical synthesis of drum and percussion sounds

-Practical synthesis of bell like sounds

-Practical synthesis of keyboard sounds

-Practical synthesis of special effects

-Practical synthesis of drones and soundscapes

Depending on request of the participants the FM synthesis of additional instruments or sounds can be handled as well or focus can be directed to one or more specific topics.

Requirements:

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Laptop and an internet connection. This workshop does can be followed entirely with free plugin Dexed (https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/), an amazingly powerful emulation of the legendary Yamaha DX7 FM Synth. Dexed runs as a standalone a pp and if you work with a DAW (Digital Audio Worksstation) you can also use Dexed inside your DAW. The workshop also does not require any previous knowledge on FM synthesis or sound synthesis in general. All techniques and principles will be explained from the start.

Planning and duration of the workshop:

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10 hours in total. This 3 day workshop runs from 23/04 till 25/04. On 23/04 from 18u30 till 20u30 and and on 24/04 and 25/04 from 14u00 till 18u00.

Cost of the workshop:

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Cost of the workshop:

-92 €

Maximum number of participants:

A maximum off 11 participants can join this workshop.

About the teacher of this workshop

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Teacher of this workshop is Valery Vermeulen. He's a Belgian electronic musician, mathematician, music producer , visiting professor at the Music Production department of the KASK-Conservatorium School of Art in Gent, guest lecturer the Master Artscience KABK Den Hague and researcher at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Antwerp University (BE). He holds a Phd in pure mathematics from Ghent University (BE) as well as a masters degree in Music Composition at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent (BE).

In his work Valery mainly focuses on he interaction between electronic music production, data science and theoretical physics. His installations and performances have been widely shown in Belgium as well as abroad.

More info on his background can be found via www.valeryvermeulen.net.

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Enrollment additional info:

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Once enrolled you’ll receive a link the day before the start of the workshop to a virtual class room where the workshop is held. This class room is accessible in a standard browser such as e.g. Google Chrome. On the day of the start of the workshop you’ll get access to the classroom as of 18u15.

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-If you would like to have more info on the workshop please send an email to workshops@valeryvermeulen.net.