The principles of synthesis and sound design, focusing on how to create the sound you want and the sound that is right for your music. These principles can be applied to any synthesizer.
The building blocks of synthesis, looking at the elements of synthesis, the function of each element and its effect on the sound, and how each element interacts with the other elements.
Synthesizer construction principles, focusing on the choices that are available from different oscillator and filter types, through to the audio path construction, the modulation that can be applied, and the implications of those choices in terms of flexibility, control, and sound.
The book looks at subtractive (analog) synthesis, frequency and phase modulation, sample-based synthesis, and additive techniques. It makes extensive use of illustrations from four popular modular synthesizers—Zebra 2, KarmaFX Synth Modular, VAZ Modular, and SynthEdit. The book is also accompanied by a free downloadable synthesizer (in PC VSTi format) which illustrates further some of the sound design and synthesizer construction principles.
Becoming a Synthesizer Wizard: From Presets to Power User is for people who are new to synthesis as well as for musicians who want to consolidate and expand their knowledge of the subject.
The book is also for anyone who wants to create (and perhaps sell) their own synthesizers. With SynthEdit (one of the featured synthesizers) you can create your own synthesizers. The free synthesizer accompanying the book was built with SynthEdit and you are walked through the construction of this synthesizer. In addition to the synthesizer itself, the underlying SynthEdit files are also available for download, so you can further develop your understanding.
If you want to take those first steps From Presets to Power User, or if you already know something about synthesis and you want to consolidate that knowledge and become a Synthesizer Wizard, then you can check out the book at http://noisesculpture.com/synthwiz.html.
The first Noise Sculpture synthesis videos are now available.
You can see them all, and read more about these videos, at http://noisesculpture.com/videos.html. If you don’t want to click, then here are the highlights.
Get a Grip on Synthesis
Get a Grip on Synthesis is an introduction to (subtractive) synthesis for people who may have no musical knowledge and may know nothing about synthesizers, but who want the briefest of introductions to the subject.
Synthesizer Boot Camp
Synthesizer Boot Camp is a series of videos which looks at synthesizer techniques that can be applied in creating sounds. Each video is a bite-sized chunk of information looking at one specific aspect of sound creation. Here’s the first video in the series.
So far three videos have been published, but there are more to follow shortly.
Posted by Simon Cann on 2 January 2009 | Filed under Business Books
Made it in China
Made it in China features the personal experiences and lessons of international entrepreneurs who have left their own country and built successful businesses in China.
China is the issue for business in the 21st century. Since the country initiated its market reforms at the end of the 1970s it has made huge strides and now virtually every business around the world, whatever its size and wherever its location, has to include the “China factor” in its business planning.
The book focuses on the practical experiences of nine entrepreneurs as they grew their companies in this new and developing market—each of these entrepreneurs was invited to participate for the expertise and focus they bring to the book. Their stories are both practical and entertaining, combining first-hand anecdotes about the challenges they faced and how these were met with their own observations and thoughts for dealing with each situation.
China is different and proud to be different. For businesses without experience of the country, there are a whole range of new cultural, political, legal, and economic challenges to be faced. The vast majority of businesses that go to China fail, and fail for reasons that they don’t ever get to comprehend. It is a brutal market for those who do not understand it and there have been many major global organizations that have had their fingers burned due to their incomplete grasp of the country and its culture.
The nine entrepreneurs will highlight the challenges and lead you through the maze that is doing business in China, and explain the implications for businesses outside the country.
You can read more about the nine entrepreneurs featured in Made it in China and the focus they bring to the book at: http://madeitin.com/chinapeople.html.
Made it in China is the first book in the Made It In… series of books. You can read more about the Made It In… series (including the next books in the series) at: http://www.madeitin.com.
Making music is only half the story if you want to earn your living making music: the other half is the business. Rocking Your Music Business:
introduces the business of music, and
tells you how to set up and run that business–both in terms of what you need to do, and the tools you need to run your business at home and on the road. As part of this, the book also looks at how you can use your existing tools, such as a desktop computer, a laptop, or a Smartphone/iPhone, to carry your office in your pocket.
You don’t need a major record label to have a career–especially with all of the changes that the industry has been undergoing in the last few years–but you do need a successful business and business infrastructure, and Rocking Your Music Business is the handbook that should be on the bookshelf of every musician who wants to take their business as seriously as they take their music.
Project5 Power! The Comprehensive Guide is now available. With SONAR Power! (by Scott Garrigus) and my other Cakewalk book Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User, this completes the coverage of Cakewalk’s Pro Suite.
To read more about the book, go to www.noisesculpture.com/p5p from where you can also download the patches accompanying tutorial 33.
Co-written with Klaus P Rausch, this book is intended for both the established musician who wants to develop a greater understanding of what sampling can do to help them make music, as well as for the musician who is taking his or her first steps in sampling. For further details, go to www.noisesculpture.com/st.
Project5 Power! is on its way and should be out at the start of next year.
The book is a comprehensive guide to using this sophisticated software and looks at:
how to record, and edit, audio and MIDI in Project5
the included synthesizers (Dimension and Dimension LE, VELOCITY, nPULSE, Cyclone, DS864, PSYN II, and Roland GrooveSynth) and the included effects units
the loop and beat creation tools and how to work with Clips to create music
Project5 Power! goes beyond a simple explanation of what function each control performs and also focuses on how to get results, making the book suitable for musicians with experience of Project5 who are looking improve their skills and broaden their understanding of the product, as well as people who are new to Project5.
The book will fits in with Cakewalk’s Pro Suite which is now covered by:
I recently finished updating Sample This! (Third Edition) which has been written in collaboration with Klaus P Rausch. This third edition of Sample This! will be available to buy on November 1. You can check out details of the book at www.noisesculpture.com/st from where you can also download a copy of the table of contents.
Some of you may not know Klaus, so let me tell you a bit about him.
Klaus is a musician, record producer, and sound designer based in Wiesbaden, Germany. In 1995 he set up Back in Time Records which specializes in sample production. As well as producing its own sample-based library products such as acoustic and electronic instruments ranging from the grand piano, to real orchestral sounds, and ethnic instruments to classic vintage synthesizers. Back in Time Records’ samples have also been used in products from Sonic Reality, LinPlug, Emagic, Image Line, and more.
He is also a highly talented keyboard player and one half of Milo’s Craving (he’s the half without red hair). If you haven’t heard Milo’s Craving, you can check out their website here. If you want to listen to some of their music, then check out their MySpace page. I suggest you start by listening to Come Out. To find out more about Klaus you can visit his personal website www.klausdot.com.
Since Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User was published there have been a number of changes to the featured synthesizers. The second Update to the book has now been made available for free download, ensuring that the information stays up-to-date.
The changes reflected in Update#2 include:
Rapture LE has been released with SONAR.
The synthesizers included with SONAR and Project5 version 2.5 and other Cakewalk products have been updated.
New soundsets are available for the Rapture and Dimension families.
This Update includes all of the material in Update#1 (which was issued in May and is no longer available). That Update covered:
Rapture version 1.1.
Z3TA+ version 1.5.
Dimension LE.
Go to www.noisesculpture.com/cakewalk to get Update#2. The download is freely available to anyone, and while it will be of most use to people with the book, if you’re still wondering whether to buy it, please feel free to download the update and take a look. You can also download the table of contents and a sample chapter from my website.
There will be further updates if and when Cakewalk again updates any of the synthesizers featured in the book.
As the article notes, there are many opportunities to make money from music. These opportunities exist for the musician and the entrepreneur, and while the music industry has seen its business convulsed over the last few years, the new business opportunities continue to grow.
There will always be a place for new artists. This provides the music entrepreneur (whether a performer or someone working behind the scenes), with a guarantee of access to the market. However, when coupled with these recent industry developments, the music industry becomes a highly compelling place to be. Just look at some of the changes:
With the new distribution channels, profitability has increased: you can earn more by selling a $0.99 download than you can by selling a $10 CD and so you can be profitable with a much smaller fan base.
As there is no need for a physical product, the scalability of some elements of the business are now unlimited. Downloads also mean there are no logistical questions about producing and distributing CDs. Nor do you have to deal with wholesalers, returns, breakages, or a host of other problems.
In a wired-up world, word of mouth will sell products better than any paid-for advertising. All you need to do is stand in the right place and get swept along by the wave.
There are new and emerging outlets for music, such as ring tones. Some of these markets can be incredibly lucrative, for instance while a download of a whole track may cost 99 cents, a short snippet sold for use as a cell phone ring tone may cost the equivalent of $9 (yes, that’s nine US dollars, it’s not a typo). Figure out which might generate more income for you.
The entrepreneurs—whether musicians or business people—who will succeed will be those who understand the key relationship is with the fan base (in other words, the income source), and nurture that relationship as an asset of their business. These people will not let their asset depreciate when the band has its inevitable “musical differences”.
