Brand new to synth and stuff

[PurgeValve]

Hi,
OK, so i'm brand new to the exploring using synths and creating music with them, but i do enjoy a lot of minimalist synth bands (Kontravoid), synth punk (The Normal, Hit Parade), and 1980s underground wave bands.

I'd really like to dabble and d**k around with some vintage synth sounds using programs online, but i don't really know where to start or how to install any of these programs in my computer which operates on Windows 7 (i think, i'd have to double check).

Is there anyway i can get a step by step tutorial on how to do this please? For instance, i tried downloading something from Retronix and another Pluton, but i could not for the life of me get either to work. They were dll files which my computer apparently had no way of getting to work. So i'm hoping someone can give me very basic and easy to understand instructions, advice, or program recommendations. I'm terrible with computers, so i need very layman type terms.

Also, if i were to like using a program on a computer and then wanted to take the next logical step and get a real synth, what is a good older synthesizer to start with for entry level skill that fits in well with the styles and bands mentioned above?

Thanks a lot for any help, i appreciate it.
-Purge Valve

[Z]

Welcome to the forum!

I still make music the old fashioned way: sans computer, so I really can't help you with software. You might look on YouTube for tutorials on the software. I know there are several tutorials on synthesis (mostly subtractive, aka analog) on YouTube to help you understand the basics of sound design.

I can certainly help you choose a hardware synthesizer. We need to know your budget and your needs. Is a monophonic synth (only plays one note at a time) sufficient or do you need a polyphonic instrument (able to play multiple notes for chords and such)? Fortunately, you are at a time of synthesizer revival with many choices of relatively inexpensive new analog monosynths and virtual analog polysynths.

[PurgeValve]

Awesome, thanks for the good help there. I appreciate the info.

I will look into Youtube for tutorials, and i'll check for a specific website dedicated to it as well. There's got to be some really step by step one that can do get me started. If others on here have recommendations, i'm all ears.

For a hardware synthesizer, the absolute most i could really spend would be $350. I'm sure there's not a ton of quality i could get for that price, but something decent and from the early '80s or that sounds of that time period (as that's when the majority of my favorite synth bands were from) would be great. I don't really have a preference between monophonic and polyphonic, so feel free to please steer me in the right direction. Thanks!

[JayEm]

Audiotool.com


Everything you need, all you have to download is the shockwave plugin for your browser.

[gunnare]

A dll. is an extention file for a host program. A host can be Cubase, Live, Reaper, Cakewalk, Logic, and standalones like Cantabile. Dll files are windows only. Mac instruments are RTAS.

The host program has a VST-plugin folder, specified in is settings/properties. You install a VST-instrument by putting the dll. file in the host`s VST-plugins folder. (For cubase it would be: Program-files/Cubase/VST-instruments) .
An installer will simply put the dll. file in your VST-plugins folder. For some free synths you have to copy the dll. file yourself. It is almost quicker and safer than using an installer.

The easiest host to start with might be Savi-host. You place the savi-host next to the dll. file and rename savi-host to have the same name as the dll. file (Of course not the .dll ending). A drawback with savi host is that any changes you make to the synth seems to be stored.

Next thing to learn:
You have to set your midi-port and latency setting in the properties/settings.
Latency is a delay buffer, and with modern computers it can be set to be very low, 1-2 ms. By default the latency can be very big, maybe 50-500 ms, so the sound will start a while after you have played a note. To cure this just set the buffer/latency as low as you can without getting crackles in the sound. You just have to experiement with different settings.

Banks is stored as .fxb files , and single sounds is stored as .fxp.
This is handled by the host, not the plugin (dll.file). So look after "Save patch" and "Save bank" in the host`s menues. Often is a little symbol just above the synths interface.


All the best
gunnare

[xanadu97]

For a hardware synthesizer, the absolute most i could really spend would be $350. I'm sure there's not a ton of quality i could get for that price, but something decent and from the early '80s or that sounds of that time period (as that's when the majority of my favorite synth bands were from) would be great. I don't really have a preference between monophonic and polyphonic, so feel free to please steer me in the right direction. Thanks!

Monophonic: Dave Smith Mopho or Evolver, Moog MG-1, Arturia Minibrute
Polyphonic: Oberheim Matrix, Roland Alpha Juno, Korg DW-8000, Ensoniq ESQ-1 or SQ80
Digital: Korg Microkorg or MS-2000, Waldorf Blofeld, Nord Micro Modular

[PurgeValve]

Thanks guys for all the help. This is all a great starting point, and i plan on getting started on it tomorrow. Thanks a ton.

[Jabberwalky]

Another for the Esq1/Sq80. Even for a beginner, those synths are very easily laid out. The esq1 is still really cheap and used by lots of synth punk bands.

[Hugo76]

I recommend you pick up a copy of Computer Music, it has an included dvd with loads of free stuff that should be all you need to start, before buying one of the more comprehensive Digital Audio Workstations (Cubase, Sonar, Ableton, Reaper, Reniose etc).

From time to time they release "Getting started" editions, if you have an iPad you could pick up one of those (plus some ultra cheap, great music apps)

[krushing]

Mac instruments are RTAS.

RTAS is actually the proprietary plugin format for Pro Tools plugins - the PC Pro Tools plugins are RTAS plugins as well. AudioUnit (AU) is the Mac-only plugin format & a .dll file doesn't really say anything about which plugin protocol the file might be (ie. VST, AU, RTAS).