Synths & Sound Design

Tutorial | Dec 20, 2014 by Noah Pred

Looking for some inspiration for your next music track, maybe it's time to cultivate and embrace chaos. Noah Pred explains and shows how to randomise drums in Ableton Live.

Tutorial | Dec 17, 2014 by Joe Albano

There's not many (any?) virtual instruments with an exclamation mark in their name. But that's not the reason Xpand!2 sample playback/synth deserves your attention. Joe Albano takes you deep into it.

Tutorial | Dec 16, 2014 by G.W. Childs IV

Add an organic, throaty feel to your basses and synths by creating a formant filter in Propellerhead Reason's Thor. G. W. Childs shows how to combine Thor and a Combinator for that WOW effect!

Tutorial | Dec 15, 2014 by Joe Albano

Logic Pro X has an arsenal of useful tools and plug-ins for mixing and sound design. The Match EQ is perhaps one of the less well-known "fixing" tools that does what it suggests, and does it well!

Tutorial | Dec 09, 2014 by Gary Hiebner

Breathe new life into your drum parts by learning how to create your own drum kit presets in PreSonus Studio One's Impact. Gary Hiebner is on hand to show you how.

Tutorial | Dec 08, 2014 by Darren Burgos

Logic Pro is a sound designer's paradise. With so many instruments and potential sounds, one way to make your own evolving patterns, risers and sequence FX is using the awesome Delay Designer plug-in.

Tutorial | Nov 27, 2014 by Rich Tozzoli

Certain types of compression can work wonders on most types of electric guitar parts. Armed with Universal Audio's TLA-100 plug-in, Rich Tozzoli is on a mission to make your guitar sound great.

Tutorial | Nov 25, 2014 by G.W. Childs IV

It's time for some old school synth tips. If you've got a desire to create some house music stabs and you're a Propellerhead Reason user, then this one's for you.

Tutorial | Nov 19, 2014 by Hollin Jones

Getting a great guitar or bass sound is easier than ever, thanks to the new modules in Reason 8. Developed in association with processing experts Softube, they can work their magic on almost anything.

Tutorial | Nov 13, 2014 by G.W. Childs IV

Creating a complex and involved industrial style bass arpeggiator sound and pattern in FL Studio just got interesting! G. W. Childs shows how using Poizone 2's and LFO and Trance Gate.

Editorial | Nov 11, 2014 by Gary Hiebner

Whether you're primarily a recording sound designer, or an in-studio, behind a computer or synth kind, here's five types of hardware/gear every self-respecting sound designer should be armed with.

Tutorial | Nov 04, 2014 by Hollin Jones

The Komplete Kontrol software works well with all hardware but comes into its own when paired with Komplete Kontrol S-Series keyboards. Here's 5 tips from Hollin Jones on how to get the most from it.

Tutorial | Nov 03, 2014 by Gary Hiebner

While editing audio is much more flexible than ever before, converting audio into MIDI can add another level to our ability to change a recording. Gary Hiebner shows how to do this in FL Studio.

Tutorial | Oct 31, 2014 by Rounik Sethi

It's Halloween today, and high time we banish the fear and focus on empowerment. Here's 13 quick tips on how to make learning music software less scary than it might be.

Tutorial | Oct 30, 2014 by Joe Albano

In this 5-part series, veteran rocker and music technologist, Joe Albano, takes you through the stages for mixing rock music. Part two focuses on mixing bass.