Modular synthesis EXPLAINED
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
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Thanks for watching today and a big hug to you if you share this video with someone!
Please do more of these. This was insanely educational.
yess
Great Idea. Do a educational section.
This was some high IQ shit man. As much as his regular videos give inspiration to have passion towards music, the explanatory style of this video almost makes me want to learn more / put time into something like music production.
tl;dr Couldn't agree more
i prefered if he just made a simple subtractive synth in reaktor blocks or vcv rack or voltage modular.
Yes, yes, yes! :D
I've been a metal musician most of my life and I never got why people are into synths.... now I want a wall like this myself
Do it man, I’m new to this myself, and even if you don’t use it in music, it just seems like a fun (albeit, insanely expensive) toy to play with haha.
There's a lot of Synth music crossovers with Black Metal, Can't think of a band right this second, but I know there are channels that do Synthwave BM remixes of MGLA and Burzum. But bands themselves as well, I'll reply when I figure a few out
That’s because you’re a consumer
Its always the metal fans that get into synths hahah (not every synth guy is a metal guy but almost every metal guy will show interests in synths). Before getting to know synthwave, darksynth and such i also listened to metal quite a bit. Electronic music can be even more badass, raw and brutal than metal if done correctly.
Its mind boggling when a song with no lyrics, only electronic sounds makes me feel more emotions than an expirienced singer vigorously speaking a language i understand. You know a real master made the song if you feel it, makes you appreciate their work.
I reccomend that you listen to tainted empire by perturbator, great song, really metal. One of the best from that great, agressive and a little bit edgy album.
Musicians are just wave wizards
Tbh
I believe the term is "air-benders"
More like sound benders
@@theflatjourneyshow4885 Sound is just air being bent
@@theflatjourneyshow4885 Sound is W I G G L Y A I R
So synth modules are like guitar pedals for electronic producers: you can’t stop buying the goddamn things
YOU JUST CANT.
Untrue.
Well, yes and no at the same time, because modules trigger the sound by themselves and the guitar must be picked/strummed/tapped/whatever in order to get the sound but in the end yeah, every new module "feels" like a new guitar pedal :D
Exactly
I'll start calling my pedalboard a modular sound processor
I'm glad you're making modular more accessible for people. I already had a decent grasp on how it works, but now it feels really solidified in my head.
THIS.
same here
Agreed!
the pricepoint for even a single module makes modular extremely inaccessible to people with an average income
@@c4shguy224 as a broke college student, I feel this. trying to save is frustrating when I always end up needing the money for other expenses
The thing I love about modular, other than the sheer amount of customization it offers, is that it’s so incredibly easy to make interesting sounds, whether it be crispy FM lead synths, Gurgly growling acid basses, soft airy pads, or something completely random and unstructured that serves no real musical purpose. And simple and seemingly insignificant actions can lead to entirely different sonic spaces. Turning a single knob, pressing a single button, flipping a single switch, making a single new connection, loading a single file, everything has the potential to take you to places you never thought possible. Places you never knew even existed. Places you never knew you would like. Places that nothing else can really come close to. And there’s no real limit to the places it can take you. Plus if a module breaks it doesn’t kill the whole thing.
So happy to see you using this huge audience you have to expose them to Modular Synthesis. It's the most fun way to interact with electronic music in my opinion, and one of the easiest ways to blow lots and lots of money :)
Oh my dog, papa yam here!!!
Btw yammie, I own a 125 cc bike, am I one of your kind?
*I push to 110 kmph Max*
your a little lost lol
never thought seeing you here haha
@@shaypatrickcormac4670 *115* downhill
@@randomuser1999-f3b haha 😁😂
I learned more from you in 17 minutes and 5 seconds than I did doing an entire year of audio production classes/school. You are music!
I love the clear contrast between Andrew's immaculate modular synth and Look Mum No Computers mess
Immaculate modular is an oxymoron.
@@warpigs330 Immaculate meaning neat and tidy, and modular meaning composed of many modules? I'm not sure it is an oxymoron. Unless you're just joking that all modular synths are a mess in which case I agree lol. Sorry btw, my OCD can't let a potential misunderstanding lie :')
It only looks immaculate because nothing is plugged in.
Yeah me too, quite a contrast. LMNC is a crazy, all over the place, bonkers (in a good way) kinda guy.Thankfully there's plenty of room in the synth community for the neat and tidy and the 'let-it-all hang out' guys, lots to learn from both and long may it continue!
They both do same job though 😂
Andrew geeking out about modular synthesizers is genuinely my number one favorite type of video on his channel. I am always down for more synth videos.
This is something I feel many of us have been waiting on. Your way of explaining complex terms makes it seems so reachable and gives me an understanding I could not reach from other tutorials. Thankyou.
Right? I love music, but I don't know the first thing about the technical details behind it, or how producers make it - it's all a bunch of magic to me. But after this I can quite confidently say I understand some of the concepts behind music and producing music now, and a little of how it all works. All in a 17 minute video.
@@Nightstick24 very cool
2 take always from this:
1. Everything is waves
2. Just pay attention to the smoothness.
In all seriousness, really brilliant vid Andrew. More in this series please. I think I actually understood it.
"Going around, doing whatever" is probably the best definition of fluctuating random ever made. Awesome!
Hahah put it in the textbooks!
This was probably the best introductory video on this topic I've seen. Reducing things to the idea that this is electricity, not sound, and that it's all just up and down = the right way to do it. These things are often taken for granted. Something I usually add for people is the fact that pretty much all modules do the same thing -- manipulations of the up and the down. The most obvious, intended use of a module (ie. what's on the label) seems to work against people learning to use them creatively.
Another thing: modular synthesis is expensive as hell
If you’re willing to learn how to solder, there’s a ton of great DIY modules that are way cheaper. But... yes.
(But VCVRack is dope)
kinetik make it yourself and save a ton of money ;) I did a (very simple) modular in a week (MiaW) for less than 100$. Of course a modular is ever expanding and I will just continue to make modules and sooner or later I guess it will become expensive.... :)
VCV Rack is free :)
I'll Modulargrid.com set up what you would want, save up on a modular case, whatever it may be, and then invest on the modules itself. Patients, afterwards you can just buy other modules. Expensive when you think about it on the short run, but less if you start small and look at it on the long run.
8Bit1989 thanks a lot man!
You need to write a book about modular synthesis called "Everything Is Waves"
"Everything is waves... can really mess with your head..." let's talk about light Andrew!
oh god no. Regret that class
One benefit of learning modular is it helps you understand so much about electronic signals. Probably why there is so much diy.
There are some modules that uses lightwaves to control voltage. Also that's exactly how radio works (but light frequency is too low to see it)
no difference 👋🏻🎱👄🎱🤚🏻
add audio engineering knowledge and a healthy dose of tesla era aether science and you will eventually come very close to a "theory of everything" worldview based on field theories, waves, frequencies, resonance and denial of the cult of atomism.
The information, the way this was edited, you could teach me anything and i'd love it
Imagine making a legit beat on that setup. Using a thousand patch cables. Getting it nailed down on the ol' 4 track, putting all your patch cables away...
*And then loosing the recording*
Virulent I'd always take hi res pictures of my synths tho when I'm fine with the setup
I'm 7:52 minutes in and my mind has been completely blown out of this universe into something much greater. This one video will be one that I will be rewatching on set dates just to remember what it is I'm looking for in life. Period.
Pure greatness!
Life calls so I will watch the rest later. From the beginning of course.
Love
Love seeing your name in my notifications. You almost always post right before my lunch break and it'a such a treat.
You have answered questions that I didn't even finish formulating AND provided examples. Made a concept that I failed to grasp many times simply click. Anytime I hear that someone wants to get into electronic music production or just wants to start learning about sound, I'm just immediately sending them this video. Definitely a gem on this site.
Smashed like from the title alone. Been waiting for this one for a while. Thanks Andrew!
Thank you!
I've spent half an hour watching two of your brilliant tutorials and cleared up about 25 years worth of mystery. Andrew you're a superb musician but an absolute genius teacher.
I saw the symbol and I learned almost everything about modular synthesis. Thanks Andrew!
Could you PLEASE, please, please record an hour's worth of just this at 7:15? It's so beautiful and relaxing and I would love to just vibe out to it. Also can I use that audio to sample from? It's so pretty I really wanna make something with it.
“Everything is waves” seems to be the conclusion of quantum physics as well.
Also realizing that making materials in 3D software using node editors is basically just modular materials.
I'm the Midi-olo-gist: I like to call myself that. Man Andrew I'm an old school funkateer that really love synthesizers'. Now I'm stepping out into the modular domain and loving every minute of it. I've been checking out a few of your videos and you are the man. Keep this good info going for rascals like me that just enjoy making grooves and now grooves with cool modular noise. Stay cool and keep em coming.
You're like that magician that tells the crowd how he does all his tricks.
Perfect! I really liked the relationship between technical examples and "musical" examples, and the notes on this sheet of paper are brilliant :) It's always nice seeing more modular related videos on your main channel. I said it once and I will say it again, one can really see how much you enjoy modular. Cheers!
Andrew: “This is almost everything you need to know”
Also Andrew: Drops a ton of terms I’ve never heard before in the middle of the video
lmao
My mouth dropped open when he started “Inverting.” What the hell am I watching? I have so much to learn. Andrew, you are the man! Thank you for this video!
Your modular synth setup looks like a space ship control panel.
Read my mind XD
this aged so well omg
@@silentblackcat_ yes
Like old school star trek
I didnt really understand how modular worked untill this video because i had no idea what all the wires and holes were for, but now i see that its not just for changing the sound produced, but you can also use it to change the way a different function behaves.
Thx for putting a link to vcv rack to the description. Modulars in real are somewhat expensive and vcv rack is a good alternative to look into the world of modular synthesis.
Dude I stopped making music because of a break up but your videos kept popping up in my feed and noe I slowly start to get back my motivation. Thanks andrew
This makes me really want to buy your course, you explained this very well!
I took his course and I was thoroughly impressed with what I learned and what I created! 3 songs just like he promises, and friends think they are real bands / groups!
@@suzanne_atkinson Absolutely! Greetings from your peer PhargooMax :)
The course was great! Doesn't talk about modular but he's an incredible teacher
6:54 love how that sounds
It's cool to be one of the first ones for once. Also, andrew, thanks for all the inspiration, without you, I wouldn't have reached where I am, making music on yt and animating music videos like I do. Thanks for being out there, supporting us.
Appreciate this even though i'm not looking to start with modular, but rather was looking for some basic knowledge about how a regular synth is constructed. This provided great insights to how a regular synth is constructed and how the voltage is working its way through the circuits. Valuable information in order to know what really happens when i turn a knob on a synth and get a better view of it in my head. Thank you!
"Everything is waves"
My guy, I've been going down this thought train months now. I think I've applied this to just about everything
Quantum physics, man.
I love the GJones transition at 3:34 ! Andrew I want you to know this was one of my favorite videos you've done. It was ridiculously engaging and had educational content. And though it won't reach every viewer, it's reaching the producers of tomorrow and that, is something very special. Never stop doing any of your videos if you can help it. I on behalf of humanity as a whole thank you for your continued pursuit of knowledge and ability to make it palatable for some of us.
0:07 sequence from the rainmaker demo, absolutely beautiful piece!
thank you a lot!
_Thank you, I am now more confused about the incredible magic of moddula sinthises but it still sounds cool_
You have my vote for more ridiculously long videos.
I hope the next sequels to this video comes soon. Just go over the modules one by one, and how they interact with each other.
I have zero clue about this world. You make it understandable and interesting. It's awesome to see your passion.
The patch in the beginning is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!
"EVERYTHING IS WAVES" is 100% something I said while on LSD in the 90's
As a guitarist who is waiting for my ZOIA to arrive, the timing is impeccable. Thank you Good Sir!!!
.......when the light goes full-on blue...amazing. I could sit and watch that shot on a loop for longer than I care to admit.
So, what's the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?
Andrew: ^
look at the enveloppe generator : rise & fall
Modular! 😆
two plus two is *four* minus two is *two* quick maffs
42
Jakub Kučera everyday man on the block
GO BLEEPS
I don’t own any of this and have no idea, but I’ve been watching synth videos for years…and you just made all the terms I go “that’s an English word I’m familiar with” make sense. I think i might buy my first synth to play with.
An award goes to andrew for filming those modules beautifully ❤🎛
This is such a great video - so much good info presently quickly an elegantly. Thank You!
I'd like to see a "more practical" demo, like, you making an entire song or something
He says at the end there would be a separate video that focuses on his full setup. Perhaps a fuller demonstration will happen there.
generally you don't get into modular synths for their practically but rather for inspiration, chaos sorcery , and dickin' around with the occasional useful (production wise) creations. Adult toys.
To make full song like this takes 5 years
@@aiekmeeisnhdye no it doesn't.
He dose that in this video :) th-cam.com/video/tDFX_hDcPAo/w-d-xo.html
You just taught me more in this one video than all the other modular lessons i've studied combined (including what ive learned from my own obsessive daily 8+ hrs a day of hands on discovery using my own - becoming more substantial by the day - modular collection |. ------> #mindblown from all i just learned. thank you man. you are a really gifted and natural teacher type.
Andrew should do more of this educational stuff, he's great at simplifying seemingly complex concepts for idiots like me.
I’ve never been so fascinated by the control of sound waves like this. Not only that but the fact that I was able to understand what you were explaining is also very fascinating and shocking. Thank you to exposing me to this and making it easy to understand :)
1:40 I watched this part 4 times and took notes. That's a killer explanation. I'm still thinking about the idea of a "pattern of energy".
At first I thought modulars were so complicated to use (probably because the amounts of wires I usually see other people use intimidate me), but after watching this video, it showed me that everything bad that I thought about them were wrong but they're rather, beautiful
4:00 and this is why andrew huang is simply the best.
wth. you are such a smart and eloquent man who can translate these terms/functions/ideas to regular people like me. you explain things and teach stuff well. you are an incredible teacher. very educational. Thanks :D
I think I would've liked to hear more how changing the wave shape changed the sound, especially when the triggering and inverting/offsetting stuff was happening, but otherwise, a very helpful intro. Thanks Andrew. :)
ANDREW I GET IT NOW. I was always curious about how modular synths functioned on a basic level, and this makes so much more sense now. Thank you kind sir.
It’s ya boi, Andrew the modular synth plug. He get you hooked up quick
I already know this will be the best video on TH-cam in 2020
I thank you for putting in the time to make this for us.
I honestly keep coming back to this video, even much further into my modular/eurorack journey. It’s crazy watching this as a complete newb and being super confused and coming back a year plus later and thinking the video is relatively basic. That’s not shade either, that’s me realizing the Andrew and other folks like him have taught me a lot! Anyhow, Andrew, have you ever considered having either a video series or another channel just creating various patches? Some of your techniques are so gorgeous sounding, especially the digital rain type sounds you make. I’d personally love to see how you made that happen! I have some ideas but I still have a lot to learn myself. Thanks either way man!
Thanks for the video, your knowledge of the subject is incredible and to say your synth is impressive is an understatement! I saw a video by Emily Hopkins, who runs her harps through guitar effects, and she built a Modular synth and did a video on it and I knew I had found my next musical project.
I've been looking for this for a lifetime. A new world is about to open up.... sincere thanks, Andrew!
I will not go down this rabbit hole...I will not go down this rabbit hole...I will not go down this rabbit hole... 🙏🏻
😂 relatable
Dude I've been playing with synthesizers for 30 years and I found your video educational. Lots of stuff I knew but didn't really understand the underlying reason for why. Makes me wanna sell my car and just drop 50k into a really insane modular setup and then grow my beard another 12" and never see daylight. All I can think is that it's such a damn shame Isao Tomita isn't here to play with these toys. But you're doing a good job, regardless. Cheers bud.
I've always wanted to learn about modular synthesis. This video is incredible!
i don't know that i've ever commented on anything..... holy shit. i own synths and modules, but this was the most straight forward thing i've ever seen.
thank you.
seriously.
Didn't even know what this was - still watched the full 20 mins and now I like modular synthesis... thank you lol
Thank you, Andrew, the fact that these crazy informative and super HQ videos are just out here free to watch for everyone blows my mind!! You are an inspiration
This is a fantastic channel, Andrew! I have learned so much from you. Thanks much!
YES FINALLY. I haven’t even gotten 30 seconds into the video and I can tell this will help me a lot as I’m starting to build my rack
I always feel more educated after watching ur vids
Producing using a modular synth is a whole different experience. I'm yet to master the basics of sound design for my music. This video sheds some light on how deep the sound rabbit hole goes. Thank you for this video. I'm actually thinking of coding up an oscillator using my arduino. I might learn a thing or two :)
Here from that pink oyster mushroom vid
ayyyy
gg
Gang
Samee
word
I cannot stop looking at your synth, i keep looking at every section and just so intrigued on what every little section does, its so interesting to me
I love it lol
Synth is LIFE .... we need more VINTAGE Synth songs in 2020!!
That 'everything is waves' part at 5:12 tripped me tf out. And I thank you for that.
i wish you would make a video like that about ALL OF YOUR MODULES
Thank you! I am just collecting books, net sites, videos etc to learn basics of (modular) synthesis and this is great introduction. Good to hear you are creating more videos about subject, would like to hear how to setup your own home studio and recommendations what gear (mixer, loudspeakers, amplifier, recording etc) you need for it.
It’s a good thing modular is so expensive cause I would lose years of my life just screwing around if I could afford anything
Well... Or you will become producer. I guess Andrew do exactly this. I can't call it "lost".
@J Son He produces and publishes his albums. He is both producer and youtuber.
@J Son Really - he have almost 30 albums on Spotify.
@J Son I mean - what constitutes for you that someone can be called "producer"? He is one because he produces music. Same as Jazza is graphic artist. That they are also youtubers, and creates stuff mostly for their channels - doesn't change anything. It's like saying that Bob Ross was "TV persona" not "painter", lol.
Skullbonk you can make it yourself, then it is not as expensive. But then you spend the rest of your life soldering new modules for your modular.... :D that’s what I do nowadays. ;)
You have every module I’ve ever wanted on that wall. You have great taste.
I want to get into Modular so I can look like a mad musical scientist
I got so fired up watching this my man, friggen do more of these! your a natural teacher!
judging by the samples you've shown in this video, the title could as well have been something like "journey to the microcosmos. the soundtrack tutorial"
Ye I love that music
I love going over the basics of synthesis again and again because there's always something new to pick up. Today I finally feel comfortable with the concept of a "function generator" after this video (it was more the name that freaked me out, not the concept itself)
no one:
andrew: (inserts brain-melting synth montage)
Andrew has *hands down* the best thumbnails on TH-cam
Aye
You uploaded
Thanks
5:11 andrew just created one if the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard like just bc
Full video on my second channel 😊 th-cam.com/video/NxLL2zGbpD0/w-d-xo.html
This is calling for a master class on this let the automated beats fly
It's crazy to me that so many skills translate to music. I used to go to the place we call OTEC and I went here to learn Engineering and we we literally learn about this in electrical engineering. No music wise, but specifically we work with the oscillator.
Andrew I want a clip of you from a POV camera of you turning on the modular
I think I probably echo the sentiment of lots of people when I say thank god you made this video.