Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Articulate theories and techniques of sound synthesis.
• Identify the key parts of a modular synthesizer, their functions and interrelationships.
• Define the different types of synthesis.
• Independently patch a modular synthesizer.

• Lectures
• Individual and group projects
• Assignments
• Exams and quizzes
• One on one instruction

• Instructor and peer review of student projects
• Evaluation of assignments
• Exams and quizzes

Basics of Analog Synthesis

1. History of modular analog synthesis
2. Theories of modular synthesis: analog and digital, modules and patching, voltage control
3. Key parts of a modular synthesizer, their functions and interrelationships (power source, oscillator, filter, envelope, amplifier, sequencer, logic controller, clock etc.)
4. Overview of synthesis techniques
   1. Switching modes and modulating parameters
   2. Sequencing
   3. Clock signals
   4. Feedback loops
   5. Oscillators/LFOs versus dedicated clock
5. Overview of Modulation
   1. FM, AM, RM, SSBM (or frequency shifting)
6. Rhythm in electronic music; liberation of time from meter; rhythm and the electronic medium
   1. Broken clock patterns and polyrhythms
   2. Non-grid sequencing
   3. Chaotic systems and feedback
   4. Algorithmic rhythm generation
7. Combining control voltages
   1. Obtaining complexity from simple signals
   2. Deriving simplicity from complex signals
8. Granular Synthesis
   1. Delay
   2. Reverb
   3. Spectral Processing
9. Analog computation and digital logic
   1. Building patches
   2. Rectification
   3. Voltage mirroring
   4. Slew limiting
   5. Bouncing balls
   6. Envelopes