[sdiy] books on synthesisers

[Paul Perry]

For a beginner, go Music From Outer Space or Eurorack. Plenty of Eurorack
boards and kits on the web.
Advantage with these is that for a small investment of time and money, you
have something that works.
Hardest thing to build is an oscillator. Personally, I would start with a
cheap beginner digital keyboard as a source, and aff envelope follower,
filter, phaser etc.
It is necessary to know all the maths in the world to design a new original
synth, but you can build a DIY synth with no maths at all. My own degree is
in political science.
paul pery Melbourne Australia

On Sat, May 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM Michael E Caloroso via Synth-diy <
synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:

> First thing you'll need is a good foundation in math up to calculus.
> There's no escaping this prerequisite.
>
> There's plenty of discussion in the SDIY archives.
>
> Hard to beat the full Electronotes set, but they currently aren't
> available from Bernie Hutchins.
>
> Good references on synth circuits:
> US 3,828,110 patent describes the typical synthesizer system (many more
> patents on till.com and google patent search)
> Musical Applications of Computers, Hal Chamberlin 2nd edition
> Introduction To Electrical Engineering, C.R. Paul S.A. Nasar, L.E. Unnewehr
> Electronic Devices And Circuit Theory, Robert Boylestad & Louis Nashelsky
> 3rd edition
> Design with Operational Amplifiers and Analog Integrated Circuits, Sergio
> Franco
> Hardware Design of a Real Time Musical System, Sergio Franco's PhD Thesis
> University of Illinois
> Small Signal Audio Design, Douglas Self
> Electronic Principles, Malvino
>
> Be careful of internet resources - many of them contain errors.  These are
> the reputable ones I have found:
> North Coast Synthesis Ltd
> ARRL Radio Amateur's Handbook (1990s and later)
> Elektor Formant Music Synthesizer Description Design Construction, C.
> Chapman
> Back issues of Polyphony (predecessor of Electronic Musician)
> Ron Mancini "Opamps for Everyone"
> App notes from TI, NatSemi, Analog Devices, Farichild, RCA, many OEMs
> Anything by Rene Schmitz, Ian Fritz, Walt Jung, Barry Klein, Don
> Lancaster, Jim Williams, Thomas Henry, Don Tillman, Forrest Mimms, Ray
> Wilson, Neil Johnson, Magnus Danielson
>
> Active filters are a subject by themselves.  Entire books have been
> written on this topic.  Encompasses engineering physics, control systems,
> network analysis, calculus, transforms - dizzying stuff.
>
> Many will suggest Art Of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill - I am not a fan.
>
> Hardly a complete list, many more I haven't mentioned.
>
> MC
>
> On Fri, May 30, 2025 at 9:18 PM david walker via Synth-diy <
> synth-diy at synth-diy.org> wrote:
>
>> hello all does any one know of a good book or books on how to make your
>> own synthesiser for beginners to intermediate skills i got sum bits a bobs
>> made but be nice to have sum books on it any help will be a grate help
>> thanks
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