200e

Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth studio that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it quite a bit lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system. If you guys could go back to when you were first learning synthesis / modular systems what would you want to learn? And what modules confused you the most on your 200e system? 

Thanks!

I would try to have an oscilloscope to show them how waveform shape effects
harmonics and timbre.  A spectral processor would be icing on the cake.  I
never quite understood harmonics and how they work until I got on modular
systems.  Briefly mention moog and subtractive synthesis, so they at least
know the 200e isn't the norm. :)



On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 2:12 PM, jeshuaew <jeshuaew@yahoo.com> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth
> studio that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it
> quite a bit lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system.
> If you guys could go back to when you were first learning synthesis /
> modular systems what would you want to learn? And what modules confused you
> the most on your 200e system?
>
> Thanks!
>
>  
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I use to bring an oscilloscope with my 200e for my synthesis classes @ SAE college

The oscilloscope comes handy not just for waveforms, but also with lissajous figures to speak about harmonic relations...phase and so on.
(by the way it's good to have "on the sensations of tone" at hand for the students)

Regarding modules, I think it's very important that they undersand clearly CV and functions 
also I always speak about AM, Ring Mod and Freq. Shifting, for they are closely related to radio technology as oscillators do.


> Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth studio that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it quite a bit lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system. If you guys could go back to when you were first learning synthesis / modular systems what would you want to learn? And what modules confused you the most on your 200e system? 
> 
> Thanks! 
> 
> 

Giorgio Sancristoforo

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Jun 27, 2011, at 2:12 PM, jeshuaew wrote:

> Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth studio that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it quite a bit lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system. If you guys could go back to when you were first learning synthesis / modular systems what would you want to learn? And what modules confused you the most on your 200e system? 


What is the proximate background of your students? How long would a course be? How much lecture vs. how much hands-on time? Some general things I would want to see covered:

Some discussion of basic synthesis types is a good place to start, additive, FM, subtractive, granular, etc. This is good because it may help soften any preconceived notions of "patch cords == subtractive," at the very least it will remind people of the wider synthesis world.

I would spend a little time on gestural control. They probably already know MIDI, so I would contrast voltage control with MIDI. Talk about various control systems that have been implemented on top of MIDI (keyboards, wind controllers, mixers, dj controllers, etc.) 

Crossfade into gestural control vs. audio modulation and how they're different on the Buchla. (sort of a natural coming from a discussion about MIDI)

I would spend a lot of time on whichever waveform generator the system has. Knowing your way around a 200e waveform generator is pretty key. Generating the stuff you want with a Buchla is fundamentally different from getting rid of the stuff you don't want with a normal subtractive synth.

Of course, sometimes you have to get rid of stuff you don't want, so I would spend a fair amount of time on the magic of the Low Pass Gate. Teach them how to "pluck" the LPG with a very snappy envelope.

– C

Chris Muir                    | "There are many futures and only one status quo.
cbm@well.com             |  This is why conservatives mostly agree,
http://www.xfade.com |  and radicals always argue." - Brian Eno

The first thing I would go after would be the very existence of the analog 
studio in this day and age. It's purpose might not be as apparent to those not 
yet as familiar.



________________________________

From: Chris Muir <cbm@well.com>
To: 200e@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 18:15:15
Subject: Re: [200e] Teaching a class on the 200e, suggestions?


On Jun 27, 2011, at 2:12 PM, jeshuaew wrote:

> Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth studio 
>that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it quite a bit 
>lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system. If you guys 
>could go back to when you were first learning synthesis / modular systems what 
>would you want to learn? And what modules confused you the most on your 200e 
>system? 
>


What is the proximate background of your students? How long would a course be? 
How much lecture vs. how much hands-on time? Some general things I would want to 
see covered:

Some discussion of basic synthesis types is a good place to start, additive, FM, 
subtractive, granular, etc. This is good because it may help soften any 
preconceived notions of "patch cords == subtractive," at the very least it will 
remind people of the wider synthesis world.

I would spend a little time on gestural control. They probably already know 
MIDI, so I would contrast voltage control with MIDI. Talk about various control 
systems that have been implemented on top of MIDI (keyboards, wind controllers, 
mixers, dj controllers, etc.) 


Crossfade into gestural control vs. audio modulation and how they're different 
on the Buchla. (sort of a natural coming from a discussion about MIDI)

I would spend a lot of time on whichever waveform generator the system has. 
Knowing your way around a 200e waveform generator is pretty key. Generating the 
stuff you want with a Buchla is fundamentally different from getting rid of the 
stuff you don't want with a normal subtractive synth.

Of course, sometimes you have to get rid of stuff you don't want, so I would 
spend a fair amount of time on the magic of the Low Pass Gate. Teach them how to 
"pluck" the LPG with a very snappy envelope.

– C

Chris Muir                    | "There are many futures and only one status quo.
cbm@well.com             |  This is why conservatives mostly agree,
http://www.xfade.com |  and radicals always argue." - Brian Eno





------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Consider starting out with a fully functioning and nice sounding patch. Let your students interact with it. Then tear it all apart and go over some basics.

I find the 259e the most difficult module to describe. You might lose their interest if you delve into its technical aspects.

Contrary to most (always have to keep it interesting!), I would say that talking about harmonics is not so important. I think most people are confused about the frequency domain, and it's not a subject you can dabble in without creating more confusion. It should be enough to know that when the knob is twisted the sound changes. Instead of talking about frequencies and harmonics, perhaps just speak in terms of "bass" and "treble." Terms that most are familiar with, and close enough, I think. I think CV control is a simpler concept and probably a better choice given limited time and interest.

Doug

--- In 200e@yahoogroups.com, "jeshuaew" <jeshuaew@...> wrote:

>
> Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth studio that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it quite a bit lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system. If you guys could go back to when you were first learning synthesis / modular systems what would you want to learn? And what modules confused you the most on your 200e system? 
> 
> Thanks!
>

Sorry its taking me so long to reply! Those were all amazing suggestions guys. I've got the forum approved and I'm essentially showing off the Buchla for a night. I'm really excited to have the buchla in quad for once!  Also patching it through a Motu MKIII and projecting it's internal oscilloscope on the big screen behind me. :) 

--- In 200e@yahoogroups.com, "dougc356" <dougc356@...> wrote:

>
> Consider starting out with a fully functioning and nice sounding patch. Let your students interact with it. Then tear it all apart and go over some basics.
> 
> I find the 259e the most difficult module to describe. You might lose their interest if you delve into its technical aspects.
> 
> Contrary to most (always have to keep it interesting!), I would say that talking about harmonics is not so important. I think most people are confused about the frequency domain, and it's not a subject you can dabble in without creating more confusion. It should be enough to know that when the knob is twisted the sound changes. Instead of talking about frequencies and harmonics, perhaps just speak in terms of "bass" and "treble." Terms that most are familiar with, and close enough, I think. I think CV control is a simpler concept and probably a better choice given limited time and interest.
> 
> Doug
> 
> --- In 200e@yahoogroups.com, "jeshuaew" <jeshuaew@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi, I'm a student at Berklee College of Music. We have an analog synth studio that is home to a beautiful 18 rack system. I have been using it quite a bit lately and want to give a class on the basics within the system. If you guys could go back to when you were first learning synthesis / modular systems what would you want to learn? And what modules confused you the most on your 200e system? 
> > 
> > Thanks!
> >
>