Understanding the MiniKorg-700

Having studied the history of synths for my entire career, I wrote a love letter to the MiniKorg-700S for CDM, disguised as a tutorial.

In this piece, I explain the MiniKorg-700 architecture—and why key-tracked ring modulation is a shockingly underrated technique for creating both melodic and dissonant sounds. The feature also covers a bit more detail on the pioneering era of early 70s synthesizers.

Here’s a link to the piece:
https://cdm.link/2021/08/korg-has-recreated-the-1974-minikorg-700-in-software-heres-your-deep-diving-guide/

Tech Glossary for Audio and Synths

Once upon a time (ok, it was actually 2009), Resident Advisor hired me to create an extensive glossary of synthesis and audio production terms.

I intentionally designed it to be universal, as I’d hoped it would stand the test of time.

Over ten years later, the glossary is still online and still 100% relevant to learning synths and DAWs.

Here’s the link. It’s worth bookmarking as a handy reference for both pros and beginners.

Link: https://ra.co/features/1219

Downloadable Guide To Synthesis

For most of 2020, I wrote my fourth book on electronic production. This time, the topic was a complete guide to learning the essentials of analog synthesis, using the free (and insanely popular) synth for iOS/Mac: AudioKit Synth One.

The book is also free on Apple Books—and Synth One now contains a set of presets that were created to demonstrate the techniques in the book. Again, both are free, so if you’re on an iPhone/iPad, you can use these to get started on designing your own presets. And I’m now using this book as part of my curriculum as a professor at Austin Community College.

For those on Windows/Android, the book is also available as a PDF (without the Apple interactivity) and the lessons apply synths of all kinds. Links for everything below.

AudioKit Synth One: The Ultimate Guide (Apple Books)

AudioKit Synth One: The Ultimate Guide (PDF)

AudioKit Synth One (Free iOS synth - App Store)

Ultimate Guide to Ultimate Guides

After 20 years of writing tutorials and masterclasses for Electronic Musician, Keyboard, and Music Radar, I’ve posted a lot of instructional content since I redid this site in 2017. To make the blog easier to navigate for new visitors, I’ve collected all of my Music Radar and Electronic Musician guides into a single directory post.

Below are direct links to each of the masterclasses on my blog, some of which include downloadable presets and examples. Have at it!

• Master Class: Ableton Operator

• Master Class: Roland TR-8S

• Master Class: Vocoders

• Master Class: The Minimoog Paradigm

• Master Class: Korg/ARP Odyssey

• Master Class: Analog Drum Design

• Master Class: Korg Gadget

• Master Class: DSI OB-6

• Master Class: Arturia MiniBrute 2

• Master Class: Korg Prologue

• Master Class: Novation Peak

Roland System-8 Tips (2021)

It’s rare that a digital synth will steadily remain in production for over five years, but the Roland System-8 hit that anniversary this year. It may seem strange to sing the praises of a synth that’s not old enough to be vintage and not new enough to be trendy, but having had it in my studio since its release, it’s clear why the System-8 has such longevity.

Here are eight tips for this evergreen synth – some applying to both hardware and software. The software version is available on Roland Cloud, so you can easily test drive it there to check out the features that keep it one of the primary go-to’s in my studio.

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Watch + Learn: Motion Wavetable (Phase Plant)

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Platform: Kilohearts Phase Plant

Description: Dual synchronized LFO wavetable sweeps with reverb. Excellent starting point for complex layered pads.

Download Link to Preset: Watch+Learn_PhasePlant_MotionWavetable

Watch + Learn: House Bass 1 (Multiple)

House bass created using Operator and Phase Plant

Level: Intermediate

Platform: Ableton Operator, Kilohearts Phase Plant

Description: The “knocking” House bass sound that’s often used in Tech House, Future House, and Classic House.

Download Link to Preset:
Watch+Learn_AbletonPreset_HouseBass1

Download Link to Preset:
Watch+Learn_PhasePlant_HouseBass1

Watch + Learn: 808 Kick Bass (Universal)

808 Kick Bass starting points on three different softsynths: Serum, Phase Plant, and Operator.
[Note: Very low frequency content. Headphones or monitors required.]

Level: Beginner

Platforms: Ableton Operator, Xfer Serum, Kilohearts Phase Plant

Description: Recreation of the Roland TR-808 Kick Bass sound using multiple platforms. Additional customization with overdrive and distortion should be added by the user.

Download Ableton Operator 808 Kick Bass:
Watch+Learn_AbletonPreset_808KickBass

Download Xfer Serum 808 Kick Bass:
Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_808KickBass

Download Kilohearts Phase Plant 808 Kick Bass:
Watch+Learn_PhasePlant_808KickBass

Watch + Learn: West Coast Lead (Serum)

Level: Beginner

Platform: Xfer Serum

Description: The core elements for synthesizing the 90s “West Coast” hip-hop lead popularized by Dr. Dre and others in the mid-90s. The “PORTA” parameter is the key to making it fit your track. Further adjustments can be applied via changing filters, and adding effects like delay and reverb.

Download Link to Preset: Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_WestCoastLead

Watch + Learn: Big Fifth (Serum)

Level: Beginner

Platform: Xfer Serum

Description: Iconic lead sound, based on the interval of a Fifth (+7 semitones), reinforced by a sub-bass element. Great as a starting point for original variations.

Download Link to Preset: Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_BigFifth

Watch + Learn: Superpluck (Serum)

Level: Beginner

Platform: Xfer Serum

Description: Classic pluck/arp sound used in multiple electronic genres. Based on supersaw and filter with enveloping. Easy adjustments include Env 2 decay, cutoff, and resonance.

Download Link: Watch+Learn_SerumPreset_Superpluck

Watch + Learn: DX Marimba (Operator)

Level: Intermediate

Platform: Ableton Operator

Description: Recreation of one of the famous Yamaha DX-7 Marimba presets using FM synthesis in Ableton Operator.

Download Preset: Watch+Learn_AbletonPreset_DXMarimba