SYNTH FOCUS

Harness the power of six popular softsynths – from unique oscillator detuning to DIY wavetable creation

Just as a guitarist covets his or her collection of guitars, today's computer musician is typically a software hoarder – and it's easy to understand why. Despite lacking the tactility of a physical instrument, each digital synthesiser has its own unique personality: some are ‘do-it-all' chameleons that tackle multiple types of sound generation, while others are more esoteric and cater to one particular sonic niche.

This enormous range of choice makes it somewhat tricky for the beginner to grasp basic synthesis principles. A guitar is essentially a guitar, no matter the model – but every paid-for or freeware synth features a completely different GUI, and a common control on one synth is probably named and positioned completely differently on another. However, once you get your head around one or two synthesisers and their workings, those skills are cemented into your subconscious and can pretty much be applied across the board. That's why, to follow on from our broader Synth

Secrets section, we're going to get more specific and celebrate those aforementioned personalities with a hands-on guide to six of the most popular and well-loved virtual instruments in the world today. Starting with a tour of the lesser-known features hidden inside NI's frequency-modulation powerhouse FM8, and finishing with a guide to creating wavetables in Xfer's modern classic Serum, we'll show you around these powerful sonic weapons with the aim of inspiring your sound design adventures, no matter the genre.