SYNTH MASTERCLASS

An all-new monthly class!

It’s time to welcome Dave Gale to the pages of Computer Music, replacing the now-retired Scot Solida as our Expert Guide to all things synth. And with specific instructions to go back to basics and to utilise the mighty Suite, he’s doing just that…

Regardless of which kind of music you are making with softsynths, understanding the signal flow of the instrument you are using is crucial to mastering how to make a sound, and truly own it.

The starting point for this signal, in any musical context, will be the point where the sound begins or emanates. In the case of a guitar, it’s a string being plucked or strummed, but in the case of a synthesiser, it is, of course, the oscillator.

Most softsynths will operate in a similar way, with the oscillator producing the initial tone. This can then be sculpted and shaped for your own musical purpose. Some synths use acoustic recordings, known as samples, as a starting point, while others calculate tones in real-time, providing a harmonically rich starting point for sound creation.

The Zebra CM oscillators fall into this latter camp, with these initial tones being open to modulation, using various control elements available elsewhere on the synthesiser. It’s ripe, then, for a healthy diet of sonic exploration!

This is our springboard for our date with Zebra CM. Time to switch off the presets and get sonically creative with the Oscillator section.