QUICK TIPS

1Folding a simple sine wave into more complex timbres is one of the defining factors of West Coast synthesis. Not only can it be used to create evolving sequences, but you can also create gnarly basses, leads and drones suitable for abrasive genres like techno or DnB.

2AD/AR envelopes can often be set to a ‘looping’ mode, where the envelope shape repeats over and over. Use this to modulate volume or wave shape, then another modulator signal to sweep the repeat rate for ‘winding up/down’ effects.

3As with any type of modular synthesis, you’re encouraged to get creative with your patching experiments. Use modulators to modulate other modulators, sweep multiple parameters with one signal, and get sequencers in on it.

4West Coast synthesis can be used to spit out all types of random tones, which can be hard to integrate into an actual track. Often, sound design like this works best when you record your workings to audio, then use the best sections as samples in a more controlled way.