Join the National Music Centre for a series of workshops in our world-class recording studios.
NMC is offering professional development opportunities for musicians, recording engineers, and music producers. Learn from and work together with experienced professionals in one of NMC’s recording studios. Bring your questions and get ready to think differently about sound!
December 7 — Intro to Analog Synths
After decades spent gathering dust in basements and pawnshops, analog synthesizers have returned to stages and studios everywhere. It seems that new analog synths appear on store shelves every week while vintage instruments command top dollar in the used marketplace. They’ve even been digitally re-created as virtual instruments with the promise of “classic tone” and “analog warmth.” But how do they work? Which ones are the best? And how can old techniques and obsolete technology be used to create modern sounds?
This workshop for musicians, audio engineers and producers will include demonstrations and hands-on exploration of vintage synthesizers from NMC’s Living Collection of instruments, including the Minimoog, ARP 2600, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and Roland’s Juno and Jupiter models.
Working with one of our staff experts, participants will cover topics including:
- Subtractive Synthesis: Principles and techniques for shaping sound
- Monophonic vs. Polyphonic Synths: Differences and practical applications
- Basic Synth Building Blocks: Oscillators, filters, envelopes, VCAs
- Modulation: LFOs and envelope effects
- Voltage Control Standards: Pitch, modulation consistency
- Synchronization: Integrating synths with recording devices