Simon Cann's news feed
These are the most recent articles in my news feed. If there's nothing here, then there has been no recent news, but you can access the complete archive and check the most recent postings. Alternatively, click here to subscribe directly to the news feed.
How to Make a Noise: Three New Books Published
Three new books in the How to Make a Noise series have just been published. Check out this video for details.
If the video does not show, then go to youtube.com/watch?v=aRSbSEEkNik to see the video.
The key factor when creating sounds with synthesizers is choosing the right tool for the job and then using that tool properly. These three new books each focus on different approaches to synthesizer sound creation so the musician can choose the right tool for the job.
How to Make a Noise: Analog Synthesis starts from the basic principle of taking a sound source and shaping it with a filter. This simple but powerful technique can be applied to any hardware or software synthesizer to create the warm, rich, energetic, and commanding sounds that are often associated with classic hardware synthesizers.
Read more about How to Make a Noise: Analog Synthesis at noisesculpture.com/analog.
How to Make a Noise: Frequency Modulation Synthesis looks at frequency modulation (or FM) synthesis which works through a continuous and controllable interaction of two or more waves to give a broad spectrum of detailed, highly nuanced, bright, rich, shimmering, clean, metallic, and solid tones that can be used to create many musical (and non-musical) sounds.
Read more about How to Make a Noise: Frequency Modulation Synthesis at noisesculpture.com/fm.
How to Make a Noise: Sample-Based Synthesis looks at how to sample, create, and control sounds—from high fidelity realistic recreations of real instrument in their original environment, through creative warped tones, to drums and loops—and the tools and techniques that are available to help.
Read more about How to Make a Noise: Sample-Based Synthesis at noisesculpture.com/sample.
The books are available exclusively in electronic format and have been optimized for book readers such as the Kindle, Kindle Fire, iPad (and other tablet devices including the Samsung Galaxy), nook, nook color, Reader, smartphones (such as the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry), as well as the online and desktop equivalent of the book readers. They make extensive use of (color) graphics designed for this form of reading device and the internal links make it a breeze to find the detail the reader is looking for.
Free samples are available from the bookstores that carry the book.
Z3TA+2 update for Cakewalk Synthesizers: from Presets to Power User, second edition
Since the publication of Cakewalk Synthesizers: From Presets to Power User, second edition, Z3TA+ has undergone a major upgrade becoming Z3TA+2.
Z3TA+2 is a significant and worthy update to an old favorite and an update to the book is now available, detailing the changes introduced by the new synthesizer.
The update to Cakewalk Synthesizers: from Presets to Power User, second edition is available for download from: noisesculpture.com/cakewalk. It is available for free to anyone, and while it will be of most use to people with the book, please feel free to download the update and take a look if you don't own the book (yet).