Tag: General

A list of online and (mostly) open-access resources for electronic music. Please support these folks if you are able.

Tools

Software Environments

• Reaper (DAW) (http://reaper.fm/)
  All-purpose DAW with extensive plug-in suite.
• Rack (Virtual Modular Synth) (https://vcvrack.com/)
  Standalone Eurorack-style virtual modular synth.
• Soundgrain (Granular Synthesis) (http://ajaxsoundstudio.com/software/soundgrain/)
  Standalone granulation software with novel visual interface.
• SPEAR (Spectral Analysis and Editing) (http://www.klingbeil.com/spear/)
  Standalone application for spectral analysis and editing.

Virtual Instruments

• HELM (Synthesizer) (https://tytel.org/helm/)
  Solid synth with effects and customizable modulation.
• DEXED (Yamaha DX7) (https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/)
  Emulation of the classic synth. Learn more about the DX7 and hear samples of the classic patches (http://www.synthmania.com/dx7.htm)
• iO-808 (in-browser Roland TR-808) (https://io808.com/)
  Browser-based emulation of the classic drum machine.

Plug-Ins

• KVR Audio (https://www.kvraudio.com/)
  Resource for free (and not-so-free) FX plug-ins and virtual instruments.
• Voxengo Audio Spectrum Analyzer (https://www.voxengo.com/product/span/)
  Useful spectrum analyzer plug-in.

Sound Libraries

• Freesound Project (https://freesound.org/)
  Massive community-sourced repository of field recordings and musical sounds.
• University of Iowa Acoustic Instrument Sample Library (http://theremin.music.uiowa.edu/MIS.html)
  Archive of high-quality one-shot samples of acoustic instruments.
• BBC Sound Effects Archive (http://bbcsfx.acropolis.org.uk/)
  Huge repository of audio clips recorded by the BBC over several decades.
• Samplicity Impulse Responses (for convolution reverb plug-ins) (http://www.samplicity.com/bricasti-m7-impulse-responses/)
  Library of impulse response (IR) audio files for reverb plug-ins.

Programming

• Arduino (https://www.arduino.cc/)
  Environment for Arduino microcontrollers.
• Supercollider (https://supercollider.github.io/)
  Line-by-line programming environment popular for live coding.
• Processing (https://processing.org/)
  Environment for creative coding.
• Puredata (https://puredata.info/)
  Freeware sibling of Max.

Utilities

• Soundflower (https://github.com/mattingalls/Soundflower)
  Send audio between applications on your Mac.
• Osculator (https://osculator.net/)
  Map novel controller interfaces to audio software.
• Oblique Strategies (http://stoney.sb.org/eno/oblique.html)
  A little inspiration from Brian Eno.

Guides and Tutorials

General Resources

• Music and Computers: A Theoretical and Historical Approach (http://sites.music.columbia.edu/cmc/MusicAndComputers/)
  Online computer music textbook.
• Peter Elsea (http://artsites.ucsc.edu/EMS/music/table.html)
  Short technical essays on various topics related to music technology.

Production and Mixing

• Reaper Video Tutorials (http://reaper.fm/videos.php)
  Huge library of video tutorials for Reaper. Many of the explanations of techniques, parameters, and plug-ins can be generalized to other platforms.
• The Music Production Guide (https://www.music-production-guide.com/music-mixing-3.html)
  Step-by-step approach to mixing.
• Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio Online Resources (http://www.cambridge-mt.com/ms-mtk.htm)
  Online resources, including stems to practice mixing.
• Theory of Drum Programming (Alan D. Moore) (http://www.alandmoore.com/blog/the-theory-of-drum-programming/#tools_of_the_trade)
• Mixing Drums (Audio Issues) (http://www.audio-issues.com/music-mixing/drum-eq-guide/)
• How to Use Compression (Soundfly) (https://flypaper.soundfly.com/produce/compression-audio-basics/)
• How to Make Vocals Pop (Tunecore) (https://www.tunecore.com/blog/2018/01/make-vocal-tracks-pop.html)

Fantastic Synth Sounds and Where to Find Them

• Music Radar (https://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/the-40-greatest-synth-sounds-of-all-time-ever-306114)
• Synthmania (http://www.synthmania.com/Famous%20Sounds.htm)

Deep Dives

• Intro to Digital Filters (CCRMA at Stanford) (https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~jos/filters/)
• Percussion Synthesis (CCRMA at Stanford)
  (https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~sdill/220A-project/drums.html)
• Advanced Programming Techniques for Modular Synthesizers (http://www.cim.mcgill.ca/~clark/nordmodularbook/nm_book_toc.html)
• Granular Synthesis (https://granularsynthesis.com/index.php)
• Digital Signal Processing (DSP) (Steven W. Smith)
  (http://www.dspguide.com/pdfbook.htm)

Blogs

• Sound Advice (https://www.soundonsound.com/sound-advice)
• Synthtopia (http://www.synthtopia.com/)
• Ethan Hein (http://www.ethanhein.com)
• Zeroes and Ones (http://alijamieson.co.uk/)

Music Theory

• Open Music Theory (http://openmusictheory.com/)
• net (https://www.musictheory.net/)
• Music Theory for Musicians and Normal People (http://tobyrush.com/theorypages/index.html)
• Top 40 Theory (https://www.top40theory.com/)