The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument

by Mark Vail

Electronic music instruments weren't called synthesizers until the 1950s, but their lineage began in 1919 with Russian inventor Lev Sergeyevich Termen's development of the Etherphone, now known as the Theremin. From that point, synthesizers have undergone a remarkable evolution from prohibitively large mid-century models confined to university laboratories to the development of musical synthesis software that runs on tablet computers and portable media devices.

Throughout its history, the synthesizer has always been at the forefront of technology for the arts. In The A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument , veteran music technology journalist, educator, and performer Mark Vail tells the complete story of the the origins of the many forms the instrument takes; crucial advancements in sound generation, musical control, and composition made with instruments that may have become best sellers or gone entirely unnoticed; and the basics and intricacies of acoustics and synthesized sound. Vail also describes how to successfully select, program, and play a synthesizer; what alternative controllers exist for creating electronic music; and how to stay focused and productive when faced with a room full of instruments. This one-stop reference guide on all things synthesizer also offers tips on encouraging creativity, layering sounds, performance,
composing and recording for film and television, and much more.

Genres: Music

428 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2013

Reviews

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este es un libro con una densidad de información tremenda, si estás interesado en los sintetizadores, su historia y su funcionamiento, la mayoría de las cosas que necesitarás saber para introducirte en el mundillo seguramente están aquí, pero no es una lectura especialmente entretenida y tampoco cumple una misión clara como libro de referencia.

La parte de la historia de los sintetizadores es relativamente entretenida, pero a partir de ahí se pone cada vez más técnico y en ocasiones parece más un catálogo de equipamiento vintage que un libro didáctico y útil. También hay que tener en cuenta que es un libro que está un poco anticuado y aunque ha sido revisado un músico actual puede sacar poca utilidad de aquí.

Se echa en falta información concreta y práctica en algunos aspectos, aunque supongo que quizás este no es el libro adecuado para este tipo de acercamiento, quizás estaría bien que comentara de forma concreta técnicas de sintesis y diseño sonoro... en fin, no era lo que me esperaba, pero hay que apreciar la cantidad de información que se puede encontrar en este libro.

[Dmitry Khvatov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. It took me a year to finish it. I liked the first part of the book more. Sometimes boring and has many repetitions. A good starting point.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was as in depth and detailed as possible without being boring. I learned about the history of synthesizers, the parts of synthesizers, and many models of synthesizers.

[Unholy Meat Obelisk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent guide to anyone interested in synth music. It's very friendly, though extensive. It includes useful advise for any type of approach to these instruments, as well as very detailed explanations about synths and their components, so in order to make it more manageable, it might be better to focus on those descriptions that will be of most help to you.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive in some ways. Loved the synth history in chapter 1. Probably not for beginners.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical reference, massive appendices and index.

[Marcel Heijink · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I knew a lot about synthesizers until I read this book.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great intro to the world of synthesis, don't let my 3 star review lead you to believe that it isn't. Vail goes into modules and techniques and explains terminology and process in a way that is attainable without an engineering degree and a way that makes them fall into place in your head. The performance and composition chapter shows you how electronic music can and does fit into every niche of our culture - movies, televisions, live bands, anywhere you listen you can find synthesis and the more you know about it the better.

It is absolutely a text book, so don't go into this expecting an exciting page turner. Each chapter has a tendency to repeat information covered earlier which is nice if you are not doing a complete reading of the text, but really makes it drag when you are.

He does a great job of showing you modules or synths that excel in different areas. It's also great that the book is modern enough to be able to cover things like iOS and Windows synth apps. It's not limited to the CV controlled synths of the 70s and 80s.

The downside to the book is that it almost reads like a buyers guide. Don't misunderstand that statement--Never in the book is there a sales pitch, however he does spends too much time telling you about gear and not enough time showing you how to use it.

On the whole the book helped to further ignite my interest in electronic music making and offers a broad and fairly deep level of understanding of the world of synthesis whether it be digital, analog, modular, computerized or otherwise.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as it gets.