Creating Sounds from Scratch

Creating Sounds from Scratch is a practical, in-depth resource on the most common forms of music synthesis. It includes historical context, an overview of concepts in sound and hearing, and practical training examples to help sound designers and electronic music producers effectively manipulate presets and create new sounds. The book covers the all of the main synthesis techniques including analog subtractive, FM, additive, physical modeling, wavetable, sample-based, and granular. While the book is grounded in theory, it relies on practical examples and contemporary production techniques show the reader how to utilize electronic sound design to maximize and improve his or her work. Creating Sounds from Scratch is ideal for all who work in sound creation, composition, editing, and contemporary commercial production.

Andrea Pejrolo is Chair of the Contemporary Writing and Production department at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He is the author of Creative Sequencing Techniques for Music Production (Focal Press, 2005, Second Edition 2011) and Acoustic and MIDI Orchestration for the Contemporary Composer (Focal Press, 2007). Scott Metcalfe is Director of Recording Arts and Sciences at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.

Acknowledgments About the Companion Website Introduction
Chapter 1: How did we get here? Chapter 2 - Understanding Sound and Hearing Chapter 3: The Tools of the Trade Chapter 4: Subtractive Synthesis Chapter 5: Frequency Modulation Synthesis (FM) Chapter 6: Additive Synthesis Chapter 7: Sample-based Synthesis Chapter 8 -- Physical Modeling Chapter 9: Wavetable and Granular Synthesis
Index