Customer Reviews

Secrets Of Analog And Digital Synthesis (Ferro Music Technology Series)

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This book is certainly outdated at this point, and you can find it at many 1/2 priced book places at this point. However, as a teacher of electronic music and music technology, it provides some nice supplimentary material. (Please note that I teach mostly children ages 11-16). As part of out course of study, we also learn about the Casio CZ-101, which is given some special attention in part of this book.

The Secrets of Analog and Digital Synthesis is a basic -- very basic -- treatment of how electronic synthesziers work and how to create patch files. It is apparently intended as the manual for a videotape course. That tape is not included. The frequent references to material on the tape is consequently very irritating. What content there is, and the writing style, seem aimed at the 7th grade level. Published in 1986, the book is also quite outdated: Synthesizers have come a long way in the last twelve years.

The one redeeming feature of this book is that it proposes a systematic method for creating new patches, an improvement over the trial and error approach taken by most instrument manuals.

Don't bother with this book.

The other two reviews here were written eight years ago, and much has changed in the world of synthesizers in that time.

One big change is the fact that most synthesizers nowadays are 'virtual analog synths'. Meaning, they are digital, usually DSP powered, but are modeled after synths of 20-25 yeas ago. Modeled meaning that the user adjustable parameters are similar to those of that time.

Another is cost. The price of synthesizers has dropped dramatically. And a good quality synth can now be had for way less than $1000.

This book will get you started. If you are thinking about aquiring your first hardware synth, and have had some keyboard or piano experience and know a bit of music theory, then this book is a huge step in the direction of knowledge and enlightenment.

There are a few things out of date in this book, but the basics of synthesized sound are explained wonderfully. A smoking deal for the price.

This book is always one of my favorites because it is formatted for "light" reading. Not too much Math thrown your way or haughty Physics, Just the essentials to understand the concepts behind sound creation and manipulation. It has some great analogies for the topics discussed. Some of the information on the CZ synthesizers is a little outdated but the other 98% is all the Meat and Potatoes on Synthesizers you need to get started, Waveforms, Envelopes, Ring Modulation, FM....Awesome...Awesome...Awesome...yes the Video is not included....Its out of print and was on VHS,I looked for it for over a month in about 10 different libraries. Do people still have those players?