Intro to Electronic Music and Sound Synthesis

Electronic music often carries a sense of mystery, shaped by its underground culture and the unfamiliar tools used to create it. This project aims to make that world more accessible by focusing on sound synthesis, one of the core elements of electronic music production that is often overlooked in formal education. Using the educational software Syntorial and hands-on experimentation with three types of synthesizers including analog using the Korg Minilogue, modular using the Moog Mavis, and digital using Serum VST, the project explores how sound is shaped through waveforms, envelopes, filters, low frequency oscillators, and frequency modulation. The project also includes efforts to recreate well-known synth sounds as a way to apply and reinforce these techniques. It briefly covers the history and major subgenres of electronic music to provide cultural context. The goal is to demystify synthesizers and highlight the creative decisions behind sound design.