Synthesis & Sound Design

We are excited to announce the addition our Synthesis & Sound Design course! This curriculum was developed by our director, Matt Wiley, for Samford University’s Commercial Music Program and we are thrilled to now offer this to our CMA students!

Sound Design is a much needed skill set among working musicians, especially keyboardists! Mastering the keyboard is only half the battle; knowing how to dial in the sound with precision is what elevates a performance from good to unforgettable.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of sound design, including the fundamentals of harmonics, psychoacoustics, and subtractive/additive/FM synthesis. We will also explore instruments like the Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer 200a, Clavinet, Hammond B3, and more. What to use and when/how to use it!

By the end of the course, students will have created a portfolio of synth sounds and a library of Hammond Organ drawbar settings, along with the ability to confidently use these sounds. Click below for a preview of our epic synth library.

*If you are not able or interested in taking the course, but would like accesses to these libraries, they are available for purchase! Email us at cmatuscaloosa@gmail.com.

*Our Hammond B3 library is a PDF spreadsheet with detailed drawbar settings along with dozens of corresponding song examples.

*Our synth library was created using VITAL, a free but powerful synth plugin, compatible with virtually every DAW (even Garage Band). Although the interface and user experience may vary between synths, their architecture is quite similar. The visual elements in Vital allow the user to see how parameters affect sound so that patches can be easily created on other keyboards and plugins.