Tutorial Streams
About this Blog Post
This blog post is a Minds repository of the tutorial streams of The Wayfarer Project. These streams can also be found on The Wayfarer project's Tutorial Streams page.
Wayfarer Streams Live on Twitch
The Wayfarer Project on OdySee
Wayfarer Tutorial Streams on BitChute
Wayfarer Forges Sound
Season 01
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E01 - Pure Data Basics & Digital Audio Fundamentals Part 1
The Wayfarer Forges Sound series includes various topics within the realms of computer music and electro-acoustic music. Dr. Lawrence W. Moore covers topics that range from synthesis, electronic music composition, audio engineering, signal processing, sound design, and interactive media.
In this first episode and season of the series, Moore focuses on building up one's fundamental knowledge of digital audio, synthesis, electronic music, and other important topics for further learning. The software Pure Data by Miller Puckette is utilized to get an "under the hood" understanding of digital audio and the basics of recording and synthesizing sound. This first episode uniquely focuses on understanding samples, sampling rate, sample tables, and the basic language of pd.
Pure Data can be downloaded from PureData.Info
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E02 Pure Data Basics & Digital Audio Fundamentals Part 2
in this episode of Wayfarer Forges sound, Dr. Lawrence W. Moore furthers the understanding of digital audio fundamentals, such as sampling, sampling rate, oscillators, and phase. Within this episode one can learn how to create an oscillator in Pure Data, attenuate that oscillator in pd, establish the cycle and the phase of that oscillator as well. Overall, tis episode covers oscillators, cycles, phase, and phase cancellation.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E03 - Frequency, Overtones, Harmonics, and Partials
One of the most fundamental concepts that must be understood in the fields of sound recording, sound design, synthesis, and audio production, in general, is that of frequency and the frequency spectrum. The frequency spectrum of a sound not only contains its fundamental pitch, but it also contains a host of frequencies that give it its unique tone color.
This episode covers the fundamental frequency, overtones, harmonics, and partials. Adobe Audition is utilized to visualize the frequency spectrum and see as well as hear the harmonics and partials that make up spoken voice as well as sung voice. Spear by Michael Klingbeil is used to understand how component sine waves come together in varying intensities and frequencies to make up the partials and harmonics in a sound. This tutorial is an essential primer in understanding sound frequencies and the frequency spectrum.
SPEAR software was created by Michael Klingbeil.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E04 -Sine Waves, Triangle Waves, Square Waves, and Sawtooth Waves Part 1
The four basic wave shapes in synthesis are the sine wave, the triangle wave, the square wave, and the sawtooth wave. These wave shapes are also different variants of the harmonic spectra that help to illustrate the different harmonic structures of sound and how they affect tone color. These different ideological wave shapes also are the cornerstones for analyzing spectral characteristics of natural sound. This lesson helps one to understand how to shape these sound waves using digital audio software such as Pure Data. This episode covers the math involve in shaping these waveforms in pd.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E05 - Sine Waves, Triangle Waves, Square Waves, and Sawtooth Waves Part 2
In this episode, we look at wavetable synthesis and how to create the four basic wave shapes in by using additive synthesis. Additive synthesis is when sine tones are combined together at different strengths in order to make more complex wavefroms. Sine tones are used at different harmonic strengths to make triangle, square, and sawtooth waveforms. The sine wave, triangle wave, square wave, and sawtooth wave are the four basic waveforms in synthesis.These concepts are presented int his lesson using Pure Data. pd is capable of using sine tones in summed harmonic frequencies to create the four basic waveshapes.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E06 - Amplitude, Compression, and Gating
This lesson is a primer on dynamics processing. It covers the concept of amplitude and sound intensity and the two major forms of dynamics processing that are regularly used in a variety of media, compression and gating. Utilizing Adobe Audition, this tutorial goes over how to smooth out spoken voice fluctuations and how to eliminate noise in between the words. Overall, this is a good beginner's guide to amplitude, dynamics processing, compression, gating, and expansion.
Wayfarer Forges Sound s01e07 - Making a Simple Synthesizer in Pure Data Part 1
Pure Data is a graphic programming environment that allows you to build your own software. In this part of the series, Dr. Lawrence W. Moore show how to build a simple modular synthesizer. Because the construction is modular, different components can be added with each upcoming episode. In this episode he shows how to receive MIDI data into pd and how to take that data, display it, and get it ready to be routed throughout the rest of the synthesizer. There are a few logical strategies to controlling the flow of the data that are discussed. One learns how to receive and utilize note, velocity, modulation wheel, sustain pedal, and pitch bend information.
Wayfarer Forges Sound s01e08 - Making a Simple Synthesizer in Pure Data Part 2
In this episode, we continue building our synthesizer in Pure Data. Now that there is a MIDI input module, this episode shows how to make a multi-oscillator module that has selectable waveforms. One can shoose between a sine, triangle, square, and sawtooth waveform. This episode shows how to convert MIDI note data into frequency control over the oscillator and MIDI velocity as amplitude control.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E09 - Making Smooth Monophonic Response Control and an ADSR Envelope
In order to make a smooth-playing monophonic synthesizer, we need to update our synthesizer with some logic flow that discriminates between different MIDI note off messages to make sure that none of them cut off notes that are currently being held from a MIDI note on signal. Additionally, the pisode show one how to build an ADSR envelope in Pure Data. In pd, one can use some logic and control signals to create an adjustable ADSR envelope for a synthesizer.
Psyche Opera is on Minds @psycheopera
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E10 - Adding Pitch Bend to Our Synthesizer
Now that we have a functioning synthesizer that has a VCO and a an envelope section with an ADSR, it is time to hook up the pitch bend operation. In this episode you will see the math and logic involved in making a smooth pitch bend response to the MIDI pitch bend controller to bend the pitch up and down an octave. In Pure Data, bending the pitch of the oscillator takes math and logic to execute. There is no built in pitch bend function in pd.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E011 - Making a Second Oscillator
In this episode, we continue our build of a simple software synthesizer by adding a second oscillator. Synthesizers frequently have 2 or more VCOs as part of theit design in order to thicken the sound and to mix together different waveform types. We will see how to divide up the signal information to have two oscillators with octave, semitone, and fine tune frequency control.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S01E012 - Adding a Low Pass Filter to our Synthesizer
In this episode, we add a low pass filter to our synthesizer and use the modulation wheel to control its level in the mix of the sound. We also learn how to apply resonance and adjust the cut off frequency.
Season 02
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E01 - VCV Rack the Virtual Eurorrack Modeling Software
This second season of Wayfarer Forges Sound begins with an overview on Eurorack modular synthesis utilizing the virtual Eurorack modeling software, VCV Rack. VCV Rack is a free download and provides so many modules for free that one can build all sorts of synthesizers and integrated machines. This video gives an overview on how to use the MIDI input modules, the VCO, the LFO, the VCF, ADSR, and audio output. This is a great first step for learning VCV Rack as well as analog modular synthesis.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E02 - Using a Step Sequencer to Control Synthesizers
In this episode, we will use the free Eurorack modeling software, VCV Rack to learn about step sequencers and how they can be used to control all sorts of parameters and effects in synthesis. This episode also demonstrates a lot of the common ways step sequencers are used to control sound effects that are frequently used in modular analog synthesis.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E03 - Recording Beat Box Percussion Samples
Wayfarer gets into recording drum samples the old fashioned way, using the voice. In this episode we will see how to make voice drum samples and use processing techniques to make them sound better and work as drum samples. This episode uses both Audacity and Audition to make the samples. Of course, this knowledge can be applied to whatever audio editing software or DAW you want to use.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E04 - Using a Drum Sample Sequencer Like ReDrum
In this episode, we take the drum samples that we made in the previous episode and use them in a drum pattern player that has a step sequencer. While many drum sequencers are very similar, we are going to use ReDrum from Reason because it resembles many of the drum machines and step sequencers fromt he analog world and has a GUI that is similar tot he design of other similar instruments. Reason has a free 30 day trial in case you would like to try it out.
Wayfarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXdGQkwwBHk&t=1811ser Forges Sound S02E05 - Pitched Instrument Sampling in Reason witht he NN-XT Advanced Sampler
In this episode, Wayfarer shows how to approach sampling pitched instruments. He demonstrates this by sampling a wood pipe pan flute and assigning the samples to zones in the NN-XT Advanced Sampler in Reason.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E06 - Learning subtractive Synthesis with SubTractor
Subtractive synthesis is probably the most common approach to synthesis and is used by many virtual instrument plugins and hardware synthesizers alike. This video teaches you the basic of subtractive synthesis using SubTractor from Reason. It is a great synthesizer to learn from, and these concepts can be applied to a vast amount of software and hardware synthesizers. This tutorial is a great way to learn the basics of synthesis.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E07 - Using Thor in Reason
Thor is a very powerful synthesizer in Reason that has 3 main VCOs, 2 filter sections, 3 LFOs, an amplitude shaper, delay, chorus, and a step sequencer. The variety of oscillator types and filter types is also quite extensive. In this episode, Wayfarer gives one a tour of Thor and shows how the different modules and sections of the instrument work. This is also a good tutorial for those who want to learn further complexities in synthesizer design.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S02E08 - Making a Robotic Growling Lead Sound
In this episode, Wayfarer uses Thor from Reason to make a robotic growling lead sound. This sound uses three oscillators, a low pass filter, a formant filter, two LFO's, and two envelopes beside the amplitude envelope. Some delay helps to round off the sound.
Season 03
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E01 - Making a Drum Machine in Pure Data
Wayfarer Forges Sound is starting a whole new adventure in the building of a drum machine in Pure Data. PD is a very flexible software with a wide-open potential for making apps for making music. In this first episode, Wayfarer show one how to make a simple sample recording and playback system that will be used in the overall build.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E02 - Adding MIDI Capabilities to Our Drum Machine
In this episode of Wayfarer Forges Sound, we add MIDI triggering to our first drum machine channel. This way, the user can use a MIDI controller to trigger sample playback. We will add the features that allow the user to set the channel and note for the drum channel so that when the drum machine software is finished, each drum channel can have its own MIDI channel and note assignments.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E03 - Improving Samples for Playback
Thus far, the drum machine that we are making in PD can record samples, but the samples that are recorded are usually not up to snuff for sample playback in the drum machine. We will look at audio editing techniques to craft samples that sound good. There are also a few touch ups to make to the patching since the implementation of MIDI from last week's episode created a little issue between the manual playback of samples and the MIDI playback of samples.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E04 - Adding Load & Save Functions and Error Checking
in this week's episode, we see how we can add loading and saving functions to our drum machine. Ultimately, we want to be able to load in and save out samples, rename them, and store them generally in our samples folder. This will allow us to bring in samples from other places or samples that make in other software.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E05 - Making Our PD Drum Machine a Multichannel Drum Machine
Now that we have perfected our single channel that can record, playback, load, and save samples, we need to duplicate it out so that we can have 8 drum tracks in our drum machine. This episode shows you how to do this in a couple of ways. There is a quick way that takes advantage of the fact that pd files are actually text files that consist of code that can be edited in text editors. The other way is slower, but by watching those changes, one can learn more about sends, receives, file names, and maintaining good Pure Data coding practices.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E06 - Making a Step Sequencer for our PD Drum Machine
Now that we have an 8 channel drum machine, we are going to make an 8 track 16 step step sequencer for the drum machine. This will allow the user to create patterns and to use the sound samples in the 8 different channels for play back in the 8 different tracks of the sequencer. The 16 track step sequencer is a standard for analog drum machines and is still utilized as a foundation for digital, software-based drum machine applications today.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E07 - Continuing to Make a Step Sequencer for Our Drum Machine in Pure Data
We continue the process of making a step sequencer for our drum machine in Pure Data. The step selection GUI, playback, rowing, stop, and pause mechanism need to have control over the samples. In this episode, we see how to make the mechanisms to turn the sample playback on and off for each step and each channel. We see how to debug the process as well. There are some tips in this episode on how to duplicate and make specific changes to items that are similar to one another.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E08 - Finishing the Step Sequencer for our Drum Machine in Pure Data
It's time to finish up the step sequencer that we are making for our Pure Data drum machine. In this episode, we will look at error-checking out patching thus far, creating tempo control for the step sequencer, and creating a jump function so one can skip to any part of the sequence as needed.
Wayfarer Forges Sound S03E09 - Creating a Mixer for our Pure Data Drum Machine
Creating a mixer in Pure Data is no small task, but it is pretty much straightforward. In order to make a mixer adaptable to using the number of channels that the user wants to us, it is best to use proportional scaling. This means that when you use all 8 channels, or just 2, you don not hear a steep drop-off in overall level. The channel faders and panning controls are embedded in the drum sample channels themselves and the mixer functions are performed in a sub-patch that the user does not even need to see.