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J. Anthony Allen

The Fastest Way to Start Designing Professional Sounds with Synthesizers

Hi – I'm J. Anthony Allen - an Ableton Certified Trainer and tenured university professor with a Ph.D. in Music. Nearly a million students have taken my music production classes, averaging over 4.7 in student ratings.

I've created this special 90-minute accelerated sound design course for one reason: to demystify synthesizers and get you creating your own sounds as quickly as possible.

Why This 90-Minute Fast-Track Approach?

Read more

The Fastest Way to Start Designing Professional Sounds with Synthesizers

Hi – I'm J. Anthony Allen - an Ableton Certified Trainer and tenured university professor with a Ph.D. in Music. Nearly a million students have taken my music production classes, averaging over 4.7 in student ratings.

I've created this special 90-minute accelerated sound design course for one reason: to demystify synthesizers and get you creating your own sounds as quickly as possible.

Why This 90-Minute Fast-Track Approach?

  • Start Creating Sounds Immediately: No overwhelming theory—we jump straight into hands-on synthesis

  • The "Four Questions" Framework: Master my simple system that works on ANY synthesizer

  • Results-Focused Learning: You'll be designing leads, basses, and pads within the first hour

  • Works Everywhere: Learn principles that apply to Ableton's Analog, Logic's Retro Synth, and beyond

  • No More Preset Dependency: Finally understand what those knobs actually do

This Class is Perfect For You If:

  • You're intimidated by all those synthesizer knobs and parameters

  • You want to create unique sounds, not just browse presets

  • You've tried learning synthesis but got lost in technical jargon

  • You produce music but feel limited by not understanding sound design

  • You want a clear, practical approach that works in ANY DAW

My Promise to You:

As a full-time Music Producer and Educator, I am committed to your success. Post your questions in the class, and I will respond within 24 hours. If this class doesn't meet your expectations, take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee—no questions asked.

Why Learn From Me?

Apart from being an Ableton Certified Trainer, I'm also a tenured university professor with a Ph.D. in Music Composition AND a dedicated professional music producer. I've had tracks on the charts and numerous teaching awards. My teaching style is relaxed and conversational—it's just the two of us hanging out and making weird noises with synthesizers. Please laugh at my bad jokes. I'm pretending that you are.

Ready for More After This Fast-Track Guide?

This 90-minute class covers the essential 20% of synthesis knowledge that you'll use 80% of the time. Once you've mastered these fundamentals, you'll be ready to explore FM synthesis, granular synthesis, and advanced sound design techniques in my other courses.

Don't miss this opportunity to finally understand synthesizers in just 90 minutes. Let's create some amazing sounds together.

See you in class, Jason (but call me Jay...)

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Master the four essential components of any synthesizer: oscillators, filters, envelopes, and lfos
  • Apply the "four sound design questions" framework to quickly create any sound you imagine
  • Create professional sounds using both ableton's analog and logic's retro synth instruments
  • Understand different synthesis types including subtractive, fm, wavetable, and physical modeling

Syllabus

Welcome to Sound Design in 90 Minutes - No time to spare - let's get to it!
Introduction
My approach to sound design
Let's start with the fundamental principles of sound design.
Read more

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Career center

Learners who complete Sound Design in 90 Minutes: Fast-Track Guide to Synthesizers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Sound Design in 90 Minutes: Fast-Track Guide to Synthesizers.
Delves into the theory and applications of adaptive filters. It is written by Simon Haykin, a renowned expert in the field, and offers deep insights into the design and implementation of adaptive filters.
This in-depth guide to synthesizers covers everything from the basics of sound synthesis to advanced programming techniques. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the inner workings of synthesizers.
Comprehensive guide to music production, covering everything from the basics of sound and music theory to using specialized software and equipment.
Provides a comprehensive overview of sound synthesis, covering everything from the basics of sound synthesis to advanced techniques. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the theory and practice of synthesis.
Covers Kalman filtering and dynamic estimation techniques, including the use of Kalman filters for signal filtering and tracking. It provides a detailed understanding of the theory and applications of Kalman filters in various domains.
Written by a veteran sound professional, this book offers practical guidance on the entire process of film sound production, from pre-production to the final mix. It provides valuable real-world insights and is considered essential reading for those pursuing a career in film sound.
Covers the practical aspects of digital signal processing, including the design and implementation of filters. It offers a practical approach to understanding and applying filters in real-world applications.
A widely recognized textbook in RF circuit design, this book covers oscillators as essential building blocks in RF systems. It provides detailed analysis and design techniques for RF oscillators, making it highly relevant for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, as well as industry professionals in RF design. is commonly used as a textbook and must-read for those focusing on RF oscillators. It helps solidify an understanding of the topic in an RF context.
Provides a comprehensive overview of sound design, including synthesis, sampling, and effects processing. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the art and science of sound design.
Offers a broad overview of sound and music in video games, covering historical context, theoretical concepts, and practical approaches. It's a good starting point for those new to game audio and provides a solid foundation for further study.
Another classic and comprehensive textbook on analog integrated circuit design, this book covers oscillators in detail as part of frequency generation circuits. It provides rigorous analysis and design techniques essential for understanding and designing complex analog oscillators. fundamental resource for graduate students and practicing engineers in analog IC design and is considered a must-read.
This recent publication focuses on Phase-Locked Loops (PLLs), which heavily utilize oscillators. It covers system perspectives and circuit design aspects of PLLs in modern communication systems. is highly relevant for understanding the application of oscillators in PLLs and is suitable for graduate students and industry professionals working on modern electronic systems. It addresses contemporary architectures and design techniques.
Another highly regarded textbook in RF integrated circuit design, this book offers in-depth coverage of CMOS RF circuits, including oscillators. It is suitable for graduate students and practicing engineers specializing in CMOS RF IC design. valuable reference for contemporary topics in RF oscillator design and is considered a must-read in the field. It adds significant depth to the topic.
Provides an in-depth look at the art and techniques of Foley, the process of creating and recording everyday sounds for film, games, and animation. It's a practical guide for aspiring Foley artists and sound designers interested in this specialized area.
A comprehensive guide focusing on the practical aspects of creating sound effects. covers everything from field recording techniques to studio equipment and provides numerous tips and tricks. It's an excellent resource for those looking to develop hands-on skills in sound effect production and is often used as a reference.
While focused on mixing, this book is crucial for sound designers as mixing is an integral part of the sound design process. It covers fundamental concepts to advanced techniques in audio mixing and widely respected resource in the audio industry. The latest editions incorporate contemporary topics like loudness standards and immersive audio.
Provides up-to-date information on various aspects of RF and microwave transistor oscillator design. It covers nonlinear circuit design methods, noise in oscillators, and stability analysis, making it suitable for practicing engineers and researchers. It delves into contemporary topics and optimized design techniques in the field of RF and microwave oscillators. This valuable reference for professionals.
This practical guide focuses on creating sounds from scratch using various synthesis techniques, including subtractive, FM, additive, and physical modeling. It is an excellent resource for producers and composers looking to deepen their sound design skills. The book is grounded in theory but emphasizes practical examples and contemporary production techniques.
Another recent book edited by Woogeun Rhee, this resource delves into phase-locked frequency generation and clocking, covering essential topics and issues in current PLL design. It considers both wireless and wireline systems and discusses modern architectures. is valuable for those interested in contemporary applications of oscillators within PLLs and is suitable for experienced mixed-circuit designers and industry professionals.
A seminal theoretical work on the relationship between sound and image in cinema. Chion introduces key concepts like 'added value' and explores how sound shapes our perception of the visual. is crucial for developing a deeper, more analytical understanding of sound design in audiovisual media and is considered a classic.
A detailed guide focusing specifically on the crucial skill of dialogue editing in film. covers the techniques and workflows necessary to create seamless and impactful dialogue tracks. It valuable resource for anyone specializing in post-production sound.
Provides a foundational understanding of sound design principles, particularly within the context of film. It explores how music, dialogue, and sound effects work together to create emotional impact and enhance storytelling. It's a valuable resource for beginners and offers a good overview of the artistic aspects of sound design.
Offers a fascinating social history of the early days of synthesizers, focusing on the invention and impact of the Moog synthesizer. It provides valuable historical context and insights into the cultural significance of these instruments. While not a technical guide, it's a must-read for understanding the origins and evolution of synthesizers.
Practical guide to mixing audio in a small studio environment. It covers a wide range of topics, from room acoustics to microphone techniques to EQ and compression.
Explores the creative process of sound design, providing insights into the techniques and strategies used by professional sound designers. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the art of sound design.
Provides a comprehensive overview of sound synthesis and sampling techniques. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about creating and manipulating electronic sounds.
Is specifically part of a series on the fundamentals of electronics and focuses directly on oscillators and advanced topics. It is highly relevant for gaining a broad understanding of electronic oscillators and is suitable for undergraduate students in electronics. It covers practical aspects and can be a useful reference tool. This book helps solidify an understanding of the topic within an electronics context.
A widely respected and comprehensive reference book in electronics, "The Art of Electronics" includes significant coverage of oscillators and waveform generators. It provides practical design advice and theoretical background on various oscillator types. valuable resource for students and professionals alike and is often considered a must-have reference in any electronics lab.
Focuses on filter design techniques specifically for image processing. It provides practical guidance on designing filters for various image processing tasks, such as noise reduction, sharpening, and edge detection.
Provides a hands-on approach to digital signal processing, including the design and implementation of filters. It offers a step-by-step guide to understanding and applying filters in practical applications.
Delves into the principles of procedural audio and the creation of sound using programming and synthesis. While not for absolute beginners, it offers a deep dive into the technical aspects of sound design and is highly relevant for those interested in generative audio and interactive sound. It can serve as a valuable reference for advanced students and professionals.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and techniques of sound synthesis and sampling. It covers both the theoretical and practical aspects, with updated information on software and hardware. This solid reference for understanding the technical underpinnings of sound creation.
This guide provides a comprehensive look at synthesizer programming, covering various synthesis types. It's a useful resource for understanding the principles behind creating sounds and programming synthesizers effectively. can help solidify understanding for those moving beyond basic concepts.
An edited collection of seminal articles in the field of computer music. provides historical context and foundational knowledge on various aspects of computer sound synthesis and processing. It's a key resource for understanding the origins and technical basis of digital sound design.
A comprehensive introduction to waves and oscillations for physics and engineering students. It covers both mechanical and electromagnetic aspects and uses complex amplitudes in mathematical analysis, which is useful for understanding the behavior of electronic oscillators. helps solidify an understanding of the fundamental physics and mathematical tools required to analyze oscillatory systems. It strong resource for undergraduate and graduate students.
While covering a broader scope of analog chip design, this book includes a chapter specifically on timers and oscillators. It offers practical design insights for CMOS and bipolar analog IC design, making it relevant for those interested in the integrated circuit aspect of oscillators. is valuable for understanding the implementation of oscillators in analog chips and is useful for both students and working professionals. It can serve as a useful reference tool.
Focuses on analog circuit design using current-mode techniques and includes coverage of oscillator circuits as signal generators. It is relevant for students and researchers interested in analog IC design and different approaches to implementing oscillators. It provides insights into IC compatibility and includes practical examples. This book can be a useful reference for those working with current-mode circuits.
Covers the fundamentals of synthesizer programming, often focusing on subtractive synthesis using examples of hardware and software synths. It's a good resource for understanding the core concepts of programming different synthesizer parameters.
Provides a clear and systematic introduction to oscillations and waves with an emphasis on physical interpretation. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate students in physics and engineering and can serve as a foundational text before delving into more specialized electronic oscillator design. While not solely focused on electronic oscillators, it provides essential prerequisite knowledge on the underlying physics of oscillations. It is considered a good read for understanding the fundamental concepts.
Offers a solid introduction to the fundamental concepts of synthesizers, including oscillators, filters, and envelopes. It is particularly useful for beginners and those seeking to gain a broad understanding of how synthesizers work. This book valuable resource for building foundational knowledge before diving into more complex topics.
Focuses specifically on subtractive synthesis, providing a theoretical overview. It's a good resource for gaining a deeper understanding of one of the most common synthesis methods. It can serve as a focused text for those wanting to master subtractive synthesis.
Is ideal for those interested in the DIY aspect of synthesizers. It guides readers through building their own analog synthesizer and understanding the electronic components involved. It's a hands-on approach to learning about synthesis from a hardware perspective.
Explores analog synthesizers, covering their history, how they work, and aspects of performing and buying them. The second edition includes contemporary instruments and the resurgence of analog synthesis. It's a good resource for understanding the world of analog synths.

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