As an independent publication from the team behind Bjooks, we bring the same care, quality, and passion you know from the books. Go Pro to dive into in-depth articles, artist interviews, podcast episodes, short documentaries, exclusive special offers, and the Bjooks ebooks – over 2,000 pages of synth-spiration! Or choose the Core Membership for instant access to the ebook library. Discover, learn, and stay inspired – wherever you are on your synth journey.
Japan’s modular scene is thriving thanks to standout artists like Hataken, Yumi Iwaki, Bucketbd, Yebisu303, and Doltz, plus makers such as Hikari Instruments and Sdkc. Discover who’s shaping a uniquely Japanese modular movement, from techno to experimental soundscapes.
Discover the story of the rare Rhodes Chroma with exclusive photos not found in Synth Gems 1 – plus a special Pro Member offer on Cherry Audio’s Chroma software synth, available only until July 10. A cool look into one of the most advanced synths of its time.
In the premiere episode of the Patch & Tweak Podcast, legendary producer Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Wire, Erasure) joins us from his London studio to talk early electronic music, modular adventures, and his current work with Sunroof and ElectroGenetic.
Explore the history, philosophy, and enduring legacy of Grant Richter’s Wiard modular synths, from the Wogglebug to the Borg Filters, in this unique email conversation with Chris Meyer. Learn how these unique modules informed modern formats and inspired generations of builders and musicians.
Explore polyphony in Part 3 of our synthesizer intro series: how many notes your synth can play at once, why it matters, and how it works. From monophonic classics to polyphonic giants and paraphonic tricks, learn how voice architecture shapes your sound.
Japan’s modular scene is thriving thanks to standout artists like Hataken, Yumi Iwaki, Bucketbd, Yebisu303, and Doltz, plus makers such as Hikari Instruments and Sdkc. Discover who’s shaping a uniquely Japanese modular movement, from techno to experimental soundscapes.
Discover the story of the rare Rhodes Chroma with exclusive photos not found in Synth Gems 1 – plus a special Pro Member offer on Cherry Audio’s Chroma software synth, available only until July 10. A cool look into one of the most advanced synths of its time.
Composer and synth enthusiast Alex Ball joins Nadia Struiwigh to talk creative workflows, why hardware still wins, and how his journey from guitars to modular has shaped his music – and his YouTube success.
Break away from keyboards and screens! Instruments from Ciat-Lonbarde, Leaf Audio, Playtronica, Clank, and others, invite you to create through touch, gesture, and chance – unlocking new sounds, ideas, and inspiration you won’t find in traditional music-making tools.
Exclusive Video Interview: Filmed on stage in late October 2024, just before the Moog Ensemble's show at The Anvil, Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) talks Minimoogs, synths with orchestra, and wind controllers. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes chat ahead of the premiere of Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project.
While Doepfer is often credited with launching Eurorack, Analogue Systems, founded by Bob Williams, was right there from the start. In this article, Bob shares his story: from early filter banks to iconic modules, keyboards, and the legacy of a parallel modular path.
In this second part of our synthesizer introduction, we explore how core building blocks, such as VCOs, filters, envelopes, and modulation, work – using classic instruments like the Jupiter-8, Alesis Andromeda, Crumar DS2, and Moog Sonic Six to illustrate key concepts.
Think buffered mults fix everything? Think again. This follow-up dives into what they don’t solve – like poor tracking in oscillators and controllers – and unpacks the real science behind impedance, detuning, and why even one VCO connection can throw off your tuning.
Visionary, DIY pioneer, synth rebel. In this rare conversation, Serge Tcherepnin shares how communes, Buchla schematics, and artistic philosophy shaped the Serge Modular system. Discover the roots, design mindset, and evolution of one of modular synthesis’ most original thinkers.
Synthesizers may seem wildly different, but most follow the same core ideas. This beginner-friendly guide breaks down the basic building blocks – LFO, VCO, VCF, ENV, VCA – and shows how signal flow, control voltages, and front panel design come together to create sound from scratch.
Now you can enjoy SYNTH GEMS 1 as an ebook – right here on your screen, whether on your phone, tablet or computer – as long as you have an internet connection. Sign up for our Core membership where you get access to SYNTH GEMS 1 and six other titles.
Since its beginnings in 1972, Roland has become one of the most influential music brands in modern history. In 400 photo-packed pages, this book tells the story of how they got there, and how they brought the music world along for the ride.
Get creative and inspired from 200+ tips and ideas and creator interviews. Learn about all the different effects types, what to get for your type of music, and how to get the most of what you already have.
Random voltage generators bring organic variation to synth patches. Learn how smooth, stepped, and trigger-based randomness can add life, unpredictability, and evolving textures to your sounds.
LFOs bring movement to synthesis by modulating parameters like filter cutoff and pulse width. Learn about waveform types, sync, delay, and how to shape modulation for evolving, expressive sounds.
Envelope generators shape how a sound evolves over time – from percussive hits to swelling textures. Learn the basics of AD, ADSR, and looping envelopes, and how they control amplitude, filters, and timbre in a synthesizer.
Waveshaping alters the harmonic makeup of a waveform to create new timbres. Learn how techniques like saturation, rectification, and wavefolding shape sound, and how modulating these parameters brings movement and complexity.
Filter resonance – also called Q or emphasis – boosts harmonics near the cutoff point, creating vowel-like tones and dramatic peaks. Learn how resonance shapes sound and brings filters to life in expressive, musical ways.
A filter’s slope determines how steeply it removes harmonics beyond the cutoff point. Learn how 1-, 2-, 4-, and even 8-pole filters shape sound with increasing intensity – from subtle roll-offs to dramatic tonal sculpting.
Filters shape sound by removing or reducing harmonics. Learn how low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch filters work – and how adjusting the cutoff frequency creates dramatic changes in tone and texture.
Noise in synthesis comes in many "colors" – from white and pink to blue, brown, and beyond – each with unique frequency content. Discover how different noise types sound and why no two noise modules sound exactly the same.
Explore how different oscillator waveforms – like sawtooth, pulse, triangle, and sine – affect the harmonic content and character of a sound.
Discover the core concepts of pitch and volume in this first installment of our Basic Concepts series. Learn how oscillators, frequency, amplitude, and voltage shape the sound in a synthesizer.