Hi,

How difficult is it to implement a software synthesizer from scratch via code?

What type of books - if any - would you recommend? I'm not even sure which category to search for, "software synthesizer" is too generic and commercial.

Would it be best to start by reading the source code of an open source project like PD or SC? I suspect I would quickly become lost.

Heavy math is not my strength. Should I just use a library?

As you can probably guess, I'm pretty confused as to where to start! I wish there was a book that could walk me through the basics.

You could probably do all the reading and then start programming away. There's enough lecture around on the web to inform you on how to program synths. A good pd tutorial containing synthesis examples is :

http://www.pd-tutorial.com

But then, if you know you're way around (a bit) with synths it's not that difficult to hook up the basic pd objects to make you're own just by trial and error (and if you're stuck then you can always read some more or ask some questions here). Once you got a basic architecture in place (oscillators [osc~] [phasor~], envelopes [line~] [vline~], filters [lop~] [hip~] [svf~] [moog~] and maybe some progammed modulation options) you can always look how refine the individual elements. The objects mentioned are just those that first came up in my head, but there are many more of course.

I hope this makes some sense...

do you want to learn how to code a synth in a "real" programming language like C, C++ or java? then this might be the wrong forum to ask for help, even if there are some guys that are coding external for pd.
there are a lot of tutorials about C/C++ programming in the net, but i'm afraid it's a long way from your first tutorial to a finished softsynth.

Yes, I was thinking about building it with C.

I'm not looking to do patching for this particular project. I'd like to learn the basics of generating wave forms, applying filters, etc - all through C code.

I've been coding for over 10 years now, so no worries there. Its more about the design, construction, and math involved. Again, a book that explains each step and walks you through building a basic soft synth would be ideal - I'm not sure if such a text exists.

I'll have a flip through this book and report back:

http://www.amazon.ca/Computer-Music-Tutorial-Curtis-Roads/dp/0262680823/ref=pd_sim_b_7

but any other suggestions on approach vector for learning this daunting subject material would be welcome.

@toxonic said:

then this might be the wrong forum to ask for help, even if there are some guys that are coding external for pd.

I agree.
Always, people suggest http://musicdsp.org/ for a place to start with C and synth developing.
I don't have any serious programming skills in C , so I didn't ever use it's Archive, but it looks really integrated.

agreed.

this forum seems to be more appropriate: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=33

thx all!

do report back how you get along though

I cut my teeth on http://www.dspguide.com/

it's a free download, and really crunchy.

Huh, I think I've read some of that DSP guide before, but I just realized that the guy who wrote it is the same guy who designed the electronic strip-search machines I've heard so much about. I am intrigued.

steve smith, author of "the inner light theory of conciousness" built the new scanners? Holy holy holy. Philo Farnsworth for the new millenia.