My First Synth: A First Step into the World of Synthesis
Welcome to the world of “My First Synth” – a simple, yet characterful, monophonic synthesizer from nofish Productions. This plugin doesn’t claim to be a perfect or feature-rich giant, as it was created as the author’s first “training project” to master the art of plugin development. Despite this, “My First Synth” offers a unique sound and is a great example of how even in the first attempts, you can find something interesting and inspiring for your music. The developer frankly states that the GUI turned out to be a bit “cramped” due to the initial choice of a small window size, and the plugin is unlikely to receive further updates or bug fixes. However, it is this “imperfection” that adds its own charm.
Features and capabilities
Behind this simple shell are basic but effective tools for sound shaping:
- It is a monophonic synthesizer, perfect for lead parts, bass lines or expressive melodies.
- The oscillator offers a choice of four classic waveforms: sine, square, triangle and sawtooth.
- There is a filter with resonance on board, which can work in high-pass (HP), low-pass (LP) and band-pass (BP) modes, opening up space for timbre experiments.
- Modulation capabilities include two ADSR envelopes (one for volume, the other for filter cutoff frequency with positive and negative impact) and one LFO (for modulating filter cutoff frequency and pitch).
- The LFO also offers a choice of four waveforms: sine, square, triangle, sawtooth, which allows you to create a variety of effects – from vibrato to tremolo and more complex modulations.
Sound character
“My First Synth” has a pronounced sound character. The author warns that the oscillator generates noticeable aliasing, especially at high frequencies. This makes the sound more “harsh” and “digital” compared to smooth analog emulations. If you are looking for a synthesizer with an aggressive, somewhat raw sound for certain styles of electronic music or experimental soundscapes, this plugin may pleasantly surprise you. The filter with high resonance can also create intense and loud sounds, which adds dynamics, but requires careful control.
Additional features and warnings
In addition to the basic synthesis elements, the plugin contains several additional features and important notes:
- The Glide (portamento) function allows for smooth transitions between notes, although the author notes that it may work somewhat unpredictably at high setting values.
- For safety, the plugin’s output signal is strictly limited to -0.5 dB FS. This helps to avoid clipping, especially when the filter works with high resonance and can create peaks in volume.
Despite the built-in limiter, the author still advises using an additional limiter after the plugin in your effects chain, especially if you are experimenting with extreme settings. The use of the plugin is “at your own risk”, which is a standard disclaimer for free software from independent developers.
System requirements and compatibility
“My First Synth” is designed for maximum accessibility:
- Supported plugin formats: VST and AU.
- Supported operating systems: Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) and MacOS.
Pay attention to the developer’s specific recommendations: for Windows users, it is recommended to use the VST2 version, while the VST3 version is considered experimental. For Mac users, the author is not sure about compatibility with Logic Pro X (had no opportunity to test), but confirms the work in Reaper.
“My First Synth” is more than just another free synthesizer. It is a piece of the developer’s learning history, a plugin with its own peculiarities and a unique, somewhat aggressive character. It can become an interesting tool for those who are ready to experiment and are looking for a sound outside of the generally accepted standards. Try it in your projects!
