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Harmonics

8 articles tagged "Harmonics"

Sound, Vibration, and the Harmonic Series

What sound is, how frequency and amplitude work, and why the harmonic series determines the timbre of every instrument — the physics behind EQ, synthesis, and mixing.

Oscillators: Where Sound Begins

Waveforms (sine, saw, square, triangle, noise), pitch, tuning, detuning. The raw material before anything else happens.

Filtering Sound — From Harmonics to EQ

How EQ works: low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, shelf, and parametric filters explained — frequency, gain, Q, resonance, and the subtractive approach to shaping sound.

Oscillators and Waveforms

Where synthesized sound comes from — oscillator types, waveform shapes, and the harmonic recipe behind each one.

Shaping Sound — Envelopes, Filters, and Amplifiers

ADSR envelopes explained: attack, decay, sustain, release — how filter and amplitude envelopes shape synthesizer sounds from plucks to pads.

Modulation and Movement — LFO, Unison, and Glide

LFOs, vibrato, tremolo, detuning, unison, and glide — the tools that make static sounds come alive.

Sound Design and Comparing Synths

Subtractive, FM, wavetable, and granular synthesis compared — how to build patches from scratch, and what 'analog warmth' actually means in technical terms.

Additive Synthesis

Building sound from individual harmonics. The Fourier transform in plain language, drawbar organs, the Synclavier, and why additive gives you total spectral control at the cost of complexity.

Beat Kitchen At-A-Glance

Beat Ktichen Calendar

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Recent Resident Gyms
- PRODUCTION-GYM: Covered the production of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations (1972) using the original multitracks in Pro Tools. Examined how the arrangement — a single-chord structure, no snare drum, sparse bass, and dynamically placed hand claps — directly mirrors the emotional content of the lyrics. Discussed the trumpet delay effect, a muted conga track, and a nearly imperceptible kick drum pattern reversal in the final verse as specific examples of production decisions that serve the story.
- WEEKLY-BEAT-CHALLENGE: Reviewed submitted beats from multiple students, covering bossa nova arrangements, cinematic Rhodes-driven compositions, and experimental scale work. Discussed the limitations of MIDI bass instruments versus live bass performance, including programming nuance required to make virtual instruments compelling. Introduced the upcoming tetrachord mode in the Harmony Wheel tool and walked through how tetrachords combine to form scales and modes.
- OFFICE HOURS: Covered drum phase alignment during mixing — specifically how to check and correct phase on kick and snare channels using an EQ phase flip, and how to prioritize which drum elements to address when full phase correction isn't achievable. Also addressed questions about music industry structure for independent artists, including the practical and legal considerations around registering music and setting up a record label entity.
- OFFICE HOURS: Covered the Neapolitan sixth cadence in depth, tracing its relationship to the Andalusian cadence, the circle of fourths, Picardy thirds, and secondary subdominants. Walked through a tempo change workflow in Logic Pro, demonstrating how to insert and verify a BPM change on a MIDI session. Also reviewed a student's first mixing attempt on a vocal track, addressing EQ gain staging, high-frequency rolloff, low-end management, and the principle of using faders before EQ before compression.
- THEORY-GYM: We worked through the chord progression of "Morning Has Broken," identifying how each chord functions harmonically in the key of C. Covered predominant function (IV and ii), deceptive cadences, secondary dominants (V/V), modal interchange, and the particular quality of the iii chord (E minor) and how it recontextualizes what came before it. The session was largely demonstration-led, walking through the process of identifying chords by ear using bass motion, cadential feel, and process of elimination rather than instrument verification.
- WEEKLY-BEAT-CHALLENGE: Reviewed a new beat submission from John, focusing on mix quality, genre direction, and production approach. Discussed the track's sparse arrangement and how it might accommodate a vocal part. Also covered logistics for an upcoming performance coaching session and residency enrollment letters.
- EAR-TRAINING-GYM: We covered how to analyze a reference track as a mixing and production tool — what to listen for, how to level-match before comparing, and how to use EQ sweeps and high/low-pass filtering to isolate frequency ranges. We worked through two reference tracks in detail (Brandi Carlile and Massive Attack's Mezzanine) and discussed loudness measurement via LUFS, perceived loudness, dynamics, vocal clarity, stereo placement, and how to translate a client's reference into actionable mix decisions.
- INSTRUMENT-GYM: Covered stick technique fundamentals including grip, point-down strokes, pull-ups, and the natural rebound — with emphasis on control over force. Worked through a progression of rudiments: single-stroke rolls, double-stroke rolls, five-stroke rolls, paradiddles, and double paradiddles, including accented variations and application to the drum kit. Discussed how to structure practice time and build a reading foundation using standard drum literature.
- PRODUCTION-GYM: We did an active listening deep-dive into the catalog of Heart — focusing on "Alone," "Crazy on You," and "Magic Man" — to analyze what makes classic songs iconic from a production and mixing standpoint. Key areas included intonation and pitch correction philosophy, stereo placement decisions, arrangement dynamics, and the historical reason for long song intros. The session closed with a discussion on how these older production choices can inform contemporary work.
- WEEKLY-BEAT-CHALLENGE: Reviewed member-submitted beats this morning, with feedback covering guitar recording workflow, vocal production, synthesis and sound design, and multi-take comping in Logic Pro. Discussed the idea of a dedicated "Preset Jam" session where members work together to recreate sounds or build presets. Also revisited the Beat Kitchen incubator format — songwriting, production, and mix phases — as a possible structure to bring back.
Learn more about Residency
Upcoming Resident Events
- Weekly Beat Challenge: Nathan
  Jun. 22, 6pm (PT) | 9pm (ET) | 2am (UK)
- Office Hours: Kallie
  Jun. 22, 2pm (PT) | 5pm (ET) | 10pm (UK)
- Instrument Gym: Nathan
  Jun. 22, 5am (PT) | 8am (ET) | 1pm (UK)
- Ear Training: Scott Hampton
  Jun. 23, 7am (PT) | 10am (ET) | 3pm (UK)
- Office Hours: Ben Krueger
  Jun. 23, 2pm (PT) | 5pm (ET) | 10pm (UK)
- Theory Gym: Jon Mattox
  Jun. 23, 5pm (PT) | 8pm (ET) | 1am (UK)
Learn more about Residency
Upcoming Courses
- Apr 19, 2026 Theory: Musician Basics
- Apr 22, 2026 Mixing: Effects, Synths & Tools
- Apr 27, 2026 DAW Core Skills
- Apr 27, 2026 FL Studio
- May 23, 2026 Logic Pro 1-Day Intensive
- Jun 10, 2026 Hardware & Recording Primer
- Jul 8, 2026 Hardware & Recording Primer
- Jul 12, 2026 DAW Core Skills
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