Sound Design Video Tutorial: Using Native Instruments' Reaktor To Build Virtual Instruments Blog

Electronic Music Production and Sound Design Instructor Evan Sutton explains how to make basic connections and build a subtractive synthesizer using Native Instruments Reaktor’s Built In Modules in this new tutorial.

There are many levels to Reaktor’s hierarchy. In the last tutorial, we spent most of our time on the Instrument level, making small changes and swapping out effects. If you missed the first tutorial, you can find it here.

In the second installment, we’ll go even deeper and build our own instrument from the ground up. We’ll be using Reaktor’s Built In Modules, which are tools that range from simple math to complex signal processors. Many of these modules are the basic tools used in modular synthesis. We’ll use these to build a simple synthesizer with one oscillator and an amplitude envelope. Remember to keep the volume down while you’re setting up your modules.

It’s important to explore basic signal flow in Reaktor. There are infinite possibilities for experimentation, but these concepts are the starting point for building larger and more complex ensembles.

The track playing at the beginning of this tutorial is “I’m So Digital” by Astrolith, which is Evan Sutton’s new music project.

Become fluent in the language of sound design with this comprehensive program. This six-level Sound Design & Synthesis program uses Native Instruments’ Komplete 7 as a platform for learning synthesis and sampling techniques. Starting with an introduction to the properties of sound, this comprehensive series of courses covers most common synthesis methods available for music production in the DAW of your choice.

Discovering the right sound is like finding a needle in the digital haystack. Learn the fundamentals to make this easier, and gain the depth of knowledge to make a good sound better. Factory content is great, but everyone has it – your mix needs something special.

What’s Included:

• Sound Design Level 1: Introduction to Komplete 8
• Sound Design Level 2: Synthesis with Massive, FM8 and Absynth
• Sound Design Level 3: Sampling with Kontakt and Battery
• Sound Design Level 4: Advanced Sound Design
• Sound Design Level 5: Reaktor Ensembles and Instruments
• Sound Design Level 6: Reaktor Programming