Comments for Synthtopia

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by Anig Browl

Anig Browl — Sat, 23 May 2026 05:43:50 +0000

I do not care to use an LLM to generate patches, but it’s worth noting that the Model Context Protocol is basically a JSON API to the synthesizer, meaning that if you are so inclined you can write your own scripts/software to control the synthesis engine. Normally to do this you would need to write code that generates MIDI and then point it at the plugin or device of your choice, but that will only as good as the synthesizer’s MIDI implementation (whcih as we know is often lacking).

The MCP means you can directly control all the internal parameters and they will be correctly names as oscillator_1.pulse_width.modulation_source or whatever. If you want to do super-complex sequencing/modulation but you don’t want to get into the weeds of doing fourier transforms and writing the DSP to synthesize the audio in real time then this could be very useful. You don’t HAVE to connect it to an LLM to do this, the point of the Model Context Protocol is that it’s open to the outside world.

HAving said that I think this trend is probably going to be become ubiquitous and there will be a lot of craptacular AI-prompted patch libraries generated by people who have no real interest in or experience at synth programming.

Comment on Teenage Engineering Intros K.O.–SIDEKICK Compact Mixer & Audio Interface by Igor Molochevski

Igor Molochevski — Sat, 23 May 2026 02:55:00 +0000

I got this unit, the audio quality is superb. It amazing actually, best audio card I ever had 🙂

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by Alexander Wahl

Alexander Wahl — Sat, 23 May 2026 02:26:13 +0000

In reply to S-Trigger Dave. Some people might argue that if turning knobs is involved, you’re not making music to begin with.

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by jg

jg — Sat, 23 May 2026 01:22:23 +0000

Just watched the video. Why in god’s name would I ever want to use such unmusical “sound effects” in my compositions? Is this supposed to be “Gas Music From Jupiter”? Plus, the second example effect has some really awful clipping.

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by Jerome J

Jerome J — Fri, 22 May 2026 23:53:55 +0000

I don’t see why the hate. The video looks super cool. Great way to test some complicated intellectual ideas.

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by QnDJ

QnDJ — Fri, 22 May 2026 22:34:33 +0000

Nope. Getting my harmonies commented on is ok but I am in charge of my own glitches.

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by S-Trigger Dave

S-Trigger Dave — Fri, 22 May 2026 22:34:01 +0000

For the most part, using AI for composition feels like wearing three condoms at once. I can see some interesting housekeeping uses for it, but I feel that I should turn the knobs until I find what I need. You need to be selective about where you use it. Making music shouldn’t be too easy.

Comment on New Interview With Synthesist Suzanne Ciani by New Ignis

New Ignis — Fri, 22 May 2026 22:05:32 +0000

Ciani is the best. Keep going girl !!

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by Hammy Havoc

Hammy Havoc — Fri, 22 May 2026 20:43:44 +0000

No. These AI posts may mean I unsubscribe from Synthtopia, just like when I bulk unsubscribed from people peddling crypto and NFTs. Planet destroying snake oil BS.

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by momo

momo — Fri, 22 May 2026 20:01:41 +0000

Again with the AI posts? Read the room, synthhead.

Comment on Do You Want To Use AI As A Tool For Synthesis Or Composition? by eivind

eivind — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:28:08 +0000

No. Why should I? If I fail to come up with my own ideas I simply stop doing music. It’s quite easy.

Comment on Nonlinear Labs C25 Synthesizer Live Performance by tad

tad — Fri, 22 May 2026 18:50:27 +0000

In reply to Frank Sampedro. They've done some amazing videos previously showing how weird the C15 can get, too. Do you really think focusing on that at a trade show makes sense, though? If they did that, people would think all it can do is bloops and bleeps.

Comment on John Carpenter Goes Metal With New Book & Companion Album, Cathedral by tad

tad — Fri, 22 May 2026 18:46:08 +0000

I’m impressed that this guys almost 80 and he’s still doing cool new stuff!

Comment on Nonlinear Labs C25 Synthesizer Live Performance by Frank Sampedro

Frank Sampedro — Fri, 22 May 2026 17:59:52 +0000

As a long time user of the C15 (same engine as C22), I often feel as though the presenters Nonlinear Labs chooses to demonstrate their instruments are almost playing a different synthesizer than the one I own. Or rather, I feel as though they’ve developed a futuristic space shuttle capable of traveling between galaxies, but spend all their time demonstrating how safely and capably it can fly from Berlin to Oslo. They’re selling an instrument any serious experimental composer would love to bloated prog and white blues-loving rich Europeans.

Comment on John Carpenter Goes Metal With New Book & Companion Album, Cathedral by Baal-Zababa

Baal-Zababa — Fri, 22 May 2026 13:04:58 +0000

Into this vast allegory of Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson, top-heavy from its sheer weight of argument and at the same time soaring off into space, like a great, lumbering flying cathedral, Gurdjieff gathered the fundamentals of his teaching. Man, we are told, has an unique place and function in the cosmological scheme and enters into obligation by the fact of being born. The awareness of all this is not, however, a gift of Nature, neither are Individuality, Consciousness, Free Will and an Immortal Soul—these attributes, which man mistakenly believes he already possesses, have to be acquired by his own special efforts. Above all, the book repeatedly insists that man is asleep. It is only at the moment when he awakens, not merely to consciousness but to conscience—to Gurdjieff the words were, in fact, synonymous—that his true evolution can begin.

— P.L. Travers