Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Patching up a Karplus-Strong synth from scratch in Reatkor 6 Primary.
Karplus-Strong synthesis is a digital synthesis technique that simulates the sound of plucked strings by using a feedback loop to model the behavior of a vibrating string. Developed by Kevin Karplus and Alex Strong, this method generates resonant waveforms by feeding back a short noise signal through a filtered delay line with feedback.
In this video we build a simple K-S synth from scratch in Native Instruments Reaktor 6, exploring what happens based on the design decisions that we make. By the end of this video, you should understand both the theoretical concepts and practical implementation in Reaktor, giving you a unique tool for your music production arsenal.
💬 *Join the Discussion!* Have questions or want to share your own projects? Drop a comment below – I love hearing from you all!
0:00 Introduction / What is K-S synthesis?
0:41 Making a noise burst
2:07 Building the delay
3:16 Adding feedback
4:11 The low-pass filter
5:03 Making it K-S with pitch control
7:18 Adding polyphony
8:09 Adjusting where we listen
8:40 Playing with the envelope
9:10 Thinking about the range of our knobs
10:19 Other kinds of noise
Link to Salamanderanagram's "Modal Bank" tutorial (as mentioned in the video): youtube.com/watch?v=5I183oUEs4Q
👀Check out my Reaktor 6 beginner tutorials here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7w4cOVVxL6H9iE7Nuvo0vtQHDfXPzTVE&si=UXLERNAQMuINsQOg
🖱️And intermediate tutorials here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7w4cOVVxL6HQ6JrYWso_B3gaLAHQheYG&si=Fy8tFBRVpTF1ftVA
* Subscribe: youtube.com/user/SimonHutc/?sub_confirmation=1
* Official Website - simonhutchinson.com
* bandcamp (lots of free music!): simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/follow_me
* Sign up for my mailing list: eepurl.com/hVs7bT
* Grab my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): tidd.ly/48iMpdH
* Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson
_My voiceover recording gear_ (affiliate links):
Aston Microphones Origin (Reverb): tidd.ly/4aiVSnj
dbx 286s Channel Strip
* Reverb: tidd.ly/4as22Bm
* Perfect Circtuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fdbx-286s.html
(I sometimes provide affiliate links for products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, it helps to support the channel, while the price for you remains the same.)
#SoundSynthesis #SoundDesign #reaktor #karplusstrong #synthtutorial
Patching up a Karplus-Strong synth from scratch in Reatkor 6 Primary.
Karplus-Strong synthesis is a digital synthesis technique that simulates the sound of plucked strings by using a feedback loop to model the behavior of a vibrating string. Developed by Kevin Karplus and Alex Strong, this method generates resonant waveforms by feeding back a short noise signal through a filtered delay line with feedback.
In this video we build a simple K-S synth from scratch in Native Instruments Reaktor 6, exploring what happens based on the design decisions that we make. By the end of this video, you should understand both the theoretical concepts and practical implementation in Reaktor, giving you a unique tool for your music production arsenal.
💬 *Join the Discussion!* Have questions or want to share your own projects? Drop a comment below – I love hearing from you all!
0:00 Introduction / What is K-S synthesis?
0:41 Making a noise burst
2:07 Building the delay
3:16 Adding feedback
4:11 The low-pass filter
5:03 Making it K-S with pitch control
7:18 Adding polyphony
8:09 Adjusting where we listen
8:40 Playing with the envelope
9:10 Thinking about the range of our knobs
10:19 Other kinds of noise
Link to Salamanderanagram's "Modal Bank" tutorial (as mentioned in the video): youtube.com/watch?v=5I183oUEs4Q
👀Check out my Reaktor 6 beginner tutorials here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7w4cOVVxL6H9iE7Nuvo0vtQHDfXPzTVE&si=UXLERNAQMuINsQOg
🖱️And intermediate tutorials here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7w4cOVVxL6HQ6JrYWso_B3gaLAHQheYG&si=Fy8tFBRVpTF1ftVA
* Subscribe: youtube.com/user/SimonHutc/?sub_confirmation=1
* Official Website - simonhutchinson.com
* bandcamp (lots of free music!): simonhutchinson.bandcamp.com/follow_me
* Sign up for my mailing list: eepurl.com/hVs7bT
* Grab my old gear on Reverb (affiliate link): tidd.ly/48iMpdH
* Buy me a coffee: ko-fi.com/simonhutchinson
_My voiceover recording gear_ (affiliate links):
Aston Microphones Origin (Reverb): tidd.ly/4aiVSnj
dbx 286s Channel Strip
* Reverb: tidd.ly/4as22Bm
* Perfect Circtuit: link.perfectcircuit.com/t/v1/8-12626-329160-9759?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.perfectcircuit.com%2Fdbx-286s.html
(I sometimes provide affiliate links for products that I use and enjoy. If you end up buying something through these external links, it helps to support the channel, while the price for you remains the same.)
#SoundSynthesis #SoundDesign #reaktor #karplusstrong #synthtutorial
