Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Silence.
This topic has been coming up a lot recently within my synthesis classes, and it’s just SO good.
As synthesists and sound designers, we put so much emphasis on sound.
More layers, richer textures, lush reverbs…
And SILENCE is often something we forget about completely.
I personally like to think about silence as an articulator of sound. Silence is not just the incidental breaks or pauses between notes; it’s what brings context, contrast, and meaning to the sounds we create.
It’s like punctuation for our music.
Can you hear it?
…
!
Most modular synths will make sound all the time, with or without us. They’ll drone, loop, & sequence forever. The act of composing on modular synths, then, becomes equal parts about adding sound and crafting timbres, as it is about sculpting silences, moments of stillness, and breath.
How many ways can you think of to come into/out of silence?
It’s not just about fades and hard cuts. The possibilities are endless…
Here’s a little creative challenge for anyone interested: how can you explore more ACTIVE silence in your music-making?
What does it sound like?
What’s one new way you can actively PLAY silence?
PS: In this video I'm playing a @buchlausa Easel Command and @makenoisemusic Strega semi-modular synthesizer.
Silence.
This topic has been coming up a lot recently within my synthesis classes, and it’s just SO good.
As synthesists and sound designers, we put so much emphasis on sound.
More layers, richer textures, lush reverbs…
And SILENCE is often something we forget about completely.
I personally like to think about silence as an articulator of sound. Silence is not just the incidental breaks or pauses between notes; it’s what brings context, contrast, and meaning to the sounds we create.
It’s like punctuation for our music.
Can you hear it?
…
!
Most modular synths will make sound all the time, with or without us. They’ll drone, loop, & sequence forever. The act of composing on modular synths, then, becomes equal parts about adding sound and crafting timbres, as it is about sculpting silences, moments of stillness, and breath.
How many ways can you think of to come into/out of silence?
It’s not just about fades and hard cuts. The possibilities are endless…
Here’s a little creative challenge for anyone interested: how can you explore more ACTIVE silence in your music-making?
What does it sound like?
What’s one new way you can actively PLAY silence?
PS: In this video I'm playing a @buchlausa Easel Command and @makenoisemusic Strega semi-modular synthesizer.
