Francis Preve: The Man in the Synth

Francis Preve is a sound designer, producer, and synthesizer programmer. He programs factory presets for the leading synthesizer manufacturers including Sequential, Roland, Korg, Oberheim, Serum, and many more. He is the Section Lead of Digital Composition at Austin Community College. Francis releases sound packs through his company SympleSound. His latest release, Serum Models, turns the popular synthesizer into a hyper-realistic physical modeling synth.

In our 4th conversation on the Music Production Podcast, Francis discusses his new pack, Serum Models, and explains how physical modeling synthesis works. We go deep into his work as a sound designer and Francis gives thorough explanations of a variety of synthesis concepts. We also talk about his work as an educator and some student success stories, along with the traits those students exhibit in his classes. It's a wide-ranging and deep conversation with one of the world's best sound designers!

Listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Takeaways:

• The development of new Serum models and physical modeling and sound design.
• The process of creating and marketing sound packs.
• The psychology of sound creation involves a deep connection to the subtleties of music and the ability to differentiate musical elements.
• Learning to differentiate musical elements is a transformative experience that opens up new dimensions in music appreciation and understanding.
• The impact of music theory on creativity and the ability to enjoy music without over-analyzing it.
• The role of technology in music education and the importance of learning by playing and experimenting.
• The differences between analog and digital synthesis and the unique characteristics of each.
• The concept of aliasing in sound and its impact on audio quality.
• The use of images to create wavetables in synthesizers and the exploration of sound design through experimentation. 
• The significance of presets in synthesizers
• Passion is a key factor in determining success in a career.
• Limitations can enhance creativity and problem-solving in music production.
• Technology, such as AI and software, has both benefits and ethical considerations in music creation.
• Teaching and mentorship play a significant role in shaping the future of music production and the industry.

Links:

• Francis' Site - https://www.francispreve.com
• Symplesound - https://www.symplesound.com
• Francis' Serum Preset Collections including Models- https://xferrecords.com/preset_packs/manufacturers/francis-preve
• Synthtopia on Serum Models - https://www.synthtopia.com/content/2024/05/06/francis-preve-releases-serum-models-preset-expansion-library/
• Francis on MPP #38 - https://brianfunk.com/blog/2017/10/30/38-francis-preve-sound-designer-educator
• Francis on MPP #98 - https://brianfunk.com/blog/2019/1/29/98-francis-preve-2-sound-design-synthesis-vanlife
• Francis on MPPP #273 - https://brianfunk.com/blog/francis-preve-3
• Francis' Clients (wow!) - https://www.francispreve.com/clients
• Sara Landry - 
  https://djmag.com/features/sara-landry-hard-technos-high-frequency-priestess
• Shadowstar - 
  https://www.beatport.com/artist/shadowstar/873086
• CHKLTE - 
  https://ra.co/dj/chklte/biography
• Shreddward - https://www.shreddward.com/
• Josh Davidson (Kepler North)- https://www.instagram.com/kepler_north
• Jeff Rona - https://liquidcinema.com/
• Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com
• Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 
• 5-Minute Music Producer - https://brianfunk.com/book
• Intro Music Made with 16-Bit Ableton Live Pack - https://brianfunk.com/blog/16-bit
• Music Production Podcast - https://brianfunk.com/podcast
  Save 25% on Ableton Live Packs at my store with the code: PODCAST - https://brianfunk.com/store

Thank you for listening. 

Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider!

And don’t forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.

Brian Funk