I posted in another section about not being able to get exactly what I wanted from Z3TA+ 2 and someone recommended Syntorial: http://www.syntorial.com/index.php so I went to the site, bought a copy, and started going through the lessons.
 
Syntorial is an ear training tool based on the instant feedback model. It has a series of lessons where the different elements of subtractive synthesizers are explained and demonstrated followed by challenges, quizzes, and group challenges. The challenges cover the current lesson, quizzes cover the topic, and the group challenges cover everything you've learned up to and including the current topic. In all it has 33 topics, each covering an aspect of subtractive synthesis. It also has a free Z3TA+ 2 module that explains the mapping of their synth to Z3TA+ 2 with accompanying challenges.
 
The thing that sets Syntorial apart is that it's an ear training tool, the lessons, challenges, and quizzes train your ears to hear what the various elements of subtractive synthesizers do. The instant feedback model tells you right away exactly what you didn't get right the first time and allows you to redo a challenge until you are satisfied that you have a good grasp on the topic. This is also the model the military uses to train people for technical jobs, it is probably the most effective method ever devised for rapid training. Syntorial is also well designed in that it makes it difficult, if not impossible, to cheat, not that you'd want to.
 
So far, I've gone through the first 10 topics (65 lessons). For me, the challenges have had almost the perfect degree of difficulty, not so easy that I nail every one but not so hard that I haven't gotten close enough to understand what I missed. Usually the lesson challenges and topic quizzes go pretty quickly but the group challenges can be "challenging", that's a good thing. I plan on repeating the entire course until I ace it. The best part is that I've been able to quickly understand what I need to listen for to avoid repeating my previous mistakes, that means I get to get better at what I want to do.
My overall impression is that Syntorial is a great tool and well worth the investment. If you want to get that sound in your head, Syntorial will teach you how. No, I don't work there. :)
 
Thanks for the recommendation!
 

I'm in the process of doing the course now as well. I believe it's excellent but overpriced. Just my opinion though. My only gripe about the lessons themselves is that you don't seem to be able to save your position in a challenge and pick up again the next day  - you have to do the whole test in one. For example, let's say you get through 3 sounds in a challenge and you have to pause it there. If you exit the program, it won't remember where you were in the test, you have to do it all again. I hope they address that in an update - when the challenges get harder it takes a lot longer to complete them (especially if you're intent on redoing any you didn't get 100% right) so doing a challenge is a lot more of a time commitment. But apart from that it's very good. 

sharke
you don't seem to be able to save your position in a challenge and pick up again the next day  - you have to do the whole test in one.

 
Ability to save challenges mid-way through is in the next update, due out in August.

YAY! I may well hold off on the lessons until that comes out....

I got the full version today, I'm probably going to try and do at least a lesson a day for the ear training, I will let you guys know how it goes.  They also included downloads for the moog and z3ta training

I'm up to section 9 now, and I'm really digging it.  Because it forces you to really spend the time listening and learning to each technique, the lessons really start to sink in.
 
For example, I started to make some pads with some real motion in them, almost sounded like it could be a preset!  And not just the BS I did before where I do a simple filter sweep.   I'm excited to push through and keep learning, hopefully by the time I'm done, I will be much less of a preset surfer.
 
Side note, I think I'm going to skip the Arturia collection.  Just going through Z3ta with the tutorials reminds me how much I can do with the tools I already have.  Probably more so because I'm spending the time to really learn them

I've appreciated reading the reviews of syntorial.  Keep the thoughts coming.  I'm thinking about purchasing it myself.
 

Kroneborge
Side note, I think I'm going to skip the Arturia collection.  Just going through Z3ta with the tutorials reminds me how much I can do with the tools I already have.  Probably more so because I'm spending the time to really learn them

I've found that's the number one cure for GAS (particularly for synths).  I start working with what I have and realize how many sounds I can create with what I already have. 
 
That's saved me quite a few bucks through the years.

Kroneborge
I'm up to section 9 now, and I'm really digging it.  Because it forces you to really spend the time listening and learning to each technique, the lessons really start to sink in.
 
For example, I started to make some pads with some real motion in them, almost sounded like it could be a preset!  And not just the BS I did before where I do a simple filter sweep.   I'm excited to push through and keep learning, hopefully by the time I'm done, I will be much less of a preset surfer.
 
Side note, I think I'm going to skip the Arturia collection.  Just going through Z3ta with the tutorials reminds me how much I can do with the tools I already have.  Probably more so because I'm spending the time to really learn them

If you're on Facebook there are some great pages (all related) which offer tutorials in Massive, FM8, Reaktor, Absynth etc. I get the updates from them on my newsfeed and there are often some nice little video tutorials. It's a different style of learning than Syntorial, in that a lot of them show you step by step how to make a certain sound and you follow along on your synth. While it's sometimes a little annoying not to be told why they're adjusting a certain parameter - especially with the FM8 tutorials - you gain some insight into how the pros are approaching their sound design. And you invariably end up having a crack at it yourself and coming up with some neat little presets of your own. I've made a few nice evolving Boards of Canada style pads like this. 
 
https://www.facebook.com/MassiveSynth
https://www.facebook.com/FM8Tutorials
https://www.facebook.com/ReaktorTutorials
https://www.facebook.com/AbsynthTutorials
 
They each have their own website as well where you can buy more in depth courses. 

*duplicate nonsense*

sharke

Kroneborge
I'm up to section 9 now, and I'm really digging it.  Because it forces you to really spend the time listening and learning to each technique, the lessons really start to sink in.
 
For example, I started to make some pads with some real motion in them, almost sounded like it could be a preset!  And not just the BS I did before where I do a simple filter sweep.   I'm excited to push through and keep learning, hopefully by the time I'm done, I will be much less of a preset surfer.
 
Side note, I think I'm going to skip the Arturia collection.  Just going through Z3ta with the tutorials reminds me how much I can do with the tools I already have.  Probably more so because I'm spending the time to really learn them

If you're on Facebook there are some great pages (all related) which offer tutorials in Massive, FM8, Reaktor, Absynth etc. I get the updates from them on my newsfeed and there are often some nice little video tutorials. It's a different style of learning than Syntorial, in that a lot of them show you step by step how to make a certain sound and you follow along on your synth. While it's sometimes a little annoying not to be told why they're adjusting a certain parameter - especially with the FM8 tutorials - you gain some insight into how the pros are approaching their sound design. And you invariably end up having a crack at it yourself and coming up with some neat little presets of your own. I've made a few nice evolving Boards of Canada style pads like this. 
 
https://www.facebook.com/MassiveSynth
https://www.facebook.com/FM8Tutorials
https://www.facebook.com/ReaktorTutorials
https://www.facebook.com/AbsynthTutorials
 
They each have their own website as well where you can buy more in depth courses. 

Thanks for the tip, I will check into these.