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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 01:45:07
Hey peeps,
I've been messing around getting a decent grip on basic music theory, mostly through analysis of tracks I like but I've hit a hurdle.
In a lot of darkish twilight / full on tracks, they tend to have very random sounding leads, the notes jump around in an unpredictable fashion. Now there are two things I need to get sorted.
1. What key (and scales) are good for that twisted, jumpy, edgy character?
2. What is the deal with those nuts leads, could anyone perhaps upload a midi? The notes themselves are not so much the problem, I'm trying to nail the frantic, stuttering timing of the notes moreso. I'm not going to rip anyone's work, but I learn best from example
And here's an extra un-numbered question:
With twisted night psy twilight type stuff, are chord progressions even used often?
I noticed many tracks will begin a measure with a pad / synth stab (sometimes with a soft attack), which decays out. Could you base these stabs / sweep downs off your chord progressions (if they exist in darkish psy lol)
knocz
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 02:41
Can you post some examples? Like some YouTube songs, pointing out at what time the sound occurs -> help us so we can help you
About the scales: learn whatever ones you want and learn how to use them. Each one of us knows a bunch of scales and use what we know, so bring somethings else to the scene! However, it's not the scale that counts, but how you use it Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz
tryptonal
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 03:31
I'm after this sorta sound:
Dunno if the time tag will work, if not the lead can be heard at 2:57
tryptonal
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 03:34
To be more accurate, the lead is introduced at 2:40
knocz
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 03:59
On that specific track, the guy's probably playing a FM'ed saw wave, with a clever use of the filter frequency knob on a HP filter (slaps on a LFO synked to half a bar). Try applying a TON of distortion afterwards to emphasize the effect and harshness
For the scale, it doesn't deviate much from the melodic minor around that section.
Tip: when exploring FM synthesis, try not to go for something that sounds nice, but for something that sounds harsh, and try to play a rhythm instead of a melody: afterwards you can change the notes of the rhythm in accordance to a melody or scale So, try to make noises! (a fast pitch bend also does wonders)
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz
tryptonal
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 04:12
Would automating filters + pitch be a good start for devising rhythm?
On another note, how would one best go about producing a sound similar to this
The synth is around 5:23, any ideas? It's like a croaky screech, my brother reckons it sounds like a witch haha
knocz
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 04:35
Yeah, take a very short synth sound, and put two delays after it:
-First one a simple delay, with a extremely short delay time (between 1ms and 20 ms) it get's that wierd effect, kinda like it's been played in a metal box (acting up like a reverb unit )
-Second delay after the first delay, as a ping pong delay (bounces left and right) with a time of 3/4 bars to 1 bar and a half.
Rhythm is made in the midi notes. Put it looping at one bar time (or half a bar) and playing on only one note, in a way it sounds cool (simplest "trance" one is ..-..-..-..-, . is short note and - is long note, but play around with it) But for achieving the first sound ,distortion and filtering is the cue (synthesis wise)
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz
tryptonal
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 05:29
Thanks for the help bud I'll get back to work and see what I can procure.
Icetoon
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 14:50
Pretty easy to make dude those aren't FM leads. Just basic detuned saws with distortion and usually a bandpass filter being automated. But Rubix Qube uses a Virus TI so unless you have one you wont really get as close to his leads. The best synths for those twilight/full-on night leads are Sylenth, Nexus and Albino.
I'll give you instructions for one of the leads I like to use in sylenth :
1 - Saw osc at 50% detune
2 - Another saw at around 75% detune
3 - HP filter with 50% drive
4 - Envelope controlling pitch on 100%
5 - Envelope attack at around 70%
6 - Envelope decay at around 40%
7 - Saw LFO controlling pitch at around 40% rate and 75% gain
8 - Second square LFO at around 30% controlling LFO 1's rate at 50% and a gain of 100%
And the you can add a nice filter like one from Sonalksis set on bandpass and mess around with the cutoff.
Hope it helps
Icetoon
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 15:07
Here's a little sample i quickly made with just kick and bass and a vst lead to show you a basic pattern and cutoff automation
D7uan
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 18:06
icetoon pretty much nailed it....make sure that the pitch lfo is on retrig and make notes diferent lenghts and different keys and that will get you what you are after
knocz
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 18:59
aciduss
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Posted : Aug 3, 2012 20:21
Hey Icetoon would you describe the function of :
7 - Saw LFO controlling pitch at around 40% rate and 75% gain
8 - Second square LFO at around 30% controlling LFO 1's rate at 50% and a gain of 100%
You arelady have an envelope to pitch so why add LFO and second LFO square shape at 100%? That would change the speed of LFO1 from 0 to 100 eachtime the pulse period changes right? what for?
Please enlighten me
tryptonal
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Posted : Aug 4, 2012 14:56
Thanks Icetoon! I'm a massive fan of Rubix qube's tunes and twilight in general =D Thanks for the example too, it's helped more then you can imagine.
Maybe one day after some intensive saving i'll acquire a Virus TI haha, till then i'm pretty happy with Sylenth, Albino 2 and Z3TA+
The other effect i'm trying to nail, is the glitching effect. I've had dBlue Glitch for years now, and imo I find it a bit cliche and overused unless you pour a good amount of time into getting it right.
Would the lead glitching / stuttering be in the midi notes, or is it a VST effect, and furthermore what's the most efficient way to do it?
I'll get back to work and see what I can procure. 
those aren't FM leads. Just basic detuned saws with distortion and usually a bandpass filter being automated. But Rubix Qube uses a Virus TI so unless you have one you wont really get as close to his leads. The best synths for those twilight/full-on night leads are Sylenth, Nexus and Albino.
