| Author
|
Your own synth patches VS presets
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 09:56:41
|
It will take a bit longer to get going with synth programming, but its great help to have a good experience of what different synths actually do.
Unless you sit down and spend time listening to what a ring mod patch of two slightly detuned square waves that are an 8ve apart sounds like, or just slowly varying the pulse width of a single pulse oscillator, for example, really helps when you are looking for your next lead sound, or your next drone...etc.
Taking the time to program your own kicks really helps when you are looking for a kick that has the bottom end of the sampled kick you have, but not "that" transient/click.
Getting a few synths you know sound good and really learning what they are best at, is a lot better than downloading lots of soft synths and breezing through the massive memory banks i order to find something usable. A lot of presets are filled with onboard synth effects. Disable them and start looking at the core.
I am not talking about learning how to make every single 64 breakpoint envelope pad with 16 filters in parallel, with varying LFO modulation on the filters, with 18 oscillators, I am talking about the simple stuff that when used with good practise, make the whole arrangement far more "advanced" (for lack of a better word).
And the most important bit of all, you have your own sounds that no one else has.
And a few months down the line, you'll have a basic platform of lots of different sounds, to create newer ones and your sonic arsenal will simply grow exponentially.
Once you start working that way, you'll train your ears more and have a good idea of exactly what it is you are looking for next time.
 
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
|
|
|
gutter
Inactive User
Started Topics :
54
Posts :
3018
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 10:18
|
exactly what happened to me after i bought that old nord pipes.
when it comes to melody all the midi patterns are through on the nord midi track, get of the chair and start immediately to change parameters to shape a new sound.
it really changed my life and with experimenting i finally learn lots of "how to do it" and the oscillator timbres and little by little everything.
Sound synthesis must be the most creative part of making trance tunes imo and finally what distinguish between artists and aspects for sound. +1000
|
|
|
|
~d2~
Inactive User
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
751
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 10:38
|
I think I was lucky to start out with a hardware synth. I got a Novation KS rack cheap. The layout is excellent, which really encourages you to tweak away. Its easy to adjust 2 controls at once which is a real bonus.
I had a Nord Modular for a while and did enjoy building stuff on that and it had lots of knobs...but the problem was that the knobs would change meaning with each loaded patch....so it wasn't as instinctive as the Nova. Thats one of my gripes with hardware controllers and software.
I would encourage people that work in the box to have a go with a hardware synth. I think they are great to develop your skills. |
|
|
|
x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:04
|
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:06
|
I started learning programming on the Doepfer modular we had in Uni. Frustrating at first, even to get a sound out, but I bought one within a year
It was the first synth I owned. It did not have memory, but I had a digital camera. 
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
|
|
|
x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:17
|
|
A.Rosengren
Solid Snake
Started Topics :
266
Posts :
4139
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:18
|
I believe its possible to put a little battery to keep it from forgetting its patches. Dont know about that particular synth but im speaking in general. But you need to know what your doing 
A
|
|
|
|
x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:29
|
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:39
|
|
x-rayz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
576
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 11:42
|
|
A.Rosengren
Solid Snake
Started Topics :
266
Posts :
4139
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 13:12
|
Oh dear god, headache!
A
|
|
|
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 13:17
|
Looks like it, but if you don't mind patching cables every single time, recording the synth parts twice for stereo and if you wanna change something, you have to repatch the cables to re-record the audio file (twice for stereo) and waiting for about 15 mins for the oscillators to warm up (which you need to do even if you have used the A-190 midi module to off set the CV signals in order for the VCOs to track properly for more than one octave), then its not a headache at all 
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
|
|
|
gutter
Inactive User
Started Topics :
54
Posts :
3018
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 13:19
|
i want an A-100!!  ..its sick
|
|
|
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 13:29
|
One thing the modular did teach me though, is to go for the best raw sound possible, which is something I go after when I use soft synths.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Feb 6, 2009 14:45
|
Quote:
|
On 2009-02-06 13:19, gutter wrote:
i want an A-100!! ..its sick
|
|
Doepfer have some good modules but it s a bit the low end of modulars system imo, i really like blacet , to me they sound amazing and are not the most expensive modules. |
|
|
|
