Boards of Canada (BoC) Aquarius intro chords

How to make that sound...
Post Reply New Topic
RELATED
PRODUCTS

Post

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.
I'm trying to recreate the chords used on Aquaria from MHARTC, and can't quite crack it. I'm relatively new at this, and trying to use this as an example to learn more about sound design. I'm using U-He Diva's tool and promise to share back anything that I learn (including presets.)

The original:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ymqq3kwomhbm7 ... %20mp3.mp3

My best version so far:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5nahyb15ieo9x ... t%203a.wav

I'm using a single sawtooth with a realively slow VCO envelope, and then a envelope to slowly open up the filter while modulating it a bit with a 1s LFO. I've tried adding a detuned second oscilator but that doesn't seem to do it. Snapshot from Diva attached:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/opuigqabr9827 ... enshot.png (https://www.dropbox.com/s/opuigqabr9827go/BOC%20attempt%20diva%20screenshot.png)

Many thanks for your wisdom..

Post

Interesting sound.
I'd be willing to bet alot of the sonics of that sound come from the way they run their sounds through an old Grundig Tape Recorder. That would be hard to emulate that sound down to the tee with just software.

Post

I also realize what I just said made no sense and is of very little help.
Fuggit

Post

Try things like chorus, unison, reverb, delay, EQ, shallow pitch modulation with a slow LFO, running through some kind of analogue-ish distortion (tube, tape, etc.). Also make sure the chords you play match theirs.

I hope this isn't too vague. :) Also, you might be more aggressive with your lowpass filter (remove more of the high freq's).
A well-behaved signature.

Post

Can not open those links.
EDIT: Solved.

Post

There's definitely some weird delay going on, almost like "ghost" repeats. Actually, to me it sounds like a network of delays, operating on different bandwidths, and with just enough mix/feedback to be just noticable.

I'd definitely throw a static filter plugin over the dynamic filter from the synth to get the sound even darker.

If you've got some $ to spare, check out Sonitex, it's a great toolkit for ageing audio and doing other creative/destructive stuff.

For the longest time I've been debating picking up a reel to reel tape deck myself. I've always liked the sound of them.
http://sendy.bandcamp.com/releases < My new album at Bandcamp! Now pay what you like!

Post

Hey Gang-- thanks for the feedback and ideas.

I tried the EQ and lowering a little bit of the pre HP filter and it worked really well. I coulnd't quite get the ensemble effect right in Diva, but Satin seems to get close which makes sense if they were using a tape-based ensemble.

Still not really sounding exactly right, but closer, any other ideas appreciated.

I'm thinking I might make a YouTube tutorial if iI can get this close enough.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ze9wtunude42d ... 5.wav?dl=0

Post

i have been using this a bit recently, a bit f a shortcut to BOC type keyboards,,, Phonec VSTi
lots of wobbly, speedy-uppy,slowy-downy, drunk tape echo.. with minimal effort...
i used to own an ensoniq esq 1 and if you played around with lfo's i used to get similar stuff..
the truth is they use a lot of analog gear with the inherent 'instability' that digital stuff can only approximate...
start using tapes and mellotrons n that
good luck emulating : )

Post

Get sonitex if you want to make things sound old and crusty. Nothing can compare.
Don't F**K with Mr. Zero.

Post

jgilbert wrote:Hey Gang-- thanks for the feedback and ideas.

I tried the EQ and lowering a little bit of the pre HP filter and it worked really well. I coulnd't quite get the ensemble effect right in Diva, but Satin seems to get close which makes sense if they were using a tape-based ensemble.

Still not really sounding exactly right, but closer, any other ideas appreciated.

I'm thinking I might make a YouTube tutorial if iI can get this close enough.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ze9wtunude42d ... 5.wav?dl=0
Yeah, that sounds really good! I got something pretty close, but I don't think my chords are quite right. If you can send me your MIDI (pm me) I can work on the sound processing.
A well-behaved signature.

Post Reply

Return to “Sound Design”