KVR Audio

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 3:29 am

It's pretty well known that Imogen Heap mostly uses software, so I figure this might be the place to post his. Here's the song I'm talking about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdIxKQ-qWQ

The sound is that chimey wavetable sequence that runs through most of the tune. Any ideas of what she might have used?

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 4:32 am

I don't know for sure which synth that is, but I've read a few times over the years that does most of her work in Pro Tools and that she use NI instruments a lot, particularly Massive.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 5:15 pm

cryophonik wrote:I don't know for sure which synth that is, but I've read a few times over the years that does most of her work in Pro Tools and that she use NI instruments a lot, particularly Massive.

Yeah, I saw that too. Doesn't sound particularly "Massive" though. I was thinking it might be Wavestation Legacy?

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 6:24 pm

Speaking of Imogen Heap, are you watching this live stream?

http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/2 ... heap-live/

It's just getting started. Tim Exile is joining her for this show.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 7:36 pm

I always thought it was a simple chime patch (sample or FM perhaps?) granulated.

knowix · Post by **knowix** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 10:12 pm

It sounds kind of Guy Sigsworthish, but I'm not sure if he worked with her on that album. Sigsworth has had a tendency to use a lot of manipulated acoustic sounds. It's possible some of his style or musical tendencies carried over to Heap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDX_0luEnNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQeOpTWPBfQ

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 10:14 pm

aMUSEd wrote:I always thought it was a simple chime patch (sample or FM perhaps?) granulated.

I agree. It sounds more FM than wavetable to me.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Sun Aug 24, 2014 11:22 pm

Yes, or just a sample of something chimey, I think the main thing is it sounds like its been processed by a granular pitchshifter/reverse delay - you can get that sort of effect from something like Crystalliser (or even Reaktor - I just made a similar sound using Buffeater's Granular stretch module and a Pianoteq Vibes patch).

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Mon Aug 25, 2014 4:10 pm

aMUSEd wrote:Yes, or just a sample of something chimey, I think the main thing is it sounds like its been processed by a granular pitchshifter/reverse delay - you can get that sort of effect from something like Crystalliser (or even Reaktor - I just made a similar sound using Buffeater's Granular stretch module and a Pianoteq Vibes patch).

Buffeater's Granular looks cool. Might have to get that one.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the overlap of granular and wavetable. (graintable) I know Reason's Malstrom does is and I have a Virus Snow on it's way to do it... what else does it? I guess Padshop Pro kind of does it...

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Mon Aug 25, 2014 5:31 pm

The only proper graintable synths I know are Malstrom, the Virus Ti and Symptohm Melohman.

SODDI · Post by **SODDI** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 9:53 pm

Could it be that the chimey sound (pretty much any synth) is sent to a reverb and the granulation effect applied to the reverb? I'd suggest The Finger, but I don't know if that plug-in is capable of anything that subtle.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:36 pm

aMUSEd wrote:The only proper graintable synths I know are Malstrom, the Virus Ti and Symptohm Melohman.

I don't know much about Symptohm, to be honest. I got the free PE version and... well I guess is didn't inspire me enough to buy the full one. Maybe I'm missing something? I should check out the demo. I wouldn't mind something like the Virus TI that let you import your own wav files.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Fri Aug 29, 2014 10:42 pm

zerocrossing wrote:
aMUSEd wrote:The only proper graintable synths I know are Malstrom, the Virus Ti and Symptohm Melohman.
I don't know much about Symptohm, to be honest. I got the free PE version and... well I guess is didn't inspire me enough to buy the full one. Maybe I'm missing something? I should check out the demo. I wouldn't mind something like the Virus TI that let you import your own wav files.

Nah it's not that great - I have the full Windows version but haven't been bothered to buy the Mac crossgrade - actually I should either do that or sell it, maybe I will give it one more chance.

Wavetable sequence on Imogen Heap's Headlock: what synth?