Soundsets with Prince / synth funk sounds?

[mumpcake]

I'm looking for Prince type synth sounds, primarily 1999 and Purple Rain era and other synth-funk artists from the early 80s such as The Time, The Gap Band or Dazz Band. I know Prince and associated acts used Oberheims around that time, but I don't feel like I have been getting it right with OBXD. Are there any soundsets out there that cover this?

[K-Bee]

I'm a huge fan of that particular style and I've experimented with it myself. I think it's mostly a matter of arrangement and actual playing in order to get it right. My takes on it aren't perfect but I'm slowly getting there (i hope) - my soundcloud is in my signature.

The synth funkers back then were pretty quick in incoporating the latest gear at the time. That's why you saw plenty of Linn Drums and Oberheim DMX drum machines on their records. The moment the DX7 was out in 1983, it pretty much replaced the usual rhodes and even the Fairlight was used despite it's price. Gap Band (and the rest of the Total Experience Records roster) are famous for their elastic sounding minimoog bass. Back then it was custom to list all the synths on the album covers. Study those for further info and inspiration.

Given the wealth of software options/emulations these days, getting the sound is possible if you know what you're doing and have the writing/playing/arranging skills to pull if off. Current artists like Cool Million and Sunburst Band are definetely on their way.
As for soundsets, don't expect too much. If you have Korg MonoPoly plugin, Himlaya did a nice soundset for it a few years back http://www.electric-himalaya.com/MonoPo ... ctive.html
Honestly, it's the only soundset I know about that deals with this stuff.
I have no experience with the OBXD, sorry.

Any snippets of what you've been doing so far?

[mcnoone]

I do a lot of those type of funk sounds due to my playing style.
You didn't list any specific synths you own, but you can have a listen through my audio examples here.
https://soundcloud.com/monomo
I am also getting ready to release a soundset for Hive that has a lot of funky fusion sounds in it.

[mumpcake]

I'm a huge fan of that particular style and I've experimented with it myself. I think it's mostly a matter of arrangement and actual playing in order to get it right.

I think that is a big part of my problem.

I can get a lot of good bass sounds at will (found a tutorial to replicate Thriller bass), but my main problem is getting those key parts with the detuning so that it has that edge but doesn't sound too weird.

For what its worth, my synth arsenal includes all of the Cakewalk synths, Komplete, the AAS stuff, Synthmaster, Virtual CZ, Arturia MiniMoog V Original (the cutdown version), and a few freebies.

[K-Bee]

I'm a huge fan of that particular style and I've experimented with it myself. I think it's mostly a matter of arrangement and actual playing in order to get it right.

I think that is a big part of my problem.

I can get a lot of good bass sounds at will (found a tutorial to replicate Thriller bass), but my main problem is getting those key parts with the detuning so that it has that edge but doesn't sound too weird.

For what its worth, my synth arsenal includes all of the Cakewalk synths, Komplete, the AAS stuff, Synthmaster, Virtual CZ, Arturia MiniMoog V Original (the cutdown version), and a few freebies.

Don't worry! We all have to work on our playing and arranging skills!
How come you want to detune the key parts? I'm thinking more vibrato/mod wheel than detuning. A bit like the synth solo in this Sugarfoot (of Ohio Players Fame) track from 1985 (HUGE but very underrated LP by the way) - solo starts at 2:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBVZ1BqPX08
I work with both hardware and software and nailing the sound is just as hard as it's always been