KVR Audio

RemcoG · Post by **RemcoG** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:34 am

I've really had trouble with making a lead sound that sounds just a bit like Jordan Rudess his ones. I've been combinating for weeks, but it just didn't work for me.

I don't know if there's a VST where you can make such lead easier in. Because, almost all the lead sounds I make suck.

Kind regards,
RemcoG

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 7:43 am

I managed one in my Oatmeal Variations Bank you can find here:

http://rekkerd.org/oatmeal-presets-by-djtubigmalicex

Patch name: Rolandish Lead 5 (though you could try whatever else, this is what I think sounds closest.)

You'll need Oatmeal to use it.

http://bicycle-for-slugs.org/oatmean37-4.zip

EDIT: If you own z3ta+, you can try this too. Note it probably needs tweaking.

http://www.xeviousenterprises.com/djtBM ... 20Lead.fxp

Cygnus X-1 · Post by **Cygnus X-1** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:37 am

Well, Jordan made a few cool leads throughout the years, but if you are talking about his 'liquid' lead which is the one he uses on the "Liquid Tension Experiment I,II", and if you want an exact carbon copy, you'll actually find it in any Kurzweil K200*, it's a preset, and a very complicated one by the way. It uses 8 layers. Luca at www.progsounds.com has dissected this Kurz. patch so that it could be programmed in other synths. Check it out here

This does not mean you can not get in the ballpark using simpler programs on many VSTs. IMHO, I find the following VSTs closest to yielding similar "Rolandish" or should I say "Juno-ish" leads:
- Zebralette & Zebra CM (and of course the full fledged Zebra2) from u-he. Here are a few examples for Zebralette (IIRC, you could also load them in Zebra2, maybe even the demo)
http://www.evilshare.com/b26292dc-7bdf- ... a0c993e9d6

- CM Dominator: comes with Computer Music magazine every month. Very smooth and thick sound. Very suitable for this Jordan's type of lead.

As for Oatmeal, I don't know if it's just me, but I could not make it sound as thick and smooth sounding as any of the above VSTs. Still, it's an awesome synth that I just love. I made a bank for Oatmeal, that has a few nice leads, elec. guitar-ish sounding, a Holdsworth kind of lead sound, a few organs...etc. It is available for download from: http://putstuff.putfile.com/34317/6286187

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:45 am

That bank man, should be in that oatmeal presets and banks topic for rounding up everything.

Thanks for the links. Now I can try making it in Hypersonic!! WHOO!!

Cygnus X-1 · Post by **Cygnus X-1** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:27 am

Well, it's actually there in this one: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... meal+skins

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:45 am

Oh okay, thanks for clarifying. It's just that I downloaded the all-in-one pack and bloody hell he needs to update it.

Hmm... *opens z3ta+, Hypersonic 2, and albino*

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:31 am

Finished it in about 2 hours! (Hypersonic 2; paste it into your User Patches directory or something. The numbering you may have to adjust to the next number in order, if not 000)

dj.tuBIG/MaliceX - Rudess Lead (Hypersonic 2 preset MP3 demo)

Preset File (HS2; place in User patches folder)

Instead of following the guideline, I actually tried to recreate the layers by ear using the individual recordings they used, then propagating the correct sound using the internal synthesizer in Hypersonic; Layers 4 and 5 I combined samples with 3 effects. It was hard, because the 'guitar layers' were being really annoying on the high ends distorting/aliasing.

EDIT: Updated to include some Hyperknob functions, as well as some general renaming of cells. WHEE!! (It's also posted on that topic Cygnus-X mentioned.)

Cygnus X-1 · Post by **Cygnus X-1** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:06 pm

Nice!!! Unfortunately, I don't have hypersonic. But good job. I would say that Luca's Nord modular version is closer, but yours is close enough.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:00 pm

I just downloaded the Jordan Rudess preset pack for the V-Synth - wow! The leads in this are incredible. Not sure I know much about his music but he can make some good lead patches.

Cygnus X-1 · Post by **Cygnus X-1** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:54 pm

Well, he's a genius IMHO. His playing with Dream Theater is rather technical and wanky at times, but listen to his solo albums, or his two instrumental albums "Liquid Tension Experiment I,II" with two members of DT (he wasn't in the band then) and Tony Levin on bass. The LT albums are more diverse soundwise, also lean toward Fusion rather than prog. metal. Some of the compositions are just masterpieces IMO.
Also make sure to visit his web site, he has a few nice video demos, specially for the Roland VP-550.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:59 pm

Oh I know Levin well from his work with Peter Gabriel. So what sort of music does this Rudess guy make? (I had this weird idea it was something horribly trancy like BT but maybe that was wrong - mind you BT made some great patches for the V-Synth too inc one of my favourites)

Cygnus X-1 · Post by **Cygnus X-1** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 2:10 am

Jordan is as far from Trance as Opeth from disco

His music (solo and within DT) is more inclined towards Progressive Rock, but the reality is that it's nothing like Rush or Yes either. His solo works have better compositions IMO and he is more free to use more electronic sounds. His latest album is really nice, here is a performance of the opening track:

Also here is another clip with the V-synth played through the Haken continuum:

He also has a couple of duet albums where he only plays acoustic pianos. Check them out.

RemcoG · Post by **RemcoG** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 11:18 am

Thank you sooo much MaliceX! Luckily I'm planning on buying Hypersonic. Because a friend of mine has it. And there are just.. damn many sounds!

Thanks!

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:05 pm

RemcoG: No problem. It's always good to know people actually do use it.

MaliceX · Post by **MaliceX** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:06 pm

Rudess Lead on KarmaFX RC4

KarmaFX Bankset (it's in there as Rudess Lead KFX)

I also made an improved one on Hypersonic 2 made which is made entirely of US-1 cells and some FX in the EDIT chain.
MP3 Demo (sorry for dodginess)

Get it here; put in User Patches folder or something.

Jordan Rudess like VST lead...