KVR Audio

beanyles · Post by **beanyles** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:03 pm

ok, i'm trying to put progressive/house tunes together and my taste is somewhat that of the likes of Echomen, Benz & MD, Luke Chable, ect. I use cubase and cannot seem to get that sound, mainly because i believe there's something missing in my tracks. Currently i'm trying to get all my sounds from synths like v-station, triangle II, pro-53, ect but i dont seem to get the sounds i hear on tracks from the above mentioned artists.

I not saying i want my tracks to sound like these guys, they are very talented and i'm sure a higher level of production is involved here, but i cant help wonder how these guys come up with such incredible sounds. Truely they must be using many of the tools us amateurs have or know about cause i refuse to think that they simply have "secret weapons".

So it comes down to this, i realised that i've been using way to many synths to try to come up with similar sounds, but i have not used any samplers nor do i own any sample libraries so COULD THIS BE THE ANSWER??????? i've been reluctant on using samplers maybe because im a little judgemental about it, but my production is stuck right now and i wonder if a product like Sampletank 2 XL or any similar sampler/library will make the diference here.

I would apreciate it if anyone here has had a similar experience and can give me testimony on how helpful can such a sample/library can be in producing tracks of that style.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:14 pm

Can't tell you whether SampleTank will suit your kind of music, I'm an old-timer from the prog-rock days and beyond. But here's a link to a group buy thread. Four CDs of Sonic Synth 1 sounds, SampleTank 2 LE, OmniSynth GM set, and a bonus library disk of your choice. That's a lot of stuff for $109, and it could drop to $89 plus an extra library CD if enough people sign up! :-)

At that price you could hardly go wrong. And it counts toward upgrades to the full versions of SampleTank 2 XL and Sonic Synth 2 -- so it's like a coupon for big bucks off later, PLUS heaps of sounds to use right away. The deadline's July 31, so if this looks good to you, better grab it fast.

Sonic Synth/SampleTank group buy thread

The original post gets updated now and then with the latest sign-up totals. Right now it shows 229, but that's over 24 hours out of date. By now I'm hoping it's reached 250 to 260. (If 300 buyers sign up, we all get the sweetest deal of all.)

Best of luck,

Meffy

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:20 pm

Just like before there were software instrument plug-ins, hardware keyboard workstations were handy as the "glue" for the need of different sounds that may pop up in the middle of writing music or producing in any style, SampleTank 2 does that in software now. It is a good "go to" piece for any style of music because you never know if you may quicklky want any orchestral sounds or any drums or bass or...

Sonik Synth 2, a related plug-in (That can also have its sounds opened by ST2) would be good for the synth side of things as SampleTank 2 XL only has a little bit of that part.

It can be nice to have a sound module plug-in that has a little of everything though.

Just my opinion. I worked on both of the things i just mentioned so naturally I use them all the time.

Good luck!

Rick1114 · Post by **Rick1114** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:27 pm

I'm no expert but Sampletank's not the first thing I think of when it comes to progressive trance. It WAS used all over eminems last record and is good for many styles, but it's leaning more bread and butter than not. You should do some detective work and see what techniques these artists use just to get some insight.

ron@fishertheband.com · Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:27 pm

Be sure to check out several message boards on Sampletank first. It's known to be a very buggy program. I've tried it a few times, had problems and pretty much swore it off.

Hope this helps.

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:32 pm

http://www.djnexus.com/main_view.cfm/a/ ... e%20Chable

If you're after tunes like this, I wouldn't be looking at samples, I'd be looking at synths. Tera 2, Vanguard, V-Station (which you already got), and certainly hardware pieces as well. I'd also look at MicroTonic and DR-008 for drums too.

Sonic Synth will give you lots of bread and butter sounds, but not sounds you're after.

Devon

defjamm · Post by **defjamm** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 7:45 pm

Rick1114 wrote:I'm no expert but Sampletank's not It WAS used all over eminems last record

are you sure on that? never heard that before, i'm just curious.

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 7:50 pm

fishertheband wrote:Be sure to check out several message boards on Sampletank first. It's known to be a very buggy program. I've tried it a few times, had problems and pretty much swore it off.

Hope this helps.

Like other software it had bugs upon release. But a lot of that is in the past. One way to prove this for yourself is to download the FREE version (limited only to 10 sounds and some more coming next month and each month after) to see how it runs in your system... to check this (the definitive way, rather than a rumour). Swearing it off is not wise IMO if it could be useful.

I agree that it is more for the bread and butter stuff. Probably Sonik Synth 2 would be more for progressive trance. Then of course there are MANY others as well such as Absynth, Atmosphere, UF, Cameleon, Zeta3... and the list goes on.

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 7:52 pm

defjamm wrote:
Rick1114 wrote:I'm no expert but Sampletank's not It WAS used all over eminems last record
are you sure on that? never heard that before, i'm just curious.

Luis Resto
Oscar® winner Luis Resto used SampleTank® on Eminem's "8-Mile"

2003 Oscar® for best original song written for a motion picture went to composer Luis Resto and co-writers Eminem and Jeff Bass for the song Lose Yourself".

Resto used SampleTank extensively in the score for "8-Mile", co-written with Eminem, as well as the compositions on the soundtrack.

Resto said about SampleTank®: “SampleTank provided all of the piano sounds for "8-Mile" ... Marshall loved the sound. We used pizz cellos from SampleTank, which is also in D-12's "Rap Game," on the 8-Mile soundtrack as well as the blues electric guitar.

I have quite a few SampleTank libraries, and I have thoroughly enjoyed them all. We are constantly using SampleTank while working on artists on the Shady label as well as sending out beats.”

“8-Mile” movie has been #1 Box-office hit and it’s soundtrack has been awarded as #1 Soundtrack of the year.

Click here for other artists who use it: http://www.sampletank.com/STArtists.html

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 7:57 pm

DevonB wrote:http://www.djnexus.com/main_view.cfm/a/ ... e%20Chable

If you're after tunes like this, I wouldn't be looking at samples, I'd be looking at synths. Tera 2, Vanguard, V-Station (which you already got), and certainly hardware pieces as well. I'd also look at MicroTonic and DR-008 for drums too.

Sonic Synth will give you lots of bread and butter sounds, but not sounds you're after.

Devon

I agree with this except for the last statement only because of Sonik Synth 2 which is probably the most diverse flavored analog synth module (at least for sample-based synths).

But, Tera is another great suggestion. I love Tera. Don't know Vanguard.

scuzzphut · Post by **scuzzphut** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:11 pm

Well, since you already have Pro-53,triangle II and vstation - you've got a good base of va type synths.

If you're looking to add to that core with a wide variety of quality sounds, then definitely go for the sonic synth group buy.

If you're looking for more of the same, though - well , I'm not sure that getting more VA synths is worthwhile

Maybe look at other synthesis methods? Cameleon is the top rated synth on KvR right now - or maybe look at FM?

DevonB · Post by **DevonB** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:32 pm

Squids wrote:
DevonB wrote:http://www.djnexus.com/main_view.cfm/a/ ... e%20Chable

If you're after tunes like this, I wouldn't be looking at samples, I'd be looking at synths. Tera 2, Vanguard, V-Station (which you already got), and certainly hardware pieces as well. I'd also look at MicroTonic and DR-008 for drums too.

Sonic Synth will give you lots of bread and butter sounds, but not sounds you're after.

Devon
I agree with this except for the last statement only because of Sonik Synth 2 which is probably the most diverse flavored analog synth module (at least for sample-based synths).

But, Tera is another great suggestion. I love Tera. Don't know Vanguard.

Did I not say Sonic Synth not Sonic Synth 2?

SS2 isn't out, so how could I recommend something that's not out yet either?

Listening to what he wants though, I can pretty strongly say it won't pull off what he wants.

But, once Sonik Synth 2 does come out, then I can compare it against UF.

Still, I'd question how well samples could pull off what he wanted for synths compared to a synth.

Devon

smart · Post by **smart** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:45 pm

If he already has Pro-53, V-Station, and Triangle II that should provide him with a pretty versatile set of trance synths. I'd reccomend the Sonic Synth group buy too, which will cover some good bread and butters, as well is a few extra synth and pad sounds.

snooky · Post by **snooky** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:51 pm

Not trance...progressive house!

There is a big dif. in that prog house uses more chords and synth stabs and not the regular "cheesy-lead-with-a-filter-sweep" crap.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:52 pm

I'm just blabbing here

but I would actually recommend a sample library for house and/or trance.. synths first of course, but you can always incorporate more 'natural' sounds like a piano or a spanish guitar into the mix and really give a whole different element and feel to your songs.. even the strings and pizzicato strikes can be nice if not overdone already.. hmm...

you may also want to look at other romplers and sample libraries like the usb sounds and eastwest products too before making your decision..

I would also recommend zeta+ into your synth lineup

is Sampletank usefull?