video game creature sfx using Bazille

[Noctilucent]

Hey guys,

I unlurk for a moment to ask if anyone of you have some good ideas for how to make creature sounds for a game. The creatures range from plant, monsters and machines, and I want to try to use Bazille to make sounds for everything for consistency. It wont have to sound natural, imagine more Zelda type sounds, so a bit synthy.

Im really exited about the project, but am researching this before going with limiting myself to one synth only:)

Also, hope you all have a fantastic day

[whyterabbyt]

I'd cheat, and use a vocoder to articulate the non-mechanical sounds.

[Noctilucent]

I'd cheat, and use a vocoder to articulate the non-mechanical sounds.

That is a way, and I might end up doing it for some of the vocalizations, but its fully possible to make creature sounds using synths as long as its kinda consistent imo. so I´d like to try to do as much as possible without using samples/voices

[Sendy]

Most of the NES sound FX were made by rapidly changing the pitch, volume, and duty cycle of a pulse wave. This was done with stepped tables with 2 to 20 entries, rather than with smooth modulators. You can think of it almost like granular synthesis with square waves, but with no windowing function - creating one big sound out of lots of little sounds strung together.

Bazille should have no problems with this, you can use the step sequencer to create the tables, and use quantized LFOs or envelopes if you need more movement. I do recommend the quantization, though. It really makes it sound more "computery" and less analog. Especially if you're going for an 8-bit vibe.

[Noctilucent]

I do recommend the quantization, though. It really makes it sound more "computery" and less analog. Especially if you're going for an 8-bit vibe.

Cool, i like the general approach, but also I want it to sound less 8 bit, but with the same general.. concepts of 1 synth, 1 style. I am still searching for the right direction, which is why I might seem vague about this, but these thoughts are super appreciated

[Shiek927]

Most of the NES sound FX were made by rapidly changing the pitch, volume, and duty cycle of a pulse wave. This was done with stepped tables with 2 to 20 entries, rather than with smooth modulators. You can think of it almost like granular synthesis with square waves, but with no windowing function - creating one big sound out of lots of little sounds strung together.

Bazille should have no problems with this, you can use the step sequencer to create the tables, and use quantized LFOs or envelopes if you need more movement. I do recommend the quantization, though. It really makes it sound more "computery" and less analog. Especially if you're going for an 8-bit vibe.

Great advice if I ever do Chiptune! thank you Sendy!

[Orfeas]

Take a look at Dehumaniser II for this type of stuff.

[pdxindy]

I think Bazille is excellent for this. Bazille has unusual sorts of modulation tools (compared to what is in most softsynths)... I have found Bazille to be excellent for making sounds with an organic quality... as if they are made by some actual creature... moans, cries, purrs etc.

A lot of this stuff can be done somewhat with MSEG's... but the thing with the MSEG is that once the shape is drawn, it is what it is. You can speed it up or slow it down, change the depth/intensity. In Bazille on the other hand, modulation signals can themselves be modulated in lovely organic ways. For me, Bazille has been better for making natural sounds (always an interest of mine) than any other synth I've tried.

Bazille is also great for any mechanical sound FX too... and then weird hybrid sounds.

It will take some work though. There is a learning curve, especially coming from the softsynth world. Users of analog modular will have an advantage cause they likely already know what lag generators, multiples, quantizers, rectifiers, do and have some experience in all the creative ways these individual modules can be combined. A Bazille Oscillator is itself an incredible complex LFO/Modulator.

I think it is totally worth the effort.