Sound design for older (i.e. 1998-2004) trance

[GRUMP]

I really think that a lot of that old sound is due to limited synths (that's why I mentioned "don't use unison"), the lack of sound layering, production techniques, and the drum machines/samples. Also, a simple high cut on the sounds might do wonders, as the productions simply don't sound very hi-fi.

Oh, what I also often notice is that those old synths used in those productions often sound a bit "resonant". Either they always used a bit of resonance, or it's just the VA synths character. Dune 1 also had that, that it always sounds a bit resonant, even with the resonance at 0.

That may be. But despite of different Sperctral Balance, Frequency Response and Stereo/3D (which you can fiddle today, too) the Main Aspect in my Opinion was rather a pragmatic Approch and completely different Targets.

[chk071]

I really think that a lot of that old sound is due to limited synths (that's why I mentioned "don't use unison"), the lack of sound layering, production techniques, and the drum machines/samples. Also, a simple high cut on the sounds might do wonders, as the productions simply don't sound very hi-fi.

Oh, what I also often notice is that those old synths used in those productions often sound a bit "resonant". Either they always used a bit of resonance, or it's just the VA synths character. Dune 1 also had that, that it always sounds a bit resonant, even with the resonance at 0.

Unison was all over the place by then. They were using Nord Leads, Virus, JP8k etc. Layering was also very much a thing, but not to the level it is today as the computational power just wasn't there yet.

Did the first Nord Leads have unison? I know that the first Viruses didn't, and, I also hear very simple 2 oscillator (or so) sawtooth patches in many sounds in oldschool Trance. So, I guess it really depends on which time period we're taking about, of course, in the really 2000's, they more and more used unison because the synths allowed that. I don't know if it really was such a thing before the JP-8K, because I really don't know any VA's which allowed for it.

Virus A had/hast Unison. Maybe not in 1.0, but latest 1998.

Alright. Pretty awesome that they added so much stuff with the newer OS's.

[tehlord]

NL2, Virus B, JP8k, all released right in the middle of the time period the OP is talking about. Not to mention the Quasimidi synths earlier on.

No unison is a red herring.

Plus, I was making trance tracks (of a sort) even earlier with the unison function on analogue Juno's. Unison ain't a new thing.

[chk071]

NL2, Virus B, JP8k, all released right in the middle of the time period the OP is talking about. Not to mention the Quasimidi synths earlier on.

No unison is a red herring.

Plus, I was making trance tracks (of a sort) even earlier with the unison function on analogue Juno's. Unison ain't a new thing.

Maybe. I still hear a lot of sounds there which don't seem to use unison though (or at least it doesn't sound to me like it). Maybe it just came into fashion later, although technically possible. Or my golden ears just suck today.

[tehlord]

The first synth I ever bought was an Alpha Juno 2 in 1988. It had unison

[Gamma-UT]

Roland JP-8000: launched late-1996/early-1997.

Period OP wants: 1998-2004.

No unison in trance when one of the key machines used during that era was all about a particular unison sound? OK.

[chk071]

Roland JP-8000: launched late-1996/early-1997.

Period OP wants: 1998-2004.

No unison in trance when one of the key machines used during that era was all about a particular unison sound? OK.

Not sure why you have to be snippy again, but, I repeat another time then, just for you: I hear a lot of rather simple sounds in old Trance which don't seem to use unison.

Do you use your ears when listening to music?

And, yes, I know that unison is a big part of the music since the JP-8K, Virus and what not.

No need to be so passive aggressive the whole time.

[AnX]

Roland JP-8000: launched late-1996/early-1997.

Period OP wants: 1998-2004.

No unison in trance when one of the key machines used during that era was all about a particular unison sound? OK.

doubt everyone had one...a lot of ppl picked up cheap analogue stuff way back then, lots of that had unison

[Gamma-UT]

For what it's worth I've been using Reason 7's in-built devices and a couple of extra plugins (mostly synth1), though I've been told that it doesn't matter what synth I use since most sounds can be gotten out of any.

Apparently Lemon8 likes Reason: or used to at least -

"Oh, and yes I did change my gear. All I use now is Propellerhead Reason on my laptop and a little Akai keyboard. It was like love at first sight. I love it. I’m still trying to find my way but it felt good right from the start. That’s all that counts; from your head, in the quickest possible way, translated into music."

https://reallemon8.wordpress.com/catego ... roduction/

[Gamma-UT]

And, yes, I know that unison is a big part of the music since the JP-8K, Virus and what not.

No need to be so passive aggressive the whole time.

Maybe if you spent less time obsessing over imagined slights you might actually pay attention to the OP's request, which was for 1998-2004 (though one or two examples come from before then).

[deastman]

NL2, Virus B, JP8k, all released right in the middle of the time period the OP is talking about. Not to mention the Quasimidi synths earlier on.

No unison is a red herring.

Plus, I was making trance tracks (of a sort) even earlier with the unison function on analogue Juno's. Unison ain't a new thing.

Yep, this sums it up pretty well.

Nord Lead
Virus
JP8K
Quasimidi
BassStation
Supernova
Waldorf Q
Microwave XT
Junos, Jupiters
303, 808, 909
Samplers (Especially Emu, Ensoniq in the US, Akai in the U.K., Europe)

[GRUMP]

I really think that a lot of that old sound is due to limited synths (that's why I mentioned "don't use unison"), the lack of sound layering, production techniques, and the drum machines/samples. Also, a simple high cut on the sounds might do wonders, as the productions simply don't sound very hi-fi.

Oh, what I also often notice is that those old synths used in those productions often sound a bit "resonant". Either they always used a bit of resonance, or it's just the VA synths character. Dune 1 also had that, that it always sounds a bit resonant, even with the resonance at 0.

Unison was all over the place by then. They were using Nord Leads, Virus, JP8k etc. Layering was also very much a thing, but not to the level it is today as the computational power just wasn't there yet.

Did the first Nord Leads have unison? I know that the first Viruses didn't, and, I also hear very simple 2 oscillator (or so) sawtooth patches in many sounds in oldschool Trance. So, I guess it really depends on which time period we're taking about, of course, in the really 2000's, they more and more used unison because the synths allowed that. I don't know if it really was such a thing before the JP-8K, because I really don't know any VA's which allowed for it.

Virus A had/hast Unison. Maybe not in 1.0, but latest 1998.

Alright. Pretty awesome that they added so much stuff with the newer OS's.

That was quiet boombastic these Days. They even added a Vocoder. Product Care at its finest!

And btw - 23 Yrs old now and 10+ in the icy Garage and it still Rocks!^^