KVR Audio

GrantsV · Post by **GrantsV** » Thu May 11, 2006 9:59 am

How on earth do you get that analog, room sound of the 70's/80's with less bass, smoother sound etc.? I understand what I am asking is to 'degrade' the sounds somewhat! And ambience/room sound is important too.

Best regards,
GrantsV

.jon · Post by **.jon** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:22 am

A plate / spring reverb emulation?

SCAMP filter?

Kingston · Post by **Kingston** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:48 am

wunderverb

daverich · Post by **daverich** » Thu May 11, 2006 10:52 am

try analogflux tapebus from voxengo.

Works whenever I want to *vintag-ise* anything.

sparrow · Post by **sparrow** » Thu May 11, 2006 11:08 am

You can:

1)Record the synth through a couple of mics in real stereo.
or
2)Use impulses of studio rooms and then reverb.

What you're asking can be interpreted in so many ways. A bit of reading and studying how people at that time used to work with synths would help...

As a fan of Harmonia, Cluster, Kraftwerk and Brian Eno I have to tell you that they did all sorts of experiments with their instruments, but basically it all comes down to the way they mixed stuff together, the arrangements and so on. Pretty much lots of low mids in there and not so much sub low info in their stuff.
As for the 80's that's a totally different thing. Are you talking about Gary Numan, John foxx, Dead Can Dance kind of synths or you talking mainly easy listening, pop stuff?

...Thinking it twice you might just need to mix your sounds properly...

...and what's with this "vintage", "analog", thing? oops soz, me getting grumpy here...

What is it that bothers me about it? the hype behind these words or the mere fact that most people don't really have a clue of what they mean and still use them?

Sorry Grants, It wasn't my intention to come down at you...but as I think about it, this whole retro thing just does my head in. I wish people could listen without a time sensor in their ears. Because those who praise "retro" nowadays might as well be those who bury it tomorrow when it's no longer "cool", just like they did with the 60's a few years ago and so on, so on, so on...

GrantsV · Post by **GrantsV** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:20 pm

Your absolutely right. Why should we seek to reproduce retro. However what I am looking for is the smooth uncomputerised sound. Even though Kraftwork etc. used technological equipment it sounds organic. With my VSTi's and guitar amp modelling etc. everything sounds too perfect and computer like. Its the organic quality I am looking for.

Thanks for your replies.

Paulie Phonick · Post by **Paulie Phonick** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:34 pm

Then experiment with adding noise here and there - in signal paths, controllers, note timing.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:38 pm

sparrow wrote: Are you talking about Gary Numan, John foxx, Dead Can Dance kind of synths or you talking mainly easy listening, pop stuff?

Since when did Dead Can Dance use synths?

mammath · Post by **mammath** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:18 pm

sparrow wrote:those who praise "retro" nowadays might as well be those who bury it tomorrow when it's no longer "cool"

That's such a great line! I couldn't have said it better myself.

rsmus7 · Post by **rsmus7** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:18 pm

edited

rsmus7 · Post by **rsmus7** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:19 pm

whyterabbyt wrote:
sparrow wrote: Are you talking about Gary Numan, John foxx, Dead Can Dance kind of synths or you talking mainly easy listening, pop stuff?
Since when did Dead Can Dance use synths?

did they?

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:25 pm

rsmus7 wrote:
did they?

I would have thought not, to be honest. Lot of acoustic instruments, including a lot of unusual ethnic stuff I believe. Saw them live once, never saw a hint of synth

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:49 pm

whyterabbyt wrote:
rsmus7 wrote:
did they?
I would have thought not, to be honest. Lot of acoustic instruments, including a lot of unusual ethnic stuff I believe. Saw them live once, never saw a hint of synth

Lots and lots of samples on some of their records, though. Vocals, strings, horns, &c. I'm not sure about their recent live stuff, but on older ones (mid 80s) they would have a tape running, i suppose- some other 4AD acts did this, too.
I'd have to check their first album to see if it has any synths on it, though.
The ethnic stuff came a bit later on, from The Serpent's Egg onwards. Apart from Lisa Gerrard's Chinese thingy (I forget what it's called).

Groet, Erik

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:26 pm

tetraplan wrote: Lots and lots of samples on some of their records, though. Vocals, strings, horns, &c.

Possibly. But they were both very capable mult-instrumentalists.

I'm not sure about their recent live stuff, but on older ones (mid 80s) they would have a tape running, i suppose- some other 4AD acts did this, too.

Didnt see them recently, saw them in the late 80's. No tape obvious, 6 or 7 people onstage, all of them incredible musicians and vocalists. Wouldnt have been a need for tapes at all, with that lineup.

The Cocteau Twins definitely used tapes onstage about that time, though. Not that they were onstage that often.

As far as I know, all their old kit (delays, 'verbs, harmonisers etc) is more or less sitting rusting out the back of Eel Pie studios...

I'd have to check their first album to see if it has any synths on it, though.

And done on a portastudio, if I recall.

The ethnic stuff came a bit later on, from The Serpent's Egg onwards.

You dont think the stuff on the first album counts as ethnic? Sounded like a lot of ethnic percussion to me.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu May 11, 2006 2:37 pm

I use a high quality soft saturation plugin if I want to analog-ise a synth.

Your best tip for making digital VSTi's vintage sounding???