KVR Audio

RamzGT · Post by **RamzGT** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:02 am

I've been getting out of solo-Reason-based projects in the last few months, finding myself swarmed with all sorts of VST possibilities. I've been working on synth sculpting daily, but just can't get the hold of it for some reason. I understand how all the elements change the waveform, but have trouble predicting the sound.

I've made some OK trance-like tracks in the past, but I'm looking for that nice, "professional", sound with the knowledge to get some innovation in there as well.

So where do I start to look? Is there a knowledge base anywhere in which I can take a look at the simplest of trance leads and then attempt to reconstruct them in different VSTs in order to see how the sound differs, etc?

I guess I'm just looking for a starting place. I've got everything ready to go, I just need some more technical knowledge to get a kick-start. Thanks

NAD · Post by **NAD** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:16 am

Best thing to do in your case I think is find some synths with presets that you like and just study the presets. Try to figure out what gives each type of sound it's distinction. Disable different functions one by one to see what the patch is built from and what you can take away without loosing the essence of the sound. Try replicating a patch you like in a different synth. There's no shortcuts, really. Just study the presets. And don't forget to make music, while you're at it!

Benedict · Post by **Benedict** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:22 am

I put up a synth primer at www.theaudiogarden.com in Synths.

It is a real beginners introduction to synthesis in a very hands on way.

Not specifically about Trance sounds but will have you start to be in control of the basics.

wiooi · Post by **wiooi** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:40 am

I had the same problem for a while, and then i realised the waveforms of the syths I was using just didnt suit what I was trying to achieve. A saw tooth ISNT a saw tooth, there are so many variations on it, all dependant on the programmer. Syths that come with DAWS tend to be crap, get a good plugin. Albino seems to have the best sawtooth waveforms for my style...but theres always z3ta, syth 1 etc.

johnnytluxury · Post by **johnnytluxury** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:56 am

You can do super saws in Reason, being creative. I hate them, but I cant stand the idea of someone looking for inspiration elsewhere when they have a great tool in front of them. Try making some sounds by using combinators creatively, who said you had to use only one Subtractor per sound?

m0j0byrd · Post by **m0j0byrd** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:11 am

Avoid bouncing around between different synths. Try limit yourself to one or two with the capability for the sound you want. Start with a 'blank slate' Get a midi loop going so you can tweak the features/knobs/settings. Begin with the osc's, also make slight adjustments in FM and PWM, which can yield huge shifts in timbre. Add arpeggiation (and or delay). Go back to the oscillators and try different combinations of waveforms. Move onto the filter, tweak the cutoff, tracking, change filter types. Once you got a feel for what's what, you may want to lay out a track and explore automation of various parameters or use onboard lfo/modulation to shift values of time. There are as many different approaches as there are musos/sound designers. My 0.02c

tamahome · Post by **tamahome** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:45 am

Benedict wrote:I put up a synth primer at www.theaudiogarden.com in Synths.

It is a real beginners introduction to synthesis in a very hands on way.

Not specifically about Trance sounds but will have you start to be in control of the basics.

Is there a Castor demo? (the synth from the primer)

Benedict · Post by **Benedict** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:30 pm

Castor doesn't have a Demo but most standard 2 Osc synths should do for the excercises.

Of course if you get Castor you also get 9 other synths and fz

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:39 pm

SynthMaster comes with 150 in-depth tutorial presets. By studying them, you can improve your sound design skills.

RamzGT · Post by **RamzGT** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 7:03 am

Thanks for all of the help - I'm going to pursue all of these options. If anyone has presets that may suit me (especially ones with strangely-interacting waveforms), feel free to point me to them. Thanks again!

nexus604 · Post by **nexus604** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:35 am

kv331 wrote:SynthMaster comes with 150 in-depth tutorial presets. By studying them, you can improve your sound design skills.

Could someone pls point a fresh link coz that link doesn;t work any longer

Help would be highly appreciated....

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:37 am

http://www.kv331audio.com/DownloadFile. ... tabIndex=1

This should work. Thanks!

nexus604 · Post by **nexus604** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:07 pm

Thanx a million for a quick response.

Peace

hseiken · Post by **hseiken** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 7:06 pm

Try to get Synth1 and play with it...also Oatmeal...both of these are really cool and if you can't make your sound with those, then maybe you're looking for an FM synth. :p

Boulotaur2024 · Post by **Boulotaur2024** » Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:27 pm

Talking about Synth1 and Oatmeal, be sure to study Nolwenn's banks for these two synths (especially her Synth1 third bank), she's a top class programmer for trance patches

http://ann.sounds.free.fr/#oatmeal

Where to start with synths?