KVR Audio

cloudswept · Post by **cloudswept** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:12 pm

Would anyone know a good hardware synth for sounds like Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil etc?

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:14 pm

You should really post a Youtube video, and ask for a specific sound in the video... Your question is WAY too general.

And, I don't even know what Dead Can Dance or that other thing is. Is it a band? A guy? A track?

Yes, I'm capable of Googling, but, I really shouldn't have to.

RobustAmerican · Post by **RobustAmerican** » Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:55 pm

Haven't listened to D.C.D. or the Coil in a while but a sampler would seem like the ticket for that kind of stuff. 4AD is a record label...One of my favorites.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sat Aug 07, 2021 3:31 am

I don't think there is anything in particular that would have defined the sound of either band, particularly considering that This Mortal Coil had a fairly fluid line-up. The synths, in particular, are very generic sounding. It's more about the mood, which is mostly in the arrangements and production.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:33 am

I’m sure they both use a lot of synths, but that’s sort of the wrong way to go about what you’re after. You’re better off figuring out a budget and then going on a retail site like Reverb or something and see what is available. Then go to YouTube and start listening. When something makes you smile, keep digging and if you can’t get it out of your head, that’s the one.

AnX · Post by **AnX** » Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:43 am

I'm very familiar with that label and bands, but as bones said, its all fairly generic stuff, and you haven't been very specific

Maybe pick a track or two as examples

cloudswept · Post by **cloudswept** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:24 pm

Hey cloudswept

Sorry for the late reply here, hope you read this.

Rather than try and make you sound stupid like the other replies here, just because they haven't got an answer themselves. I'll try and help you here if I can.

I know exactly the sounds you're after, the ethereal interludes on any This Mortal Coil album, and the grandiose sounding orchestral synths of Dead Can Dance.

For both of those I would forget the hardware route and get yourself a free vst called Serenity Pro by HG Fortune. This has tons of atmospheric synth sounds exactly like the ones you are after. Really beautiful

For hardware I just use a Roland MC-505 with a midi keyboard and put it through some Valhalla delays and reverbs, all free to download now.

Also try some vocal ahhhs through the same Valhalla reverbs and keep them low in the mix with the synths. Instant 80s post punk mushroom season sounds!

I look forward to hearing your music

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:32 pm

wth?

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:01 pm

cloudswept wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:24 pm Hey cloudswept

Sorry for the late reply here, hope you read this.

Rather than try and make you sound stupid like the other replies here, just because they haven't got an answer themselves. I'll try and help you here if I can.

I know exactly the sounds you're after, the ethereal interludes on any This Mortal Coil album, and the grandiose sounding orchestral synths of Dead Can Dance.

For both of those I would forget the hardware route and get yourself a free vst called Serenity Pro by HG Fortune. This has tons of atmospheric synth sounds exactly like the ones you are after. Really beautiful

For hardware I just use a Roland MC-505 with a midi keyboard and put it through some Valhalla delays and reverbs, all free to download now.

Also try some vocal ahhhs through the same Valhalla reverbs and keep them low in the mix with the synths. Instant 80s post punk mushroom season sounds!

I look forward to hearing your music

Multiple personality disorder at work here?

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:02 pm

A little info here:
https://synthesizerbook.wordpress.com/t ... rtal-coil/
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/news/140876/
Maybe they're guitar FX sounds (?) ...

egbert101 · Post by **egbert101** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:03 pm

And people say the Mandela Effect isn't real!

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:10 pm

In the interview I linked above Dead Can Dance mention using NI Kontakt & sample libraries

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:32 pm

zerocrossing wrote: Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:33 am I’m sure they both use a lot of synths, but that’s sort of the wrong way to go about what you’re after. You’re better off figuring out a budget and then going on a retail site like Reverb or something and see what is available. Then go to YouTube and start listening. When something makes you smile, keep digging and if you can’t get it out of your head, that’s the one.

Hey zerocrossing, you're totally right. Why are your answers always so well thought out and spot on? You also look really great. Have you been working out?

cloudswept · Post by **cloudswept** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 7:36 pm

Zerocrossing you do look amazing, but nowhere near as good as either of the cloudswepts

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:22 pm

I don't remember that many synths on This Mortal Coil. They were more about huge pillowy reverbs and big ambient washes, in fact their guitars were more upfront than any other instruments. I still occasionally play them but you have to be in a certain mood IMO. I don't do drugs any more, so that avenue is gone, and they were mostly music to slit your wrists to and I'm generally too happy & chilled to get into that mood.

TBH I thought they'd released more...it was only 2 albums, wasn't it? Lots of song covers from some American hippy dude. I listened to the originals and they're all pretty ho-hum TBH, but TMC somehow made them pretty special, though miserable.

4ad synth sounds