I struggle to write decent synth lines. I think I can usually put together decent basslines and drums and pads are easy enough. But I always struggle to come up with decent sequences and leads.
Does anyone have any tips on how to get better results?
I usually do things like opening filters, moving the mod wheel etc., I rarely use pitch bend or glide.
Once again this comes back to me thinking I must be missing something obvious, maybe I am maybe I'm not, I don't know.
I do know that I'm guilty of overusing a loop, i.e. I write a workable loop and let that play along whilst opening the filters or whatever. But I struggle to come up with variations or a method of making the synthy bits build with the rest of the track
Anyway, any hints or tips gratefully received.
I appreciate that there may not be an easy answer, just persistence...
Killer Synth Lines?
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
Well, for the type of music you in particular write, id say keep it simple. The sound you use is prob more important than the riff itself. Try getting a 5 note riff going, then just re-arrange them to add a bit of 'flair', even inverting the sequence has a good effect.
Another good tip is to play the riff for say 4 bars, then bang it up an octave for the next four.
Layer two synths playing the same notes/riff can also sound cool, as it can it they play opposite.
As always, its down to your ears to decide if you think it sounds good.
Another good tip is to play the riff for say 4 bars, then bang it up an octave for the next four.
Layer two synths playing the same notes/riff can also sound cool, as it can it they play opposite.
As always, its down to your ears to decide if you think it sounds good.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7936 posts since 18 Feb, 2003 from out there somewhere
The point you make about layering two synths is interesting. I never really do that. The only time I do that is with perhaps a bassline and a plinky sound which is quite effective - I'll give that a try later on my latest feeble work in progress.
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
I have found good results sometimes doing this, especially if the first symth has a clean sound, then you bring in a really dirty distorted sound, not overly loud mind, playing the same part.CypherOne wrote:The point you make about layering two synths is interesting. I never really do that. The only time I do that is with perhaps a bassline and a plinky sound which is quite effective - I'll give that a try later on my latest feeble work in progress.
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
Heres a litle demo of what i mean. Playing normal, reversed, octave up, with 2nd synth and variations. Not a killer synth line by a long shot, but you get the idea 
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kriminal68/demo.mp3
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kriminal68/demo.mp3
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- u-he
- 30215 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Hiya Cypher,
I'm currently addicted to built-in Arpeggiators with step control (so that you can transpose, gate, stretch each step, rewind, pause, fast forward). I don't know which synths do have this (I guess Albino2?), but here's a demo song for FilterscapeVA I'm currently working on:
VA_Arpeggio_Demo.mp3
It's not finished, but the "drums" are a single note held over the whole time, using a simple 3-steps rhythmic pattern (dotted qurter, sixteenth, quarter) with lfo modulation to add "snare noise" on second quarter.
The bass line is mostly a single note held over 4 bars using the transpose feature, and sometimes I pressed more keys to add what comes in as a "melody line". Furtherly, the Modwheel was used to fade in more modulations, such as the modulated EQ.
Oh yes, the intro sequence is an ordinary arpeggio in thirtytwos, using the Modwheel to change the filter modulation.
The gimmick at the very end of the song is made by playing short notes and thus only a part of the sequence.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Urs
I'm currently addicted to built-in Arpeggiators with step control (so that you can transpose, gate, stretch each step, rewind, pause, fast forward). I don't know which synths do have this (I guess Albino2?), but here's a demo song for FilterscapeVA I'm currently working on:
VA_Arpeggio_Demo.mp3
It's not finished, but the "drums" are a single note held over the whole time, using a simple 3-steps rhythmic pattern (dotted qurter, sixteenth, quarter) with lfo modulation to add "snare noise" on second quarter.
The bass line is mostly a single note held over 4 bars using the transpose feature, and sometimes I pressed more keys to add what comes in as a "melody line". Furtherly, the Modwheel was used to fade in more modulations, such as the modulated EQ.
Oh yes, the intro sequence is an ordinary arpeggio in thirtytwos, using the Modwheel to change the filter modulation.
The gimmick at the very end of the song is made by playing short notes and thus only a part of the sequence.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Urs-
- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
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- KVRist
- 45 posts since 27 Oct, 2002
very nice lineKriminal wrote:Heres a litle demo of what i mean. Playing normal, reversed, octave up, with 2nd synth and variations. Not a killer synth line by a long shot, but you get the idea
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kriminal68/demo.mp3
it would be nice to see the layout
is it possible to get an midifile of this ?
many thx
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7936 posts since 18 Feb, 2003 from out there somewhere
Kim, no offence but several times now you have pointed me to that lengthy thread. I'm quite lazy and learn better from aural and visual examples. I have tried but I repeatedly lose the will to live after only a few minutes of reading all that text. Besides from what I can gather it talks predominantly about verse, bridge, chorus and I don't feel that's particularly helpful in my genre(s).
I know you're only trying to help but given that I haven't had the priviledge of your musical schooling, reading A A A B A A A B B C A D D or whatever means very little. Yes I know I have to start somewhere but that ain't working for me.
I will however give it yet another look and see if I can get past page one!
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
korn666 wrote:very nice lineKriminal wrote:Heres a litle demo of what i mean. Playing normal, reversed, octave up, with 2nd synth and variations. Not a killer synth line by a long shot, but you get the idea
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kriminal68/demo.mp3
it would be nice to see the layout
is it possible to get an midifile of this ?
many thx
If you really want, its here:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/kriminal68/mid.zip
It looks like this:
using a simple delay setting (on a Send, about 25%)
