Subtractive or FM Synthesis? Getting Madeon Sounds

[Ghosted]

Originally Posted by clo17

I can get you a better one if you'd like. All you have to do is just tweak around with reverb and/or add tremolo on it, though (as for how to add tremolo on a Sylenth preset, I think I found a tutorial on YouTube).

As far as I know, it still is the best preset I've ever done thus far, if not similar to the real thing.

Can you post an example? I've heard software synths are getting better all the time...

[louis.lbnc]

I'd stop trying so hard, clo17. Most of it sounds like fairly straightforward subtractive synthesis. Other than if you want to recreate precisely one of Madeon's song I don't see the point of finding the exact VST and presets.

First off, the sounds he uses work for the arrangement he's working on and are tweaked in order to fit with each other. Next up, there's enough effects applied after the synth that finding the exact synth is next to impossible. Lastly, a big part of his groove comes from re-sampling. IE, he bounces to audio synth tracks and chops them up and might put them in a sampler. Also there are samples in his songs, he's just not snatching a 16 bar groove off some old obscure disco record.

You could make a Madeon sounding track using nothing other than synth1 and TAL's u-no-60 and a few samples (mainly for drums). It's not the tools, it the way you use them. Find a few synths that work for you and learn to use them as well as basic subtractive synth techniques and you'll be all set.

[clo17]

Originally Posted by beatspin

Originally Posted by Yoozer
Perhaps I was not clear enough:

1) record an audio file of noise. Can be a snare, cymbal, whatever you want. Powerchords on a guitar also work.
2) take a very short fragment of that noise sample
3) loop that fragment
4) if you can hear where it loops, decrease the size of the loop (try to find the zero crossing points).

If the loop is short enough, you'll get a very bright sound with lots of harmonics that you can then filter again. It's a lot less work than trying to recreate that with an FM synthesizer, because there you'll be worrying about routing and operator levels.

So you do this to make "synth" sounds...(?) What is an alternative plugin you can do this with if you dont have "Simpler"?

I got Cubase 6, Komplete, Sylenth1, Gladiator, Nexus

Use the presets I've put in as a zip file. I did that so no one has to begin experimenting around anymore. I think I can also get the ARP presets used for Icarus (the two ARP presets I've uploaded in the zip file were actually used in madeon's remixes). It sounded very similar to the one used in Shuriken.

Originally Posted by Ghosted

Can you post an example? I've heard software synths are getting better all the time...

I said I found the right presets for his Icarus thing. =_=

Originally Posted by louis.lbnc

I'd stop trying so hard, clo17. Most of it sounds like fairly straightforward subtractive synthesis. Other than if you want to recreate precisely one of Madeon's song I don't see the point of finding the exact VST and presets.

First off, the sounds he uses work for the arrangement he's working on and are tweaked in order to fit with each other. Next up, there's enough effects applied after the synth that finding the exact synth is next to impossible. Lastly, a big part of his groove comes from re-sampling. IE, he bounces to audio synth tracks and chops them up and might put them in a sampler. Also there are samples in his songs, he's just not snatching a 16 bar groove off some old obscure disco record.

You could make a Madeon sounding track using nothing other than synth1 and TAL's u-no-60 and a few samples (mainly for drums). It's not the tools, it the way you use them. Find a few synths that work for you and learn to use them as well as basic subtractive synth techniques and you'll be all set.

I'm not trying to replicate the songs. I'm trying to just give the opener the presets he needs. I'll probably use them for my own tracks. I'll be using them in different keys and whatnot so I don't get accused of plagiarism. I already know he's using a massive pile of presets that they are almost difficult to identify. I use a whole bunch of presets in my newer songs, too.

Also, it didn't turn out to be difficult to get that "lead" preset at all. I actually pulled it off on my first try. Just tweak it the way you like it.

[clo17]

Okay, for the chord parts, the same one might have been used back from Shuriken. I think the LD Follow preset from Sylenth might be close, although I kind of forgot how I managed to get that. I think it is a little choppier and more articulte from there. We just need to find out how to manage to get that, and the chord parts should be in the bag.

[Korsair]

Sorry to ruin everyone's fun but wouldn't it be better to not use presets? By using presets you're not learning anything.

[clo17]

Originally Posted by Korsair

Sorry to ruin everyone's fun but wouldn't it be better to not use presets? By using presets you're not learning anything.

What's more important is what people do with presets and how creative they can be. I would rather give out a whole bunch of presets that artists use and give them out so others can begin working more efficiently.

Oh as for the lead preset, the Trancer Dancer from HALionOne is not a bad idea either. However, keep in mind, HALionOne is a VST plugin that is only available on Cubase (Cubase 6.5 uses HALionFour, I think).

[clo17]

Hey I just found out, a loud piano with large amounts of reverb seems to be a good idea. I did notice madeon uses a lot of reverb to bring that brightness to his music.

Nexxus is a good VST for pianos, I believe... this one madeon cover actually uses Nexxus as one of its VSTs. Sylenth1 is good for arpeggios.

[Lowbie]

According to Madeon himself the only synths he uses is Sytrus and Harmless

[Lowbie]

Clo17, do you have presets for the leads? i mean, not the main one..The things going on staring at 0:50 in the video

[clo17]

Originally Posted by Lowbie

Clo17, do you have presets for the leads? i mean, not the main one..The things going on staring at 0:50 in the video

It's just a few guitar chords and some other stringed instruments like the cello and the violin with a lot of reverb.

I actually don't like that part very much.

[Segadeth]

Originally Posted by Korsair

I know this is digging up a pretty old thread but unsurprisingly it's not as simple as PeeeZ makes it out to be.

Madeon uses Sytrus for the majority of his synth sounds. It's only available for Fruity Loops but its basically a subtractive synth and FM synth in one. If you mostly use Massive and Sylenth then maybe you should look at exploring FM synthesis a bit? I definitely find it to be the most flexible types of synthesis, it's great for getting a lot of movement into a sound.

He says he never uses samples so I'd suggest that he makes hundreds of synth lines and bounces them out to use in later tracks. From there he can cut them up however he likes.

Hope this helps.

sorry but

A. Madeon also uses IL Harmless and Free Alpha a lot.

B. Sytrus isn't only available in FL. You can get it as a VSTi

[clo17]

If anyone can help us get Harmless and Sytrus available for Cubase that would be great... although it would be better if we can get them permanently for free...

In the meantime, though, I do have to notify he does use a guitar in some of his tracks like Icarus, and I think he probably had someone to play the lines for him because Urban Contact tried to replicate the guitar in a madeon remake but it actually sounded nothing like the guitar that was in the original.

I didn't like how madeon used the guitar so when I compose my songs I play the guitar lines myself and set them as the focal point.

[Lowbie]

Originally Posted by clo17

It's just a few guitar chords and some other stringed instruments like the cello and the violin with a lot of reverb.

I actually don't like that part very much.

I can't hear any cello or violin??

[clo17]

Originally Posted by Lowbie

I can't hear any cello or violin??

Yea, that's because he uses the filter repetitively. I need to learn how to do that myself. What I do know, though, I heard a very high-pitched note played on something like a cello or a violin.

[n1kn1k]

Madeon uses a lot of Strobe too, he said it's his favourite softsynth.

[clo17]

Originally Posted by n1kn1k

Madeon uses a lot of Strobe too, he said it's his favourite softsynth.

Never heard of a VST like that.