I'm trying to figure out how to create a very simple, yet rich sounding synth.
Because it's really hard to describe what type of sound i'm looking for, please listen to the following well-known songs at the time stamps i've posted below. Keep in mind, i'm not looking to replicate these exact synths; i'm just trying to get an idea of how to create rich sounding synths with this kind of simplicity
Here are my thoughts on it. It has no phasing, no unison effect, for the most part no chords (with the exception of a few very subtle harmonics). There are maybe around 10-15 oscillators layered up. There are couple different octaves set on the oscillators. I believe the oscillator's phases are all set to restart upon ever note that is triggered. I'm not sure if each oscillator is tuned slightly different from the others or not. (If you disagree with any of my assumptions, PLEASE let me know and correct me)
From what i've tried over the past few years, simply layering different waveforms doesn't seem to do it. Should I be creating a different track for EACH and every waveform I use to create this type of sound and filter/equalize each waveform differently? Please share in detail the process you might go through in creating this kind of synth.
I have had about 4 years of trial and error with no luck in creating a simple, yet rich sounding synth. I would absolutely love some advice - thank you!
the first one is a simple square wave bass - the distortion in the higher frequency is because of that waveform, not because of layering.
shouldn't be too hard to make this
the second one is a filtered synth line, probably a triangle ("horn" preset), layered with another (with another waveform perhaps) pitched an octave lower.
both mono, IMO you're expecting something complicated, but that's not it.
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it must be more complicated than that, he's been trying for four years to get those sounds. yes, four years, trying to come up with something that is probably a stock preset in every other subtractive VST ever made.
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I'm trying to figure out how to create a very simple, yet phat/full sounding synth (I do not mean full as in wide).
Because it's really hard to describe what type of sound i'm looking for, please listen to the following well-known songs at the time stamps i've posted below:
Keep in mind, i'm not looking to replicate these exact synths-just trying to get an idea of how to create similar type of synths. Here are my thoughts on it. It has no phasing, no unison effect, for the most part no chords (with the exception of a few very subtle harmonics). There are maybe around 10-15 oscillators layered up. There are couple different octaves set on the oscillators. I believe the oscillator's phases are all set to restart upon ever note that is triggered. I'm not sure if each oscillator is tuned slightly different from the others or not. (If you disagree with any of my assumptions, PLEASE let me know and correct me)
From what i've tried over the past few years, simply layering different waveforms doesn't seem to do it. Should I be creating a different track for EACH and every waveform I use to create this type of sound and filter/equalize each waveform differently? Please share in detail the process you might go through in creating this kind of synth.
I have had about 4 years of trial and error with no luck on creating this kind of sound. I would absolutely love some advice - thank you!
4 years?
On one sound?
Damn you don't give up do you!
10 to 15 Oscillators layered up, damn I only use a couple!
the first one is a simple square wave bass - the distortion in the higher frequency is because of that waveform, not because of layering.
shouldn't be too hard to make this
the second one is a filtered synth line, probably a triangle ("horn" preset), layered with another (with another waveform perhaps) pitched an octave lower.
both mono, IMO you're expecting something complicated, but that's not it.
Thanks for the response! I'm highly confused. Square waves do not sound a thing like the synth from Mike Posner. Is it a customized square wave your referring to? What are the steps you take in detail after you load up the square wave...besides eq, compression, distortion, harmonic content booster, saturation? Is it mostly just a great deal of carful and precise Equalizing? Also, what do you mean when you say the second one is a filtered synth line. Thanks for the help
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it must be more complicated than that, he's been trying for four years to get those sounds. yes, four years, trying to come up with something that is probably a stock preset in every other subtractive VST ever made.
I have been through a thousands of presets, none of them get close to the sound i'm looking for. Please explain what needs to be done to get it to sound vivid! Thanks!
TO ALL: Thanks for the responses everyone. There actually seems to be some who think that i'm trying to replicate the exact synths in the examples I posted, however, that is not what I have spent many years tying to do. As I have mentioned in the original post, "i'm not looking to replicate these exact synths; i'm just trying to get an idea of how to create rich sounding synths with this kind of simplicity". They were just used to give you a general idea of what type of sound i'm looking for. Another example could be the black eyed peas synth at the 1 minute mark The Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit) - YouTube
I would highly appreciate some good constructive feedback! thanks guys
From what i've tried over the past few years, simply layering different waveforms doesn't seem to do it. Should I be creating a different track for EACH and every waveform I use to create this type of sound and filter/equalize each waveform differently? Please share in detail the process you might go through in creating this kind of synth.
I think this is the issue. Sounds to me like you've been trying to layer samples and not actually synthesize anything?
@OP - Do you have any tracks online to hear? Perhaps if we heard your sounds which 'aren't quite there', some suggestions could be made. Just a thought...
Reptil told you how to do those sounds... after that it's just a matter of mixing and mastering, not synthesis.
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Exactly.
Ok guys, I am left more confused than ever before. How does mixing and mastering change a simple square way into a full and rich sounding synth. I would say my mixing and mastering skills arn't terrible, but after I fit everything into the arrangement with carful and precise EQ and side-chained multiband compressors, it doesn't change how the actual synth sounds. This is why I have always thought it is synthesis. What is it that you are referring to in the mixing stage that results in this rich type of sound. Please provide descriptive feedback! these little one liner hints are not enough to have a clear understanding!
Brassica, here is a clip of something i made, however, it won't do much good because it doesn't include the simple and rich synths i'm looking for. I can't even give you an example of where i'm at with making those because i'm so far off and so god awful at making them it's not worth even putting up.
There are maybe around 10-15 oscillators layered up.
No. The sounds are very simple and not achieved by layering a boatload of oscillators, especially not of the Vengaboys.
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I believe the oscillator's phases are all set to restart upon ever note that is triggered.
That's usually not an entirely desirable quality. For unison spread sounds it's especially damning as you don't get a nice continuous sound but a plastic-like attack sound, because the phase is the same.
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I would absolutely love some advice - thank you!
What are you using?
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Originally Posted by jditmer0
Ok guys, I am left more confused than ever before. How does mixing and mastering change a simple square way into a full and rich sounding synth.
It's not a square wave to begin with, but that aside.
Each sound has its own room in the mix. When you have a nice wide pad in Omnisphere, it eats up lots of the frequency range. If you want to add vocals in the same range, it means that something else needs to go. You either reduce volume or carve away the parts that are in the way so the vocal's got its own place (and can thus be played at full volume).
If everything is fat, nothing is. That means that what needs to have impact and fatness needs room, and that means the rest has to go - either temporarily or permanently, in terms of volume or occupied frequency range.
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I'm confused, is this track yours? If so, I wouldn't worry about synth sounds, you've had 212,923 listens on youtube, you must be doing something right!
That doesn't sound too different from the Kesha Tik Tok bass sound. Here - pop sound sources
Those are bog-standard saw waves.
No. The sounds are very simple and not achieved by layering a boatload of oscillators, especially not of the Vengaboys.
That's usually not an entirely desirable quality. For unison spread sounds it's especially damning as you don't get a nice continuous sound but a plastic-like attack sound, because the phase is the same.
What are you using?
It's not a square wave to begin with, but that aside.
Each sound has its own room in the mix. When you have a nice wide pad in Omnisphere, it eats up lots of the frequency range. If you want to add vocals in the same range, it means that something else needs to go. You either reduce volume or carve away the parts that are in the way so the vocal's got its own place (and can thus be played at full volume).
If everything is fat, nothing is. That means that what needs to have impact and fatness needs room, and that means the rest has to go - either temporarily or permanently, in terms of volume or occupied frequency range.
Thanks for the detailed response. I do know already that you need to place each element in its own spot within the frequency spectrum. I also understand that if everything is fat sounding in the mix then nothing is. But I first need to be able to get a simple basic waveform to sound fat, which I was always under the impression is impossible to do without adding more oscillators to it and filtering out certain frequencies. Also, if the venga boys synth is just bog-standard saw waves, why on earth do my saw waves sound 100% different from theirs. And are there multiple saw waves playing?
Here are my options as far as VSTi's:
Image line (morphine, Poizone, Toxic Biohazard)
Korg (legacy cell, monopoly, MS-20, Polysix)
Zebra
absynth 5
Massive
sylenth1
I'm confused, is this track yours? If so, I wouldn't worry about synth sounds, you've had 212,923 listens on youtube, you must be doing something right!
That is definitely not my track. Thats actually the original song; I don't know why it's title says it's a remix. The song I posted was a remix of that song.
I single analog osc can sound phat. The filter is important as well. Here I used an 18 db low pass filter, with a little delay.
I'm sorry, but that doesn't sound rich or clean even the slightest bit. Phat maybe, but it's only phat because of the high resonance you added.
I'm sorry if I haven't used the write words to describe just exactly what it is i'm looking for. I did the best that I can as far as describing the general sound I'm trying to make
I'm sorry, but that doesn't sound rich or clean even the slightest bit. Phat maybe, but it's only phat because of the high resonance you added.
I'm sorry if I haven't used the write words to describe just exactly what it is i'm looking for. I did the best that I can as far as describing the general sound I'm trying to make
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