The Synth Thread...

All instruments that aren't guitars (or bass guitars).
Post Reply
User avatar
mackerelmint
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 13674
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 9:51 pm
Location: トイレ国、ウンチ市

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Wed Feb 12, 2020 9:08 am

Telliot wrote:
Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:38 am
This might be old news, but I just found out Behringer is cloning my favorite drum machine of all time. I'll be first in line for this one. For the record, I hope all the presets are kept, just for the sake of having them.
OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT

Me too, I need this oh wow oh shit oh man
This is an excellent rectangle

User avatar
Dollywitch
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 574
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:35 pm

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Dollywitch » Sun Mar 15, 2020 5:30 pm

Divided between getting a new synth and guitar - problem is a lot of synths nowadays just do the same basic analogue stuff. I already have a Volca Keys which does the basics of that quite well and some decent VSTs. I want something a bit different - the only synth that really seems to be striking out on it's own is the Arturia Microfreak, but that has some drawbacks too(I really wish it had more options for Sub Oscs, a double oscillator setting and some effects, but I can mostly live with that if I use effects). I like that it includes different types of synthesis - specifically FM synthesis, though the FM synth is a bit simple and hard to mellow unfortunately. I've thought about getting a dedicated FM synth but I'm not sure I like FM Synth individually *that* much and some of the other "Unique" synth engines on the Microfreak sound very usable.

Other option is M-Audio Venom - a more complete synth for sure, and going for 200 in a local pawn shop. But it's also big for what it does(I prefer microkeys despite my fat fingers, I'm more of a knob twiddler than a synth player, I'm not a keys player at all really).

If i'm trading in my MicroKorg XL for it too, there's another issue as neither has a vocoder, a feature I'd actually like to use at some point. I can probably figure that out with VSTs though?

There's also the Mininova, which may be a straight upgrade to my Microkorg XL. THere's so many good free VSTs though, I might be better off sticking with guitar and just using synthy effects which can be a bit more unique.

Any ideas? Also is there any super cheap multifx I can get just for reverb/delay? Like my Amplug AC30 has good quality chrous, trem reverb and delay but I don't think there's a way to disable the amp sim.

User avatar
mackerelmint
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 13674
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 9:51 pm
Location: トイレ国、ウンチ市

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by mackerelmint » Sun Mar 15, 2020 5:36 pm

Whatever you do, don't be in a hurry to pass along the microkorg. I really dunno what synths out there are trying to break new ground. But just being able to run audio and guitar through the vocoder on the microkorg makes it worth keeping around IMO if finding new sounds is what you're after.
This is an excellent rectangle

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:49 am

I decided to make a fake soundtrack for a fake movie in the style of John Carpenter... It's about the times we are living in and the movie is called John Carpenter's "Quarantine" (or Quaranteen, in the style of Halloween)... :whistle:

https://soundcloud.com/user-758583202/j ... quarantine

Singlebladepickup
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2831
Joined: Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:12 am
Location: U.S. of fuckin' A.

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Singlebladepickup » Mon Mar 23, 2020 10:56 am

I was trying to find a disney song I could learn to play on synth to get my 6-year-old interested in playing...first song that came up was one called "Quarantine" on the Finding Dory soundtrack...

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Maggieo » Mon Mar 23, 2020 12:14 pm

StevenO wrote:
Mon Mar 23, 2020 9:49 am
I decided to make a fake soundtrack for a fake movie in the style of John Carpenter... It's about the times we are living in and the movie is called John Carpenter's "Quarantine" (or Quaranteen, in the style of Halloween)... :whistle:

https://soundcloud.com/user-758583202/j ... quarantine
Nice!!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
Shadoweclipse13
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 12435
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:22 pm
Location: Stuck in the dimension of imagination

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:17 pm

That sounds awesome Steven!!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

User avatar
fuzzking
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 10319
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:06 am
Contact:

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by fuzzking » Tue Mar 24, 2020 1:57 am

dude this is really good!
Nobody exists on purpose.

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:31 am

Thanks, everyone! John Carpenter is one of my favourite composers, so I really tried hard to rip him off ( ;) ) but make still make it interesting without any visuals. It's just my Juno 106 for most of the sounds (strings, brassy stabs, the short harpsichord-like melody, legato bass), and then some staccato Model D bass, and the little delayed filter sweep arpeggio that sweeps through out the the song is the Roland SH-01a (SH101) set to sweep automatically. Everything, minus the Moog bass line, is sent through to a TC Hall of Fame Reverb and a Korg KP2 Kaoss Pad (two of the tracks went through a Tape Echo-style setting, and I manipulated the tracks live by placing a finger on the pad and slowly moving my finger to adjust the delay time and speed, which gives it a wind/siren like thing going on in the back ground).

Very fun! :)

User avatar
BlixaFan
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2757
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:37 pm
Location: Canada
Contact:

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by BlixaFan » Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:20 am

very cool!! you definitely captured the vibe!

i am definitely spending a lot of time with my new Digitakt, and it's taking me down some strange paths..
I've got some vacation time coming up soon, so i will be at home, and the plan is to finish a new EP in that time. challenge accepted 8)

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:30 pm

Here's another little track I banged out earlier. I was originally going for an Air "Moon Safari"-style vibe, but I think it came off a bit more Tame Impala-like. Anyways, you be the judge. Same gear. Juno 106, Model D, Sh-01a/Sh101, Hall of Fame Reverb.

https://soundcloud.com/user-758583202/t ... olationism

User avatar
Shadoweclipse13
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 12435
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:22 pm
Location: Stuck in the dimension of imagination

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:12 pm

I've never listened to Tame Impala, but I like this a lot!! It reminds me of something I can't put my finger on, but definitely good!!!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

User avatar
Shadoweclipse13
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 12435
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:22 pm
Location: Stuck in the dimension of imagination

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by Shadoweclipse13 » Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:42 am

Just ordered an Arturia Drumbrute Impact with a little of my tax refund. First drum machine!!!
Pickup Switching Mad Scientist
http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=104282&p=1438384#p1438384

User avatar
StevenO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 17768
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:06 pm

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by StevenO » Wed Mar 25, 2020 9:58 am

Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 11:12 pm
I've never listened to Tame Impala, but I like this a lot!! It reminds me of something I can't put my finger on, but definitely good!!!
I'm not really a Tame Impala aficionado, but it just kind of reminded me of something they/he'd do moreso than what I was going for originally. Fun, in any case! Not sure what I'll make next, but I'll have fun with it anyhow.
Shadoweclipse13 wrote:
Wed Mar 25, 2020 12:42 am
Just ordered an Arturia Drumbrute Impact with a little of my tax refund. First drum machine!!!
I love all of the Arturia stuff I have played, so I have no doubt the Drumbrute would be great as well!

User avatar
nanamour
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 791
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:22 pm
Location: Hell's Kitchen

Re: The Synth Thread...

Post by nanamour » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:23 am

StevenO wrote:
Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:30 pm
Here's another little track I banged out earlier. I was originally going for an Air "Moon Safari"-style vibe, but I think it came off a bit more Tame Impala-like. Anyways, you be the judge. Same gear. Juno 106, Model D, Sh-01a/Sh101, Hall of Fame Reverb.

https://soundcloud.com/user-758583202/t ... olationism
Sounds good StevenO. I remember reading an interview with Kevin Parker eons ago where he cited Air as an enormous creative influence...sounds like a case of convergent evolution ;)

Post Reply