| Either hardware or software, the synth has many | | | | version of a classic sound. Filtering on the other hand is |
| different disguises, but it is still the same synth, whether | | | | always applied to the bass line or strings. Why not use |
| you have bought something or got it freeware. | | | | it on vocals, loops or anything that is different to the |
| However, which ever synth you have, it should be | | | | norm. You will find new sounds and cool ones if you |
| working for you at its peak potential, Now | | | | go against the grain and use effects differently. if your |
| unfortunately it can not tell you directly how to make | | | | synth hasn't got any good effects, get a separate |
| itself the grand daddy synth, so it is up to us to get | | | | plug-in to compensate. |
| Super Synth Sounds, and using these 5 top tips, we | | | | Super Synth Sounds #3. |
| can: | | | | Do you find that some synth patches are, quite |
| Super Synth Sounds #1. | | | | feeble? So how do we make them a bit more buff, |
| Do you really know your synth? Now I know a vast | | | | stronger and worthy to be in one of our tracks? If you |
| amount of songs that use the lovely preset sounds | | | | add more voices to the patch you will get that fuller |
| that come with the machine. Good, fair and well, | | | | sound. If your synth has loads of oscillators you can |
| however what if everyone used them? Your songs | | | | turn them on one by one and then check to see how |
| will start to appear samey...remember the TB303 | | | | that sound is effected. The more you detune these |
| squelchy overload in most dance tracks in the 90s? | | | | extra oscillators, the more apparent they will be. A |
| So once we have worked through the presets, could | | | | sub-oscillator is made by turning a regular oscillator |
| we actually make them better? This is something that | | | | down an octave or two. |
| we should do from day one...how to make something | | | | Super Synth Sounds #4. |
| better. All synths come with some sort of manipulation | | | | If you have done any sampling of sounds you will |
| techniques and even if they are really old, come with | | | | notice that they are sometimes dirty. This means that |
| some sort of on-board effects. The best musicians | | | | they have other sounds in the background, and you |
| and the musicians that have some vastly strange, but | | | | can actually clean them up. To clean them up a little bit |
| cool sounds, manipulate their sounds. Vince Clarke of | | | | better you can apply a low-pass filter. This filter will |
| Depeche Mode and Erasure fame even made his | | | | knock out any high frequency sounds, hopefully leaving |
| own sounds from scratch, always having one-offs. | | | | you with your low-end sound. |
| Mash up your presets, mangle them, see what you | | | | Super Synth Sounds #5. |
| find and you will notice some really cool sounds coming | | | | Any synth and bass sound will sound their best using |
| from your ordinary synth. | | | | monitor speakers. Using your laptop or desktop |
| Super Synth Sounds #2. | | | | speakers is setting you up for a fall. They will never, |
| Do you really know how to use you effects section? | | | | ever be able to pick up all the frequency range that |
| The basic effects like reverb, phaser, chorus and | | | | you need to make any track or make that perfect |
| Overdrive should be routinely added to synth sounds | | | | synth sound. If you can not afford monitors a pair of |
| or at least experimented with. Try doubling up on | | | | decent headphones will work in the short to mid term. |
| effects, say overdrive with chorus, reverb and phaser. | | | | What they can also do is allow you to concentrate on |
| And while on the subject, the bass and lead sounds | | | | an area of you work to see if it is sitting right. They |
| always get the effects, but why can't we add them to | | | | can be used to see how an effect has been applied |
| strings, or pianos etc? These will create a new styled | | | | to a sound. But never trust your desktop speakers. |