Was just wondering how much synth action everyone gets into?

What sorta stuff are you using synths for out of interest?


I pretty much always seem to use samples to start off my basslines (I can make ok basses on synths, but I think I prefer using kicks & toms). For the last couple of weeks, I've been spending a bit of time making synth sounds to go on top.. and consequently, I've been doing a little bit of reading up recently on synthesis.

How many skilled synth people we had here? On a scale of 1-5, I'm a 1.5 I'd say

I'd give myself a 3.5 out of 5.
I have several modular systems and have been synthesizing since the 90's.

I try not to use other people's sounds too much.
I might use loops to start a groove, then replace most of them.
I do use a variety of drum samples, Maschine library and stuff I've collected on dat over the years, plus I augment with synthesized percussion and noise.
All melodic/harmonic parts are created from scratch with synthesizers (almost always hardware). I have a few soft synths but don't enjoy using them as much as a tactile interface.
I might grab the odd sample to heavily process as an ambience or background noise.

I'm far from an expert, but I tend to get what I'm after from the more simple synths. Some are just ridiculously involved and difficult to pick up. I'm sure they're awesome, but I'd rather go to a synth I can straight away unleash my creativity on. One of my fav's at the moment is kiloHearts kHs ONE. Simple with a fat sound.

Just of of interest - how "complicated" would your typical sounds get? Do you stay pretty simple, with just a couple of Osc's and a bit of filtering.. or do you always go to town? I always feel like I should be using a lot of the parameters available.

I suppose thats a pretty vague question actually haha - but would be interested in what you had to say anyway.

That looks like a nice, simple & straightforward interface No stupid GUI enhancements = let the sound do the talking.

I'm using Sylenth. I've been using it a long time now.. and although I'm no hotshot, I'm comfortable with it.

Do wonder sometimes if there is a better one. I do like the fx in it though, especially the bitcrush distortion, which is horrible haha.

I synthesise most parts, kicks, bass, synth parts and quite a lot of percussion, aside from hats, cymbals, claps. I have been using sampling a lot more lately, as I have started processing things so heavily my system can't cope anymore

I'd say i synthesize 90% of my tracks. The only thing i don't synthesize are drum sounds. If you consider the MachineDrum to be a synth, then i guess that takes it to 95%.
For some reasons samples never cut it for me. I never manage to make them do what i want them to do.... I do like to use them for background atmosphere and eery drones though, as they often sound much richer than a synth patch.

I guess i'd give myself on a 3.5 out of 5 in synthesis. I worked a lot with very simple mono-synths, like the monoLancet or the SH-101, and learned more with slightly more complex synths like u-He Tyrell and more recently u-HE DIVA and the uWaveXT. Synthesis exploration is something i find much more interesting than mangling a sound with fxs and trying to pull out something of it. Somehow building a sound from scratch makes more sense to me.

Tyrell is a great freebie, and imo a great synth to learn more about synthesis on. It's basically been in all my tracks since the first alpha version was made public.

Thats impressive Ross. Fair play Mate.

Lots of hard work down in the Alexander Studio / Salt mines

SO who synthesises the other 10% Hendrik?

I installed Tyrell finally there last week & was really impressed with it. Big CPU hog though.. but really nice sounds.

Can you get that skin from the website? Mine is in communist Red & Grey haha.

Got it http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/printview ... 22&start=0

And theres a V2? Must get that - as I've got an earlier version. Cheers H!