Tips for making synths...

sound like HH synths?

I have a nasty habit of using too many trancy leads in my tunes, its turning them in hard trance which isnt really what i want.

Is there any tips people have to get these trancy leads sounding a bit harder (not lowering them an octave) and just taking away that typical trancy lead sound.

Do people distort alof of there leads? Does bouncing to audio then processing work alot better?

and how many people use samples for leads as apposed to vst's?

Would you say its better using Kontact and loading up synth samples like the Calver ones in the BT pack? Ive always wanted to make my own sounds instead of using samples but these sounds i dream of havnt arrived so it could be time for another plan.

I tend to layer a hard synth sample with an actual synth as i'm not fully confident with it yet. Generally i use the osc(s) on a synth to determine the genre i'm going for. Sawtooth for grit, square/sinewave for more melodic. Obviously aided by fx such as filters, phaser, flangers and delay as and when appliable.

A lot of detuning, unison detune,  chorus detune etc.

The EQing can also give the synth a darker sound. Lowering certain Mid frequencies so soften the sound and make it sound sharper.

Also using a filter at the right time can give you some pretty cool hard house effects.

Check these out dude: http://www.yousendit.com/download/Q01GUXVtSyt0Ni92Wmc9PQ

Those were done with a fuckload of saws unison, chorus on the sytrus synth in FL. In this example I even carefully automated the unison so that different elements phase throughout the riff, giving it an 'alive' feel.

Nice one, cheers. Will have a look at those!

You in Cyprus for the summer? Im off work for 3wks on Wed, time for the annual 3wk msn talk then disappear for another year

haha damn straight dude

I am over here for a few more weeks with my folks! Am staying long as possible this time because we have a satellite which shows all the liverpool matches

+ 1 for the unison/detune tip.

use an envalope to control the pitch cakewalk rapture is wicked for making lead sounds and then some i dnt use samples only for drums try sampling your synths at 96khz so  u can go to town later on with some bouncing and some serious effect layering il usualy  end up with   multiple versions of the 1 lead sound  layerd with different effects  and crazy ass  glitch crap  and mix between them  to create somthing cool crazy or disturbing

why not use osc. other than simple saws and squares. predator, zeta and massive have alot of useful wave forms to get more original leads. if you dont want it too original layer your saws under these other wave forms. if you want a big, wide, sound try detuning and panning tricks. keeping them in tune tune but mixing octaves, not panning can keep it more in your face. experiment. when in doubt if you want it dirty distort it. also other effects can alter the 3-dimensional placement in the mix. use effects but dont over effect and dont use efx just becuase there.

also learn your synths and effect so you know all the crazy sounds there capable of creating

jammy bastard lol


how were ngog and keane holding up? aint seen any highlights yet.

I tend not to use unison or wide detunes as they tend to give quite a trancy sound. I use stuff like PWM or ring modulation to make the basic sound fatter or possibly assigning oscillator sync to an ADSR with a fast decay.

Ngog is an absolute legend mate, really accurate shots and a lot of energy.

Keane is going to be an excellent playmaker; plays a very intelligent game and does a lot of sneaky passes with Gerrard and co... winning lineup in my eyes

nice tips mate!

Cheers for the tips, using the unison on the virus seems to have sorted it, got some really nice leads out of it. Some of them sound like they are ripping too much though and not even messing with all detunes on the ocs's sorts it.

Guitar Rig has helped alot too, takes the shine off trancy synths and beefs them right up.