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Subject: How to use my synth?

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Original Message 1/7 25-Nov-02 @ 09:29 PM - How to use my synth?

Opsys

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There must be something I�m just not getting. I�m
dying to create some sounds on my synth, but no
matter what I do, the saw wave just sounds like a
saw wave. I have a Roland JD-990 w/ the vintage
synth card, and some of the factory patches are
just beautiful. Why can�t I do that?

I sort of understand the basic theory behind
synthesis. The VCO is similar to the Wave Generator
on my synth. Filters are similar to my TVF and the
amplifier is similar to my TVA. I can play with
envelopes, cut off�s, resonance and LFO�s
graphically. But I can�t seem to make any cool
sounds. There's also something called "structure"

Can someone point me in the right direction? For
example, I want to make a cool lead sound, or a
cool pad. I�ll pick a wave, from an Oberheim or
Moog or Jupiter or System 700 or whatever
(I know it won�t be same, it�s just a digital
sample). So I�ve queued up this wave, now what?

Any help much appreciated!

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Message 2/7 25-Nov-02 @ 10:43 PM - RE: How to use my synth?

Steve Roughley

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Sorry to ask such an obvious question. But, have you read the manual?

Steve.

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Message 3/7 26-Nov-02 @ 02:00 AM - RE: How to use my synth?

opsys

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x3demo.mp3

Hey, thanks for replying Steve. Uh, well yeah, I did read it. And it's very good. Thanks to the manual, I know where each function is, and the theory behind how it is supposed to work. Here is an excerpt:

This parameter specifies how the dynamic
variation in volume levels specified by the TVA
Envelope will be controlled by the velocity with
which a note is played.

The manual goes on in pretty much the same vein until the end. Very clear, very concise. Doesn't tell me a damn thing (creatively speaking).

However, I'm looking for something more along the lines of: "If you want to make a cool trancy/techno/whatever electronic style sounding lead/pad, start with (insert waveform name here) and set the envelope this way, use low/band/high pass filter and tweak the cutoff to about here, set the resonance to something like this, use this structure, use this much of that effect, add a pinch of LFO 1 at this setting, a dash of LFO 2 at this setting...", and so on. And maybe:"...And if you play around with (x, y or z) setting(s), you can get some interesting variations on this lead/pad sound". Do you see where I'm going? Like, how do YOU create a patch? Or how do I go from a plain-Jane freshly initialized waveform to (listen to attached file)this? Come on, give me an example! In math class the teacher worked through examples of what was explained, they didn�t say �here is the general theory, now go try and figure out the exercises�

Any help greatly appreciated!

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Message 4/7 26-Nov-02 @ 05:09 AM Edit: 26-Nov-02 | 05:09 AM - RE: How to use my synth?

nothingnewhere

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just fuck with it till you get something cool. it could take a while. after time it gets easier & takes less time. or atleast the sounds you make will get cooler.

you could also try to understand the presets you like, try to copy them.

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Message 5/7 26-Nov-02 @ 05:11 AM - RE: How to use my synth?

influx

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what I dont understand is...you said youll start with something, mess with parameters and get NOTHING?

odd. do you have to assign EVERY parameter in a mod matrix?

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Message 6/7 26-Nov-02 @ 11:25 AM - RE: How to use my synth?

xoxos

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2nd nothing n.e. where.. some haphazard experience will add to your understanding of what modulations create what effects.. it sounds like you want to know what you're going to do ahead of time, but you can't know because you haven't done it yet.. just make as many excuses as you can to experiment with it until things start to familiarise themselves.

maybe try using some vsti as well (like synthedit... joke..) which will probably present you with the same elements in a different arrangement, which may help.

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Message 7/7 26-Nov-02 @ 06:34 PM - RE: How to use my synth?

errata

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xoxos has a point there. Get ahold of a demo of VAZ or some other soft synth. They lay all of those menus out in one place, it's easier to make sense of them...

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