Replicating Synth Sounds

[CarvinAbuser]

Can anyone here replicate synth sounds by ear or at least come close? I'm relatively new to synths and have mainly been just modifying presets in order to get close to the sound I'm looking for.

[battema]

Are you looking for help, or just curious?

If you're thinking about approaches and theories, this might be interesting to you:

[Rarebird]

Interesting video, though I suppose those sounds are only interesting for coverbands, trying to recreate the sound-effects. Not really sounds one could use in ones own music.

I tend to create my own sounds, but sometimes I would like to have something simular to a familiar sound, like the sound Steve Winwood uses in While you see a chance.

[CarvinAbuser]

Thanks for the reply, interesting video.

I'm trying to get the lead sound that starts at 4:19, thinking he might be using a MiniKorg-700. I have the Arturia V Collection, SynthMaster, and the synths that come with Cakewalk Sonar.

[Zeuhlmate]

It cost less than 1/10 of the moog

[rcarlberg]

I'm trying to get the lead sound that starts at 4:19, ]

That's a fairly generic sine or triangle single waveform generator running through a wah pedal.

[Rarebird]

Thanks for the reply, interesting video.

I have the Arturia V Collection, SynthMaster, and the synths that come with Cakewalk Sonar.

I have the Arturia V Collection as well. And some other synths.
Problem is that sometimes settings on one synth don't result in the same sound as the same settings on the synth of another making.

[battema]

Purpose of the video above wasn't so much about the replication...but rather, about some of the thinking behind subtractive synthesis that might help clarify some things for Carvin.

As for the Utopia sound...given that you have software synths so a wah pedal is unlikely to be an easy option...if you have a MIDI controller I'd use one of the basic synths in Arturia's collection (maybe the Minimoog for starters), start with a sawtooth and put the cutoff somewhere 50% or lower, and start with the resonance around 25% or so and adjust until you get just the right amount of "wah" when you increase the cutoff.

If you want to get clever, you could map the mod wheel to the cutoff so you can open/close the cutoff by hand. You might also consider setting VCO 2 to either a sine or triangle if the sound is too reedy.

These are all off the top of my head, mind you.

[Rarebird]

Purpose of the video above wasn't so much about the replication...but rather, about some of the thinking behind subtractive synthesis that might help clarify some things for Carvin.

As for the Utopia sound...given that you have software synths so a wah pedal is unlikely to be an easy option...if you have a MIDI controller I'd use one of the basic synths in Arturia's collection (maybe the Minimoog for starters), start with a sawtooth and put the cutoff somewhere 50% or lower, and start with the resonance around 25% or so and adjust until you get just the right amount of "wah" when you increase the cutoff.

If you want to get clever, you could map the mod wheel to the cutoff so you can open/close the cutoff by hand. You might also consider setting VCO 2 to either a sine or triangle if the sound is too reedy.

These are all off the top of my head, mind you.

The Arturia softsynths often have some additional options over the original synthesizers.

[battema]

They sure do

[Zeuhlmate]

Moogs patent has expired, so Behringer (mentioned above) has plans on also making a 'hardwired version' of Arp2600, and etc.
Pricelevel about 1/10 of the originals.

[battema]

Based on the original poster, I don't think he's looking to buy a Minimoog clone. I think he's asking for help with understanding subtractive synthesis so he can use his existing software synths to roughly emulate the sound in the Utopia recording.

I have a Voyager and a Slim Phatty, so a cloned Minimoog doesn't hold much interest for me. If at some point they offer a CS-80 clone, I might be tempted.

[Rarebird]

Based on the original poster, I don't think he's looking to buy a Minimoog clone. I think he's asking for help with understanding subtractive synthesis so he can use his existing software synths to roughly emulate the sound in the Utopia recording.

I have a Voyager and a Slim Phatty, so a cloned Minimoog doesn't hold much interest for me. If at some point they offer a CS-80 clone, I might be tempted.

I think the closest one could get to a CS-80 clone would be the software version from Arturia.

[battema]

Right I think that's true.

I am *hoping* the new Deckards Dream will nail the sound as well

[GuitarGeek]

The Arturia softsynths often have some additional options over the original synthesizers.

BUt how closely do they actually sound like the synths they're emulating? I know they sound like analog synths, I've played with a few of them, but does the virtual Minimoog really sound like a Minimoog, does the virtual SEM really sound like an Oberheim SEM, etc?

[Rarebird]

BUt how closely do they actually sound like the synths they're emulating? I know they sound like analog synths, I've played with a few of them, but does the virtual Minimoog really sound like a Minimoog, does the virtual SEM really sound like an Oberheim SEM, etc?

Alas, I don't own the originals, so I can't compare them, but I feel they sound rather close. But it is something one have to judge for themselves. Listen to some demo's for instance. I have used the virtual ARP 2600, the virtual Mini Moog, the virtual Modular Moog and the virtual Solina for this: https://soundcloud.com/user-80429563...emo-version-03

[battema]

For me personally, the sound is about as close as a software synth can get. Not shockingly, few folks who own the software have all the originals for comparison, and vice versa My Voyager and the Minimoog V aren't flawlessly identical but then again, I've been told the Voyager isn't quite the same sound as the original Model D either so there you go.

The big difference for me is the tactile experience; performing with a Voyager, riding knobs on the fly, is just a more immediate sensation. Of course, it's also quite possible to program a MIDI controller to setup the various knobs and emulate that experience (it is harder with the more elaborate units; for example, the CS-80 has vastly more sliders than the average MIDI controller can accommodate).

[Rarebird]

For me personally, the sound is about as close as a software synth can get. Not shockingly, few folks who own the software have all the originals for comparison, and vice versa My Voyager and the Minimoog V aren't flawlessly identical but then again, I've been told the Voyager isn't quite the same sound as the original Model D either so there you go.

The big difference for me is the tactile experience; performing with a Voyager, riding knobs on the fly, is just a more immediate sensation. Of course, it's also quite possible to program a MIDI controller to setup the various knobs and emulate that experience (it is harder with the more elaborate units; for example, the CS-80 has vastly more sliders than the average MIDI controller can accommodate).

I agree with the knobs thing. That is something I like as well. Of course sliders can be moved with knobs as well. With a midi-controller things are not the same. You never get the lay-out the original synthesizer has, making things less direct. I mostly just program the knobs I'm about to use.

[battema]

Yeah, I have the same challenge at times. But, we do the best we can with what we have!

Something I researched a few months or more ago, was the idea of a modular MIDI controller. Something like this: http://special-waves.com/

However, these aren't easy to come by (the above appears to have started as an unsuccessful Kickstarter so I don't know if this ever became an actual, marketable product). It's a shame though because it'd be cool to be able to configure a set of controllers, you know?

[Rarebird]

Yeah, I have the same challenge at times. But, we do the best we can with what we have!

Something I researched a few months or more ago, was the idea of a modular MIDI controller. Something like this: http://special-waves.com/

However, these aren't easy to come by (the above appears to have started as an unsuccessful Kickstarter so I don't know if this ever became an actual, marketable product). It's a shame though because it'd be cool to be able to configure a set of controllers, you know?

Looks interesting, though I wonder about the costs. For the virtual Modular Moog and the virtual ARP 2600 one needs quite some knobs, or sliders, to be able to play with the complete configuration.

[battema]

The cost is absolutely one of the challenges. At the time I was looking around for a way to replicate a CS-80 set of controllers to use with the CS-80 V. I think it was going to cost over $1,000 and the resulting controller surface was going to use up most of my desk space.

There are also folks who design "boutique" controller surfaces like this one: http://www.daemonbite.com/midi-contr...morymoon-me80/

But again...while they may be more space-efficient I would fully expect boutique-level pricing (i.e. very very high).

Still...the idea is fascinating to me.

[Rarebird]

The cost is absolutely one of the challenges. At the time I was looking around for a way to replicate a CS-80 set of controllers to use with the CS-80 V. I think it was going to cost over $1,000 and the resulting controller surface was going to use up most of my desk space.

There are also folks who design "boutique" controller surfaces like this one: http://www.daemonbite.com/midi-contr...morymoon-me80/

But again...while they may be more space-efficient I would fully expect boutique-level pricing (i.e. very very high).

Still...the idea is fascinating to me.

And try that with the the controllers of a modular Moog.
I don't know how much it would cost, but I'm affraid it will cost an arm and a leg and you need a seperate desk. I get to 178 knobs for my virtual modular Moog, not counting switches and not counting the controllers with the keyboard. I'm not sure it is even possible to use that many midi-controllers. And the virtual modular Moog also has the possibility to turn the input level on the inputs for the patch-cords.

[battema]

Oh lord...the virtual modular?!? Yeah...that isn't happening, LOL.