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"Expressive" leads

I've become more or less bored with the leads I currently use for trance, especially for breakdowns. I'm looking for synths capable of making leads with lots of expression and character, ones that you wouldn't hear normally in a trance track.

Some of you might know Andy Blueman is my biggest inspiration as a producer, at 3:16 the type of lead I'm talking about starts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CMEeKqcnQ

I'm not looking for that specific sound, but I need something that doesn't sound like a basic string patch or a supersaw or any of the various trance sounds that are done to death. I have plenty of software VSTi's like Atmosphere, z3ta+, Zebra, the NI library, and I'm really not happy with anything they have to offer (though Absynth probably has potential I'm not tapping into yet)

tl;dr: What kind of (preferably software) synths have a reputation or are known to make usable, interesting sounds with different types of timbres other than what's usually found in trance? I've used Absynth but the sounds are, for the most part, to avant-garde too be applied reasonably into an uplifting trance track.

Re: "Expressive" leads

Before you get hit with a gazillion "just buy Sylenth1" responses, consider this.

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora I'm not looking for that specific sound, but I need something that doesn't sound like a basic string patch or a supersaw or any of the various trance sounds that are done to death. I have plenty of software VSTi's like Atmosphere, z3ta+, Zebra, the NI library, and I'm really not happy with anything they have to offer (though Absynth probably has potential I'm not tapping into yet) tl;dr: What kind of (preferably software) synths have a reputation or are known to make usable, interesting sounds with different types of timbres other than what's usually found in trance?

Any of those synths (including Absynth) are capable of getting you a huge variety of sound for leads, including leads like the one you posted. I don't think the problem is your synths because this:

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora I've used Absynth but the sounds are, for the most part, to avant-garde too be applied reasonably into an uplifting trance track.

...leads me to believe that you're just relying on presets and not exploring the real potential in your synths. So, I'd suggest looking more into sound design, rather than new synths with new presets, or you'll just end up back where you are now before you know it.

Yes i agree with Cryo here on this, start learning sound design and then you could create your own leads.

That lead sounds more like a cello, i could be mistaken but very much like it.

Re: Re: "Expressive" leads

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik ...leads me to believe that you're just relying on presets and not exploring the real potential in your synths. So, I'd suggest looking more into sound design, rather than new synths with new presets, or you'll just end up back where you are now before you know it.

Yeah, I do rely mostly on presets.. synth production was never something I was great at, or rather, something that seemed beyond my understanding. I hear great things about what Absynth can do but the interface just downright scares the hell out of me.

I figured the bulk of the responses would be "Make your own", but I guess I could start learning how to do it, if that's one of the only feasible options.

synth strings? do people actually play this? i felt like i was watching the last samurai for the last hour.

quote:

Originally posted by Waza That lead sounds more like a cello, i could be mistaken but very much like it.

Sounds like some kind of string with vibrato. If it was recorded then you're SOL.

Re: Re: Re: "Expressive" leads

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora I hear great things about what Absynth can do but the interface just downright scares the hell out of me.

Absynth is a killer synth. You might want to consider getting this:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...-DVD?sku=709164

When I bought Absynth 3 from a guy on eBay a few years ago, he included this DVD and it's actually very good and thorough. If you're on Absynth 4, it will probably still be very helpful, although navigation is a little different and the DVD obviously doesn't cover the new features in Absynth 4.

Yeah, I do have Absynth 4. I'm probably going to try toying around with the synth to see if I can figure it out, since that's how I've learned basically everything else, but that's a pretty reasonable price for a DVD tutorial if I need to use it. Thanks!

when i make my leads i start by looping the obvious pre made sounds first just to get the juices flowing the key to getting the sound you want lies in the note being played first.

tunning your ears into what you want will help you in ways your wouldn't belive.

then you can pratice using your synths to create them by removing the presets with the sound you want in mind and go about creating it.


zebera will be the best tool in doing this and layering is also a good method to

Layer sounds.

Never know what you'll come up with.

Layering is definately a good way of getting unique sounds.

I also like using distortion plugs, vocoders and anything else that will give me a different result.

One thing I enjoy doing is placing a vocoder on a hi hat patch and seeing what comes from that. Some very interesting synth grooves can be achieved that can bring life to your track and also get rid of that super quantized feel.

Cheers
Nem

I think it's an instrument,

possibly East West or even Vienna. If it's not then it's a dedicated string emulator, Roland done one years back that was used a lot.

Regards.

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