Im not aware of the sound of the listed artists... but alot of 80's stuff was done with FM synthisis... take a look at NI's FM7

if thats not what your looking for.. theres also NI's Pro53 which can do some nice analog stuff you can twist right out of tune..

I'll try n post some samples of the sounds i'm after. I've had a mess around with FM7 before but i've not got my head around it yet. I got loads of patches for it but couldn't find anything i like or that sounded like what i'm after. I think you definatley have to use some distortion to get the sounds, fruitys blood overdrive alwasy works well.

Hmmmmm

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Ok, I still can't post samples yet, but what about the synth from the killers - mr bright side? Does anybody have any patches for that?

Thanks!

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For 80s style sounds, then consider buying some actual 80s synths or modules... plenty about and because some people are switching to software, the prices have dropped loads.

Jaqcues lu cont- aka stuart price- has a couple of yamaha DX's, and a juno and some other beauties. Nothing major or vastly expensive or anything incredibly rare.
The 80s was when people were using more and more digital synths, or analogue/digi hybrids as opposed to pure analogue. Hence that gritty sound which isnt as warm as a pure analogue

If you want classic sounds- then use the equipment that was originally used to make them- doesnt get any easier than that.

Thanks for the advice!

How does the DX7 actualy compare to the FM7? I couldn't get the FM7 to make anything I like or that sounded like electro 80s. So, I got loads of patch librarys n none of them were any good. They just sounded really cheesy n flat. If anybody can suggest any I'd appreciate it.

Also, which Juno synth does he use? Or would you advise? Surely the Alpha Juno is to dirty? The Juno 6?

Thanks a lot

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he uses a juno 60- which is very very good- but non midi (it is cv/gate).

I have an alpha juno- its not as easy to program as the 6/60/106 but it is very capable.

stuart also uses, a Dx21, 2x Dx7s an Sh 101 and a Jx3p (try finding one of those- highly sought after), and a bunch of old akais.
I also know he has a casio Cz101- which is very very underrated- and will give you instant 80s classic sounds.

The dx21 and dx7 are FM synths- and (as far as I am aware- as I dont actually use softsynths myself or have any interest in them) FM7 is basically a software emulation of a Dx synth. Its all in the programming.....

he also has an extensive collection of vintage and collectable drum machines- including Wham!s old Linn drum....which is worth a fortune.
Put them all together and its how he gets his trademark sound.

Oh- he also runs it all through an old studiomaster desk and hi fi speakers- and runs 2channels of Avalon valve compression (£3k+) over the whole mix which also gives that really punchy sound.

Hmmmm,

So basicly, you can't get it with software? I mean, I don't believe the FM7 can cut it. I'd love to be prooved wrong there, if anybody can make really good 80s style sounds with out id be converted but haven't really heard anything close yet. And the nearest soft emulation of the Juno is probably refx junox2 which was really good, but its an alpha n to filthy, not warm enough.

It's that sucky punchy sound im after to!

I was thinking he did it through side-chaining a compressor over the kick? The kick basicly controlling the compressor which was than put over all the other sounds in the tune(mainly the bass). What do you think?

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Oh yeah, felix da housecat, aparently he JUST uses software now. Silverscreen, rocket ride, were all done on logic. So what do you think he uses to get that 80s electro sound?

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Good (and bad) compressors do that sucky sound yes- to be honest if you whacked a few compressors on key parts you could get the same result.

You will be able to get it with software for sure- but I cant help you with that as I dont use it. Sorry

Hey. It is a bit more tasking to get a proper 80s style synth out of software but there are a few that will wet your tastes. Mainly, you are looking for an analog sound, which up to this point in time, has been a somewhat crippled undertaking for virtual analogs and software. There are 3 that I would like to mention though.

The first is DiscoDSPs Discovery. It is meant to model a virtual analog, the NordLead 3, but does it extremely well and to top it off, the NordLead 3 has an excellant analog style sound. You have two oscillators per scene and six scenes that can seemlessly be morphed between giving you some excellant pad capabilities. The controls, while laid out like a NordLead, remind me a lot of the controls given to you in the Matrix 6R, minus the matrix modulation. The filters and oscillators sound superb making it a treuly great softsynth.

Next, you should look into the Korg Legacy Collection. It would be hard to beat the analog style sound you get out of the MS20 or the Polysix. The secret behind the great sound they pump out, lies in the fact that Korg programmed the plugins in a totally new way. Rather than typing in code trying to directly create a particular sound (say: filter, envelope, etc.), Korg decided to design each and every component that the vintage synths contained. Each and every capacitor, rotary switch, and ever other circuit in the synths were modeled first in software and then routed to eachother just like you would do when physically building one of the synths. Unfortunately, one draw back of this approach is that they can be resource hogs so youll need a good processor. If you decide to go with the Legacy collection, instead of using the Legacy cell for everything (which will kill you on CPU clocks), use the MS20 and Polysix seperately, outside of the Legacy cell wrapper. It will make you happier to have the extra resources, trust me.

The last one has already been meantioned so I dont plan to spend a lot of time on it. It is of course, Native Intruments FM7. FM7 does truely sound like a great software version of a DX7, and in many aspects, it sounds much, much better than a DX7. The simple reason it sounds so great is because the DX7 was an all digital synth making the transition to a software version more streamlined and easy. You dont need to worry about losing the fatness of a DX7 by moving to FM7 though because FM7 retains all the qualities the classic bassline instrument and tacks on a ton of extra useful effects as well as a streamlined interface that will make the expirienced DX7 programmer shit his/her pants in joy.

Outside of those 3 synths, it would be good to look into getting a guitar synth if you dont own an electric guitar. Id recomend looking into reFx Slayer 2.5. Adding a flanger to most of the presets will give you an almost instant 80s sound. After you have all of that though, you should be set on making some great 80s music in software , of course, you still cant beat actually owning a few synths of the 80s .

Cheers,
Zac

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quote:

Originally posted by IDarkISwordI

agree with you 100%. the korg legacy is an absolutely brilliant softsynth, and the FM7 is incredibly flexible and infinitely full of sounds (if not a bit intimidating - FM synthesis can be a bit difficult to tackle).

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