I ve got that feedback a few times and read it quite a bit when people are reviewing others productions. What exactly are people alluding to when they say there should be more variation in your synths? Is it in the pattern, the sound, what what?

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youre probably using too many saws

i usually speak of automation and modulation

automation is the key to everything.

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I'd say, ask the reviewer to be more specific when they give you that feedback.

Variation in the synths can cover many things, from using greater variation in the notes the synth is playing, to using different synth sounds, to (most probably what is usually meant) automating/ modulating some parameters, either on the synth sound itself or in the mixing process - maybe it could use some filter modulation, or some panning, or increased dynamics, or some subtle slow phasing...who knows? It really depends on the particular situation.

There are no hard and fast rules. In general, because trance is basically all about saying exactly the same thing over and over and over again, it's critical that the sounds have a lot of movement in them, a lot of character to them. Otherwise it gets incredibly boring incredibly quickly. At any point in time, there should be movement - maybe the lead synth is being filtered in while a percussive loop is panning left and right and an arpeggio has a filter pattern working on it, and the kick drum is fading out...who knows...

Listen to some of your favourite tracks, split them up into four or eight bar sections and make note of what's moving, what's changing, how expressive the sounds are. Everything you want to know about making great music is in your music collection.

quote:

Originally posted by derail I'd say, ask the reviewer to be more specific when they give you that feedback. Variation in the synths can cover many things, from using greater variation in the notes the synth is playing, to using different synth sounds, to (most probably what is usually meant) automating/ modulating some parameters, either on the synth sound itself or in the mixing process - maybe it could use some filter modulation, or some panning, or increased dynamics, or some subtle slow phasing...who knows? It really depends on the particular situation. There are no hard and fast rules. In general, because trance is basically all about saying exactly the same thing over and over and over again, it's critical that the sounds have a lot of movement in them, a lot of character to them. Otherwise it gets incredibly boring incredibly quickly. At any point in time, there should be movement - maybe the lead synth is being filtered in while a percussive loop is panning left and right and an arpeggio has a filter pattern working on it, and the kick drum is fading out...who knows... Listen to some of your favourite tracks, split them up into four or eight bar sections and make note of what's moving, what's changing, how expressive the sounds are. Everything you want to know about making great music is in your music collection.

touche!

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quote:

Originally posted by derail I'd say, ask the reviewer to be more specific when they give you that feedback. Variation in the synths can cover many things, from using greater variation in the notes the synth is playing, to using different synth sounds, to (most probably what is usually meant) automating/ modulating some parameters, either on the synth sound itself or in the mixing process - maybe it could use some filter modulation, or some panning, or increased dynamics, or some subtle slow phasing...who knows? It really depends on the particular situation. There are no hard and fast rules. In general, because trance is basically all about saying exactly the same thing over and over and over again, it's critical that the sounds have a lot of movement in them, a lot of character to them. Otherwise it gets incredibly boring incredibly quickly. At any point in time, there should be movement - maybe the lead synth is being filtered in while a percussive loop is panning left and right and an arpeggio has a filter pattern working on it, and the kick drum is fading out...who knows... Listen to some of your favourite tracks, split them up into four or eight bar sections and make note of what's moving, what's changing, how expressive the sounds are. Everything you want to know about making great music is in your music collection.

that's good advice
thanks

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I thought maybe he was talking about phasing within a particular synth patch. One that uses 2 of the same voices, and one voice is detuned just a tad. I've wrestled with this many times, with basses and leads. When there's too much variation in the phasing, it's hard to control in the mix. The synth might be too soft at some point, then too loud at another. Adjusting the tuning of one synth voice can help some, it will change the rate at which the phasing occurs. You can always sample the synth, and try to capture it at it's optimum phase point, where it sounds best. I've done that with basses a few times.

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In terms of phasing, potentially I was using the wrong expression. I absolutely love Waves' metaflanger. It's basically the reason I bought the gold bundle. (there are plenty of other great processors in the bundle as well) Waves products aren't cheap, but their processors are just so solid.

The metaflanger is an extremely versatile phasing/chorusing/flanging machine and I guess when it sounds mostly like a phaser I call what it's doing phasing. You can set it so the phase width is very wide, and yes, the sound will practically disappear sometimes. But you can also bring the phase in quite narrow, so it's still within a very expressive range, but the sound is right there and solid the whole time. If it's the main lead I'm processing, I'd bring the width of the phase in quite a bit. If it's a background element, it can sound really cool having it almost disappear, having a lot of movement in that part.

It's really a case by case decision. If it's appropriate and it works, it can sound great. If not, it can sound extremely terrible!