Hey guys, I've been working on getting a tech trance type track going and want some good stabby "donk" like sounds. Ronski Speed type stuff. I've been working with sawtooth waves but can't seem to get much more than a lame "ping" (as opposed to the metallic like "bang" that I'm going for).

I'm still relatively new at producing and up until now have been abusing the presets as I suck at programming, but I am giving it a go now and struggling, any good tips on producing solid stabs would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers, J

FM synthesis is very good for metallic sounds.

If he's new at synthesis he is not gonna figure out fm synthesis for a while, if he can then, wow, he will be awesome but till then,? By the way, Ronski Speed is awesome!
!

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Originally posted by JmanNZ Hey guys, I've been working on getting a tech trance type track going and want some good stabby "donk" like sounds. Ronski Speed type stuff. I've been working with sawtooth waves but can't seem to get much more than a lame "ping" (as opposed to the metallic like "bang" that I'm going for). I'm still relatively new at producing and up until now have been abusing the presets as I suck at programming, but I am giving it a go now and struggling, any good tips on producing solid stabs would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, J

Take any old subtractive synth. Set both oscs to saw (pulse could work too though). Transpose the second osc 7 semitones up. Adjust the mix so that so that mostly the first osc is heard.
Adjust the filter and envelope until it sounds like a pluck. Add distortion and other effects. Now, play a minor chord. Like E-G-B for Em.

Here, I made a sample. http://www.zshare.net/audio/5405872190b10fe7/
I used an LFO controlled bandpass filter as well, plus delay chorus and reverb.

Last edited by Eldritch on Jan-13-2009 at 06:45

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Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles FM synthesis is very good for metallic sounds.

yer what jivebojingles said! FM makes complex spectra so play with that, also play with the harmonic ratio's of the mod vs carrier osc.
Its amazing the way you can distort sine waves with synthesis types like PM and FM.

Thanks guys, yea I haven't really tried FM synthesis yet, but by the sounds of it I should learn how!

Eldritch, thats exactly the kind of sound I was after! Awesome, thanks! I'm gunna go and give it a try in Reason's Subtractor.

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also play with the harmonic ratio's of the mod vs carrier osc

not sure what you mean, but I'm on it!

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Ronski Speed is awesome!

+1, I got to see him a while ago and it was mind blowing!

Thanks again!

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Originally posted by Eldritch Take any old subtractive synth. Set both oscs to saw (pulse could work too though). Transpose the second osc 7 semitones up. Adjust the mix so that so that mostly the first osc is heard. Adjust the filter and envelope until it sounds like a pluck. Add distortion and other effects. Now, play a minor chord. Like E-G-B for Em.

Ok, sorry to be annoying, but I gave it a go and not even close, I've tried playing with the filters and envelopes and mix etc... but no matter what it sounds nothing like the example. There is a certain timbre to the example you posted that I can't even get close to. It sounds clean and solid, while mine sounds fuzzy (and shit). I tried a chord, but that didn't help so I've stayed with a single note. I have posted an example, its dry and sounds terrible, but its there all the same.

stabs.mp3 - 0.27MB

Thanks again!

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Originally posted by JmanNZ Ok, sorry to be annoying, but I gave it a go and not even close, I've tried playing with the filters and envelopes and mix etc... but no matter what it sounds nothing like the example. There is a certain timbre to the example you posted that I can't even get close to. It sounds clean and solid, while mine sounds fuzzy (and shit). I tried a chord, but that didn't help so I've stayed with a single note. I have posted an example, its dry and sounds terrible, but its there all the same. stabs.mp3 - 0.27MB Thanks again!

Well, in the sample it's playing an E minor chord. Try it. And use EQ to clean it up. Youre on the right path.

Tech stabs/donks?

Donks? as in Alex K?

Or the overused Vstation preset Retro5?

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Originally posted by Eldritch Take any old subtractive synth. Set both oscs to saw (pulse could work too though). Transpose the second osc 7 semitones up. Adjust the mix so that so that mostly the first osc is heard. Adjust the filter and envelope until it sounds like a pluck. Add distortion and other effects. Now, play a minor chord. Like E-G-B for Em. Here, I made a sample. http://www.zshare.net/audio/5405872190b10fe7/ I used an LFO controlled bandpass filter as well, plus delay chorus and reverb.

Good stuff as always.

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Originally posted by adi_hanson Tech stabs/donks? Donks? as in Alex K? Or the overused Vstation preset Retro5?

Well Eldritch hit the nail on the head with the example posted, which is exactly what I am trying to make at the moment. I listened to some of Alex K and his are more techno-ish style than what I am after. I have put a few examples of the style im going for if anyone is interested. stabs n donks.mp3 - 0.85MB First two are Ronski, then a Genix remix, and a remix of PVD's new york city - I can her that same donk that Eldritch posted in two of these examples.

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Originally posted by Eldritch Well, in the sample it's playing an E minor chord. Try it. And use EQ to clean it up. Youre on the right path.

Thanks mate, I'll keep at it!

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Originally posted by adi_hanson Tech stabs/donks? Donks? as in Alex K? Or the overused Vstation preset Retro5?

As in "Put a Donk on It"!!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ckMvj1piK58