|
Any distortion plugins that don't ruin the sound?
|
View this Thread in Original format
| DJ Robby Rox |
I'm trying to figure out a new or better way to get some new colors/timbres in my leads & bass.
Every distortion plugin I have tried just seems like pouring acid on a good sound, it literally corrodes and kills it.
Even when I apply a little bit of distortion, it sounds like the old sound has just been beat up a little bit, but it still sounds like crap most of the time.
I hate to use virus as an example lol, but I notice this synth is a monster at doing this. I've heard some virus sounds with overtones/timbres that make me want to hump a TI.
What does virus use to do this? Is it the same crap we have access to, like distortion/flangers/phasers etc?
Why does virus do this so well?
I have such a hard friggn time getting new and unique timbres. Flangers always sound basically the same, sweepy and boring.
Distortion always make a sound - sound like its dying.
What do you guys use?
This is one reason I've always had respect for the virus is because it seems it can take an avg sounding saw lead, rape it with fx, and make it sound better.
When I rape my sounds with fx, they all seem sloppy and tired, I cant even get close to some of the timbres a virus can do.
So is this synth doing anything real special that makes this task easier or am I most likely just using fx the wrong way? |
|
|
| gr8ape |
Havent had it for very long, but Amplitube 2 is very nice, lots of selections, lots of distortion types. Theres also "pedal effects" and mic recording simulation. VARY NAAYYCE
I love waves plugins too, nice flanger and phaser.
And ofc, i looooooove my virus
edit: diginut reminded of camelphat thats good too |
|
|
| DigiNut |
Err, I think you're missing the point of the word "distortion", lol.
You might check out Guitar Rig, which models a lot of the pedals and effects used in live music. Or a simple overdrive plugin, or maybe an exciter, either one intended for mastering or a combo effect like CamelSpace/CamelPhat.
You can make some really interesting effects with a vocoder if you know what you're doing - you don't actually need a vocal for it, it's just a way of modulating one sound with another sound.
Part of what you're hearing in other samples/tracks could also be unison effects, or simple detuning of the oscillators.
Really there are so many ways to colour a sound... you might want to be more specific about what you're trying to achieve. |
|
|
| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
You can make some really interesting effects with a vocoder if you know what you're doing - you don't actually need a vocal for it, it's just a way of modulating one sound with another sound. |
Yeah, I made a thread about that a while ago:
http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...threadid=378751
Sounds:
One
Two
Three
Four
Five |
|
|
| DJ Robby Rox |
Ok well these are sounds I love, they are just friggn oozing energy.
Theres 4 different sounds.
Virus Example.mp3
I'll make a guess first then maybe someone else can correct me.
Sound 1: Has a sound like glitch does when you use the crusher.
Not sure if anything else is being used.
Sound 2: def here some pitch lfo going on. Not sure if any other fx are being used (except reverb and delay that I added)
Sound 2: Wtf! This sound is crazy. I hear noise, and maybe like one osc is on a higher octave, very intrusive but pleasing to the ear.
Sound 4: I hear distortion, some kind of distortion lol.
------------------------------
Ok see I just ed myself.
I understand how Virus might use these fx. I don't understand how it gets so many nice DIFFERENT sounds using the same few fx.
They all sound like virus, but they all sound very individual.
I just don't get it lol, when I apply crush, lfo modulations, distortion etc I NEVER get sounds like this. I'm not sure what I'm missing.
I'm looking for the missing link and what I'm thinking is this:
These sounds are a result of:
An expert programmer and a wonderful hardware synth.
While my sounds are the result of:
An amateur programmer and a software synth.
As cliche as virus is in trance it is ultimately sounds like this that get my adrenaline going and really inspire me.
And I never hear sounds like that from software so Im thinking its just the character of the virus that I'm actually talking about. I'm not sure, I just love these sounds so much its annoying I can't make them. |
|
|
| DJ Robby Rox |
Thats really cool and I like all of them, but its not what I'm exactly talking about.
I hear a lot of things happening as the sounds PROGRESS. Its not like a single defined sound but an ambient combination of lot of different things happening at once.
I'm talking more about a sound that sounds like a single sound, very define and individual.
Plus most of those sounds were a little too "soft", I like the atmospheres they create, I don't hear any bright sort of overtones.
I'm talking about when you play a sound it seems like its sprays little bits and pieces of other sounds out of it.
Sound 5 you did would be a bit closer to what I'm talking about, but it sounds just like a basic bit crusher.
Im not sure if you know what Im talking about but your sounds are soft and majestic.
I'm looking for more dark, mysterious, but at the same time real bright and sort of "gutted" if that makes sense.
THis is so hard for me to explain lol. Very nice work though! |
|
|
| kitphillips |
Software distortions are generally pretty poor. If you want really good sounds, invest in a BOSS pedal and run your sounds through that. Its fairly cheap and easy.
Your other option is guitar rig, but I don't think the results will be as good TBH and I think it costs more.
I used amplitube years ago and found it harsh and unpleasant. But you might have better luck now. |
|
|
| Subtle |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox
And I never hear sounds like that from software so Im thinking its just the character of the virus that I'm actually talking about. I'm not sure, I just love these sounds so much its annoying I can't make them. |
Its just clever sound design, hitting the right spots on every parameter related to each other. |
|
|
| DJ Robby Rox |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
Software distortions are generally pretty poor. If you want really good sounds, invest in a BOSS pedal and run your sounds through that. Its fairly cheap and easy.
Your other option is guitar rig, but I don't think the results will be as good TBH and I think it costs more.
I used amplitube years ago and found it harsh and unpleasant. But you might have better luck now. |
Ok yep see thats what I was sort of thinking, the software distortions dont really leave a crisp overcoat to the sound when you run it through.
They seem to rough up the edges but it also seems to dull the original character of the sound w/out adding anything back to make it sound good. Dont get me wrong I love distortion and use it a lot, just more with hats/noise/snares etc.
I'll have to def look into some of those things you mentioned thanks! |
|
|
| DJ Robby Rox |
| quote: | Originally posted by Subtle
Its just clever sound design, hitting the right spots on every parameter related to each other. |
Ok I had a feeling that was a large part of the equation too.
I prob just have a lot more to learn with programming. |
|
|
| Subtle |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox
Ok I had a feeling that was a large part of the equation too.
I prob just have a lot more to learn with programming. |
Yeah, i have a virus and i can tell you right away that you have to really know what ure doing to create sounds like that. |
|
|
| kitphillips |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox
Ok yep see thats what I was sort of thinking, the software distortions dont really leave a crisp overcoat to the sound when you run it through.
They seem to rough up the edges but it also seems to dull the original character of the sound w/out adding anything back to make it sound good. Dont get me wrong I love distortion and use it a lot, just more with hats/noise/snares etc.
I'll have to def look into some of those things you mentioned thanks! |
Yeah, distortion is one area where hardware still rules. I think its because its an effect mainly used by guitarists and guitarists want a no latency solution that they can take on the road with them. Not a laptop. as a result, I think the RnD's mainly gone into hardware. The line 6 pod series is really good, so you could also try the sortware version of that. I'm not sure whether its the same as the hardware though.
I think mainly the problem is in 2nd order distortion. Software seems to just lack somehow:) |
|
|
|
|
