Make an 80s synth with Massive?

[BYTEME]

Well if you tell me to, it only keeps me going! ;D

[Toolman4]

Ok. You're certainly on your way to redemption, so I'll bite. Thanks for apologizing. Now please don't get frustrated with myself, or anyone else who offers even the most vague advice/tips/help etc. You're not in school, paying money to learn sound synthesis, so don't get mad at us for providing ANYTHING at all....alright, I'll stop, and try to help.

A lot of what you consider to be "80s" style synths, from my research, has shown to originate from square waves. Square waves are saw waves with only the odd harmonics. That is this "80s" character you're after. You're in FL and I work in ableton, so I'm sorry for trying to bridge a communication gap that you might not grasp fully, but again, trying my best here. Load up 3xOSC and work with detuning 2 square waves against each other. Play them in higher freq registers, and add desired fx. Now, I'll do my BEST to break this down for ya:

Detune square waves: Load one osc w/ a square and load a second osc with a square wave. When you go to detune them, EXPERIMENT. I know you said you didn't want to go through a bunch of trial and error, but sorry man, that's the nature of this passion. You HAVE to experiment. You will NEVER grow as a producer if you don't figure out what shit does. I'm sorry for you that that's a tough pill to swallow. Try detuning them an octave apart which would mean one at 0.00 and another at -12.00. Try different octave ranges. Try small semitone ranges (0.10 and 0.00)..just an example. You need to experiment so that you can comprehend how shit works. You will never find your OWN sound if you don't experiment and see WHY certain things affect the sound sculpting process. The WHY is so much more important to you as a budding producer than the HOW. That is a tried and true fact for anyone that influences you today. I promise.

Play them in higher frequencies: This means that once you sculpted the sound, play that scale, melody, riff, etc above C2. The Feed Me track sounds like it's in the C4-C5 range, maybe C5-C6. (I myself still don't know relation of pitches to frequencies, but through experimentation, I'm learning).

Add your desired FX: I can tell you already understand that the sound in the Feed Me track you're aiming for, is effected. You understand the difference between dry and wet, so go with it. Already you know that you should start with square waves, detune them, play them high...Well with that, I'd create a midi clip of a riff in the proper freq range, and start experimenting with FX. Any native or 3rd party plug in can "effect" the sound, however your main ones are chorus, flanger, phaser, reverb, delay, overdrive, and distortion. I'm sorry, but I can't tell you HOW to use those to achieve what you're after, cause only you can carve that shit out from the raw sound.

I sincerely hope that helps you out, as I've felt your frustrations before. However, one thing has always remained constant in the short year I've been into producing EDM: Practice, practice, practice. What is the one thing you think you're better at than everyone you personally know?...I bet you didn't get there in a day, ya?

[Electric_Head]

Detuning saws is very basic though, very little experimentation required.
2 saws detuned slightly already adds the variability that you`re after.
You can Detune the saws and then automate the tuning to jump frequencies to create even more tonal character.

[Basic A]

I know what a saw wave is and I know the difference, I'd just like some good instructions on how to make the synth. Give some instructions besides "Oh it's just detuned saws, LFO and Chorus."

Okay. I mentioned nothing about LFO. I told you how to program the synth. I didnt post screenshots or turn the knobs for you. What I said, IS DIRECTIONS.

chorus saw waves, loads of phase unison, some notch filtering, and then theres one whats a square, high octave, bit of lowpass filter to take the edge off, then lots of legato and glide, reverb on it all make it feel bigger then the cheesey sound it really is...

What on earth wasnt specific enough for you?

[joshisrad]

Bro, I already told you the exact recipe. I even made the patch IN MASSIVE for myself while playing that clip of the synth solo from that song ad nauseum to make sure I got it right. I told you all the shit I did. Actually, I didn't mention the Sine Shaper I put on there. Feed Me does that to like all his sounds. I didn't tell you exactly where to turn the knobs because you need to learn that yourself. But if you're not strong or smart enough to make a sound without me holding your hand the whole way, then you should get out of this game.

[joshisrad]

Sorry, I lied. I also forgot to mention the filters - bandpass and bandreject. Filter mode set to Serial. Mix is at 50%. It's up to you to figure out where the knobs go.

[howiegroove]

Its alright guys, like many others that have come across here, people want someone else to do all the work and teach them how to make a sound that most anyone can get close to in less than 10 minutes. Its called laziness. I found that when I stopped trying to sound like someone else, my sounds got better and better. Thats why its called an art, because its expression in one of its greatest forms.

Personally, I think telling others how to make specific sounds is counter intuitive. When you DO try on you own, you make really amazing sounds along the way. And you learn some amazing stuff. Thats why its called practice and mastering your trade.

Everyone wants a shortcut.

My next question on this board will be, "Can anyone tell me how to make a top 10 Beatport track?"

When someone tells me "Practice numb nuts!"

Ill say, "I don't want to practice, I want to know the direct path with the least amount of resistance."

[Today]

no one really posts exact parameters because that ain't where its at.

you instantiate a couple of saw oscillators, apply unison and a bit of detuning, chorus, and verb
The mono/polyphonic, portamento, and other voicing options are up to you
so is the amount of effects you use

if you want vibrato, apply an LFO with a mid-high rate to the pitch of each oscillator. if you want manual control of the vibrato, assign the modwheel to a macro, and assign that macro to the amp on said LFO.

then it's down to the melodies you play and record.

You need to experiment; copying parameter settings won't teach you what each of those aspects of the synth do. Learn it on your own then you can make all kinds of great patches.

if you don't know how to do any of the above steps, its time to RTFM!

good luck and god bless.

[cmgoodman1226]

like , can somebody make a revolutionary type of music that crosses multiple genres and have it be really good and then let me take the credit for it? that's be totally awesome LOOOOOLZZZZZ!!!! This learning shit is beat. I just want to know how exactly the pros do it without having to learn anything.

[bassinine]

man, if you want to revolutionize ANYTHING, you have to put in TIME. like, more time than anyone else.

i spent like 6 months playing with a korg and the synths in FL before i made anything even remotely good. no one here is going to tell you step-by-step instructions - as in, turn this dial to 12 o'clock, this one to... etc.

they will give you the basic tools to learn how to do it yourself. that's the point. you're not going to ever do anything, other than get pissed off, if you aren't willing to learn.

[extremesociety]

Code: Select all

Oscillators ---> Filters ----> Amp
                     ^
               \     |      /
                 Envelopes
                    LFOs

---combinations therein. OK, go play.

[zeta]

Basic A's post has nailed it in one go. 80s synth sounds are extremely easy. It's also not necessarily the sound but simple, chunky, cheesy chord progressions and plucks.

Having said that it looks like you need to put in a lot of work. Force yourself to sit down, play with the synth until you learn it inside and out. Go on youtube, check out tutorials as there are plenty of them about learning how to use massive to its fullest extent.

And if you just want a 'use this, move the knob here' tutorials there are also those as well. Literally HEAPS of massive tutorials on not just the typical 'skrillex wah-wah' but also on chorused synth leads and plucks. It shouldn't take too much fiddling from there to get what you want.

If you really want to make an impact in music there is NO EASY WAY. It's going to be tiring, you are going to get so fucking sick of it you want to quit, you will most likely end up spending several hours a night doing shit-all - but to quote noisia on a dogsonacid thread: "nobody taught us how to do anything, we just listened and fucked around".

Man up and actually take responsibility for your own learning. Nobody's going to do shit for you, you have to do it yourself. There's already plenty of info in this thread on what you want, you won't learn anything if we did the rest for you.

[howiegroove]

like , can somebody make a revolutionary type of music that crosses multiple genres and have it be really good and then let me take the credit for it? that's be totally awesome LOOOOOLZZZZZ!!!! This learning shit is beat. I just want to know how exactly the pros do it without having to learn anything.

Exactly!

If you really want to make an impact in music there is NO EASY WAY. It's going to be tiring, you are going to get so fucking sick of it you want to quit, you will most likely end up spending several hours a night doing shit-all - but to quote noisia on a dogsonacid thread: "nobody taught us how to do anything, we just listened and fucked around".

Man up and actually take responsibility for your own learning. Nobody's going to do shit for you, you have to do it yourself. There's already plenty of info in this thread on what you want, you won't learn anything if we did the rest for you.

Amen!

[Jas0n]

I'd recommend getting away from your played-out, pirated copy of Massive. Sounds like you need to learn basic synthesis (on your stolen copy of FL) before getting into complex machinery.

[Jas0n]

Incidentally I won't try to tell you to quit, because you'll think you're being strong-willed by keeping at it. I just think you'll get frustrated and give up eventually and I encourage that.

[jrisreal]

funny thread...funny thread indeed.

[joshisrad]

I'd recommend getting away from your played-out, pirated copy of Massive. Sounds like you need to learn basic synthesis (on your stolen copy of FL) before getting into complex machinery.

Rather arrogant to assume he pirated Massive.

[Jas0n]

I'd recommend getting away from your played-out, pirated copy of Massive. Sounds like you need to learn basic synthesis (on your stolen copy of FL) before getting into complex machinery.

Rather arrogant to assume he pirated Massive.

Arrogance has nothing to do with it. It's a $200 piece of software, which he clearly has no idea how to use. FL Studio is basically the same. He clearly has zero idea how to operate this software, and zero interest in learning it as a craft. That strikes me very much as the attitude of someone who pirated both and therefore has no real investment in either - not the attitude of someone who set out to purchase an extremely powerful DAW and a highly capable (if not way over-done) soft synth. You'll kindly note I'm reading more than one of his threads and coming to these conclusions.

[breakitdown]

pitch instability, put an lfo on pitch to move around 0.00 - 0.30 and make it irregular. one of things to try...

Nice - yeah try this technique

http://www.massivesynth.com/tutorials/n ... n-massive/

[joshisrad]

I'd recommend getting away from your played-out, pirated copy of Massive. Sounds like you need to learn basic synthesis (on your stolen copy of FL) before getting into complex machinery.

Rather arrogant to assume he pirated Massive.

Arrogance has nothing to do with it. It's a $200 piece of software, which he clearly has no idea how to use. FL Studio is basically the same. He clearly has zero idea how to operate this software, and zero interest in learning it as a craft. That strikes me very much as the attitude of someone who pirated both and therefore has no real investment in either - not the attitude of someone who set out to purchase an extremely powerful DAW and a highly capable (if not way over-done) soft synth. You'll kindly note I'm reading more than one of his threads and coming to these conclusions.

Ah you make a compelling case. I'm not inclined to disagree. So true that when a person receives a thing for free he is much less respectful and interested in it than if he paid for it with his hard earned money.