Are simple synths better

William Brave · Post by **William Brave** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:08 pm

I have a lot of synth Vsti and I've noticed that I keep coming back to the really basic ones. I've only used Massive in one song and some of the other big boys I've never actually even finished a song with. I've made so many song with the free tweak bench plugins that it's got me wondering if anybody else feels like the simpler the plugin the better.

OfficialDAPT · Post by **OfficialDAPT** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:09 pm

If you take the time to learn the more complex plugins then they are better, but if you just whip up a synth in like 3 minutes and never delve any deeper into the synth then the more complex synths will seem the same as the free oens.

lloydy · Post by **lloydy** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:17 pm

Use what you find helps you make music the best and easiest.Best way i think to go about it is learn the ins and outs of a ducks arse about one then move on and learn another.Thing to do is only incorporate a synth into your tunes when you know you can get something out of it.It really will kill your track if your just fiddling about with something you don't understand.

PhotonOfficial · Post by **PhotonOfficial** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:21 pm

I think it depends on the style your going for. The Deep subby kind dubstep doesn't really use that much complicated sounds; the sub bass can be made with something as simple as 3xosc.

It's all in the mixing and mastering.

Artie_Fufkin · Post by **Artie_Fufkin** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:55 pm

My default setting when I open Renoise has P8 superwave loaded up lol I use it a lot(probably gonna change it Synth1 just to switch it up) I find that I like to use effects/modulation of the synth's parameters to change up the sound more. It's probably a product of me not wanting to have the synth's gui open and preferring to just look at the effects chain.
If you know how to start with a simple waveform and change it with effects(especially waveshaping/distortion/filter/reverb), you can apply that any synth, free or commercial.

William Brave · Post by **William Brave** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:06 pm

Yeah that's how I usually do it. I have ADHD so it's really hard for me to focus on getting a complex sound out of a GUI that's big with a lot goin on like Massive or Super Wave p8, or Thor in Reason. I can get complex sounds out of sample manipulation, synthesis, and effects chaining. I can deal with some big synths; I can get good stuff out of Harmless and Sytrus; and even Minimonsta. It's more about The GUI design rather than my comprehension of sound design.

Attila · Post by **Attila** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:11 pm

PhotonOfficial wrote: It's all in the mixing and mastering.

It's really not. I'd much rather listen to an amazingly written song produced badly than a well produced piece of trash.

wormcode · Post by **wormcode** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:12 pm

It depends on how knowledgeable you are about synthesis as well. Some of the simpler ones can be easier to get things done in because of less options available, so it's less confusing and time consuming.

Not accusing anyone of anything, but also paying for them will make loads of difference because of the investment. You'll spend a lot more time learning it to try and get your money's worth. I'm sure we've all got dozens of freeware plugins still installed that we've opened maybe one or two times, but try to get that one that cost a couple of hundred into every tune possible.

Aufnahmewindwuschel · Post by **Aufnahmewindwuschel** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:18 pm

hm but theres stuff like tal noisemaker for example that is really really good for a free synth its all about what you wanna make

if you wanna make a chiptune song its way easier to get a nice little freeware synth then adding resample etc to your defined synth sounds

Augment · Post by **Augment** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:02 pm

PhotonOfficial wrote:I think it depends on the style your going for. The Deep subby kind dubstep doesn't really use that much complicated sounds; the sub bass can be made with something as simple as 3xosc.

It's all in the mixing and mastering.

3xOsc is a beast, man. That statement made it seem like it has very limited capabilities, but maaan, I've made some crazy ass sounds with 3xOsc and some fx.
Look up Teknian too, he uses 3xOsc for some of his basses.
To the OP, more advanced synths are good, but if you like your basic synth with fx, stick with it.

samurai · Post by **samurai** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:04 pm

http://soniccontrol.tv/2012/03/01/hans- ... mer-sound/

Start with a concept of your sonic world. Limit your palette to fit the sonic world you’re trying to create – you can get lost and never write a note if you scroll through 1000 presets on average sounding synth. I got rid of most VstIs and just work with the ones who’s audio engines have real depth and quality, like Zebra and Diva, or the Virus.

Smiles · Post by **Smiles** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:47 pm

When I first started producing (less than a year ago) I got all the freeware stuff I could. It just overwhelmed me and I never took the time to learn one really well. Then I just decided to stick to ableton's operator and massive, I'm not an expert with either of them but I know them enough to get a sound I am looking for. Occasionally I will still bust out some free synths like triforce to make a lead.

mks · Post by **mks** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:01 pm

My first synth was a Roland Juno-106, which is a hardware synth. Its features would probably seem limited compared to most soft synths out these days with only one oscillator, one filter, one LFO and one envelope. Yet this synthesizer is still one of my favorites and I have gotten so many good sounds out of it from pads to basses. It's all about how use it as in how you process it and what notes you play (or don't play). Composition and arrangements are paramount to me.

hhans · Post by **hhans** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:26 pm

Seems like the general consensus is whatever you work best with and understand is the best synth for you. Onward!

William Brave · Post by **William Brave** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:13 am

mks wrote:My first synth was a Roland Juno-106, which is a hardware synth. Its features would probably seem limited compared to most soft synths out these days with only one oscillator, one filter, one LFO and one envelope. Yet this synthesizer is still one of my favorites and I have gotten so many good sounds out of it from pads to basses. It's all about how use it as in how you process it and what notes you play (or don't play). Composition and arrangements are paramount to me.

Yeah me too. I make very tonal music. When I make ambient music I like bigger, more complex synths because the modulation can really have space to evolve. Besides that, I can make most any sound I need with Ritual or an 808 cowbell and Hardcore, Fl Studio's Amp sim.

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:32 am

wormcode wrote:It depends on how knowledgeable you are about synthesis as well. Some of the simpler ones can be easier to get things done in because of less options available, so it's less confusing and time consuming.

Not accusing anyone of anything, but also paying for them will make loads of difference because of the investment. You'll spend a lot more time learning it to try and get your money's worth. I'm sure we've all got dozens of freeware plugins still installed that we've opened maybe one or two times, but try to get that one that cost a couple of hundred into every tune possible.

this
learn proper synthesis and stick too a few tried and true plugins you know in and out
one or two for complex stuff that you know inside out
one of two for the simple stuff that you know inside out

once you know synthesis and your plugins inside out then you know which plugins to use for which sounds and how to save yourself interface headaches when trying to make simple sounds and save yourself lacking with options when you want to do something complex

NinjaEdit · Post by **NinjaEdit** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:42 am

It's all in the mixing and mastering.

You should get things sounding best as early as possible.

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:53 am

jonahmann wrote:
It's all in the mixing and mastering.
You should get things sounding best as early as possible.

bingo
otherwise you're polishing turds
always funny when people read a few things without putting it into practice or experience and recite it without actually knowing how to apply it

drake89 · Post by **drake89** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:36 am

well, come on the kid is 14 after all...but yeah

deadly_habit · Post by **deadly_habit** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:52 am

best to call the youngsters on giving bad advice so the other youngsters don't take it to heart and continue the cycle
easy to copy paste things you've read and sound knowledgeable, but actually knowing how to apply it and put it into practice heh that's why some of us stick around to give advice in spite of this board being a cycle of mainly the same basic shit

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