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Easy,

I use Thor for most of my lead and background synths in reason 4, but my problem is these days i just seem to repeat the same ideas. I obviously use the different oscillator things but i am not getting anything that doesnt sound like something i haven't made already.

Is this the time to think about using vst's via another program? Dont really want to do that.

Any tips on reinventing the reason synths into new interesting sounds?

Thor is quite a powerful synth so there should be more stuff for you to experiment with...

My first suggestions (if you haven't done so already) is to go through the factory patches or download some new patches and deconstruct the more interesting ones and find the techniques which make the sounds more interesting.

Secondly I've often found myself limited because I always try making the same sorts of sounds (multi saw leads, reeses, etc) but instead try making completely different noises which you wouldn't normally go for (maybe bells, percussion, dissonant textures, etc), even if you don't use them you might find some new techniques which may be useful later.

Third suggestion would be to have a good fuck about with maelstrom if you haven't pushed it hard yet, it's a bit more quirky than the other 2.

Finally if you're exhausted all those suggestions maybe trying bouncing some of your patches and loading them up into the NN-XT and experiment with what can be done with resampling.

If not of that works maybe try a new synth

How could you run out of synths?!?!?! If you are running out of ideas try changing things on the malstrom like putting the motion down on each synth or changin the index. Don't just use the standard wobble Sine graph but other ones too which can make any synth have a whole new feel. Also try automating the pitch, index, and shift to make the synth change a lot as it progresses through the song. often changing the shift completly dirtys the synth up. Word on the Scream Distortion. The Fidelity patches in scream make shit rediculous. Word. just experiment with every nob you can turn man. Sometimes they wont have that much effect but with certain patches certain things start to become huge factors. Putting two synths togather also is crazy especially when you detune each one from the other. Makes shit fat as anything. hope this helps.

The Dub Lemon wrote:Thor is quite a powerful synth so there should be more stuff for you to experiment with...

My first suggestions (if you haven't done so already) is to go through the factory patches or download some new patches and deconstruct the more interesting ones and find the techniques which make the sounds more interesting.

Secondly I've often found myself limited because I always try making the same sorts of sounds (multi saw leads, reeses, etc) but instead try making completely different noises which you wouldn't normally go for (maybe bells, percussion, dissonant textures, etc), even you don't use them you might use some new techniques which may be useful later.

Third suggestion would be to have a good fuck about with maelstrom if you haven't pushed it hard yet, it's a bit more quirky than the other 2.

Finally if you're exhausted all those suggestions maybe trying bouncing some of your patches and loading them up into the NN-XT and experiment with what can be done with resampling.

If not of that works maybe try a new synth

this ^

you could also try slicing up your riffs with recycle

just dont touch a aspect of the synth you always use. Like envelope filters... then just dont touch them.. try to get a certain effect without the filter envelope. etc.

multiple synths with wild routing through cv splitter/merger inside a combi unit FTW

cheers lots more ideas!

bit poor running out if i'm honest just got stuck in a rut really

-Dubson- wrote: just got stuck in a rut really

happens to everyone, no worries

The phase distortion oscillator and fm oscillator on Thor are worth experimenting with at length. Similarly, explore the fm and ring modulation options on subtractor.

You could also take a standard waveform and put it through loads of effects to get it sounding fresh.

I tend to have this problem with basslines a lot... I make the beat, add all the different synths and stuff but I can never find a bassline right off the bat, or sit down and think "THIS is what type of sound I want" etc...

However, I find that I tend to go through the same processes each time I make a bassline, and if this is the case with you (I know you said pad and lead sounds and the like) you should try approaching the synth from another direction, and not go for waveforms you usually would use, or filter types... try ferreting around and finding new and interesting ways to create a sound, you may take a while to make something at first, and even then it may not be useful in that particular song but it broadens your horizons (so to speak )

Hope this helps!!


Dub Fiend