A Simple Step To Get Your own ‘sound’
A really simple thing you can do to help you on your journey to your ‘own sound’
Either it’s Massive or any other synth….
Delete the factory presets!
The sounds that come with a synth are generally there to show of the capability of the synth, they are not really so great to drop right into a track – and the chances of finding what you’re after are almost impossible… probably why so many forums out there are full with ‘help me make this sound’ posts!
Creating your own library of sounds this will help you stand out from the crowd
Not only will starting with a blank canvas set you on the path towards creating your own unique library and sound but this method will give you an invaluable insight into how the synth works. Also by creating your own library of sounds this will help you stand out from the crowd. It may seem a daunting prospect (hey you can always reinstall those presets!) – but try it for a week and see how you get on. Perhaps put aside a couple hours a week to creating your own sounds.
Start with the basics and work your way up – Play with combination of the OSCs, mess around with filter types and settings or try modulating some parameters. Try making some strings, stabs, pads… try making a kick drum or a hi hat pattern. It’s all to easy to pick a preset that kind of does the job… but spend some time creating it yourself and the door will be open to make the sound really yours!
Let me know your thought’s on this one – leave a comment!
8 Responses to “A Simple Step To Get Your own ‘sound’”
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Totally agree. Daunting it is, but very rewarding when you can make something that is yours and incorporate into your projects. I've just recently started doing this and am loving finding new ways of creating patches or modulating parameters. Once you start down this path its hard to go back!!
From a sound design point, I totally agree. And even from a composers standpoint, having a patch that you yourself made can be very inspiring. However, I would caution against going too far with this–it would be absolutely foolhardy to categorically discard presets forever, as they can provide really good ideas or starting blocks. When I was starting out with synthesis, I'd agree, I found it far more useful to force myself to whip something up from scratch without presets, just to figure out what my sound was. But nowadays, I find that I'd rather spend my inspirational impulse and energy (which is very much finite) in getting down the notes that I want, because sometimes, I just don't have the energy to build a patch from scratch AND put together a song in one sitting. Of course, as always, it's good to follow your intuition and try both ways out; do what works best for you and makes you happy as a composer.
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admin says:
Interesting points airlab.AM
I like to keep the songwriting process and sound design sessions seperate – sometimes i will spend just a weekend making sounds without any track in mind for them just to build up my library. When the time comes and i'm looking for a sound when writing i can pull something close to what i'm after up quickly.
I also agree with your final point – do your own thing … whatever you find easiest is right for you!
Here is an interesting interview with Stephen Hitchell (Intrusion/Deepchord) where he talks about, amongst other things, this very topic!
http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2009/11/artist-tips…
emtex says: word man! i only use samples if i can't create the desired sound by myself
Hi steve
Hows things in hong kong? a little different from Edinburgh eh!
Great music and blog my friend keep doing your thing
i kept massive and learn't it thanks to you. I only use a coupe of synths now less is certainly more. Although i am scared to delete my presets LOL.
Are you still rocking with the macbook pro and ableton?
any way mate
peace
all the best fred.
graeme says: at my uni, they did just this. deleted all the presets that came with logic other plugins/synths etc and only added a few basic ones that we used during tutorials etc.
definitely forces you to learn more!
derek says: SO TRUE!
cptx says: I still run all original presets. I do however love to put on alot of automation with effects/eq/compression etc – > resample and then do it all again.
I really do need to start making my own patches… i did within reason, but since moving to cubase i’m still working out all the kinks 
Totally agree. Daunting it is, but very rewarding when you can make something that is yours and incorporate into your projects. I've just recently started doing this and am loving finding new ways of creating patches or modulating parameters. Once you start down this path its hard to go back!!
From a sound design point, I totally agree. And even from a composers standpoint, having a patch that you yourself made can be very inspiring. However, I would caution against going too far with this–it would be absolutely foolhardy to categorically discard presets forever, as they can provide really good ideas or starting blocks. When I was starting out with synthesis, I'd agree, I found it far more useful to force myself to whip something up from scratch without presets, just to figure out what my sound was. But nowadays, I find that I'd rather spend my inspirational impulse and energy (which is very much finite) in getting down the notes that I want, because sometimes, I just don't have the energy to build a patch from scratch AND put together a song in one sitting. Of course, as always, it's good to follow your intuition and try both ways out; do what works best for you and makes you happy as a composer.
Interesting points airlab.AM
I like to keep the songwriting process and sound design sessions seperate – sometimes i will spend just a weekend making sounds without any track in mind for them just to build up my library. When the time comes and i'm looking for a sound when writing i can pull something close to what i'm after up quickly.
I also agree with your final point – do your own thing … whatever you find easiest is right for you!
Here is an interesting interview with Stephen Hitchell (Intrusion/Deepchord) where he talks about, amongst other things, this very topic!
http://www.xlr8r.com/features/2009/11/artist-tips…
word man! i only use samples if i can't create the desired sound by myself
Hi steve
Hows things in hong kong? a little different from Edinburgh eh!
Great music and blog my friend keep doing your thing
i kept massive and learn't it thanks to you. I only use a coupe of synths now less is certainly more. Although i am scared to delete my presets LOL.
Are you still rocking with the macbook pro and ableton?
any way mate
peace
all the best fred.
at my uni, they did just this. deleted all the presets that came with logic other plugins/synths etc and only added a few basic ones that we used during tutorials etc.
definitely forces you to learn more!
SO TRUE!
I still run all original presets. I do however love to put on alot of automation with effects/eq/compression etc – > resample and then do it all again.
I really do need to start making my own patches… i did within reason, but since moving to cubase i’m still working out all the kinks