eggnchips wrote:And this too.AK wrote: I might want a sound suitable for some chords, so I'll start out with a basic set of oscillators playing those chords and then work the patch into the music getting a feel of how that sound needs to be in order to be effective in its context. That just involves altering various parameters and envelopes until I reach something I like but I always start out with basic sounds and never really save or use presets as I like to feel fresh in my approach.
Overall great tips. Thanks guys. I guess I just need to put the hours in.
Yeah, it's common sense really mate. I dunno about you but many a time when I have been uninspired, I have just played with synths and set out creating sounds, apart from short stabby or maybe some bass or percussion sounds, anything that's sustained is really nonsensical in its creation. I really believe that ALL sounds come to life in the context that they are in, I wouldn't create a massive ambient pad with loads of modulation and have it evolve over the course of 'X' amount of bars when I am just tinkering, but I would spend ages on it when it had a reason to exist: ie: - in a track. Then it has purpose and a function. This is why I reckon saving presets is a waste of time, they never work when you call em up and you always end up re-synthesizing the fecking things anyway. Practice is good though as is familiarisation with the synth/s you are working with.
The best thing I could add would be to limit yourself with a selection of instruments and stick with them and get to know them, this is the pitfall of many a modern artist, there's too much to just try out and you just end up a preset surfer and tweaker. Put the time in and it will show in your sounds, whether you use software or hardware is irrelevant, your own identity will eventually come through if you put the time in.