(synths) Patch From Scratch - Roland D-50 Soundtrack

[condra]

Patch From Scratch

Myself, Slimmandjango and Delphine decided to deconstruct and reconstruct some iconic synth sounds, discussing our methods along the way. Hopefully these discussions will be of help to beginners and middle-weight synthers alike.

If you're handy with your synths, please have a stab at it, letting us know your methods. If you're a beginner with any questions, do please shout out.

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The Roland D-50 Soundtrack patch
described as "a chorused, filter-swept, sawtooth fifth"

Audio Example:
http://www.synthmania.com/Audio%20Fi...nds/Violet.mp3
(the "sci-fi" synth chords in the bed)
_

I'm not sure where to start, I'm thinking a VA subtractive like Alpha, moderate LP filtering, chorus, but maybe not a pure saw wave.

I'm going to have a go at it now, and I'll get back soon. If anyone else fancies a go, please do. Looking forward to hearing your patches.

[condra]

Argh this is proving difficult for me.

[condra]

I give up already. Shit man.

[Magik]

One method for doing this is to undertake spectrum analysis of the sound in question, look at the harmonics which are in it and use those as a starting point - check out somewhere like this: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu.../geowv.html#c1

for the basics of what the basic waves look like, in terms of harmonic content, then from that you can work out which bits of the patch are made up from what sort of wave, and how they might have been distorted and by what kind of filtering - if you take a few analyses from different parts in the progression of the sound then you can start to see where envelopes have been used on the filters and any changes in the type of filtering. The audio envelopes ae also very very important in terms of creating a sound - the best way to do that is to make a detailed analysis of the sound from a normal wave editor - examining the changes and when they occur.

Have a look at Gordon Reid's Synth Secrets from Sound on sound:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

It is one of the best publications on synthesis available today for the practical mid range user, and it's free.

[Delphine]

I'm not much good with pads but I'll have a go. Bit busy with our own music right now but the threads not going anywhere is it.

[slimmandjango]

I have a MASSIVELY busy week ahead (and the only music involved is practicing in a band for a gig the following week), but tonight is my last bit of guilt-free free time so I'm going to give it a try shortly.

[slimmandjango]

Took MUCH less time on this one than the previous challenge but it probably shows...

http://www.filecrunch.com/file/~ytoey7

[slimmandjango]

My music theory knowledge isn't very good but I tried to get a similar chord progression.

I had an advantage though... There's a freeware synth called Polybit and as it has no "Default" patch, I always modify the first patch. It had two square wave oscillators an octave apart with a warm sound I could immediately see I didn't need to do much to adapt. Thing is, most people probably don't do much with this synth because it's very badly labelled and confusing. I've just got used to it to an extent.

[Edit} Forgot to mention the effects... Aside from tweaking the volume and filter envelopes of the already decent tone, I added a chorus efffect with default settings, and a pretty long tailed reverb.

[condra]

Cheers for giving this a go. I came up with something similar to yours. I think theres a certain amount of layering in the example, so its hard to hear the pure patch.

Still, this one sure is a challenge.

[musicworkz]

1. Walk into studio.
2. Turn on D-50.
3. Find Soundtrack Patch.

Done.