Quote from: MACH on September 08, 2016, 02:24:04 am

Yeah. If by reference you means what kind of sound design I want to improve, I really want to learn how to make good pads, leads and vocals. I know that those come off as easy to some people, but I noticed a lot of my favorite song rely fully on these thre elements, and frankly, I'm not good at any.

Here's some consideration on how i craft sounds:


the problem with sound design and the under lining context behind it, is not so much on the sound coming out of the synthesizer, but what sort and how you place effects on the synth or sound source for that matter.

What i think you should consider, is the process in which you apply effects to ANY given sound. this idea gives rise to how you're layering your mix with effects and controlling a particular element on an individual and group basis (either grouping to make one sound, or grouping of different individual sounds).

depending on your DAW, as it will vary in order to have more modular control over your signal chain, you can do some pretty cool stuff before you actually start hitting the main mixer channel buss effects (sends returns, aux, busses).


And that last statement is where i think a lot of where the magic happens in sound design.




Quite honestly, i was having the hardest time making stuff in general, until i realized a more technical approach with buss effects from the big perspective, and eventually applied it to a smaller scale towards my individual sounds.

most noteworthy are the DAWS ableton and reason. They have two particular components that add to the modular approach of this idea; effects rack and combinator, for the respective DAWS.

Another plugin, that is available for PC only i think, is the imagine line patcher.

The only other option is to understand signal processing and using the shit out of busses (lydian on the forum uses logic, and i've seen the amount of channels he has for buss effects).

all that being said, you can sculpt quite a bit of sound by using buss effects and layering in effects towards an already established "pad synthesizer sound". Because, you should at least know what makes up the padded sound in terms of programming the envelop. And that's really the only distinction that causes a pad to be a pad.

Long attack slow release, and w/e the hell else in the middle you want.

The creative use of buss effects will help you get more variation to the signal source as well as provide more to the overall sound.



at the end of it, you should have a pretty efficient sound in terms of organization and actual source material.



TL;DR

envelop programming=pad synth

layer buss effects that contribute towards that one pad synth, or sound source, to get a richer individual sound.

send that entire sound to a mixer buss and get ready to drop the bass.

be organized and get creative with your signal chain, and sound source processing.



EDIT: i know i excluded oscillators, but w/e, that's still a signal source you will have to come to terms with on your own, as it's a taste.

I have this video playlist of my favorite producers making music, that I revisit when I need motivation.

I close the door and shut the window. I prepare a can of Pepsi coke and tissues. I dim the lights and I make sure I have an additional homework tab to quickly switch to in case my mom comes in.

Idk but i never feel for filled if i sat and watched anime or played video games all day but if i spent the whole day making music or drawing i feel really good even if i didn't improve and it sucked i just feel one day i might be able to create things that are from the heart and i feel if u reach that point, i think ur life is probably better than anyone elses. I just look at Porter Robinson and its like he doesn't care how famous he is or if some of his songs sound retarded but he can make something that separates him from pretty much every other person. So for me maybe i might not reach the point where i ever get super good at something but least in a few years ill be able do something when im bored and be proud of it rather than wasting time and crap.