Home of Syntorial and Building Blocks

Hey there (unknown)!

Here we are with another Resonance Report!

As music makers and sound designers we can often get stuck in a loop. Such as going over the same four bar phrase or part of a sound. This can grind our creativity and productivity to a halt.

With all of the amazing software and tech available to use now we have almost unlimited freedom in what and how we create. But that can quickly become a prison of constant editing and tweaks, never completing anything.

What can we do about it?

Using a timer can break the cycle. Set 5 minutes to make a preset. Move on. 10 minutes to lay down a song structure and chord progression. Move on to the next thing. Sometimes forcing choices with a time constraint can push you to make more and get you out of that perfection loop that we can often find ourselves in.

#endtheinfiniteloopwithatimelimit

Let’s get into some production tips and tricks!

When trying to get rich and full sounds out of synths it is very tempting to use all the available oscillators and FX. This can lead to sounds that are overly complex harmonically and lacking impact in your music. Start with one oscillator and see how much you can get out of it with modulation and filter control. Then you can add another oscillator if needed. You will find your sounds becoming bigger and cleaner.

So you have been working on your sound design skills. The synth sounds you are making are sounding better and better. But have you been finding implementing them in your tunes lacking in musicality? Well along side sound design it is good to know music theory to maximise your usage of synth sounds. Here is a video crash course exploring a huge amount of music theory:

Watch as Alex Rome dives into a vast array of music theory aspects that will have you creating lush chords, strong basslines and memorable melodies in no time!

Vocoders are very powerful and useful devices. From re-harmonising vocals to adding interesting FX layers to your music they are a great way to add intrigue to your tunes. Here is a video showcasing lesser known tricks for Ableton Live's vocoder:

In this video Au5 delves into Ableton Live's vocoder and unlocks 5 amazing ways of using it that can level up your sound design skills. Get this knowledge in your memory banks now!

This weeks sound showcase is the absolutely iconic lead synth sound from 'Darude - Sandstorm'

Using Primer, learn how this synth sound was made and how to remake it yourself.