Clap sounds with synths

[polyklinik]

hi all!

how can i make a (useful) clap sound with substractive analog synth? Components & tips & tricks?

[calyx93]

Depends on what you consider useful and which subtractive synth you're using. Tell us what you've got and we can take it from there.

[Automatic Gainsay]

I'd be interested to hear responses about this. I have failed to achieve anything very clap-sounding with anything analog. I think I came close once with an ESQ-1, but even so.
Aren't clap sounds samples or specially-generated sounds?

[ImperatorDX]

I used a freeware softsynth called Synth1 and I got a clap sound by using:

OSC1: Square Wave PW 80%
OSC2: Noise

OSC1/OSC2 mix ratio 80/20

FM knob at about 2 o'clock

Amp ADSR: Fast attack and decay, no sustain, fast release
Filter ADSR: the same as above but decay about 3 times faster than the amplitude decay

Filter: BP

Cut off knob at about 1 o'clock
Reso 8 o'clock

Tracking: 0
Env Amount: 2 o'clock

Experiment and adjust to taste

The result is this:

http://www.mediafire.com/?71g7vp3v4dyevqg

[Yoozer]

Aren't clap sounds samples or specially-generated sounds?

You've got a modular: go try this. Modulate the LFO (square wave shape) rate with an envelope with zero attack, zero release, and a short decay; perhaps you have to make the decay curve even more exponential, you'll figure out how. Route the LFO to the amplifier or filter cutoff that has a noise generator going through it.

That's the basis of the "crack" generator in the Waldorf Attack, and apparently how the 909 clap works.

[White]

I made a clap sound on my Yamaha AN1x by just using noise. It was a long time ago but I've just checked:-

Attack = 0
Decay = 47
Sustain = 0
Release = 0 (experiment with this)

It's more of a thwack and is reminiscent of the Roland/Boss ClapTrack sound.

[nogginj]

I think the most important thing to consider is the 'multiple impulses' of many hands clapping at once. I have read that at the most basic, a clap is synthesised with two impulses, with a small delay between them. Think 'click-clack' really fast. Anything else is going to sound like a snare I think.

Googling 'synthesizing clap' provided immediate results.

http://waveformless.blogspot.com/2009/1 ... -clap.html
and a 36 page academic write up! http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/do ... 1&type=pdf

[Automatic Gainsay]

Aren't clap sounds samples or specially-generated sounds?

You've got a modular: go try this. Modulate the LFO (square wave shape) rate with an envelope with zero attack, zero release, and a short decay; perhaps you have to make the decay curve even more exponential, you'll figure out how. Route the LFO to the amplifier or filter cutoff that has a noise generator going through it.

That's the basis of the "crack" generator in the Waldorf Attack, and apparently how the 909 clap works.

I don't have a modular anymore, but I'll give it a swing with the 2600. I'm dubious, though.
It might be that what I'm referring to... the standard drum machine clap sound... is different than what people are willing to accept as a clap from an analog source.

[kuroichi]

This is the closest I could do with my FR XS up to now, although Im still experimenting...

[White]

This is the closest I could do with my FR XS up to now, although Im still experimenting...

That's more or less the same sound I got out of the AN1x

[Solderman]

I'm also having trouble getting it right. On my Polivoks, I used the chain:
Noise -> Bandpass-> audio rate sawtooth modulating VCA -> External Highpass filter
It sounded like this:
Still more like a rattle.

[kuroichi]

The funny thing is, I can get the initial crack or the clap decay, but not at the same time....

[Sir Nose]

I get a descent hand clap on my little phatty.

To get the crack and a longer delay I run it through a delay set at short repeat time and adjust the feedback to set the decay length.

[balma]

you guys need to go rom/sampler from time to time

And there are so many different variations of clap sounds, Create a short sound with fast decay and high attack, high LPF filtering, a little bit of resonance, and try to modulate the pitch linking it to the fastest LFO possible (sawtooth maybe), but that's only one route.

Normally claps works as snare, emulating snares with analogs is a good ride, and lovely hits can be achieved with the simple but effective combination of filter/resonance.
but most realistic and rich sounding claps... are sampled claps.
For multiple claps, I love to record several tracks with them , and delaying each one of the notes for a few milliseconds....

It sounded like this:
Still more like a rattle.

[nathanscribe]

OK. The 808/909 clap is generated by taking filtered noise and multiple-triggering the VCA. There are three initial impulses and a long tail. The impulses are generated by passing a ramp generated by an initial trigger to a comparator and using level detection to fire off the subsequent triggers.

Check out the TR-808 service notes for details.

I suppose there are numerous ways of achieving this with analogue synths, but unless your synth has good modulation facilities you'll probably end up with something weak and single-shot. Outboard processing will help there, such as the fast short delay already mentioned.