Programming Snares on Synths

[Erotic Cabaret]

Anyone have any tips as far as programming snares on synths? I feel like my synth snare patches are a bit weak.

EC

[Stab Frenzy]

Check out this: http://www.waldorfmusic.de/en/archive/a ... ounds.html

[Erotic Cabaret]

Just downloaded...thanks.

[Stab Frenzy]

It's written specifically for the Attack, but what it says can be used for any synth you care to use really.

[Erotic Cabaret]

I just programmed some great kicks using it as a guide...thanks! However, many of the parameters are specific to that VST.

I'm looking for general advice on programming good snares...currently using my Nord Lead 3, but I have a Prophet '08 as well.

[Ry-Fi]

Also check out Gordon Reid's Synth Secrets series: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

I intend to be trying to synthesize good snare sounds myself in the next little while, and will definitely be using this as a reference.

[tekkentool]

Once you're happy with the basic sound. Sample and process. So important.

[Erotic Cabaret]

I read Gordon Reid's SOS articles, but they're outrageously pedantic. I just want some tips. I've programmed great kicks, toms, hats, and crashes, but I cannot seem to program a good snare.

[Joey]

I just programmed some great kicks using it as a guide...thanks! However, many of the parameters are specific to that VST.

I'm looking for general advice on programming good snares...currently using my Nord Lead 3, but I have a Prophet '08 as well.

1. you will only be able to really do this on the nord

2. i just read the PDF, and it is very easy to transfer everything said to the nord. the prophet doesnt have oscillator fm.

read again.

[sequentialsoftshock]

Some people evidently don't always like to use the search function... This would have been your loss too!

would love to read some practical explanations of creating fm drums sounds from you guys

Working with just a 2-op stack, with no feedback, a carrier frequency of 1 with a modulator frequency of high ratio greater than the carrier frequency, the modulator driven by a short envelope, will yield a number of wooden and metallic hits, the character determined first by the ratio (to determine spectra) and then the envelope (to determine spectral decay).

Working with just a 2-op stack, with no feedback, a carrier frequency of 1 with a modulator frequency of high fixed frequency, or a complex ratio, the modulator driven by a short envelope, will yield metallic attack hits of the tine and bell variety, the character determined first by the ratio (to determine spectra) and then the envelope (to determine spectral decay).

I hope that made sense.

You might also want to check out these resources which address a number of synthesis techniques:

First, I would recommend reading the excellent Sound on Sound Synth Secrets articles that deal with percussive synthesis:

Sound on Sound 2001-11 Synthesizing Percussion
Sound on Sound 2001-12 Practical Percussion Synthesis
Sound on Sound 2002-01 Synthesizing Drums: The Bass Drum
Sound on Sound 2002-02 Practical Bass Drum Synthesis
Sound on Sound 2002-03 Synthesizing Drums: The Snare Drum
Sound on Sound 2002-04 Practical Snare Drum Synthesis
Sound on Sound 2002-05 Synth Secrets: Analysing Metallic Percussion
Sound on Sound 2002-06 Synthesizing Realistic Cymbals
Sound on Sound 2002-07 Practical Cymbal Synthesis
Sound on Sound 2002-08 Synthesizing Bells
Sound on Sound 2002-09 Synthesizing Cowbells & Claves

Next, I would read the Percussion chapter in the Nord Mod book by Jim Clark. These techniques can be adapted to many synth architectures.

Percussive Synthesis Techniques on the Nord Modular

Then, I would download the manual for the Waldorf RackAttack, as it has some excellent descriptions of analog drum circuitry and theory for synthesis:

.pdf manual for the Waldorf RackAttack

Next, it might spark some ideas to look at the design of the Mungo dDS Drum Synth:

.pdf manual for the Mungo dDS Drum Synth

Also of note are the Roland patches for their System 100 synth.

Roland Analog Percussion Notes

That should get you started!


cheers,
Ian

I love this guy so much!

[Erotic Cabaret]

Thanks for the links!