nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Discussions on sound production outside the synthesizer such as mixing, processing, recording, editing and mastering.
Post Reply
User avatar
Richard Gear
Active Member
Active Member
Posts: 253
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:35 pm
Location: Qc, CANADA

nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by Richard Gear » Sat Nov 06, 2010 11:51 pm

I like a lot the 70's vintage synth sounds (especially in the mids and highs). I would like to get most of the classic synths only if they were a bit more affordable. I have the feeling that 80% of the synths have more or less the same features. But what makes a classic synth unique are often small details like the bandpass filter of the SH-5, the ensemble FX of the Polysix, the Moog filter, and so on.

I feel like it could be possible to nail most of these features with a synth like a SEM or a JX-3P with some carefully selected pedals. In other words, I'd like to get a Polysix sound without getting a Polysix and a good bandpass tone without a SH5 and occasionally a Minimoog tone with the MF-101. Do you have external fx processors to recommend to nail those tones and some other?

Sorry, I feel like my writing is not at it best today.... :?

User avatar
sequentialsoftshock
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 2415
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:57 am
Real name: Zayne
Gear: Pro One, Analog Keys, Prophet 5, MPC60, TR606, RD8, St. Vincent Guitar, Bluesbreaker amp
Location: Philadelphia
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by sequentialsoftshock » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:10 am

Garageband and a good interface :lol:

monolith
Expert Member
Expert Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:37 am

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by monolith » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:29 am

A wah pedal is a band pass filter. A pedal like the Subdecay Prometheus has band pass too.

A dark analog delay with subtle modulation might be good, like the EHX memory boy.. it can do wild modulation too, and chorus, so you might cover two things there. Even an EQ would do a lot in shaping the sound into the '70's sound you desire.
Spring reverb also.
Try mic'ing the synths through a guitar amp too, especially one with spring reverb.

User avatar
sequentialsoftshock
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 2415
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:57 am
Real name: Zayne
Gear: Pro One, Analog Keys, Prophet 5, MPC60, TR606, RD8, St. Vincent Guitar, Bluesbreaker amp
Location: Philadelphia
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by sequentialsoftshock » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:34 am

f**k the memory boy; they have more problems than I think anything else I've used. It seems like every single one made needs to be sent to the factory for a fix. :facepalm:

monolith
Expert Member
Expert Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:37 am

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by monolith » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:42 am

works fine for me, I've toured it playing guitar in a band - about 80 gigs using it so far - and am yet to encounter a problem. I've dropped it, spilt beer on it, stomped the h**l out of it too.

User avatar
pricklyrobot
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 1742
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:37 am
Location: Austin, TX

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by pricklyrobot » Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:06 am

Yeah, I've also had no problems with my Memory Boy, and it was a store demo, so who knows what abuse it went through before I got my hands on it. ;)

If you're into DIY at all (even if you've not done any before, these kits are a great place to start), Build Your Own Clone have several excellent analog pedals. Some are clones of specific pedals, while other are hybrids of different features from various classics. For '70s sounds, I'd definitely check out the Chorus, Phaser, and Flanger for starters.
Arturia MiniBrute -- bits o' Euro -- Sammich SID -- E-mu MP-7 -- Korg ER-1 -- Thingamagoop

User avatar
space6oy
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5401
Joined: Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:29 am
Gear: vimpat, citalopram & vitamin D.
Location: stuck in ohio.
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by space6oy » Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:06 am

i have a memory boy & a deluxe & have never had a problem w/ either.

i think you have too many negative opinions sequential...

User avatar
sequentialsoftshock
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 2415
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:57 am
Real name: Zayne
Gear: Pro One, Analog Keys, Prophet 5, MPC60, TR606, RD8, St. Vincent Guitar, Bluesbreaker amp
Location: Philadelphia
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by sequentialsoftshock » Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:23 am

space6oy wrote:i have a memory boy & a deluxe & have never had a problem w/ either.

i think you have too many negative opinions sequential...

And all these people are too?
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=+site:eh ... 203d1b4e27

My unit was f**k up from the first time I plugged it in, and I tried getting it fixed but they wanted me to pay shipping there and back, plus $15 or something for service. After I just bought it. I told them to go f**k themselves and just haven't been able to use the pedal since. It's a real bummer too.

User avatar
pricklyrobot
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 1742
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:37 am
Location: Austin, TX

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by pricklyrobot » Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:08 am

sequentialsoftshock wrote:
space6oy wrote:i have a memory boy & a deluxe & have never had a problem w/ either.

i think you have too many negative opinions sequential...

And all these people are too?
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=+site:eh ... 203d1b4e27
Well, based on that link, I'm only really seeing two or three other people on the EHX forums talking about Memory Boy problems. Not sure that's enough to support the idea that this pedal is chronically defect-prone.

More troubling is the apparently shitty customer service you were offered by EHX. They shouldn't be asking for repair and shipping fees on equipment that's malfunctioning straight out of the box.
Arturia MiniBrute -- bits o' Euro -- Sammich SID -- E-mu MP-7 -- Korg ER-1 -- Thingamagoop

User avatar
sequentialsoftshock
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 2415
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:57 am
Real name: Zayne
Gear: Pro One, Analog Keys, Prophet 5, MPC60, TR606, RD8, St. Vincent Guitar, Bluesbreaker amp
Location: Philadelphia
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by sequentialsoftshock » Sun Nov 07, 2010 2:39 am

Yeah, the customer service is the biggest reason for my negativity. In one of those threads someone else said they were also treated the same.

User avatar
b3groover
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 965
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:41 am
Real name: Jim
Band: THEO
Location: Lansing, MI
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by b3groover » Sun Nov 07, 2010 3:18 am

Seems like the retailer you bought it from would replace it for you if it didn't work.

User avatar
sequentialsoftshock
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 2415
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:57 am
Real name: Zayne
Gear: Pro One, Analog Keys, Prophet 5, MPC60, TR606, RD8, St. Vincent Guitar, Bluesbreaker amp
Location: Philadelphia
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by sequentialsoftshock » Sun Nov 07, 2010 4:21 am

That would work nicely if they had any in stock and weren't 1,000 miles away...

User avatar
nathanscribe
VSE Review Contributor
VSE Review Contributor
Posts: 2889
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:03 pm
Location: The right side of the Pennines
Contact:

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by nathanscribe » Sun Nov 07, 2010 12:17 pm

This isn't a bitching thread, it's about getting 70s sounds.

RG: If you want 70s sounds, the most obvious thing is to play 70s style and use 70s gear, as much as you can anyway. You can help things with the right kind of processing - listen to the EQ on those old tracks, the balance of sounds, the way they used dynamics...

One problem with buying 70s kit is that collectors are bound to sprinkle it all with copious amounts of perceived mojo, and prices become prohibitive. Depends what you want.

If it's effects you want, try things like the EHX Small Stone (classic chassis) and MXR Phase 100, though I recently picked up a Boss PH-1r and that's a nice one. Also try the Electric Mistress for flanging, cheap old digital delays (the Digitech RDS1900 is a good example) and some kind of BBD-based delay (though vintage units can be pricey). The DOD FX90 is supposed to be good for cheap, but even one of the Behringer units would get you started. The Boss CE-1 is a classic chorus, but you'll find the CE-2 cheaper. Early CE-2s go for sturdy money though. Get a later one, they sound the same. I know most of these aren't 70s originals, or even 70s effects, but I've had useful results from this kind of approach.

One other trick is to run things through an old cheap mixer. I have a couple of late-70s mixers that do good things to the sound - ie., they ruin it, technically speaking - they have 2-band EQ, switched gain controls, noise - and a pleasing sound. That, with careful use of compression.

In terms of synths and patches, you'll be looking at VCO machines mostly, and divide-down stringers, organs, EPs... pick a 70s synth, look at its architecture and mimic it as best you can with what you have. Wherever you can introduce instability or random fluctuation into pitch, for example, on a VA, do so. You might be surprised how well it works.

Many 70s synths will be collectors' items, but there are also bargains to be had if you're lucky. I'm thinking of mono-presets like the Teisco S-100P, which is a great synth for almost no money, but don't come up often. Or the Crumar Multiman, etc. I mean, if you're on a budget you probably won't be getting a Mini, Rhodes, CP70, Hammond and Mellotron. But you coud feasibly mimic somebody like Trobbing Gristle or John Foxx, etc. who used a limited range of more easily replicable synths (ARP Oddy, Roland System 100, etc). Even the SH-09 is still relatively affordable, maybe even the Rogue.

Modern synths that sound like they have 70s blood in them are also available new. The Moog LP is one example - I've heard good things about others too; you should probably look at stuff like the Vermona Lancet or some modular kit.

Then you've got the fact it was all recorded to tape. That in itself is a whole other world of pain I suspect. Good luck.

EDIT: I've just seen your gearlist. SH-1000? Multiman? What are you whining about? Multitrack your SH-1000, run your Crumar through a Small Stone, and pretend you're JMJ. Done. :lol:

User avatar
pricklyrobot
Synth Explorer
Synth Explorer
Posts: 1742
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:37 am
Location: Austin, TX

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by pricklyrobot » Sun Nov 07, 2010 3:41 pm

nathanscribe wrote:cheap old digital delays (the Digitech RDS1900 is a good example) and some kind of BBD-based delay (though vintage units can be pricey).
+1
Should've remembered to mention that one in my first post. I've got an RDS-1900, and it's excellent on it's own or in conjunction with the Memory Boy. Paid $40 for mine a few years ago, but you can probably find them even cheaper now.
Arturia MiniBrute -- bits o' Euro -- Sammich SID -- E-mu MP-7 -- Korg ER-1 -- Thingamagoop

User avatar
Richard Gear
Active Member
Active Member
Posts: 253
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:35 pm
Location: Qc, CANADA

Re: nailing the 70's synth sounds with pedals

Post by Richard Gear » Sun Nov 07, 2010 6:01 pm

nathanscribe wrote:This isn't a bitching thread, it's about getting 70s sounds.
[...]
EDIT: I've just seen your gearlist. SH-1000? Multiman? What are you whining about? Multitrack your SH-1000, run your Crumar through a Small Stone, and pretend you're JMJ. Done. :lol:
Thanks so much for the good advices and bringing back the thread to its subject.

Yes, I have some nice 70's synths. But I'd just like to get a better control over the modulation and control of the mids. I fear that the MURF might be a one-trick pony.

I could also get a Lovetone Doppelganger.. but is that really worth to pay around 550$ for one??
brb

Post Reply