Lead sounds and plucked strings?

[Tusker]

Re: Lead sounds.....

 

It seems we use just about everything as a starting point (brass, flute, whistle, etc.) for our lead sounds except plucked strings. I suppose you could argue that the guitar emulation leads are plucked string, but typically the keyboardists version doesn't have a distinctive attack. Most of the character comes from the overdrive or distortion.

 

Why do you suppose that is? Are plucked strings just hard to do well on a synth? Have you heard or used any plucked string type type synth leads that work? Any idea what instruments are used for them? (Analog, FM, Rompler, etc.) Any tips/suggestions on making them up?

 

Cheers,

 

Jerry

[synthetic]

Remember the DX7 Jazz Guitar/ Koto patches? They were popular for solos for a while.

[Postman]

Try this:

 

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/sos/sep01/articles/synthsecrets29.asp

[Synthguy]

That's interesting, as I used to fuss around with getting an attack on a distorted guitar patch. I tried getting some big attack transient, even a kick drum pitched up high, the level controlled by velocity as well as a sample/hold gated by key, to add a little randomness. (There, that makes more sense now) Reults were mixed. Human players are more useful when bent to our wills.

[Bucktunes]

Originally posted by Tusker:

Are plucked strings just hard to do well on a synth? Have you heard or used any plucked string type type synth leads that work? Any idea what instruments are used for them? (Analog, FM, Rompler, etc.) Any tips/suggestions on making them up?

My favorite plucked string sounds come from my OASYS. I suppose you could get the same sounds from a (Korg) Z1 or by adding the MOSS board to a Triton or Karma. Those synth engines are both derived from the OASYS.

 

FWIW, Jan Hammer mentions the Z1 as one of his faves, probably just for those type of sounds.

 

Peace all,

Steve

[Tusker]

Wow, cool information. Thanks all.

 

Postman, that is a great article (even if Gordon Ried is the bearer of bad tidings). I can relate to the impossibility of using filter resonances for formant or guitar resonances. We would need to create a new type of narrow bandwidth BPF I think. If that's even a possibility.

 

Synthetic ....It doesn't surprise me that the DX7 had good plucked sounds ... all I remember is the tuned percussion and epiano stuff. I'll see if there are mp3's on the web. You wouldn't know where there might be some samples to listen to would you? Failing which, If you have a song and artists name, I could track it down.

 

Steve, are you talking specifically about the OASYS plucked string model? Would you know where I can read the various parameters in the model. (A pdf manual perhaps.) Does it allow you to model sympathetic resonance at all? (One string vibrating the next?)

 

Synthguy, that's a nice tip. Thanks. That would add more interest to an electric guitar emulation. I remember being very fond of Brian May's distinctive pick sound (very scratchy). Turned out he used pennies so he wouldn't run out of picks.

 

Cheers,

 

Jerry

[synthetic]

Originally posted by Tusker:

Synthetic ....It doesn't surprise me that the DX7 had good plucked sounds ...You wouldn't know where there might be some samples to listen to would you? Failing which, If you have a song and artists name, I could track it down.

Wow, artists who soloed on DX7, that could fill a book. A few off the top of my head:

 

- Jan Hammer "Night Talk" from Miami Vice Complete Collection, DX Jazz Guitar solo. Also "Golden Triangle" for Koto solo.

- Chick Corea Electrik Band, the whole first album is a DX fiesta. If you like Jazz, I highly recommend this CD.

 

Also Steve Winwood "If you see a chance" has a cool plucky lead sound, Minimoog probably.

 

-jl

[realtrance]

Don't forget Yamaha's VL modelling, either -- you can still get that as a separate wind-type instrument, or as a PLG board for any Yamaha synth that will accept same. While the emphasis there is on winds, there are plenty of string-oriented models to play with as well.

 

rt

[aeon]

Bucktunes said:

My favorite plucked string sounds come from my OASYS.

Same here, but I like the freeware Plectra-Chime physical model more than the included plucked string model most days.

[Steve LeBlanc]

Roland D50s had some pretty good plucked string patches.