Korg Forums

[Grog96]

Hi all,

Can anyone help me figure out how to recreate the sound right at the very beginning of this track?
https://youtu.be/_RnaZkhlzQU - Signify by Porcupine Tree, on YouTube.

It's the the screamy sweeping synth part in the first second or two, before the guitar riff.

I suspect it's gonna require either a MS-20 or MOD-7 engine, but those things utterly befuddle me!
So far I'm comfortable with HD-1, and I've tinkered a little with Polysix & AL-1. I just don't think they'll cut it for this sound though.

Any ideas, pointers, help, gratefully received!

Cheers,
G.
_________________
Current gear: Korg Nautilus 73, Korg Kronos X 61 (non-booting!), Korg Krome 73,
Gathering dust: Korg 01/Wfd, Korg M1, GEM S2, AKAI S2800, EMU Morpheus, Casio AZ-1 + midiBeam
Band: Harmony Of Spheres

[voip]

That sounds like a sample taken from a shortwave radio's audio output, whilst tuning through a carrier wave, using a synthesised receiver in SSB or CW mode, so the synthesiser steps cause the warbling note, as they step through the signal. The background sound to that part of the track is consistent with that being the likely source.

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[Grog96]

Thanks for the response, voip.

Yes I agree, they're evoking a radio being tuned - particularly with the subsequent high-pitch whistle that can be heard over the guitar riff.
In fact I have created something I can use for the whistle, but it's that initial 'screamy' part I'm missing.

Do you think it's possible to recreate this on the Nautilus/Kronos? I was hoping not to have to sample it, because when I play it live I can't predict when our guitarist will come in. There's gonna be a "cliff-edge" where the sample stops abruptly. But if it's synthesised, I can give the envelope some release so it'll fade out when I let go of the note, and my six-stringed colleague can please himself.
_________________
Current gear: Korg Nautilus 73, Korg Kronos X 61 (non-booting!), Korg Krome 73,
Gathering dust: Korg 01/Wfd, Korg M1, GEM S2, AKAI S2800, EMU Morpheus, Casio AZ-1 + midiBeam
Band: Harmony Of Spheres

[voip]

No guarantees that any of the following will produce the desired result, but you may get close, after further tweaking various parameters (especially setting Joystick -X to something like -36.

Programs from the Kronos (also present on the Nautilus) that might make a possible starting point (notes played right at the top of the keyboard are the most likely to be close to the "key" of the original sound):

Widow Maker
MS-20EX Sci-Fi (not on Nautilus)
Hold ON for Help - try using the vector joystick on the Kronos
Waveburst (not on Nautilus)
Beyond the Crypt - play a note around middle C, use joystick -X

If, whilst playing the various Programs, something like the hoped-for sound evolves, consider recording a sample, which can later be edited, to isolate the part of the sample of interest, and turned into a playable sample, linked to a key. The editing can either be done on the Kronos/Nautilus, or using something like Audacity. Sampling can be set up from the Program's Sampling tab, and enabling Sample Record. If you choose Disk as the Save To parameter, then files called TAKEN000.WAV (or similar) will be created, and can be found using Media mode. From here, they can be loaded into the Sampler memory, for editing.

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