Synth sounds that go with emo/punk

tpantano · Post by **tpantano** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 8:29 pm

I'm joining an emo/punk band soon, and basically I've been trying to make sounds on my R3 that'd go good with emo/punk music... all my R3 sounds sound too happy.

Basically, I'm trying to brainstorm sound ideas that would go good alongside heavy guitars and loud screams... things that could go against music like this and fit in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFDCHdKbKBY

So, any ideas for what kinda synth sounds could match with that? Any links to sound samples, names of patches, synth waves that sound good etc.

I'm also getting an X50 soon (if the retailer can find their power adapter ¬.¬), any 'real' instruments you think might fit with this kinda music? IDK how pianos, organs, violins etc. might sound

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:14 pm

The problem with synths in screamo is that the power chord guitars and vocals don't leave much room for anything in between without losing the impact due to whatever you add. Maybe the Enter Shikiri approach of intros, interludes, and filter sweeps is the best way to use a synth in between the other instruments. They use a lot of gated hypersaw stabs.

tpantano · Post by **tpantano** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 1:57 am

xmlguy wrote:The problem with synths in screamo is that the power chord guitars and vocals don't leave much room for anything in between without losing the impact due to whatever you add. Maybe the Enter Shikiri approach of intros, interludes, and filter sweeps is the best way to use a synth in between the other instruments. They use a lot of gated hypersaw stabs.

Well, In trying to create a stab I realized how awesome full res comb filters are.

Anyways imma bout to check out enter shikari.

btw, for a hypersaw, in order to maintain at least 3 notes polyphony (for root+fifth+octave power chords), I only want to use 3 unison tops, and I also want to use drive instead of a subosc, so this puts me at a theoretical '6' oscillators. Would it be better to use a PWM pulse over a saw to make it sound like there's more?

xmlguy · Post by **xmlguy** » Sun Jun 06, 2010 2:19 am

I try to avoid unison entirely to preserve polyphony. I prefer to stick to using the many other ways to get the hypersaw going, such as using both oscillators, DWGS, detuning, wave shaping, envelopes, lfos, vpatches, FX, the mod sequencer, etc. I'd sooner use both timbres rather going to unison +1, because the second timbre can result in a more rich wave than merely unison spread/detune. Regarding PWM, sure, I'd try everything and anything, just to see if I like the result. It's great fun having so many options to try. Occasionally that wicked "happy accident" will occur that makes trying worth every bit of effort. I can spend hours just experimenting, even though I might have a strong objective in mind for the patch.

X-Trade · Post by **X-Trade** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:15 am

Remember on the R3 and Radias you can also do PWM-like modulation to the sawtooth wave, which is quite effective. Equally you have the 'unison' oscillator mod mode which uses up no additional polyphony and makes oscillator 1 sound like 5.

Also when playing - generally if the guitarists are playing power chords, you don't necessarily need to. I generally just play fifths, fourths, or even single notes.

You might also like to experiment with industrial rhythmic patches.

cminor · Post by **cminor** » Mon Jun 07, 2010 10:53 am

try to use more modulation and more Minor Chords...

AhhThatGuy · Post by **AhhThatGuy** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:53 pm

I use arpeggios... usually three or four notes per beat, in a descending pattern... this makes for a really nice breakdown in the song as well, with a bit of knob twiddling:)

ozy · Post by **ozy** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:33 pm

punks should not be allowed to buy keyboards. stop.

dayuri · Post by **dayuri** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 12:08 am

ozy wrote:punks should not be allowed to buy keyboards. stop.

I agree.

tpantano · Post by **tpantano** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:11 am

ozy wrote:punks should not be allowed to buy keyboards. stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDMKuNCqGss&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9i-cphEtAM&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOH0zf9Fq0&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wngyXhTx4pc&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGB_T83I4U&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-cmcCwmMb8&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P3SHXQEpRU&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkEYEF1-ArY&fmt=18

there's why punk people should be able to buy keyboards. They all have a punk/indie/alternative/emo influence, some more traditional guitar punk (like muse and enter shikari) and some much more electro (like ca$h ca$h)

I honestly enjoy all music. I don't understand why people need to attack genres. Songs and bands should be judged individually, not by saying "oo all those untalented teenagers who play punk just slam a few power chords and become famous, they don't deserve it, I'm going to hate all punk now".

Just because I listen to Black Veil Brides doesn't mean I don't enjoy hits from Michael Jackson, to Santana, to Madonna, to Dream Theatre, to Daft Punk. I don't say, 'oo, my punk is 10 times better than your trash', yet most people try to go out of there way to talk about how their music is 10 times better than mine and that mines trash... ¬.¬

be open to all music.

/end rant

dayuri · Post by **dayuri** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 12:38 pm

IMO punk died in the 80s. Punk wasn't a new musical aesthetic so much as it was a social/political necessity.

tpantano wrote:
ozy wrote:punks should not be allowed to buy keyboards. stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDMKuNCqGss&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9i-cphEtAM&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOH0zf9Fq0&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wngyXhTx4pc&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGB_T83I4U&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-cmcCwmMb8&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P3SHXQEpRU&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkEYEF1-ArY&fmt=18

there's why punk people should be able to buy keyboards. They all have a punk/indie/alternative/emo influence, some more traditional guitar punk (like muse and enter shikari) and some much more electro (like ca$h ca$h)

I honestly enjoy all music. I don't understand why people need to attack genres. Songs and bands should be judged individually, not by saying "oo all those untalented teenagers who play punk just slam a few power chords and become famous, they don't deserve it, I'm going to hate all punk now".

Just because I listen to Black Veil Brides doesn't mean I don't enjoy hits from Michael Jackson, to Santana, to Madonna, to Dream Theatre, to Daft Punk. I don't say, 'oo, my punk is 10 times better than your trash', yet most people try to go out of there way to talk about how their music is 10 times better than mine and that mines trash... ¬.¬

be open to all music.

/end rant

tpantano · Post by **tpantano** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 5:05 pm

dayuri wrote:IMO punk died in the 80s. Punk wasn't a new musical aesthetic so much as it was a social/political necessity.

err?

what country are you in?

dayuri · Post by **dayuri** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 2:46 am

tpantano wrote:
dayuri wrote:IMO punk died in the 80s. Punk wasn't a new musical aesthetic so much as it was a social/political necessity.
err?

what country are you in?

I don't mean people have stopped making punk, what I mean is punk used to be an important tool of social change and political commentary, now its just a forum for impotent teen angst and a great way of farming parent's wallets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock

ozy · Post by **ozy** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 2:47 pm

dayuri wrote:now [punk] is just a forum for impotent teen angst and a great way of farming parent's wallets.

True, albeit you could substitute MANY things for [punk]:

1) Peace in the Middle East

2) Global warming

3) facebook-surfing mobile phones

4) ...

aaronpico · Post by **aaronpico** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:00 am

Not quite punk but check out some of the sounds used by "The Dismemberment Plan". I really like what they did (No longer together), but that may give you some ideas. I think they used a Casio or something like that.

I like their album "Emergency & I"