Hello. I am a composer and producer. I have been producing rock stuff only so far, but now I am involved in producing a new pop/dance project (in the style of K. Perry and the likes...) and I am looking for a synth with the right set of sounds.
I am not interested in spending time in programming my own sounds, so I would mainly use presets which I would tweak a bit.
Can you suggest me a synth to this purpose?
My current gear, used in rock productions, is : Fender Rhodes MKII, Hammond M100, Clavia Nord Piano, Access Virus Indigo.
Thanks!
the right synth for a pop-dance production
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
my Indigo is a killer but it's a bit aged and, since I can't understand if its sounds are still contemporary, I was wondering whether there is something new with a different "taste" out there...
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
Better give me that Fender Rhodes Mk2... It's a bit aged and it's not been contemporary since 1983 when the DX-7 replaced it
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- vinyl_junkie
Frequent Poster - Posts: 1579 Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:00 am Location: Kent, UK
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
A lot of contemporary music has an 80s infulence, so getting a DX7 might be a sensible move 
I wouldn't worry too much about whether something has dated or not, synths don't really age, other than the presets in them which can be spotted and subsequently make them sound old. I think you probably have a good complement of synths already. You might want to expand you 'real' sounds by looking at a soft sampler like Kontakt.
I wouldn't worry too much about whether something has dated or not, synths don't really age, other than the presets in them which can be spotted and subsequently make them sound old. I think you probably have a good complement of synths already. You might want to expand you 'real' sounds by looking at a soft sampler like Kontakt.
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- Richie Royale
Frequent Poster - Posts: 4551 Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:00 am Location: Bristol, England.
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
I am a dance music producer and use, amongst others -
Access Virus Classic
Yamaha Motif ES rack
Novatin Supernova II
Waldorf Micro Q
Quasimidi Technox
Roland JP8080
Yamaha FS1r
Maybe worth checking some of those out.
Access Virus Classic
Yamaha Motif ES rack
Novatin Supernova II
Waldorf Micro Q
Quasimidi Technox
Roland JP8080
Yamaha FS1r
Maybe worth checking some of those out.
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- Guest
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
Does it have to be a keyboard? Any keyboard you buy is in danger of becoming outdated quickly if you do not become very familiar with how to program it in depth.
Also, the sound of modern pop these days is as much to do with the processing and layering of sounds in the DAW.
This set of plug ins is an almost go to set these days. Probably a bit 'canned' for some - but not if you want contemporary sounds now...
http://refx.com/
Otherwise I think the Waldorf Blofeld is good value.
Also, the sound of modern pop these days is as much to do with the processing and layering of sounds in the DAW.
This set of plug ins is an almost go to set these days. Probably a bit 'canned' for some - but not if you want contemporary sounds now...
http://refx.com/
Otherwise I think the Waldorf Blofeld is good value.
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
Yeah I'll trade you my Prophet 12 for that Rhodes!
But I think you should probably consider an analog or a hybrid analog like the Prophet 12. Pop music producers, despite popular belief, aren't just sitting in front of 100,000 (euros/pounds/dollars) of processing equipment, a 45,000 (E/P/D) desk and a computer. They're all synth nerds too- synth nerds with money!
The P12's can take digital harshness and smooth it over into thick bass lines, fantastic chords and pads- as well as out-there FX. I'd also consider adding a vintage analog poly if you don't mind dropping some serious cash- nothing will dredge up your inner top 10 radio fan like an Oberheim OB-Xa/Matrix 12 or Prophet 5/Prophet VS. You can temper the nostalgia with software instruments and DAW processing.
But I never feel more inspired to compose pop music than when I'm zoning out on an 80s poly and stumbling upon a Tears for Fears patch. Just throw in some leads on the virus and use some glitchy FX to round that vintage out into modern pop.
But I think you should probably consider an analog or a hybrid analog like the Prophet 12. Pop music producers, despite popular belief, aren't just sitting in front of 100,000 (euros/pounds/dollars) of processing equipment, a 45,000 (E/P/D) desk and a computer. They're all synth nerds too- synth nerds with money!
The P12's can take digital harshness and smooth it over into thick bass lines, fantastic chords and pads- as well as out-there FX. I'd also consider adding a vintage analog poly if you don't mind dropping some serious cash- nothing will dredge up your inner top 10 radio fan like an Oberheim OB-Xa/Matrix 12 or Prophet 5/Prophet VS. You can temper the nostalgia with software instruments and DAW processing.
But I never feel more inspired to compose pop music than when I'm zoning out on an 80s poly and stumbling upon a Tears for Fears patch. Just throw in some leads on the virus and use some glitchy FX to round that vintage out into modern pop.
Talk me out of buying more synths....please.
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
Fact of the matter is there is nothing wrong with his Access Virus this guy has but he can't be bothered to program it. Whilst the Virus is not my favourite synth in the world or even close to me liking it that much there is nothing wrong with them and can do everything the op asked for.
The stuff us synth nerds moan about is like the 0.004%
Maybe he can buy those Vengeance sound packs for them that every one uses on that kind of music cos they are also too lazy to turn a few knobs.
http://www.vengeance-sound.com/soundsets-access-iv2.html
The Incubation sound set seems to be free now
http://www.vengeance-sound.com/
All that new synthy pop music there is nothing new to it imo, just terrible super saw trance patches that sound like something from 99, nasty loud multi-band compression and some wailing woman with loads of auto tune
The stuff us synth nerds moan about is like the 0.004%
Maybe he can buy those Vengeance sound packs for them that every one uses on that kind of music cos they are also too lazy to turn a few knobs.
http://www.vengeance-sound.com/soundsets-access-iv2.html
The Incubation sound set seems to be free now
http://www.vengeance-sound.com/
All that new synthy pop music there is nothing new to it imo, just terrible super saw trance patches that sound like something from 99, nasty loud multi-band compression and some wailing woman with loads of auto tune
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- vinyl_junkie
Frequent Poster - Posts: 1579 Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:00 am Location: Kent, UK
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
Or if you really want the exact same sounds those artists used get a cheap kids casio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEvGHlFe3_A
And
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnHofSA0CKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEvGHlFe3_A
And
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnHofSA0CKE
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- vinyl_junkie
Frequent Poster - Posts: 1579 Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:00 am Location: Kent, UK
Re: the right synth for a pop-dance production
I was scared to touch my DX7IID for years, when I grew tired of the sound I thought I'd better have a go at programming it. Everyone said it was a nightmare but once you get into a synth to program, it's really quite easy. I got it to sound really good and got some excellent sounds out f it (analogue and digital type sounds, even good filter sweeps!). If you want to have a go at programming, try and find, as I did, a parameter list for the synth in question.
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- Guest