That French synth we all love

[theofficialcityboy]

Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to create a hard hitting french synth.
I am looking into something similar to a deadmau5 and justice feel.
Madeon drops it pretty hard at 1:03 in
I understand that there are a ton of different sounds going, and a lot of sidechain compression which brings out that poppy feel, but I am looking for help on the main synth, and not so much the glitchy details.
I would really appreciate it If anyone has any suggestions for specific vsts or samples that I could look into.
Take care.

[Bresson]

I know for sure a big part of this style of sounds is synching waveforms to another at intervals, ie a 5th synched to the root. Play around with that at different octaves as well

[theofficialcityboy]

That makes sense. That is probably how he gets the chords so full sounding, but I am more curious to the actual production of the synth sound. Is he using a sample synth or is it something he created in massive or some other vst?

[zerbaman]

Sounds like saws, like some layerd, play your main chord, then layer it with the same chord, a few octaves up and add some reverb.
Experiment with the chords, should get you where you need to be. But the basis i defo Sawtooth waves.

Perhaps layer some strings too

[jrisreal]

more than 2 detuned saws, my guess is anywhere between 4 and 6 detuned saws, maybe subtle LFO on the pitch of some of them. Then play some good chords with that and you will be golden.

[theofficialcityboy]

I think I will give the saw wave idea a try. Are you guys familiar with ableton's operator? Or do you recommend some other vst?

[zerbaman]

We both use FL Studio..

[theofficialcityboy]

Ah, fair enough. I'll see if I can figure it out.
Thanks for the help. Take care.

[jetpack]

I would like to know how to do the glitchy lines?

[blazinaidan]

I know for sure a big part of this style of sounds is synching waveforms to another at intervals, ie a 5th synched to the root. Play around with that at different octaves as well

Never understood what the oscillator sync really meant. Care to enlighten?

[xrylex]

a must for this this sound IMO is having a multi oscillator mini-moog style synth creating it.

i prefer the Pro53 personally but most electro producers will probably tell you the impOSCar/Minimonsta are a better sounding choice.

its heavy heavy unison that gives you the sound, which i guess is the same end result as stacking chords in diff octaces, but with stacking chords like that you are going to get a ton of higher octave content that you may or may not want.

ive had better results with saw/square combos than just detuned saws....

simple method thats been talked about online a bunch is on PRO53 using the default super sync lead. crank the voices WAY up. add some tube distorion, compression, crank up some of the low end, but high pass around 150/200hz and then layer with a sine for your sub.

also experiment with duplicating your synth and sending one thru a guitar cab simulator like guitar rig. can add things like chorus to the cleaner version to help with some width. send all of the layers to a bus, compress together, and sidechain to your kick...

this is not a sound you will nail overnight. trial and error is def needed.

some various vids to check out:

[wub]

• Sawtooth wave for the actual synth sound itself, maybe with some portamento on it to give some movement.
• Glitchy effect sounds like a beat repeat/tape stop effect. Try running your sound through something like dbGlitch and bouncing out the results a few times. Find a couple of sections you like, cut them out and drop them back into the playlist as audio instead of the MIDI programming
• Sounds cliched as hell, but a lot of the 'french' sound is achieved through sidechain compression. Try making a silent 4/4 kick track that runs through the whole of the tune as a trigger, and have it drop the volume of the synth ever so slightly every time it hits. The kick won't be heard on the output, but it will give a slight 'breathing' effect to the synth

[Divane]

When I try to make a silent Kick track the the sidechain does not recieve the signal.

I use Cubase, any ideas why?

[darkartois]

When I try to make a silent Kick track the the sidechain does not recieve the signal.

I use Cubase, any ideas why?

Make sure the compressors input is your kick channel, and make sure the kick is sends only.

[Electric_Head]

When I try to make a silent Kick track the the sidechain does not recieve the signal.

I use Cubase, any ideas why?

Or setup a folder channel as the parent.
Put the kick into the folder and mute the folder not the send track.
The kick will send to the compressor but you won`t hear the kick.
Also make sure your compressor is setup to receive from the kick.

[Divane]

Hmm. I tried it with a folder track but as soon as I mute either the Folder or the Kick the Sidechain effect fades :/

[Divane]

Ok so I got it working like this: I change the Kicks output channel to either the Sidechain or simply No Bus. That way the Kick is still sending a signal to the Compressor but since it's not in the output you won't hear it.

Still as soon as I mute the effect is gone.

[Bresson]

I know for sure a big part of this style of sounds is synching waveforms to another at intervals, ie a 5th synched to the root. Play around with that at different octaves as well

Never understood what the oscillator sync really meant. Care to enlighten?

Well from what I understand, it goes like this: Every frequency has its own speed of vibration right? And non-sine wave forms (square, saw, whatever) will have multiple frequencies, but of course there will always be a base frequency, which is of course the note you are playing. When you synch wave B to wave A, every time the A wave starts over going up and down (1 up/down movement is a phase), that B wave will start over as well, so B is in sync with A. I hope that made sense

[-[2]DAY_-]

Ok so I got it working like this: I change the Kicks output channel to either the Sidechain or simply No Bus. That way the Kick is still sending a signal to the Compressor but since it's not in the output you won't hear it.

Still as soon as I mute the effect is gone.

not familiar with cubase but try using pre-fader send... and rather than literally mute the channel, just pull down the fader?

[Bresson]

You dont need to mute it/pull the volume down if there is no output. No output = no sound