Synths and sounds.

[Icetickle]

I have a big problem with getting clear and nice sounds from massive when I'm making a lead synth. The sine saw and square are the classing sounds people use when making a lead so I'm doing the same thing, but I don't like the sounds that I get. Even after EQ-ing it still sounds shitty and "unproffesional" and then everything else behind it starts sounding shitty. When I turn off the lead and play only the drums with really cool atmosphere (that I made in massive) and some effects, everything sounds clear and nice again.

So I guessed that the synth is the problem and I started downloading Nexus, hoping I will get some better and cleaner sounds. Then I realized there is no 64bit Nexus and that 32bit Nexus can't work with my 64bit Ableton Live. Before changing live to 32bit (I kinda didn't wanted to do this since I have 8GB of ram) I decided to see what you guys thing about all of this...

[mthrfnk]

I have a big problem with getting clear and nice sounds from massive when I'm making a lead synth. The sine saw and square are the classing sounds people use when making a lead so I'm doing the same thing, but I don't like the sounds that I get. Even after EQ-ing it still sounds shitty and "unproffesional" and then everything else behind it starts sounding shitty. When I turn off the lead and play only the drums with really cool atmosphere (that I made in massive) and some effects, everything sounds clear and nice again.

So I guessed that the synth is the problem and I started downloading Nexus, hoping I will get some better and cleaner sounds. Then I realized there is no 64bit Nexus and that 32bit Nexus can't work with my 64bit Ableton Live. Before changing live to 32bit (I kinda didn't wanted to do this since I have 8GB of ram) I decided to see what you guys thing about all of this...

So instead of perservering with learning synthesis and creating your own sounds you've pirated a preset/patch rompler?

[Icetickle]

I have a big problem with getting clear and nice sounds from massive when I'm making a lead synth. The sine saw and square are the classing sounds people use when making a lead so I'm doing the same thing, but I don't like the sounds that I get. Even after EQ-ing it still sounds shitty and "unproffesional" and then everything else behind it starts sounding shitty. When I turn off the lead and play only the drums with really cool atmosphere (that I made in massive) and some effects, everything sounds clear and nice again.

So I guessed that the synth is the problem and I started downloading Nexus, hoping I will get some better and cleaner sounds. Then I realized there is no 64bit Nexus and that 32bit Nexus can't work with my 64bit Ableton Live. Before changing live to 32bit (I kinda didn't wanted to do this since I have 8GB of ram) I decided to see what you guys thing about all of this...

So instead of perservering with learning synthesis and creating your own sounds you've pirated a preset/patch rompler?

I didn't do anything yet...

[Triphosphate]

Nexus has some great sounds, but is extremely limited. Have you tried changing the voicing options in massive?

[Icetickle]

Nexus has some great sounds, but is extremely limited. Have you tried changing the voicing options in massive?

I always set up unisono 4, a bit of pitch cutoff (that sounds a bit weird to me lately) and pan it to full inv (not totally)...

[mthrfnk]

I didn't do anything yet...

...

I started downloading Nexus

lol.

Nexus has some great sounds, but is extremely limited. Have you tried changing the voicing options in massive?

I always set up unisono 4, a bit of pitch cutoff (that sounds a bit weird to me lately) and pan it to full inv (not totally)...

Maybe stop always doing stuff? You don't need to bump up unisono or make the sound super wide to make it sound thick, good and "pro". Try layering octaves or sets of notes within a chord. Play with delay to add width rather than panning. Use dimension expander to add stereo depth. Layer other sounds outside Massive (e.g. a thick sub) to add more weight to the sounds... etc.

[titchbit]

Maybe stop always doing stuff? You don't need to bump up unisono or make the sound super wide to make it sound thick, good and "pro". Try layering octaves or sets of notes within a chord. Play with delay to add width rather than panning. Use dimension expander to add stereo depth. Layer other sounds outside Massive (e.g. a thick sub) to add more weight to the sounds... etc.

very good advice.

[Dustwyrm]

I have a big problem with getting clear and nice sounds from massive when I'm making a lead synth. The sine saw and square are the classing sounds people use when making a lead so I'm doing the same thing, but I don't like the sounds that I get. Even after EQ-ing it still sounds shitty and "unproffesional" and then everything else behind it starts sounding shitty. When I turn off the lead and play only the drums with really cool atmosphere (that I made in massive) and some effects, everything sounds clear and nice again.

So I guessed that the synth is the problem and I started downloading Nexus, hoping I will get some better and cleaner sounds. Then I realized there is no 64bit Nexus and that 32bit Nexus can't work with my 64bit Ableton Live. Before changing live to 32bit (I kinda didn't wanted to do this since I have 8GB of ram) I decided to see what you guys thing about all of this...

I know you've EQ'd, but how long have you been producing? Only reason I ask is that EQing is a lot more than using your EQ plugin and picking a preset and shifting some things around. It's hard work and takes a long time to really get proficient at. Are you perhaps EQing with just the synth running alone? Have you tried stereo separation? It's highly unlikely that Massive is the problem here. You honestly probably have a low end heavy synth that just isn't meshing with other synths or percussion or it's got too much going on (things playing too far out of octave, phasers, lots of things can affect your goal sound.) Sometimes you have to throw out a synth if it just doesn't work for the song. Massive, while fairly straight-forward in comparison to other synths, still has a ton of knobs that can all screw up whatever sound you're trying to achieve.

[mthrfnk]

Post something too so we can advise better re: the actual sounds you're making.

[Icetickle]

Failing some more.

[Dustwyrm]

Soundcloud is free man...

[Icetickle]

failed again..

[titchbit]

pretty sure you can make it private and give us the link

[Icetickle]

FAIL...

[mthrfnk]

https://soundcloud.com/icetickle/testing

Need to give the private/secret link. Go to the share button on soundcloud and copy that link, it usually has something like "/s-20yMu" after the normal URL.

[Icetickle]

https://soundcloud.com/icetickle/testing

Need to give the private/secret link. Go to the share button on soundcloud and copy that link, it usually has something like "/s-20yMu" after the normal URL.

Soundcloud

I have a feeling that I'm failing too much.

[mthrfnk]

I like the intro, stuff sounds a little too detuned but it adds to the dissonant vibe. The growls are too loud and over distorted. The leads conflict a little with the growls, I'd make both the single lead and chords higher in pitch (or layer up the higher octave) and layer them with their own subbass underneath. I'd then use a call and repsonse style to chop between the chords and other midange. The chords/lead sound overly detuned - I'd tone that down and maybe layer a higher octave in with more stereo width and then layer in some bright white noise.

Buss the chords, the higher octave, the white noise and the sub (previously having EQ'd each to prevent clashes) and add some mild compression to glue the synths together. Sidechaining the buss both EQ and volume wise to your kick and snare will help these to punch through the mix.

It sounds like your getting somewhere, you just need to spend more time practicing, tbh it sounds like something I would have churned out 2 years ago... and imo I've only just started making semi-decent stuff which people actually like and want to download, so yeah keep at it - and keep making tunes bearing in mind a single Massive growl and a single Massive lead isn't going to fill up your track, but at the same time shoving 10 presets from Nexus into the track probably won't do you any favours either... fwiw I think getting a full coherent thick sounding track is a combination of composing it right both musically and syncopation wise and clever layering of synths/basses/atmosphere - topped off with a hell of a lot of mix tweaks to get everything sitting right. Thats what I like to do but find whatever works for you for the sound you want to make.

[Icetickle]

I like the intro, stuff sounds a little too detuned but it adds to the dissonant vibe. The growls are too loud and over distorted. The leads conflict a little with the growls, I'd make both the single lead and chords higher in pitch (or layer up the higher octave) and layer them with their own subbass underneath. I'd then use a call and repsonse style to chop between the chords and other midange. The chords/lead sound overly detuned - I'd tone that down and maybe layer a higher octave in with more stereo width and then layer in some bright white noise.

Buss the chords, the higher octave, the white noise and the sub (previously having EQ'd each to prevent clashes) and add some mild compression to glue the synths together. Sidechaining the buss both EQ and volume wise to your kick and snare will help these to punch through the mix.

It sounds like your getting somewhere, you just need to spend more time practicing, tbh it sounds like something I would have churned out 2 years ago... and imo I've only just started making semi-decent stuff which people actually like and want to download, so yeah keep at it - and keep making tunes bearing in mind a single Massive growl and a single Massive lead isn't going to fill up your track, but at the same time shoving 10 presets from Nexus into the track probably won't do you any favours either... fwiw I think getting a full coherent thick sounding track is a combination of composing it right both musically and syncopation wise and clever layering of synths/basses/atmosphere - topped off with a hell of a lot of mix tweaks to get everything sitting right. Thats what I like to do but find whatever works for you for the sound you want to make.

I will definitely try the things you mentioned above. Thanks for the respond and btw. I also like your semi-decent stuff and I can't wait for you to release and ep!

[Artie_Fufkin]

I always set up unisono 4, a bit of pitch cutoff (that sounds a bit weird to me lately) and pan it to full inv (not totally)...

Maybe stop always doing stuff? You don't need to bump up unisono or make the sound super wide to make it sound thick, good and "pro". Try layering octaves or sets of notes within a chord. Play with delay to add width rather than panning. Use dimension expander to add stereo depth. Layer other sounds outside Massive (e.g. a thick sub) to add more weight to the sounds... etc.[/quote]

+1 That 'always' thing is a bad habit to get into unless you know exactly why and it's your absolute preference.

Also consider:
-having a super dry sound with no unison/detuning, delay/reverb/dimension expander right off the start.
-playing around with the mix of the song. maybe you just need to turn other things down or eq/filter some thing to create space.
-making other sounds less clear by turning them down, pushing them to the background of the mix

I'm unable to play your track btw.