Getting energy into leads

[Karoshi]

Hi all, been a while since I was last on here!

Anyway, im having a little difficulty getting "energy" in leads. Like, I can get them screechy, I can get them loud, I can get them as distorted as much as I want, but to give them energy, im stuck.

Im talking about the leads that are not actually really over powering, they are not particually loud in the mix but they sound loud.

I know im not explaining myself very well. Imagine making a noise with your mouth, just going "Aaaaaaa" at a normal speaking volume. then going "AAAAAGHHHH" in the same note, just louder and with more power, load them into your DAW and put them so they peak at the same levels. now they are both the same volume but one will sound louder and full of energy, thats what i mean about the lead.

Trying to find examples now, sorry for the essay!

[titchbit]

An example would really help. I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, but some ideas to give extra oomph to your leads include....

-gain staging (not even turning the volume up, just turning the volume of other things down)
-EQ'ing the mix well so the lead's important frequencies aren't being drowned out by something else at the same frequency
-compression
-saturation/distortion
-vibrato (LFO on pitch)

[Karoshi]

sorry I didnt get chance to check this thread again last night, Ill get an example asap.

-gain staging (not even turning the volume up, just turning the volume of other things down)
Not this, it will then be the same sound, just sat above everything else in the mix

-EQ'ing the mix well so the lead's important frequencies aren't being drowned out by something else at the same frequency
Again, its not about the actual mix I dont think, its the energy in the noise its self

-compression
I suppose this could do it to an extent, but it will still be the same noise just with less dynamics?

-saturation/distortion
Yeah this is what I have tried over and over, I have found that although the sound gets more distorted, it doesn't add to the energy. this was my first mistake, adding some distortion, realising there is no more energy than before, then adding more etc until it just sounds shocking.

-vibrato (LFO on pitch)
Maybe, I will have a play when i get home.

I was also thinking a realllllly fast lfo on a cutoff for a low pass with a bit of reso, As the only time I have had a lead sound like its actually screaming as hard as it can whilst still being low in the mix was actually on a Monotron, when the LFO was turned so high it was also generating its own tone.

Cheers for the reply, cant have a play around at the moment as I am in work. If I survive the next 8 hours ill post my findings.

[Karoshi]

Couple of examples (sorry no links, I will edit and add later, im in work so cant at the moment)

My Oizo - Monophonic Shit - at about 2:15 the lead synth (probs not the best example, awesome tune though, I want the drums)


Rack n Ruin - Dazed and Confused (Skisms Baroque out remix)
Not my usual bag, but the synth at 58 seconds after the "huh" sounds powerfull, yet not overly loud, just the impression of loud.


Shufunk - Cocaine VIP (Levela Remix) again, the lead in this thats throughout the song


Mistabishi - Pyramid War
At about 3:20 after that insanely long riser, the lead that kicks in and then the one a bit later which adds even more. I know this was made on a Korg EMX Electribe almost exclusively so there cant be that much to it on this.



Joker - Tron
The lead in this sounds like it has a very fast LFO on it IMO


Noah D - Seeeeeeeerious VIP
That lead has so much power, but still clean (ish) at the same time, which sorta suggests not a lot of distortion.


Not the greatest of examples, hope y'all get what I mean though.

Another thing I have tried is something Joker mentioned once, put a sub bass line in the same bus as your "lead" or something, add quite heavy compression and a tube like distortion, then filter the sub out, leaving a sort of "squashed" interesting sound (and obvs layer your bass or whatever else underneath)
I think that was the technique anyway from what I remember

[NinjaEdit]

Unison or chorus?

[Karoshi]

nah that usually just makes it sound wider/bigger imo

[Karoshi]

ffs how do you embed videos?

[rareclub]

Post a clip of a song of yours with a lead you want to add more energy to.

Layering will probably help

[titchbit]

ffs how do you embed videos?

[Karoshi]

ffs how do you embed videos?

Thats what i did above, full youtube address inbetween?

[Karoshi]

Post a clip of a song of yours with a lead you want to add more energy to.

Layering will probably help

Ill upload a track im trying to get energy into in a minute, its dnb though not dubstep

[Karoshi]

Soundcloud

fresh out of FL, still think the leads need more of this fabled "drive"

[Eskimo]

Start with a good sound, and then it's all about having other elements in the track that compliment the sound so everything sounds full and tight together.
If you have the best lead in the world and shitty drums to it, some weak sub and a poopy mixdown then it's probably not going to sound very good, having an interesting composition also helps.
Also on that joker track, that's not lfo, just pitch bend
My two cents

[Karoshi]

Start with a good sound, and then it's all about having other elements in the track that compliment the sound so everything sounds full and tight together.
If you have the best lead in the world and shitty drums to it, some weak sub and a poopy mixdown then it's probably not going to sound very good, having an interesting composition also helps.
Also on that joker track, that's not lfo, just pitch bend
My two cents

Still, its getting the drive into the lead, thats what im asking how to do.

I know joker used a lot of pitch bends (or porta) thats not what i mean, but there is a very fast LFO at times (exactly 57 secs is the first one)

[NinjaEdit]

Add an oscillator and octave up?

[Karoshi]

the sounds in that track each had 3 osc's 12 semitones apart

[Eskimo]

Start with a good sound, and then it's all about having other elements in the track that compliment the sound so everything sounds full and tight together.
If you have the best lead in the world and shitty drums to it, some weak sub and a poopy mixdown then it's probably not going to sound very good, having an interesting composition also helps.
Also on that joker track, that's not lfo, just pitch bend
My two cents

Still, its getting the drive into the lead, thats what im asking how to do.

I know joker used a lot of pitch bends (or porta) thats not what i mean, but there is a very fast LFO at times (exactly 57 secs is the first one)

Overdrive, distortion, parallel processing... but really try get your mix as good as you can, so the listener can hear it properly.

And on the joker thing, yes I know.. that fast thing is also pitchbend.==> http://gyazo.com/1d8fe19174136a9cbe04e450b4ec1e9e.png

[Karoshi]

where is the screen shot from?

Ahh ok, I just thought it was an lfo automated

Still trying to work on the mix down which is my biggest weak point, proper annoying me now

[Eskimo]

I took the screenshot
Don't get too caught up on one track though, try to make track as good as you can, then move on to the next one... Your mixes will improve over time.
Also, use reference mixes, they help

[JackSawyersMusic]

Think about the notes you're using and even if the lead isn't so great the rhythm and melody played will make all the difference, for example try some staccato notes and some rhythms that sweep up and down the scale quickly