Making leads thicker using effects or specific vst?

[HalfTone]

Any simple ideas on how to make leads thicker and fuller?
Everyone says sausage fattener but to me it makes everything so horrible!
Just wandering if theres any types of compression, expanding, spreading that would help?

+ does it matter if your sub hits at like 32hz in places? Its just not at the right to possible hit at a nice moderate spot, is there any way to get around this?

[AxeD]

Well, chorus comes to mind of course. Maybe run two instances of the same synth for it.

[HalfTone]

Well, chorus comes to mind of course. Maybe run two instances of the same synth for it.

'Maybe run two instances of the same synth for it' I often do that and have a wider higher version and a more solid version under it, seems to work nice

Havnt tried chorus that much, ill give it a go now! thanks

[Augment]

One deeper part of the synth all mono, more stereo the higher you get. Layering is key. Make sure the different layers don't confict with each other though..

[jamesmakan]

Many synths offer "unison" functions. This effects virtually what running multiple instances of a synth would cause but outputting through the one channel.
Generally I find 6-8 "instances" adequate with some stereo width and compression. I don't recommend chorus to make things beefier because it usually results in thinning the sound out due to phasing issues.
The reason why unison would typically work better is the wavetable positioning is slightly altered (giving you a slightly different sound per instance) and this evades phasing issues more than simply duplicating the exact sound, adjusting it to be slightly not on time with the initial sound and panning (the basic functions of chorus).
Not to completely negate the use of chorus, it can be helpful when filling in space, or better, making a sound slightly more interesting - but I recommend only if used quite moderately.

[jamesmakan]

p.s. I don't quite get what you were asking with the 32hz - In any case I would say anything that low is negligible on most speaker systems and I would put a high-pass on it.

[Augment]

p.s. I don't quite get what you were asking with the 32hz - In any case I would say anything that low is negligible on most speaker systems and I would put a high-pass on it.

I highpass my stuff at about 28hz. having a note hitting at 32hz is too low I think.

[HalfTone]

p.s. I don't quite get what you were asking with the 32hz - In any case I would say anything that low is negligible on most speaker systems and I would put a high-pass on it.

You know like your sub is supposed to hit around 50hz on the freq spectrum? Just so most systems can play it and it sounds beefy. Well my sub in the track im working on hits a around 35hz due to the key the track is in, im just asking if theres any way to get it upto 50hz or wether you think 35hz is abit to low and risky to use

[dubesteppe]

Haas delay! theres also some dimension expander vsts

[jamesmakan]

p.s. I don't quite get what you were asking with the 32hz - In any case I would say anything that low is negligible on most speaker systems and I would put a high-pass on it.

You know like your sub is supposed to hit around 50hz on the freq spectrum? Just so most systems can play it and it sounds beefy. Well my sub in the track im working on hits a around 35hz due to the key the track is in, im just asking if theres any way to get it upto 50hz or wether you think 35hz is abit to low and risky to use

I don't know how you normally do your bass but I would incorporate layers that fall in higher frequency ranges (up to 400hz) and are BACKED by the sub. The sub layer doesn't need to exist much lower than 40-50hz (rolling off, of course) because you won't hear it. It takes an immense amount of electricity to power something out of a speaker that slow and what ends up happening is during your final mix the really low frequencies steal from the rest of the song's volume.

I would take a few minutes to put some of your favorite artists' works under a spectrum meter (Voxengo makes an incredible and free vst called "SPAN") and really look at how the bass rolls off, starting at what frequency and the slant down towards 20hz.

You shouldn't worry about the key you're writing in because as you get that low on the spectrum, the notes fall closer together on the frequency integers.

One more thing, I suppose, is you could just make that ONE low note an octave higher. =P

[mthrfnk]

Try duplicating the track, and panning one slightly left and one right and delay one by a few ms. Alternatively use a stereo widening VST.

Also layering notes, with dofferent velocities helps imo - try duplicating your melody a few octaves up/down but cutting the velocity to 25%-50%.

Also I find layering very simply other patches over your lead can fill stuff out (e.g. a simple saw or square synth or pluck layered over. Hell try even layering white noise.

As for Sausage Fattener, don't use it excessively, don't turn the knobs all the way up - use it carefully and minimally and you can get some good sounding stuff.

Also maybe check out some Saturation plugins (I like to use FerricTDS), and once you've got all your leads bus them together and use a stereo bus processor and/or compressor.

[sunny_b_uk]

distortion or multi-band distion will get u more impact if your after that
or try using some compressors that have a bit of character
for thickening though the comments above mine are good enough

[nowaysj]

Use a richer sounding synth. Use a gentler filter slope if you can.

And use compression, parallel or otherwise.

[HalfTone]

Ok thanks for the advice ive tried everything out! definitely helped, Im working with sylenth for my leads and the detune and phase options have been a big help I also tried the multiple instances I usually use 2/3 but I found using more with a gentler approach seems to work better, bussing the leads to a bus which has a PSP Vintage Warmer 2 (I think thats what I used, not sure) seems to add a lot of brightness and thickness whilst giving it a nice compression and warmth! The PSP thing is definitely worth a look at btw!

[mthrfnk]

Ok thanks for the advice ive tried everything out! definitely helped, Im working with sylenth for my leads and the detune and phase options have been a big help I also tried the multiple instances I usually use 2/3 but I found using more with a gentler approach seems to work better, bussing the leads to a bus which has a PSP Vintage Warmer 2 (I think thats what I used, not sure) seems to add a lot of brightness and thickness whilst giving it a nice compression and warmth! The PSP thing is definitely worth a look at btw!

PSP Warmer is gold.

[cmgoodman1226]

Chorus and unison both work well, but only in moderation. Too much of either one of them can make the sound thin. I like to use them early in my effects chain so that if it does thin out the sound, whatever else I add will beef it up. Honestly there's no shortage of ways to beef up a sound. You can use multiple different types of distortion, layer it with some white noise. You can put a really fast lfo on the pitch so it makes the pitch go up and down (slightly) very fast and has almost a distortion like effect. Reverb can do wonders if used well.

Try layering different sounds that compliment each other, multiple octaves, or chords. A single sound may be weak, but might sound very well with something else played underneath it.
All this being said, I've never been very good at creating leads; mine always wind up sounding the same.

[syrup]

Do not hi-pass your sub, at 32hz. Even if you can't hear it you'll definitely feel it in a system

[HalfTone]

Do not hi-pass your sub, at 32hz. Even if you can't hear it you'll definitely feel it in a system

I never high pass my sub at all, I mean the main beef of the sub is hitting at 32hz ish on the analyzer and wandered if it would cause problems

I do usually roll of anything under 24 hz ish on the master channel using ozone