Keeping the rhythm with Synths

The Lounge General Discussion
#1

Any tips / tutorials on trying to keep a good rhythm going when using multiple synths? I start off nicely but everything eventually just becomes crammed and it loses it’s feel.

#2

What are you using and what do you want to Sound like?

#3

try not to overlap sounds that have similar frequencies too much or it can get muddy, especially in the lower range. use the full dynamic range and have elements that are quiet in addition to the loud stuff, also panning some mid/high range sounds around to give them some more “space” can help sometimes.

#4

Some ideas

  • turn off any reverb and delay effects from anything bassy or pads;
  • use reverb only sparingly and prefer time-synched delays whenever you can;
  • record or mix your synths mono instead of stereo;
  • play chords with two fingers instead of three or four;
  • give each sound a role in the groove, do not forget to play with velocity or any sort of expression;
  • let your music breathe, sneak in a little break here and there;
    etc.
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#5

Analog Kitchen has several – layering not only across the full frequency range but also programming complementary rhythms across multiple synths/tracks

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#6

You could try to emulate the M2 and P2 playmodes of the four-voice Vermona Perfourmer. In these playmodes the synthesizer channels are triggered one after another instead of in parallel.

You would have to know your way around a good sequencer to do this, or you could just get a Perfourmer…

#7

Rule of three.

Only have up to three elements playing at any one time. Eg: drums, bass part, some other part.

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