Make ANY Synth Sound More Analog 🎹 | A Sound Design Tutorial

[@VenusTheory]

Leather pants or Hot Pockets? 🤔 ▼▼▼Check out my new Vital bank!▼▼▼ vital.audio/venustheory

[@dgsoundCA]

Bragging alert: I've just bought your Analog Mutations bank. Thank you so much Cameron for your amazing work of making us better musicians! 🎹🤘

[@EversonBernardes]

A lot of old analog synths had waveforms that just vaguely resembled what they should look like, too. If your digital synth and/or VST allows for loading custom waveforms, that's something to look into.

[@CalikoTube]

Wait. Is this what those wave packs are for?!

[@EversonBernardes]

@@CalikoTube yeah, you can find single cycle waveform packs with stuff from old analog synths, synth chips from videogames, etc. They're all to use with some VSTs like Sytrus, u-he Zebra, etc.

[@colourbasscolourbassweapon2135]

well that what i did with serum and Vital i made a wavetable from my moog grandmother and my Mavis

[@AndreasR86]

On top of these tips, coming from a bass and guitar background, I also like to run things through pedals rather than just using effect plugins. Also, analog gear can and will be noisier than pristine digital synths, so don't be afraid to add some noise, even if the analog synth you're recreating doesn't have a noise oscillator.

[@umanoid1523]

You’re killing me with these mindful sounding parody opens.

[@avsystem3142]

I've been a gear head for decades, there is something satisfying about a nice piece of hardware. That said, I'm confident that, in blind listening tests of electronic music, virtually no one can identify whether a sound was created with an analog or digital synth either actual or virtual. I've paired back my studio gear to hardware synths that don't have (to my knowledge) virtual analogs. That includes: Waldorf MicroWave eXT, ASM Hydrasynth, Roland V-Synth XT (I sold my Roland D-550 because it is perfectly emulated by the V-Synth), E-mu Morpheus, Roland Integra-7, Yamaha VL1-m Version 2, Technics WSA1R and the only outboard FX unit I still have, an E-mu Vortex. I do have a Korg Kronos X but that is more about the keyboard than the synth although I like the Karma features (I had a Korg Karma and sold it when I purchased the Kronos). Maintaining and using a piece of unique vintage gear is a worthy pursuit but buying new synth hardware, for the most part, is a waste of money, resources and space unless it is something that does not exist in the virtual world. I'm looking at you Christian Henson (Spitfire Audio) with that ridiculous massive modular synthesizer you probably paid $100,000+ for that is hogging real estate in your studio. Playing with that is like jerking off, it may feel good but it's not very productive.

[@baronvonbeandip]

Gonna have to hard disagree with the modular bit. Following Richard Devine is like a masterclass on the crazy junk modular can do.

[@avsystem3142]

@@baronvonbeandip There are plenty of virtual modular synths available, both free and commercial, e.g., Reaktor Blocks from Native Instruments. They are perfectly capable of emulating anything hardware can do.

[@avsystem3142]

@@shitmandood Talk about not making sense! Your comment is all over the map, very little address my original post. I stand by my original statement.

[@glenesis]

If a recording is the destination for a sound, the digital-analog argument goes pretty much out the window. The analog gear is like being in the room with Godzilla, and the recording of it is like a CGI picture of Godzilla. Once the gear has been recorded, it's lost that much depth. The art of recording can involve tricking a listener into perceiving depth that is no longer there. Or not. It's your art, use what you've got and make what you want to. Cheers all to our generations' unlimited palette of sonic choices!

[@ReplicantSocial]

"Fancy Computer Machine Plugamajigs" might be my new favorite phrase.

[@VenusTheory]

Would be a great tagline for a plugin company haha

[@LabofmusicRecords]

@@VenusTheory ha ha, ok, I'm in :)

[@SoundAuthor]

What's important to understand about the old polysynths is that each voice was a separate circuit and when those circuits get hot the pitch starts to "warble" on a per-voice basis. This sounds a lot more interesting than just modulating the pitch of an oscillator with a random glide LFO. It's more like modulating *each voice* with a random glide LFO. Of course, not every synth allows you to modulate things per-voice, but that's why analog modelled synths like Diva, The Legend and Obsession are so popular because they do just that.

[@dorsia6938]

Thanks for the info, I think you could probably do that in bitwig with the polysynth with voice stacking. In bed rn but defs gonna try it out tomorrow

[@modeswitching]

Came looking for this comment. It’s the per voice variation - especially in the filter cutoff and envelope timings - that makes analog so special. Even a simple filter sweep can sound magical when there’s some organic drift between the voices.

[@SoundAuthor]

@@modeswitching Precisely. For years, I didn't really get the obsession with per-voice "slop" and oscillator drift, but once I finally got to know Diva's trimmer section, I finally started to really hear what people love about the old analog polysynths. I also think u-he's ACE does an excellent job of emulating "crosstalk" that happens when overheating components interfere with each other. It's the little things.

[@VenusTheory]

Using the 'random' mod slot in Vital can be a faster way to accomplish that! I avoided getting too deep into the 'per voice' differences here as that can get really heady to understand for some newer folks. But, I may revisit this video in the future to go a bit deeper into some times to emulate old gear!

[@manucass1000]

@@VenusTheory Not sure you can modulate separate voices, can you?

[@sevenfifteen]

The cinematography of your intros is beautiful! I hope you heard that already, because it's true.

[@firefueled]

So glad to have found your channel, you make a good mix of videos, you include chapters, clear explanations and you've got that radio voice. Keep up the good work

[@SongOfItself]

Now, this calls for a proper vst shoot-out :-) Using only the functionalities Cameron mentions in this vid, I knew I would get a lovely analog-ish sound in Dune 3 (and I did), but I will say that some of my other favorite synths don't necessarily measure up in this particular contest. Other synths that to my ears produce truly gorgeous results within these constraints are Fabfilter Twin 2 (incidentally, its sine wave is absolutely bonkers, I suppose that's kinda the point :-) ) and the free synth Surge. In fact, in my quick try-out, Surge produced the (subjectively) best result in the smallest number of tweaks. Its sawtooth just starts out "right" already.

[@brianrawks123]

I found you again by searching "analog coffee producer" I feel like you've made a decent enough mark on me ❤️

[@synthphilosophy]

The days of mom's hairspray - you just triggered a whole chain of childhood memories there. I want to run outside again to breath. Thank you for all your content. Much love.

[@rayderrich]

Your video and audio quality are of an amazing high standard. Only issue is: I keep watching them instead of making sounds and music...

[@nebroskitheraut6705]

Bruh your voice sounds other worldly on my studio monitors 🤯

[@JahServant]

That remark about KVR comments though, LOL! I just got a Cobalt8, and I agree, it can make some convincing analog sounds, although some would disagree. I’d love to see you do a video with sound design tips for the Cobalt. Nobody has dug deep into it on youtube, from what I can find. Keep up the good works!

[@profd65]

@@shitmandood I like the Blofeld and intend to buy one, dipshit. Almost everybody likes them except for morons.

[@akirathedon]

What an utterly delightful intro 💧💧💧

[@nottieru]

I'm in no way an old-time vintage synth user, but the few modern analog synths I got to play with (including some Moogs, an Arturia Minibrute and my beloved Dreadbox Typhon) - they do tend to sound very different in character. I don't think I can even explain it, but an analog circuit just sounds more like a real instrument. It has nothing to do with the complexity of the patch, just the oscillators themselves feel kind of more natural, more material, like it's an object that exists in the real world rather than an app on the computer. It's the same kind of difference a good tube amp makes. Maybe it's just imagination, though.

[@bertenqvist7324]

It´s not imagination, ,.. At once something is an app in the computer it creats a distance a void a replica,.. it´s not a real deal it´s a clone. every virtual synth is in other world a clone therefore it sounds become pail and limp.

[@alexovercast3359]

Lol love this - was taking a break after making something using Vital (thanks to this channel for introducing it to me) and PG-8X. Vital sounds great (although very digital in nature), and PG-8X sounds almost exactly like the first real analog I owned (JX-8P). It's good to have the cash and studio real estate cleared up. Happy Holidays. ps.Waiting for the hot pocket crew to attack

[@macstar95]

This is a fantastic video. I'm not sure why NOW, but this is the video that opened my eyes to playing with limitations.

[@VenusTheory]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wonkyrobot]

Sweet, sweet leather pants! Great video Cam! To do simple can be a challenge sometimes, with all the various crazy synths out there doing all the things, all at once.

[@VenusTheory]

Glad you enjoyed it! Figured this would be a good video to make as I feel like people get trapped in this mindset that every sound has to be hard to do!

[@LabofmusicRecords]

Ha ha, the "Volume" Sticker on the Blofeld, great :-))

[@FreeThink1984]

Look at what they need to imitate a fraction of our power!

[@MattDiamondMDE]

Nice tutorial man! Thanks

[@danemiljoshua]

You're voice 🤩

[@VenusTheory]

Thanks - grew it myself!

[@johnpumphrey7655]

Thank you for the education. I thought this video was superb for a fella like me that is new to music synthesis.

[@GaryY]

The sounds you are creating here are exactly what I'm looking for. However, do you have or can you suggest a step-by-step tutorial that will show me how to use a synthesizer in FL studio or a plug-in to do the same thing. I am desperately seeking this ability. I believe I literally need a step-by-step from A to z sound design architecture. I want to get outside the world of presets and do exactly what you have done here.

[@MegaKojo99]

Bro, love the video. Also you sound like bird person from Rick and Morty

[@warp9988]

U-he diva has entered the chat.

[@wilfig]

I really love pure analog, but I've gotta have some digital in my life.

[@Neuri]

damn this was beautiful Cam

[@SwiftDreamer]

Freat tutorial Venus!

[@steveditore3165]

Most of the latter-day analog fanatics either don't remember or never knew the massive production tricks used in the studios to make "that" analog sound. The Eventide Harmonizer was a favorite: one particularly widely despised synth pop group mentioned in an interview that the synth sound on one song was sent through the Harmonizer, then chorused and reverbed, and sent back through the Harmonizer again. Another lesser-sung group stacked up multiple tracks of the same synth patch, with maybe some slight variations, but maybe just depended on the unreliability of analog oscilators, to add richness and complexity to the sound. Heavy-dose EQ was also a major factor in getting those transparent analog pads heard on '80's recordings. One aspect of "that" analog sound you didn't mention was the noise and midrange distortions that were also typical of analog circuitry, especially when recorded on analog tape, with its own distortions and noise. Just knocking over a convenience store to pony up for that ancient Jupiter 8 or OBXa won't get that beloved sound; disappointment is fairly typical there. As one Seattle-based producer once put it on his website "It's not the wand, it's the wizard". I'm looking in your direction now.

[@baronvonbeandip]

Huh? Is the DX-7 not considered old?

[@zachary963]

I started music on the guitar, then went to (and failed at) modular synths, so this is really all I know how to do with synths. I don’t understand digital synths yet lol. I have found that my Vital patches tend to be emulations of my Minimoog or SEM…

[@JamesRamboPearce]

You need to do Calm stories man seriously

[@FinalfixMusic]

I am so drunk right now

[@okay1904]

Venus Theory - what microphone did you record most of the voiceover for this video with? Voice - i.e. your human voice sounded so superb. Like a radio ready voice.

[@VenusTheory]

Yo! All recent videos are recorded using my Deity S Mic 2

[@Tubeinnit]

Angry analog pants 🩳

[@glenesis]

Hi Cameron! I just deleted my fine rant about analog vs digital synths. It was glorious, but far off-topic. This coffee-addicted Boomer analog snob grew up with digital audio, and I applaud your lesson here. Nice patch-work, Sir! Happy music-making!

[@reidmich182]

Are the encoders starting to go on your unit?

[@VenusTheory]

So far so good, but maybe getting a bit worn out from so much use. However my understanding is that they aren't super hard to replace, so I'm not too worried!

[@bertenqvist7324]

Every VST-synth is a clone therefore every noise in general sounds pail and limp. if you sample a bell for example and pull the tangent down there is immediately a detention it takes time for the sampling to go throagh all the way to the speaker.. How to restore this and can it ever be restored ?? if someone could come up with a solution ? Can a transistor from the 60th be the answer? An analog mechanical filter into virtual synth ?? it might make it more warm and alive, clone-wise.

[@bertenqvist7324]

Bell was a bad example because a bell is one of the few instruments who actually can be improved in Vst,-

[@Warunicorn]

I love these intros! lol

[@oziaso9655]

Hardware always have a better low end .

[@dartist1176]

You made a quite simple but very useful and interesting point in this video. As humans we use to think that things must be more complicated than actually are, and this is why is very common to miss the most obvious solutions. Instead of trying to replicate vintage sound adding tons of nonsense effects, advices, "sell your car and buy a moog one" and "trust your ears", why not learn about the actual specs of originals and keep it simple?. Great point 👍

[@hermask815]

Thanks. I will try all your tips with an Opsix-FM synth. it has all the controls you employed to fake analog. Synthesizers were the most modern instruments decades ago. it's fascinating that a lot of folks are so obsessed with old gear from bygone periods and manufacturers are comparatively shy to make steps forward because of their backward oriented customers. I was hugged enough by my parents so i don't need that "analog warmth" that others miss so much in "cold, digital" gear. PS: a. what's the other thing the analog folks are always complaining about? The filters are not as good/aggressive as on their old gear. b. even FM folks are looking back to the DX7 instead of moving on.

[@warp9988]

Mmm.. Delicious Hot Pocket warmth.

[@bunningtonhevy]

BroTT lol

[@ErinIsBlueBlue]

Great video ! You made a very good job at warming up this quite cold Blofeld. Impressive.

[@jazzdude7014]

the secret of "analogue sound" is simple: u have no options! and there is no "the same sound again". And no midi for more than 12 years of Synth history.

[@premixmpk7070]

Attack of boomers

[@VenusTheory]

One day someone needs to make an Audioboomers forum where we can collect all the "wisdom" they share.

[@profd65]

It's funny how there's such contempt for "boomers" when all zoomers and millennials do is rip them off. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

[@robarkskillie960]

Crying "woke-ahontas"' - touche

[@louiseisobelevans]

Cringe