tiz
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Posts: 12
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Post by tiz on Aug 23, 2018 21:16:56 GMT -8
Does anyone know how that weird snarling creature effect is made in the song Strangitude? It’s like the main feature of the track it’s usually relatively quiet and sounds like a clanky weird snarling alien. I assume it’s some seriously altered vocal sample?
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Post by sixela on Dec 10, 2018 3:43:44 GMT -8
I am guessing you mean the sound that starts at about 3:14.
I assume whichever band member created it would know (probably Ed, but maybe Joie... or someone else... yeah I'm hedging my bets here!).
The short answer from me is I don't know. However, having done quite a bit of sound synthesis myself, while it could possibly be a heavily treated vocal sample, I think it's more likely to be purely synthesized. To my ears it sounds like a sound created using wavetable synthesis.
Wavetable synthesis generally uses a bank of very short ROM samples, typically (but not always) single cycle waveforms. These can then be chained together in a sequence, or alternatively it's possible to switch between these waveforms using various modulation sources (e.g. an LFO, modulation wheel etc.). With the waveform changing in this way, the harmonic content also changes. What this ultimately sounds like depends massively on the initial bank of waves chosen, and also on which individual waves are then played from this bank, and in what order. But it does allow for very rapid changes in harmonic content, which can in some cases make it sound a bit like speech (albeit perhaps of an alien variety).
Examples of synths that use wavetables include:
PPG Wave 2.2 PPG Wave 2.3
(PPG later evolved into Waldorf, and created more wavetable synths)
Waldorf Microwave Waldorf Wave Waldorf Microwave II Waldorf Microwave XT etc.
Korg Wavestation (various versions)
Sequential Prophet VS Ensoniq Fizmo
I have seen some footage of Ozrics using a Fizmo on stage, but this synth did not exist until about 1998, well after the recording of Strangeitude (released 1991). I know that Ed uses a Korg Wavestation, and one or more band members has used a Waldorf synth of some type, so it was most likely one of these.
I'm struggling to find decent examples online, but try listening to this Waldorf Microwave XTk sound on Youtube, from 7:50 to 8:17 :
Or this original Waldorf Microwave sound (actually intelligible speech saying "1-2-3-4-5") from 6:28 to 6:45 :
These sounds tend to have a kind of metallic/robotic quality to them. The sound on Strangeitude seems to consist mostly of upper frequencies, but this could be due to the wavetable selected, or perhaps the use of a High Pass Filter.
Here endeth the synth lesson for today.
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Post by etherealise on Dec 10, 2018 14:28:56 GMT -8
3:14 sounds like a Wavestation to me.
I owned one of them. Nice synth but now have a Microwave XT which I much prefer. Easier editing for one thing...
As far as I know the only Waldorf Ozrics used was the Waldorf Wave, but I think it was on loan. It ended up in Eat Static's studio. That came out after Strangeitude was released and Ed said you can hear it on Al-Salooq.
Strictly speaking the Wavestation uses Vector synthesis, not wavetables. But they can sound similar-ish.
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Post by sixela on Dec 11, 2018 1:28:01 GMT -8
Thanks etherealise.
Personally I've never owned any of the synths I listed, although I have briefly used a couple of Waldorf wavetable synths.
The Waldorf Wave is mentioned in the artwork of Eat Static - Implant, which is how I knew they'd used it, but I'd guessed that perhaps band members had owned other Waldorf synths. But perhaps not...
As for the Korg Wavestation, I've never used one at all, but my understanding is that in addition to Vector Synthesis, which I believe is essentially controllable smooth cross-fading between different waves, there is also the ability to do Wave Sequencing i.e. playing one wave after another.
My original answer was perhaps poorly worded, but I did mean that the sound at 3:14 on Strangeitude was likely to be either a Wavestation OR a Waldorf synth. If it WAS a Wavestation, which I agree is more likely, especially if - as you say - none of the band owned a Waldorf synth, then my guess is that the sound would employ Wave Sequencing rather than Vector Synthesis, because the harmonic content is changing rapidly in a complex way.
What do you think? Since you've owned a Wavestation and I haven't, you probably have a better idea than me!
P.S. tiz - if you're still following this thread, do you feel enlightened at all, or are you now even more in the dark? Hopefully the former...
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Post by etherealise on Dec 11, 2018 15:48:17 GMT -8
Thanks etherealise.
Personally I've never owned any of the synths I listed, although I have briefly used a couple of Waldorf wavetable synths.
The Waldorf Wave is mentioned in the artwork of Eat Static - Implant, which is how I knew they'd used it, but I'd guessed that perhaps band members had owned other Waldorf synths. But perhaps not...
As for the Korg Wavestation, I've never used one at all, but my understanding is that in addition to Vector Synthesis, which I believe is essentially controllable smooth cross-fading between different waves, there is also the ability to do Wave Sequencing i.e. playing one wave after another.
My original answer was perhaps poorly worded, but I did mean that the sound at 3:14 on Strangeitude was likely to be either a Wavestation OR a Waldorf synth. If it WAS a Wavestation, which I agree is more likely, especially if - as you say - none of the band owned a Waldorf synth, then my guess is that the sound would employ Wave Sequencing rather than Vector Synthesis, because the harmonic content is changing rapidly in a complex way.
What do you think? Since you've owned a Wavestation and I haven't, you probably have a better idea than me!
P.S. tiz - if you're still following this thread, do you feel enlightened at all, or are you now even more in the dark? Hopefully the former... Yes, you're right about Wave Sequencing, I'd say that's what's used there, although I believe it's different from Wavetable synthesis.
I can't say for certain they didn't use any other Waldorfs but I've never seen it mentioned in interviews or gear lists. Plus having had the Wavestation I can fairly easily recognise the sound of it. Waldorfs tend to sound grittier but not always - at least the Microwave XT is a very deep synthesiser and capable for some really strange sounds.
The problem with the Wavestation (or at least the S/R version) was even though it is highly programmable it has a crippled interface with a tiny screen. Paired with an editor no doubt it's a lot easier. But now it's available from Korg as a software instrument I would choose that over the original. The other issue is the presets were widely used in soundtracks so it can sound a bit dated, but only really an issue if you don't program it.
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Post by sixela on Dec 12, 2018 1:15:26 GMT -8
Yeah I think the Wavestation A/D was the one to get, although I believe all of the hardware versions had only non-resonant low-pass filters, whereas the latest software version has resonant filters, although I've so far been unable to find out whether it has other filter types (band-pass, high-pass etc.).
I remember when the Waldorf Microwave II was released, and I wanted one. Then the XT was released, which I believe is essentially a Microwave II with extra knobs for quicker programming and easier real time control, plus a few other bits such as a vocoder. So I wanted one of those even more. But my cashflow situation changed and I was unable to afford one.
I did get a Yamaha FS1R though, which has vast programming capabilities, although very different to both the Wavestations and the Microwaves. And like the Wavestation SR, it has a terrible user interface and takes an age to program just one patch
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Post by etherealise on Dec 12, 2018 18:04:30 GMT -8
Yeah, Wavestation A/D was the one to get.
I have Korg's plugin but have not really used it much. I'll check the filter type. I'd be surprised if it's anything other than Low Pass. Actually I have owned all 3 synths in that plugin - the Polysix and the MS-20 as well. Kind of regret getting rid of those now!
The Microwave XT has tons of filter options and a second 6dB filter which is one of the many features I like about it.
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Post by etherealise on Dec 14, 2018 16:29:02 GMT -8
...whereas the latest software version has resonant filters, although I've so far been unable to find out whether it has other filter types (band-pass, high-pass etc.). I checked out the filter options - resonant and 'exciter'. No filter states other than Low Pass.
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