Thanks Rodilh!
Another cool thing to play around with is having some unique aspect to the start of a lead or keys sound. I guess it would be a ‘transient’ sound. And also try to create a rich sound to start with before filtering away at it.
For example: Here is a sound I made as a ‘basic’ starting point. Try it and save variations and experiment with the settings. It may spark something for you - or not (~.^)
OSC 1 Tun = 23 ~ 26
TRK = OFF
LEV = OFF
WAV = SQR
SUB = OFF
PW = 21~24
ALL Others = default
Page2
NOISE
FAD = 51
LVL = 58
All others = default
OSC2
LVL = 75 (try from very low (eg; 33) for gentle / max for harsh)
WAV = Tr Pulse
PW = -7
SPD =45
PWM =33
All others = default
Page2
SMD= 2 -> 1
AM2 = ON
TRG = ON
All others = default
LFO1
SPD=33
MUL= Tuned 2K
MOD = TRG
WAV = EXP
DST1= PM1
DEP= 45
All others = default
So here is a basic sound with some character maybe like a ‘harmonica’ or something. Now after building up a harmonically rich sound there is something to actually start ‘sculpting’ away from. I think it’s good to have a nice big ‘chunk of clay’ as it were to start with.
As for the filter
For a string sound you might try:
FRQ= 20~45
RES=20=45
OVR= 12~30 (I like about 30)
TRK= 8 (Or to your taste)
DEP=39
Filt2
FRQ=17
RES=35
TYP=PK
All others = default
ENVF
ATK=10
DEC=54
SUS=0
REL=52
SHP= 3
DST= OSC2 PW
DEP= 3~ 19 (soften the string sound)
AMP ENV
ATK = 17~20
DEC= 70
SUS= 30
REL= 45
SHP= 7
CHO = Great place to use it if you want a wider string sound
REV= If you like it - I always do on strings.
Other options;
OSC1= 45
AMP ATK= 0
All other settings as above
This makes a cool bass in the low registers and ‘thin’ brass like sound in the uppers if you use filter tracking.
Anyway these are some things to try as starting points.