Ever since I had the rytm I’ve been struggling with creating good sounding rides. I kinda let go of the synth engine for this because they just don’t really sound what I like, so I bought the mars sample pack and tried working with that. However I just can’t make them sound good.
Let’s say I create an 1/8 ride groove, set velocity, set microtiming, set lfo to the decay env. I set the sample start time a bit later, so the metallic “clank” sound is not that pronounced. I use a peak filter to get rid of some unpleasant frequencies. And it still sounds bad. What am I missing? For reference I listen to artists like Planetary Assault Systems, Surgeon, Rene Wise, Ben Klock.
Yeah the ride machines are bad. Maybe you could post a clip to hear? Assuming ur already using a 909 sample, maybe pre-process the sample with soothe or an eq for the bad freqs then use the rytm bandpass to put it in its place. Potentially u need to drench it in reverb either baked into the sample or using the built in one, then psuedo side chain with fx track plocks or use the amp env on the sample.
If you bought a high quality sample pack then you shouldn’t really need to process the sound - if you’re finding that you need to slow attack and filter frequencies then maybe the issue isn’t the sound itself.
Maybe you don’t like rides??
Or you just haven’t found the right ride. Sounds like you’re trying to turn a sample into a different sample. Your task probably needs to be finding the right sample instead.
Hey man
It’s all about taste so not saying this is right
But I was into all that stuff
For that hushed beautiful ride sound imho you need simply a 909 ride sample, don’t touch sample start - use the sample/volume envelope, literally just increase attack, increase more, till sound is just rising and falling. In the mix it just works. Like someone is gently tapping the ride with a soft brush, like you said every eighth note. Some nice reverb helps and cut any low/mid out with a high pass filter. Side chain to something if desired.
But it’s basically just a slow attack that you need, to soften the ride like it’s being brushed. The 909 samples are fine you just have to soften the attack. Everyone you mentioned must do it but no-one seems to mention it.
I had to work it out on my own so just thought I’d share…
Let me know if that does the job for you
Best wishes
John
My experience with sequenced ride samples sounding the way I like is that not many instruments are capable doing this easily. With digitakt for instance , what works best for me (including the tips given here allready) is using 2 tracks, so the first ride is triggered on the first track and next on the second and so forth. This basically to achieve that the release stage does not get choked by voice stealing. Real rides and cymbals kinda build up when hit again before they’re ring out unless manually choked. This in combination with different velocities and LFO’ed attack or start sample values approaches the most natural ride sequence. Or use reverb/delay FX values to achieve kind off the same feel.