Your best tips for creating sounds?

Skyddsrum · 2015-05-14T09:19:39.000Z

Hey guys!

Finally took the plunge and bought me a MnM, been making crazy sounds the past weeks but I somehow stopped making any new sounds, I’m really new to the synthesis-theory so I’m taking a chance here and hopefully someone can help me?

I’ve been looking around Youtube buy havn’t found anything that really helps me.

If you want to make a (close to anyways) lush pad, what machine is your weapon of choice and how do you set it up?

-A dubby, chordlike stab? Machine/settings?

If you only want to use 1-2 dedicated tracks for drums, how do you realt shape your sounds to not make it sound generic?
I cant really make any useful stuff with the Arp, have sen lots of videos using it (I’m looking at you Dataline!), buy when I use it it sounds so bleak and boring, any tips for programing it?

Ok, I know the most common (and probably best!) suggestion would be to “Try-try-try” allover, but it would help me so much with any useful stuff at all!

Stickhit · 2015-05-14T09:40:04.000Z

Personally I have found that the best thing to do is to fully understand what each synth engine (plus their parameter settings) gives you. For example you can have a synth engine set such that your sound is based on a single oscillator with only amp, filter and FX editing available. But you can also have a synth engine set such that your sound is based on 5 detuned oscillators plus 3 sub oscillators and still have amp, filter and FX editing available to sculpt the sound.

My method to learn the capabilities of the synth engines was to alter parameters whilst looking at the manual. Once you learn the synth engines it is easier to make the selection to achieve a particular sound.

clunky · 2015-05-14T10:18:53.000Z

""Skyddsrum"":

Hey guys!

Finally took the plunge and bought me a MnM, been making crazy sounds the past weeks but I somehow stopped making any new sounds, I’m really new to the synthesis-theory so I’m taking a chance here and hopefully someone can help me?

I’ve been looking around Youtube buy havn’t found anything that really helps me.

If you want to make a (close to anyways) lush pad, what machine is your weapon of choice and how do you set it up?

-A dubby, chordlike stab? Machine/settings?

If you only want to use 1-2 dedicated tracks for drums, how do you realt shape your sounds to not make it sound generic?

I cant really make any useful stuff with the Arp, have sen lots of videos using it (I’m looking at you Dataline!), buy when I use it it sounds so bleak and boring, any tips for programing it?

Ok, I know the most common (and probably best!) suggestion would be to “Try-try-try” allover, but it would help me so much with any useful stuff at all!

there is just no way to explain how to do somethings, because your using locks, lfos, arps, slides and trigs that interact with each other

depending on the parameters modded and the music the seq plays.

it would take me ages to reverse engineer the stuff i’ve done as some is accidental and some long stretches of trial and error

simply you do need to spend more time, there is no shortcut as someones technique wont suit someone else.

just have fun and dont worry if it sounds crap on more than one occasion.

cause sooner or later it will knock your socks off.

Worcel · 2015-05-14T12:24:28.000Z

The best advice I can give is to TAKE YOUR TIME. I often try and rush to create sounds while a pattern is playing and although it works out sometimes the best sounds I’ve created are done patiently with nothing audible but the sound I’m working on and moving through adjusting different parameters. Take advantage of the LFO’s on different parameters on different speeds, free or trig’d.

For making drum sounds I suggest P locking most sounds in order to create unique and better sounding percussion. I usually always pitch down the bass drum. Try filtering hats and snares and p locking delay on certain hits. Also p locking different volume amounts to create dynamics and ghost notes.

Noby · 2015-05-14T13:46:30.000Z

SRR (sample rate reduction) on the effects page combined with the EQ should not be overlooked when it comes to adding character to the drums.
Also be mindful of the relationship between the Dist and Vol.
The mono machine synth engine is not exactly the simplest to learn but tweak away and take notes. Everyone has that sound they prefer.
So it is hard to say which settings are most geared for you.

Save a kit per pattern so you can make each one different.
Which is great for when you song changes.

The mono machine has lots of buried tricks in it interface.
It just takes time to add complexity using the P locks and slides.

Start with a basic pattern then tweak and save and don’t try to be logical just go crazy. At least for now.

Eventually you will find the setting that you like most but for now just mess about. If there is a feature you haven’t used or don’t understand then focus on that. knowing how to use the arp is a huge help especially for drums or EXT gear that is missing an arp. The sky is the limit.

Hope that helps some!

zfigz · 2015-05-14T14:04:33.000Z

I’ve had my MnM since 2007, and the best advice I can offer is to constantly experiment. Go to elektron-users.com and look through all the threads that have to do with the MnM, plenty of awesome tips.

But yeah, there is no single way of doing everything, just mess around and use all of what it has to offer a little at a time.

clunky · 2015-05-14T14:34:59.000Z

Okay noby reminded me, something i discovered awhile ago
trig and hold lfo-ing the eq, both freq and amount
the dynamics it creates are astounding,

Just one way is to run 1 waveform on up saw and another on random,
run a few locks on the lfo parameters
and
you get unique, quite often difficult to repeat patterns that sometimes need a stop start
or just luck of the draw to get the same feel back

Which reminds me of a RANT, i was on:

Why the FooK does the A4 not have a 1 band EQ?
what i know i can do on the MnM i cant do on the A4
for me it sucks barkers eggs, because the sounds would be massive!

dubathonic · 2015-05-14T18:29:01.000Z

""zfigz"":

Go to elektron-users.com and look through all the threads that have to do with the MnM, plenty of awesome tips.

^this. Best advice there is, as the old forum was where users hung out when the MD, MnM and SidStation were the only Elektrons that existed. I still visit a lot.

But to be fair, it can be overwhelming if you’re just getting started and don’t know what you don’t know. So maybe first:

-Read the manual several times and keep it handy.
-Go to this forum’s Files section and DL the Monomachine Tips document. Read it often as you explore.
-Also try this thread and [url=“http://www.elektronauts.com/t/machinedrum-and-monomachine-tips-and-tricks/143”]this one too.

guga · 2015-05-14T18:48:29.000Z

""dubathonic"":

[quote=“zfigz”]Go to elektron-users.com and look through all the threads that have to do with the MnM, plenty of awesome tips.

^this. Best advice there is, as the old forum was where users hung out when the MD, MnM and SidStation were the only Elektrons that existed. I still visit a lot.

But to be fair, it can be overwhelming if you’re just getting started and don’t know what you don’t know. So maybe first:

-Read the manual several times and keep it handy.
-Go to this forum’s Files section and DL the Monomachine Tips document. Read it often as you explore.
-Also try this thread and [url=“http://www.elektronauts.com/t/machinedrum-and-monomachine-tips-and-tricks/143”]this one too.
[/quote]
yep, best advices you can get; i would also keep experimenting whilst learning as in: go off road once in a while, even if you just don’t know what you’re doing 100% other than this, well, there should be plenty to get you started and make sure to give the MM some time

Skyddsrum · 2015-05-14T18:59:59.000Z

Wow, thanks a bunch for all your input, I’m exploring the old threads right now and have allready caught some great stuff to help me in my exploration of the MnM!

This really is a fantastic machine!