In part one of this series, I showed you how to make a nice modern drum beat with Xpand!2. The idea behind this video series is to show you how you can create great sounds with either stock or free virtual instruments.
Almost every DAW comes with an inbuilt VST instrument that you can use to make incredible music.
Remember… You don’t need Pro Tools or Xpand2! to follow along because the concepts can be applied to any DAW or stock instrument you might own.
This video is all about putting together some chord and pad sounds.
So check out Video 2 of the series!
Now, I’d love to know…
What’s your “go to” synth when it comes to writing music?
Leave a comment below!
professional sounding mix every time...
I also use Xpand!2. It came free with my Alesis MIDI controller. I find the interface a bit clunky but the presets are quite good and boy are there hundreds of them! I like the fact that you can combine up to 4 different sounds in one patch. It’s a great tool!
Thanks Janet. I understand what you mean about the interface. It takes a bit of getting used to but I agree, being able to combine 4 different sounds gives you endless creative options. Nice to know you use it too.
Re: Synths (stock or otherwise)
I’ve recently been loving Helm by Mat Tytel. It’s a an open-source (free) plugin and standalone, but it’s an extremely powerful and intuitive additive synthesizer. It comes with some great and slme wacky sounds, but is very easy to fiddle with and build your own sounds from the ground up.
Thanks for this Craig. Looks like a very cool plugin. It’d be cool to hear some sounds you’ve made with it.
Now you are getting deeper into “my own ground”… 🙂
My favourite VST (for now) is the Hybrid 3 from AIR Music Technology that came with my small midi controller AKAI APC Key 25. It`s quite a versatile plugin, from agressive solo synth sounds to a wide variety of ambiances…
Pleasant to notice there`s a lady in this comment section!
Thank you, Paulo. There are many women producers and our numbers are growing!
You’re welcome, Janet.
Best regards from Portugal!
Cumprimentos, Paulo!
Wow!.. Obrigado!
The more the merrier! I love your post on ‘Ways to Overcome Musical Burnout’. It’s very clear you understand how fixing the simple things helps the more creative aspects of your life. Keep up the great work!
Thank u, Stephen! Very good of you to check out my website and blog!
Looks very cool. Is it similar to Xpand!2? AIR Music Technology obviously make that too. The interface looks very similar to NI’s Massive.
Unfortunatly, can*t make any kind of comparison. Don`t know those other 2 plugins. But I believe the principle is the same, so back to the point: unless we`re talking about some realy-nasty-unpleasant-user-enemy plugin and/or interface, what matters the most is what we (can) do with it…
Sampletank 3
Hi, just now have discovered your blog and have book marked!
I love Expand 2! Have been playing with it over a year, like many I wish the GUI
was more visually appealing, anyone come up with any skin hacks? the green text is off putting, Cyan on Blue would be cool. That aside, have not seen any way of SOLOing the 4 parts, short of switching off other parts, is this is a missing feature?
The sounds and range of presets is truly amazing and awesome in quickly composing melodic pieces. I am self taught, still learning, so look forward to viewing your vids, thanks for putting this up,
cheers
Sergei
P.S. is there a way of attaching files here, sharing patch presets etc?
I have a 4 part patch which I really love and would be happy to share.
Hey Sergei – thank you and welcome to the site!
I’m not sure on the skin hacks. I like visually appealing GUIs too, but I tend to focus more on the functionality than anything else. I’m sure some resourceful person has put together a skin hack somewhere out there.
I switch off the other parts too, when needed. I’ve never really looked for a solo button but your point is valid – it would probably be a lot more convenient.
You wouldn’t be able to upload an attachment to a blog comment – this is in case someone uploads something potentially harmful – but you can email me the patch if you’d like and if anyone else sees this and wants to pick it up, they can grab it from either you or I!
Hope that helps.
-S