How can I duplicate this synth sound in Reason?

August 12, 2009 9:00 AM

What's this synth sound called and how do I make it in Reason? The sound in question begins at :14.

For all I know it could be in one of the million Reason synth presets, but which one? If there is a word to describe it, maybe I could google it. Bonus points for helping me create it in Reason.


disclaimer: i have NOTHING to do with this game I just want to make this funky-ass sound

posted by neilkod to media & arts (13 answers total)

ugh messed up the link, lets try this one

mods, please mod
posted by neilkod at 9:01 AM on August 12, 2009

Sounds like 303-esque resonant filter to me. With some distortion on top. I haven't used Reason but I would think any analog-emulation synth could pull it off.

Make a nice crunchy mid-range tone and sweep the resonance filter down while you tap out some notes. Throw a compressor and some distortion on top for good measure.
posted by erebora at 9:13 AM on August 12, 2009

Adding to erebora's good answer:

I typed an answer, and then I played around in Subtractor for a minute and made you a patch to get you started. Memail me and I'll send it.
posted by nosila at 9:40 AM on August 12, 2009

nosila - you have to share with the whole class.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:51 AM on August 12, 2009

K....anyone who wants, memail me and I'll send you a link to download a Subtractor patch.

It's nuttin' too fancy...just the initial long filter swept square-wave synth. I'm not really sure how to make that gate pattern with Reason. I'm trying right now. None of the pattern machines are working out for me yet. I might figure it out yet...if I do, I'll save the whole shebang as a Reason file (I use Reason 4...don't know about back compatibility, but I'm using only machines that were available in 3) and send it to anyone who wants.
posted by nosila at 9:55 AM on August 12, 2009

To gate it you can patch to a pattern sequencer (the matrix gate to subtractor gate).
or
recreate the patch in thor and use the lfo (square wave) patched to amp gain.
posted by sundri at 10:35 AM on August 12, 2009

sundri...I can't make the pattern sequencer create the same accents as in the example sound. Tips? (It's a personal challenge at this point.)
posted by nosila at 10:43 AM on August 12, 2009

same here...but I am trying it in thor with LFO's...working on it. Sounds like there is a little something in the attack area. It may require a combi with a second synth doing the attack, gonna try that now.

Also, seems like there is delay at 16th note in the sound, tried that and it livens things up.
posted by sundri at 10:48 AM on August 12, 2009

erm, strike that, 2/16ths delay...
posted by sundri at 10:51 AM on August 12, 2009

wow...haven't really played with Thor much as I just upgraded to Reason 4 recently. It's really a pretty cool soft synth!
posted by nosila at 11:07 AM on August 12, 2009

Thor is insanely good. I thought Subtractor was cool until I started with Thor. That thing is mind-blowing...I haven't even begun to scratch the surface on it.

And just adding that it was a similar AskMe question last week that got me into Reason.
posted by Thistledown at 11:15 AM on August 12, 2009

Ahhh...now I've got the pattern and the sound but can't make the filters oscillate right!
posted by nosila at 11:16 AM on August 12, 2009

OK...I have to stop now, but if I were trying to make this sound, I would probably use this and then automate the low pass ladder filter to sweep for however long I wanted.

(You can automate by right or cmd clicking, or by recording automation.)
posted by nosila at 11:23 AM on August 12, 2009