How to Turn Serum into Vintage Classics

video upload by Starsky Carr

Also see He Put 6 Classic Synths Inside the MiniFreak

"Max 4 Live - turning Serum 2 into a vintage synth chameleon. Let’s turn it into a Jupiter-8, Prophet-5, Oberheim OB-X, Juno and Korg DW-8000—with hardware-sampled wavetables and classic synth controls inside Ableton Live.

The trick is working within the original synth’s limits. Match its oscillators, filters, envelopes and modulation options, and you start programming differently. Add unison detune and a little vintage character, and things get wonderfully wonky.

🎹 GET THE DEVICES, PRESETS & FREE SYNTH ARCHITECTURE GUIDES
https://www.starskycarr.com/patches
In this video I demonstrate my Classic Synth Mode Max 4 Live devices for Serum 2:
• YOU-NO-6 — Juno-inspired PWM, sub oscillator and chorus
• THEPRO-5 — Prophet-5-inspired Poly-Mod, oscillator sync and classic analogue tones
• SUPITER-8 — Jupiter-8-inspired strings, brass, cross modulation and unison
• OB-WAN — Oberheim OB-X-inspired basses and big filter sweeps
• DIGI-8K — Korg DW-8000-inspired digital waveforms, six-stage envelopes, delay and arpeggiator

You’ll hear how the controls interact with Serum, how vintage mode adds variation, and why recreating a synth’s architecture matters as much as capturing its waveforms.

These are my take on the classic instruments’ sound and workflow, with Serum 2 providing the sound engine. The free architecture guides are also useful for trying these ideas on your own synths."

Kodamo Mask 1 EX MK2 + GEOMask - Custom Editor & Librarian.

video upload by GEOSynths

"I've had the Mask 2 EX MK2 for a few weeks now and am very pleased with how it Sounds and most of all, the Price! I paid just short of £400 from Juno Records, which for today, isn't bad for a Polyphonic Synth.

The Mask 1 Keyboard has been out for some years now and while there was a Desktop released (EX Mk1) this version now seems like a complete Product.

In the Video I go over the controls, however one aspect of their Mask 1 Family is that you can only Edit from the front panel using a Data Entry Knob, so with the help of Gemini and Claude, I built a web based Editor and Librarian, which I demonstrate in the Video.

It should work with the MK1, but not sure about Keyboard as I don't have one, but it's essentially the handling of Factory Patches and User Patches that are different, so should work.

The Editor will be released for Free on Sunday August 23rd on my next Live Stream, where I will be covering the Mask 1 EX MK2, answering your questions and making some Patches Live."

00:00 - Overview 02:44 - Custom Patches 05:15 - Front Panel 07:25 - GEOMask - Editor/Librarian 07:58 - Librarian 08:33 - General 09:08 - Initialized Patch 09:53 - Mask Oscillators 14:43 - Pitch & Noise 15:30 - Filters 17:11 - Modulation 19:40 - Arpeggiator 20:38 - X/Y Pad 21:19 - FX 23:40 Custom Patches

Roland Alpha Juno Twin Peaks Dreamy Bank | Out NOW!

video upload by Espen Kraft

"Get the patch bank in my web shop here: https://espenkraft.com/b/jwl5d
My brand new patch bank for the Roland Alpha Juno 1/2 and MKS-50. Also compatible with all software Alpha emulations that can import original Alpha bank sysex.

Price is $15USD.

64 original patches with focus on dreamy, ethereal sounds in the tradition of David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti. All the patches have names taken from Twin Peaks.
In the demo video I play through some of the patches. I've added a touch of reverb to the patches.

This is a sysex download and you must transfer this bank from your computer to the synth. Check the manual for more info or see my first Alpha Juno patch bank video for how to do this."

Neiro N106 Plugin: Digital Emulation & Real Hardware Render | Sound Demo

video upload by Davide Puxeddu

"In this video, I showcase the true power of the Neiro Audio N106 plugin. We are doing a direct comparison: Digital Emulation vs Real Analog Hardware Render! You will hear the huge difference when the digital preset is suddenly processed through the actual analog circuitry.

How does it work? The N106 is not just a standard VST. You compose your track using their high-quality digital emulation without any streaming latency. Once your MIDI and automations are locked in, the plugin sends your data directly to Neiro Studios. There, it is fed through a real physical Roland Juno-106 (specifically a hardware Kiwi 106 synth). The analog output is recorded using high-end RME Fireface UCX interfaces and automatically downloaded right back into your DAW as a WAV audio file. It's exactly like owning the real vintage analog synthesizer remotely.

To sit perfectly in a mix, I've also processed these sounds through external hardware-style reverb and delay.

🎧 Best experienced with studio monitors or high-quality headphones.

More Info: https://neiroaudio.com"

"Connect to a classic analog synthesizer revered for its lush, warm sounds. The Neiro N106 features a rich chorus effect that’s instantly recognizable from classic tracks like 'Jump' and 'Tom Sawyer'.

Connect directly to the Roland Juno-106 unit today."

Two classic 1980's #synthesizer recreations for less than $30? And Eurorack compatible. How...?

video upload by voltryx

"A Juno-6 and DX7?"

"In this video I take a look at the AMY board: a tiny, affordable ($29) Arduino-based DIY synth module built around the open-source AMY synth library. It packs USB, an SD card slot, digital and analog audio, MIDI, and CV I/O into a board small enough to fit straight into a Eurorack case.

I go over what the board actually is and what's in the box, then jump into a MicroPython REPL to show how the AMY library's synth, voice, oscillator model works, patching up a simple sine voice, triggering notes, and using the built-in PCM/sample engine and tag-based sequencer to create a basic drum pattern. From there I install it in my Eurorack rack, run through the signal chain (MIDI in from the Hermod+, CV/audio out, self-modulation via CV), and share some closing thoughts on where it's strong, where it's limited compared to something like the Disting NT, and what I want to try next (serum-style bass patches with compression/distortion).

If you've got one of these boards — or you're thinking about picking one up — let me know what you're building with it in the comments.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro & preview
0:31 What is the AMY board?
1:43 Using AMY standalone (MIDI / SysEx / REPL)
2:01 MicroPython REPL walkthrough — synths, voices, oscillators
3:01 PCM sample oscillator & built-in sequencer (drum pattern)
4:22 AMY in the Eurorack rack — signal chain & modulation
6:04 Final thoughts — value, limitations, what's next
7:01 Outro"

The Classic 80s Sound of a-ha - Train of Thought | Vintage Synth Recreation

video upload by RetroSound

"In this new video I recreate the sound of “Train of Thought” by a-ha from the album Hunting High and Low. Written by Pål Waaktaar, this track is one of the standout examples of 1980s synth-pop production, combining melodic hooks, layered textures, and distinctive Scandinavian pop atmosphere.

For this vintage synth recreation I focused on capturing the character, tone, and arrangement of the original recording using classic hardware synthesizers and samplers. My setup includes the Yamaha DX7 II FD and the Roland Juno-106 for the main synth parts and signature textures.

The bass, flute sound (Fairlight) and selected drum sounds were created with the E-mu Emulator II. I also used the PPG Wave 2.2 for additional digital bass layers, digital textures, and atmospheric effects.

My goal was to explore how the classic a-ha sound was built — from analog warmth and FM synthesis to early digital sampling and wavetable synthesis.

If you enjoy vintage synthesizers, 80s synth-pop, classic a-ha productions, and deep dives into iconic keyboard sounds, this recreation is for you."

Starsky Carr's Studio: Vintage & Modern Synth Setup Explained

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Welcome to a full synth studio tour — a look inside my hardware setup featuring vintage analog synths, modern wavetable instruments, modular gear and classic drum machines.

See how a mix of vintage synths, modern instruments, modular gear and drum machines all come together in one integrated setup. In this video I walk through the studio, explain how everything is connected, and show some of the instruments that regularly appear on the channel.

The studio is constantly evolving as new synths arrive, others get repaired, and different setups are tested for videos. In this walkthrough you'll see how classic gear like the Juno-60, Prophet series, Minimoog, TR-808, TR-909 and Jupiter synths sit alongside modern instruments such as the UDO Super 8, Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave, Waldorf M, Arturia PolyBrute and Roland System-8.

I also explain how everything is routed through the studio — from CV-controlled vintage synths integrated with MIDI, to the AudioFuse interface and Neve summing mixer that handle the audio side of things.

If you've ever wondered how to organise a hardware synth studio, integrate vintage CV instruments with modern DAWs, or just want to see a room full of iconic synths and drum machines, this video gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the setup behind the channel.

You’ll also hear a few stories along the way — including the slightly ridiculous “six degrees of separation” link from my studio gear to Charlize Theron and Kevin Bacon through the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack.

Whether you're into analog synthesis, wavetable synths, modular gear, or classic drum machines, this studio tour is packed with gear, ideas and inspiration.

Gear featured (selection)

• Roland Juno-60
• Roland Jupiter series
• Moog Minimoog, Voyager % Sub37
• Sequential Prophet synths
• Oberheim OBX8 and OB6
• UDO Super 8
• Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave
• Waldorf M
• Arturia PolyBrute
• Roland System-8
• TR-808 / TR-909 drum machines
• Analog Solutions Leipzig & Fusebox
• Modular & Eurorack gear"

Timing doesn't get tighter than this // Gridlock II interface for CV, MIDI, USB & DIN Sync

video upload by Starsky Carr

"If you’ve ever struggled with MIDI jitter, sloppy DAW clocking, or keeping vintage synths and drum machines locked in time, the Innerclock Systems Gridlock II might be the ultimate solution.

https://innerclocksystems.com/gridloc...

In this video I take an in-depth look at Gridlock II, a professional MIDI, DIN Sync, USB and CV/Gate timing hub from Australian company Innerclock Systems, designed to deliver rock-solid timing with jitter as low as 20 microseconds. Rather than relying on unreliable DAW MIDI clock, Gridlock II generates its own ultra-accurate timing using an audio-based plugin approach — and the results are immediately audible.

I demonstrate how Gridlock II integrates vintage non-MIDI synths like the ARP Odyssey, Minimoog, Prodigy, Promars, Juno-60, alongside modern USB and MIDI gear, all appearing cleanly inside Logic as named instruments. You’ll see how MIDI, DIN Sync, USB MIDI and CV/Gate can coexist in one system, with every device locked tightly to the beat.

Key topics covered:

Why DAW MIDI clock drifts — and how Gridlock II fixes it
Audio-based clock generation for near-zero jitter timing
Syncing MIDI, DIN Sync, USB MIDI, CV & Gate together
Using vintage synths like modern MIDI instruments
TR-909 timing comparison: DAW vs Gridlock II
MIDI filtering, clock offsets, PPQN and transport control
CV pitch scaling, volt-per-octave & gate voltage options
Standalone operation for live performance reliability
Who Gridlock II is really for (and who it isn’t)"

0:00 Introducing the Gridlock II
4:39 The Hardware
7:04 Gridlock II Control Overview
9:02 Creating a Connection
11:12 MIDI Configuration Setting s
11:56 USB Hubs
12:31 CV Synths played as MIDI
13:21 MIDI Filters
14:06 CV Settings
15:12 Multiple Session
s 17:48 Any Limitations?

How John Carpenter Created Fear with 5 Notes | The Halloween Theme Synth Story

video upload by Nostalgic Explorer

"What happens when fear is built from just five notes? 🎃

In this episode, I explore the haunting genius of John Carpenter’s Halloween Theme — a soundtrack that changed horror forever. With low budget for an orchestra, Carpenter composed the theme inspired by a rhythm his father taught him as a kid. Using synthesizers and pure instinct, he scored one of the most recognizable horror songs of the 80s.

I’ll also recreate the track in my studio using the Roland Juno-60 and E-mu Proteus 1, running through an Akai MG614 mixer and Ampex MX-10 preamp, capturing that analog tension that defined the original.

💬 If you know more about the original synths used, drop your theories in the comments!

Halloween Theme Recreated by: Nostalgic Explorer
🎧 Exclusive STEMS (with FX and raw tracks) available on Patreon: / nostalgicexplorer"

Exploring the NEOHARP – A MIDI Instrument That Thinks Outside the Keybed

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"Discover the NEOHARP (🔗 Learn more: https://neoharp.com) – a unique and beautiful MIDI instrument mixing concepts of the accordion and zither, designed to make chord playing intuitive and expressive. In this hands-on review, I explore the prototype’s features, layout, app integration, and how it performs with DAWs and soundfonts. Whether you're a synth enthusiast or just curious about new ways to play, this deep dive covers everything you need to know before its official release.

⏱️ Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:21 Quick Demo
00:30 What's in the Bag? What is NEOHARP?
01:17 Hardware Overview
01:34 Arc de Triomphe
02:00 Chord Key Layout
02:30 Chord Combinations
02:46 Right-Hand Keyboard Behavior
03:10 App & Editable Parameters
04:50 Soundfonts
05:14 DAW Integration
05:31 Demo 1 – Harp & Filter Sweeps
06:14 Demo 2 – RasPi Piano
06:57 What It’s Not
07:27 Pros
07:57 Areas for Improvement
09:38 Synth Players vs Guitarists
10:17 Final Thoughts
10:31 Demo 3 – Juno-60 Emulator
11:01 Outro

HÄLP ZIS CHANNEL
https://www.patreon.com/floyd_steinberg
https://floydsteinberg.gumroad.com/
https://floydsteinberg.bandcamp.com/"

NEOHARP Tutorials, tips & tricks

video uploads by Neoharp

Playlist:

1. Getting to Know Your Instrument — Tutorial #1
2. How to Connect — Tutorial #2
3. Set Up the Application — Tutorial #3
4. Principles of Playing — Tutorial #4
5. A Bit of Theory and a "Box" of Six Chords — Tutorial #5
6. Playing Songs — Tutorial #6
7. Right-Hand Techniques — Tutorial #7
8. App Interface and Channel Logic — Tutorial #8
9. Channel Settings — Tutorial #9

Says (Version)/Nils Frahm - Circuit Tracks Version.

video upload by Guinan

"I was lucky enough to see Nils Frahm on his latest tour and this is my favourite of his compositions. Whilst listening to the track build on his stack of vintage synths and keyboards (notably a Roland Juno for the main arpeggio) it occurred to me (perhaps over-ambitiously) to have an attempt at seeing how this would sound on the Circuit Tracks.

The track may be familiar to some from the 'Ad Astra' movie soundtrack (might be the best thing about the movie?!). • Says - Nils Frahm Scene Part 2 | Ad Astra ... [below]

This time the limit was definitely not the Circuit hardware but more my own musical ability. Without a score, (and discovering that many of the versions online seem to be semi-improvised) I was left with slowing down the track until I could identify individual notes and program them in in step time….add to that the fact that the track has enormous amounts of tape echo which he manipulates in real-time.

I came to the conclusion that at best I could try and create my own ‘version’ inspired by his original. This should be viewed as a reinterpretation and not a strict cover (and I did put a rhythm track on it too). I’ve since found other Youtubers playing versions of these but they mainly go for very simple arpeggios and I was aiming to try and capture some of the complexity of the other ‘layers’ played.

Imagine this composition then as the simplified version Nils might create for his first Café Del Mar set armed only with a Circuit Tracks…..and after someone had removed his ability to play the piano ;)
I hope some of you like it…I loved attempting this electronica classic and hope you enjoy the end result.

Everything you hear is just the Circuit Tracks. No extra synths or effects."

Says - Nils Frahm Scene Part 2 | Ad Astra (1080p)

video upload by Favorite Scenes

Pacific State/808 State - (Circuit Tracks Version)

video upload by Guinan

"This week’s track is another favourite Hacienda club track. This time from 1989 by the group 808 State (thanks again to Yves Big City @bigcitymastering for inspiring this series).

The original was actually recorded in January 1988 as a reply to the emerging Chicago House scene ‘Pacific State’ has been released in a number of guises. Sometimes just called ‘Pacific,’ others times being labelled numerically after other Roland machines eg. 707, 202. This version is a bit of an amalgamation of a few versions.

Worth noting too that Gerald Simpson ('A Guy Called Gerald') was originally one of the founding members of 808 State before leaving to start his solo career with 'Voodoo Ray'.

I was inspired to cover this after recently acquiring a copy of the Emulator II library disks (to recreate the Kraftwerk track, 'Tour De France' [posted here].
Among these disks, Disk 22 is entitled ‘Loon Garden’. Cited by many as the original source of the ‘Loon’ bird sample we all know and love, it also features a ‘shakahuchi’ sample familiar to anyone who’s ever heard ‘Sledgehammer’ by Peter Gabriel and is a historic piece of sound design. Once you’ve heard these samples you can’t help but hear them across the whole spectrum of popular music. If anyone knows who originally recorded these original samples (also in the Akai S900 library) please leave a comment?

As I started piecing this together I found this excellent video by @CaptainPikant
• Analyzing PACIFIC STATE - How to make clas... [embedded below]
which elegantly detailed the rhythm patterns used. I simplified these somewhat to fit the drum tracks into just 2 tracks to allow room for Sax and Sound Effects tracks (see below).

There is a small snatch of sampled 'sax' played on Logic sampler to fill in for the original sax solo played by Graham Massey from the band but otherwise everything was programmed and played on the Circuit Tracks. No extra synths or FX were used and the audio is recorded straight out of the stereo outs.

I hope you enjoy this track as much as I did putting it together and check back soon for more.

More details for synth nerds.

The bass patch was programmed into Synth 1 to serve as both bass and melody line. The pad sound on Synth 2 is yet another detuned sawtooth pad with chorus, but rolled off with a 24dB low pass filter to create a sound a bit more like the original Juno (said to have been sampled as a chord into a Casio FZ1 sampler).

The drum sounds are a mixture of various 909,707 and 727 Roland drum machine samples from the Reverb Drum Machines collection (normalised and filtered where required).

The Sax sound was played using the sampler instrument in Logic (and is just a preset). The 3 edited phrases were placed onto Drum pad slots and triggered using Drum 3 when required.

Another sample was a ‘bell’ patch created on the Tracks but sampled as a ‘glissando’ to double up the glissando played on the pad on Synth 2, as a break between sections of the song.

Finally Drum 4 was reserved for water and ‘Loon’ sound effects (plus additional 727 rhythm). Did you know the Loon is actually a Canadian diving aquatic bird somewhat like a duck and not at all exotic!

The tracks were as follows;
125BPM, Swing 59%
Synth 1 – bass and melody
Synth 2 – chorused pad chords
Drum 1 – 707 bass drum
Drum 2 – Hihat, Open Hat, Clap and Ride samples.
Drum 3 – Sampled sax lines (and Tracks synth 'bell' glissando sample in break)
Drum 4 – Sound effects, alternating with 727 percussion sampled bongo and muted conga sounds."

Analyzing PACIFIC STATE - How to make classic 909 Ambient House beats | Drum Patterns Explained

video upload by Captain Pikant

"Join us as we analyze and rebuild the unique rhythm of 808 State's timeless Ambient House classic layer by layer."

0:00 Introduction
0:46 Pattern 1
2:54 Loon
4:27 Pattern 2
5:26 Percussion Layer
6:22 One-Shot Patterns
6:49 End Jam

05.27.2025 Supernature for fun (Long version) - Take 1

video upload by batchas

Take 2 here

"I hesitated to make this one public because of all 'thumb down' enthusiasts, but no matter how, music is my therapy and it won't stop me having fun with my machines, without any stylistic boundaries.
Pretty sure I'll record one more take of this one, cause it's far to be perfect and it's a lot of fun to play. I was 14 in 1977 when the Cerrone 'Supernature' video clip came on TV. We had never seen something like this on french TV back then and as a kid I was pretty much impressed.
As usual, one take, no editing, recorded directly to stereo out.
The MIDI tracks play muSonics Minimoog, Roland Juno 60, TR-808, Waldorf Q, Waldorf Pulse+, Oberheim Matrix 1000 and one plugin, the Mellotron. Effect = Audiothingies Doctor A.
It's quite a long version cause I did loop the last measure and could not stop playing!"

Soma Lyra-8 Sounds: Dark Ambient Texture Pad FX No Talk Demo

video upload by Anton Anru

"Oblivion Glow is a collection of 50 patches for the analog synthesizer Soma Lyra-8, dedicated to dark, deep, and atmospheric sound.
🎆 Lyra-8 is one of the most unique synthesizers of our time, both in terms of functionality and sonic character. It offers a radically different approach to sound design and performance.
Its true power lies in its dynamics and expressiveness—the instrument, its parameters, and controllers are highly sensitive to settings and playing technique, making its sound incredibly alive and constantly evolving.
💎 This quality has made Lyra-8 a beloved and almost essential tool for genres like ambient, techno, cinematic, IDM, industrial, and beyond—anywhere a blend of liveliness and innovation is required.

📦 Get these presets: https://antonanru.sellfy.store/p/lyra...

🎛 Exploring this instrument was a truly inspiring experience, and in this soundset, I share the results of that journey. My goal was to extract the broadest possible palette of timbres: warm and cold, soft and harsh, harmonic and distorted, modern and vintage, clean and noisy, smooth and rhythmic.
🕹 I also explored different performance techniques, aiming to strike a balance between the experimental and the musical.

📦 This pack includes drones, pads, textures, leads, FXs, strings, rhythmic patterns, and soundscapes.
🎙 Some patches are designed to take the lead in a track or jam session, while others serve perfectly as supporting layers. While each sound is ready to use as-is, I highly recommend interacting with the controls during performance—modulating parameters in real-time reveals new sonic depths and greatly enhances expressiveness.

📔 The soundset is presented as a PDF document. Each page contains detailed notes explaining how the patch works, which parameters are key for real-time manipulation, and how to evolve the timbre while playing. Following these suggestions will not only expand your sound palette but also deepen your understanding of the instrument.

📀 Each patch comes with an audio example to guide you in understanding how it is intended to sound.

💾 The collection also includes 24/41000 WAV samples. These can be used directly in your projects, or freely resampled, edited, and processed—offering a versatile library of material for further experimentation."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland JUPITER-Xm: An Entire Band You Can Carry with 3 Fingers!

video upload by Retrothusiast

"Explore the incredible versatility of the Roland JUPITER-Xm in this video, where I dive deep into its unique features, multitimbral capabilities, and vintage synth sounds. Known for emulating iconic synths like the Jupiter-8, Juno-106, and SH-101, the JUPITER-Xm brings legendary 80s sounds to life in a compact, portable package.

Discover how this powerhouse synth layers up to five parts simultaneously—four synths and one drum track—enabling you to stack classic sounds like Jupiter basslines, Juno pads, and TR-707 beats all in one composition. Whether you're a fan of retro sounds or modern electronic music, the JUPITER-Xm is designed to elevate your music creation with endless possibilities.

Checkout the track of the song in this video: / when-we-were-young"

Retrothusiast · When We Were Young

https://www.retrothusiast.com

SynthfestUK 24 Synth Coverage

video uploads by sonicstate

Update: moving this post up once as new videos have been added. Bookmark this post for updates.

Use the player controls to skip around.

Playlist:

1.SynthfestUK 24: Knobula - Synth Modules and Toy Pianos

At SynthfestUK 2024, we met up again with Jason, who gaves us the updates in the world of Knobula. On display was the new 'dark mode' Poly Cinematic module, for more monochrome rigs ;-]

2. SynthFestUK 24: PWM - More Mantis News

At the show we made a beeline for the PWM stand, where Paul gave us the latest Mantis news.
And yes, it's out there in the world now!

3. SynthfestUK 24: Roland Unveils the Juno-D Series with Zen-Core Sound

We caught up with Andrew and Ludwig who showed us around the new updated Juno-D series: Juno-D6, D7, and D8. They have the same keyboard action as the Fantom-O series and a new colour screen, making it easier for performers to navigate on stage. And they can be powered by a USB-C mobile battery, perfect for buskers ;-) Running Roland's Zen-Core sound engine, they also incorporates features like a 64-step sequencer and a phrase pad for live sample triggering.
Prices range approximately from £949 to £1199.

CLICK FOR MORE »

How to make 80s thriller/slasher/giallo music | Tutorial and breakdown

video upload by Espen Kraft

"How to make a thriller/slasher track with both old and new synths, samplers and drum machines. Put together and mixed as it would have sounded coming out an 80s movie.
I've always been a huge fan of the "giallo" thriller/slasher movie subgenre championed by Italian directors like Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Sergie Martino and more.
These movies often had absolutely mind-blowing violence topped with fantastic music.
One of these composers, Claudio Simonetti did many awesome tracks for Dario Argento, and among them the themes from 'Tenebre' (Tenebrae) a thriller in the giallo style, from 1982.
Another composer I draw a lot from is Fabio Frizzi. His work with Lucio Fulci has always been a great source of inspiration to me.

Midnight Drive 5 is my go at making a similar styled track. I've gone overboard with the intro which is supposed to be from a film, but these are all sound effects I've put together for this.

Find the track here:



00:00 Intro
01:25 Bass (Prophet VS)
03:00 Strings (Juno-106)
05:24 Synthbrass in the intro of the song (Prophet X)
07:16 Main Synth Theme
08:26 Counterpoint to the synth theme
09:23 Intro synth part to signal violence
10:22 Putting it all together and adding on
15:13 Making it sound like movie violence (sound effects)
18:12 The importance of reverb or NOT reverb
21:14 Drums
22:40 Bass
23:00 Strings
24:14 Vocal effects (chopped up)
26:07 Vocal choir
27:37 Counterpoint brass (Fabio Frizzi tribute)
28:37 Ending
29:59 Closing thoughs"

Synthesizers for Dummies (if you're wondering what a synth is, then this video is for you)

video upload by Espen Kraft

"Synthesizers for dummies. In this beginners tutorial I will teach you the basics and in less than 22 minutes you're on your way to becoming a synth master. Even your mother will understand this.
This video has been requested for years, and it's finally here.
THIS video is for you that knows NOTHING about synthesizers, but you've heard of them. You've seen them, and you want to know how they work. Maybe you're to shy to ask questions. This video is for you.
When you master the basics of a synth you can pretty much use all synths.
In this video I show what is known as subtractive synthesis.

The synth I'm using in this video is a Roland Juno-106 from the mid 80s. You can also get this as a computer program and use it directly from the computer, hooked up to a master MIDI keyboard.

The end music uses only synth sounds from this particular synthesizer. The drums are not from the synth though.

The graphic caricature drawing of me is designed by Creation Loading.

Find my music here:
Bandcamp: https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/

00:00 Intro
01:35 The Oscillator (source of sound)
04:17 The Filter (where we shape the sound)
06:35 The Amp (volume control)
06:57 The Envelope (movement in time)
10:55 The LFO (modulating the sound)
16:22 PWM (pulse width modulation)
20:44 Sound examples
21:34 Final thoughts"

Synthesizer Tutorial for Beginners // Synth Programming 101

video upload by Starsky Carr

"Follow this on any synthesizer. Whether you're got VSTs, hardware, vintage or modern, synths covered in knobs or menu based programming.. this will show you how to tweak your tones or start from scratch. Over 99% of synthesisers use the same fundamental building blocks and the secret to programming synths is that they're all pretty much the same. Learn the basics and everything else falls into place.

In this I demo the classic synth architecture, called subtractive synthesis, which has just 4 essential modules. Oscillators, Filters, Envelopes and LFOs - you can produce loads of tones without even and LFO... but I kept it in as you see them on pretty much everything.

I use a Juno 60 to start as its got everything clearly laid out in a knob per function so you cant go wrong. I also show bits of increasing complexity on a Moog Minimoog, a Roland Jupiter 4, an UDO Super6 and some menu diving on a Roland Juno DS.

If you watch this from start to finish you'll have all the basics you need to pick up any synths and get programming."

0:00 Really? Any Synth?
5:21 1. Oscillators
9:24 2. Filters
11:29 3. Envelopes
13:48 Make an Acid Sound
14:31 Program a Funky Bass
15:21 Create a Sequence Bass
15:45 A 'real' electric bass (not a synth bass... well it is...)
16:21 Pianos and Keys
18:59 Rich Pads and Strings
21:44 Tricks with Resonance
23:01 4. Pumping Filters with the LFO
24:38 Juno DS Menu Diving - It's all there
27:44 Performance Controls
28:22 what to do with 2 envelopes
30:19 You Got This.. More complex tones with 2 oscillators
39:40 Arpeggiators - Quick Look with Stranger Things
41:54 Was that OK?
43:24 Intro Track.. now you can do it :)

Roland System 8 Jupiter 4 plugout soundscape - Waking into nothing

video upload by MIDERA

"I finally got around to recording something with the System 8 Jupiter-4 plug out. I'm quite torn to be honest, in what to keep in this machine. I think the Jupiter 4 plug out is a little more interesting than the Juno 60 plug out, but I like them both. I don't want to give up either the Jupiter 8 or JX-3P (although I own an actual JX-3P that I am trying to sell).

The Jupiter 4 has a more interesting sound to it in my opinion. Plus I love the random ARP it has. The Ensemble effect is way too noisy. I realize that's 'how it was' but they fixed this in the Juno plug out to tone the noise levels down if you wanted. Here you have no choice. Also, you can't adjust the volume of all the different oscillators on the Jupiter 4, which isn't ideal.

Anyway, it's a good sounding engine and I'm thinking this is the one to keep in there (despite enjoying the Juno 60 plugout as well).

Eventide Blackhole VST used for reverb"