> Step by step

1. Synthesising a kick drum in Thorn CM (continued)

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As with any synth sound, our kick’s volume shape over time can be altered via its amplitude envelope controls. In Thorn CM, raise Amp Env Release up from its current 25% position – this extends the bass drum’s tail, adding more sub weight. We want a shorter tail, though, so a tighter Release value of 15% is enough here.

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Now let’s add punch to our kick. Just like how a synth’s amplitude envelope governs volume response over the course of each note, we can use a second envelope to alter pitch shape over time. Toggle Thorn CM’s Mod Matrix tab to pop it open.

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Sound designers evaluate a synth’s potential for percussion generation via the speed of its envelopes – the faster the response, the more ‘punchy’ they are. Thorn CM’s regular Env 1 and 2 ADSR envelopes are OK, but we can use one of the synth’s custom MSEGs, which you’ll find down in Thorn CM’s bottom right – head there now.

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Switch MSEG 1’ s mode from Loop to Oneshot, flip it from Steps to Curve mode, then detoggle Sync and drag its Speed down to the minimum 25ms. We now have a rapid, customisable envelope curve that will retrigger upon each new MIDI note.

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Let’s tell MSEG 1’ s punchy downwards shape to sweep Osc 1’ s pitch: in Mod Matrix, set Source as MSEG 1 and Target to Master Tune. As you drag up the Depth amount to 50%, you’ll hear this shape create a punchier kick sound. The mod depth amount and envelope shape both exert the greatest influence over our kick’s punch response, so let’s go further…

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Drag MSEG 1’ s bottom node to extend it later along our 25ms window of time, then drag down the curve’s centre to bend it into a tight exponential curve. For a ‘thuddier’ 909-style kick, apply a higher modulation Depth amount, and make the curve shape less exponential. An 808style kick features a less prominent punchy aspect, and a sharper pitch fall.

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Time to add top-end ‘snap’ to our body kick via Thorn CM’s Noise oscillator. First, switch it On. Deactivate the Loop button so our transient only fires once at the start of a triggering note. From the Noise oscillator’s waveform presets, choose Percussion » Click 05. To tune it, raise the Pitch knob to 17.

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Now let’s gently sweeten our kick with Thorn CM’s built-in processors. Head to the Effects tab, then turn the Equalizer module On. For more upper-midrange and treble presence, we’ll boost Mid Gain to +6dB at a Freq of 1kHz, then lift High

Gain to +3.5dB at a High Freq of 3kHz.

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Short ambience on the upper mids puts our synthetic kick in a ‘space’. Turn Thorn CM’s Reverb module On, then dial in these settings. Try switching Osc 1’ s sine’s waveform for character: a triangle wave adds more subtle, odd harmonics; we also like the FM 05, Bell 05, Pluck 01 and Sub Saw waveforms.