Sampling And Other Routes
So far we’ve focused on subtractive synthesis and with good reason – using your hardware or virtual analogue synth to create FX patches is probably the most straightforward and direct route there is. That said, there are other ways we can produce great synth FX.
Most samplers have a fully blown synth engine so are more than equipped to crank out synth style FX. The real difference here is that the oscillators can be replaced with samples, as opposed to traditional analogue waveforms. This means your sound source can literally be anything – wind, a cat or even bagpipes. Mix some strange sounds with self-resonating filters, noise and plenty of modulation and you might end up with something truly original. Next time you are thinking about building a synth patch from scratch, you might want to consider booting up your favourite sampler.
Of course some synths feature sound engines that can play back both samples and oscillators. Some of these more complex instruments also harness the power of other synthesis methods. Omnisphere for example utilises subtractive, FM and granular synthesis. If you feel that subtractive synthesis is a little limiting or you need more modulation sources and extra oscillators, then there are plenty more fully featured instruments out there.
Finally, think about manipulating raw audio in your sequencer. Plug-ins that have built-in filters can be used to manipulate loops, vocals and hits directly. Once you have added automation, this set-up is pretty indistinguishable from an actual synth. Remember your sound source can literally be anything you want. Try using recordings of ‘found sound’, time-stretch them and use these as your virtual oscillators.