Tutorial
This tutorial was taken from the the website Spacesynth.net that unfortunately doesn't exist anymore. It was written by Staffan Ohman.
The broken links are removed and we have restored sound samples as good as possible.
This tutorial will give some help for those that are interested to get the sound of the 80s without the need to buy all the expensive hardware.
Bells
Soundsample: bells.mp3
This bellsound has a bright character with high frequencies and gives a dreamy feeling. The sound that Laserdance used was made with the Ensoniq ESQ1 and can be achieved with the free VSTi SQ8L that emulates the Ensoniq SQ80 in a good way.
The VSTi SQ8L can be downloaded here: SQ8L
There exist a huge soundlibrary for this VSTi and the bellsound can be found in bank "Int v2.0 Orig.8XL" and the patch is called "5: WAVBEL".
Trumpet
Soundsample: trumpet.mp3
One sound that has been frequently used both in the spacesynth and italo genres is the grungy trumpet sound. The sound originates from an E-MU Emax library and originally this sound was meant to sound like a real acoustic instrument but fails miserably at that. Instead, it becomes a new unique instrument that works brilliantly in the spacesynth concept.
The trumpet sound came from the Emax factory library which is now available as a soundfont from Digital Soundfactory
For a limited amount of time there was also a free demo package available, you can download it here
The trumpet sound is called Horny Hits in the soundfont and is located on the high notes on the keyboard.
Drums
Soundsample: drum sequence.mp3
We became familiar with the sound of the Linndrum after Laserdance began to include long percussion-sequences in the intros. Sounds like the handclap and the cowbell feel now like trademarks for the Linndrum and were frequently used back in the 80s.
Here are samples of the Linndrum: Linndrum Samples.
Effects like EQ and compressor are needed to make the best out of these sounds.
Orchestra Hit
Soundsample 1: orchestra_hit.mp3
A sound that gives a effective response is the Orchestra Hit sound which can be heard in many of the Laserdance songs. It has not been revealed what synth that was used back in the 80s to make this sound but a similar sound can be achieved with a sample from the Fairlight library.
Here is a sample: fairlight_orchit.wav
Soundsample 2: orchestra_hit.mp3
Some of the songs from the 80s include a orchestra hit that sounds very low in frequency and almost reminds of an explosion. Many sample based synths have an orchestra hit in their sample memory.
Here are samples from a Korg X5: orchestrahit_korg_x5.rar
Synclead
Soundsample: synclead.mp3
Who hasn't been touched by the beautiful melodies that Laserdance played with their synclead sound, like for example in the song Around the Planet. The sound has a nice falling pitch that doesn't require to use the pitchwheel and it gives a feeling that the sound is alive.
One synth that was used frequently on the Laserdance and Proxyon albums is the Ensoniq ESQ1 which has been emulated in a good way with the free VSTi SQ8L. The Ensoniq synth has a synclead preset that sounds very close to the sound that Laserdance used, eventhough it hasn't been revealed what synth they used for this particular sound.
The VSTi SQ8L can be downloaded here: SQ8L
There exists a huge soundlibrary for this VSTi which can be downloaded as well.
A good synclead can be found in bank "AIX97011" and the patch is called "017 EOWW".
Junobass
Soundsample 1: junobass_sequence.mp3
What would a spacesynth-tutorial be without the classic junobass?
Laserdance among others used the Roland Juno-106 to create the bassline. Its crispy and raw sound works very good with 16th note pattern and add a lot of energy to the song.
Here are wave files recorded from a Juno-106. You can use them to create a multisample for your preferred format: junobass.zip
Soundsample 2: juno60_bass.mp3
An alternative to the Juno-106 bass can be achieved with TAL U-NO LX that emulates the Roland Juno-60 in a good way. The Juno-60 sounds a little bit different compared to the Juno-106 but can still be useful for the bassline. The VSTi can be downloaded from the TAL Software website.
Here is a bassline patch for the VSTi: juno60_bass.fxp]juno60_bass.fxp
*** All links are carefully restored from the original article and changed where needed, please let us know about any mistakes or updated links ***
The broken links are removed and we have restored sound samples as good as possible.
This tutorial will give some help for those that are interested to get the sound of the 80s without the need to buy all the expensive hardware.
Bells
Soundsample: bells.mp3
This bellsound has a bright character with high frequencies and gives a dreamy feeling. The sound that Laserdance used was made with the Ensoniq ESQ1 and can be achieved with the free VSTi SQ8L that emulates the Ensoniq SQ80 in a good way.
The VSTi SQ8L can be downloaded here: SQ8L
There exist a huge soundlibrary for this VSTi and the bellsound can be found in bank "Int v2.0 Orig.8XL" and the patch is called "5: WAVBEL".
Trumpet
Soundsample: trumpet.mp3
One sound that has been frequently used both in the spacesynth and italo genres is the grungy trumpet sound. The sound originates from an E-MU Emax library and originally this sound was meant to sound like a real acoustic instrument but fails miserably at that. Instead, it becomes a new unique instrument that works brilliantly in the spacesynth concept.
The trumpet sound came from the Emax factory library which is now available as a soundfont from Digital Soundfactory
For a limited amount of time there was also a free demo package available, you can download it here
The trumpet sound is called Horny Hits in the soundfont and is located on the high notes on the keyboard.
Drums
Soundsample: drum sequence.mp3
We became familiar with the sound of the Linndrum after Laserdance began to include long percussion-sequences in the intros. Sounds like the handclap and the cowbell feel now like trademarks for the Linndrum and were frequently used back in the 80s.
Here are samples of the Linndrum: Linndrum Samples.
Effects like EQ and compressor are needed to make the best out of these sounds.
Orchestra Hit
Soundsample 1: orchestra_hit.mp3
A sound that gives a effective response is the Orchestra Hit sound which can be heard in many of the Laserdance songs. It has not been revealed what synth that was used back in the 80s to make this sound but a similar sound can be achieved with a sample from the Fairlight library.
Here is a sample: fairlight_orchit.wav
Soundsample 2: orchestra_hit.mp3
Some of the songs from the 80s include a orchestra hit that sounds very low in frequency and almost reminds of an explosion. Many sample based synths have an orchestra hit in their sample memory.
Here are samples from a Korg X5: orchestrahit_korg_x5.rar
Synclead
Soundsample: synclead.mp3
Who hasn't been touched by the beautiful melodies that Laserdance played with their synclead sound, like for example in the song Around the Planet. The sound has a nice falling pitch that doesn't require to use the pitchwheel and it gives a feeling that the sound is alive.
One synth that was used frequently on the Laserdance and Proxyon albums is the Ensoniq ESQ1 which has been emulated in a good way with the free VSTi SQ8L. The Ensoniq synth has a synclead preset that sounds very close to the sound that Laserdance used, eventhough it hasn't been revealed what synth they used for this particular sound.
The VSTi SQ8L can be downloaded here: SQ8L
There exists a huge soundlibrary for this VSTi which can be downloaded as well.
A good synclead can be found in bank "AIX97011" and the patch is called "017 EOWW".
Junobass
Soundsample 1: junobass_sequence.mp3
What would a spacesynth-tutorial be without the classic junobass?
Laserdance among others used the Roland Juno-106 to create the bassline. Its crispy and raw sound works very good with 16th note pattern and add a lot of energy to the song.
Here are wave files recorded from a Juno-106. You can use them to create a multisample for your preferred format: junobass.zip
Soundsample 2: juno60_bass.mp3
An alternative to the Juno-106 bass can be achieved with TAL U-NO LX that emulates the Roland Juno-60 in a good way. The Juno-60 sounds a little bit different compared to the Juno-106 but can still be useful for the bassline. The VSTi can be downloaded from the TAL Software website.
Here is a bassline patch for the VSTi: juno60_bass.fxp]juno60_bass.fxp
*** All links are carefully restored from the original article and changed where needed, please let us know about any mistakes or updated links ***
