How To Make - Synthwave with The Midnight / 547

[etirflita]

I love these tutorials!

[Chrisbjors]

Followed along and learned a bunch. Mostly how to use EQ and compressors to shape sounds and using automation to give space to different sounds in your mix.

I don't have any of this guys 50different plugins but I got the most out of trying to emulate his sounds with what I've got and the tutorial follows a nice structure so you don't get overwhelmed or confused on what needs to be done next. I'd definitely say it's worth the 13bucks.

[Neon_Danny]

Amazing to be able to learn from one of my favourite bands

[GranDesigner]

Cool track!

[zagaroth_db]

What is "dreamy synth" in Kontakt from? Demo version ran out, and I need to get it.

[Tekalight]

Hey there @zagaroth_db

Check my previous post inside this topic, this NKI instrument is included inside the tutorial resources.

Demo version ran out

Not sure what you mean by this: is it NI Kontakt giving you a message about demo ending ? To me this is a custom NKI instrument, so you should be able to run it with the free Kontakt Player if you don't have the full version.

[maverick2]

It's great !!!

[zagaroth_db]

Yes. I get a message in Kontakt, and after a certain time period it no longer outputs. No more audio. Both in Logic and as a stand alone. It redirects me to Native Access to purchase, but no mention of where it's from?

[Tekalight]

Hi again @zagaroth_db

I downloaded the resources files and launched the included Dreamy synth KONTAKT instrument.nki and was able to play it inside Kontakt without issue, even after some time. But I have a full version of Kontakt 6.

If you are running the free Kontakt 6 player, I think the issue might be that this NKI instrument from The Midnight was created with Kontakt 5 --> I found this limitation on the Kontakt 6 Player FAQ page.

Maybe if you load the instrument and then try to save it as a new one it will be converted and work with Kontakt 6 Player, but I'm not sure if you are able to do this with the free version, but might be worth checking IMO.

Sorry, but I don't think I can help much more with this one

[mikedailor]

Hey @zagaroth_db, I had this same issue and was not able to use the synth with the free player ever again after about 30 minutes, I wrote this post back then, hope it helps:

For you guys that have been trying to workout how to get the "Dreamy Synth" sound into your DAW of choice: in the Resources .zip file (up top under Course Resources) there's a demo version of the NI KONTAKT instrument AND a folder containing the .wav sample files for the instrument (cuz KONTAKT is basically a sample playback device at its core). Grab those samples, map 'em across the keyboard on your software or hardware sampler (I'm a Reason guy so that's NN-XT for me), increase the the decay and release on your AMP envelope, and you've basically got the Dreamy Synth. The KONTAKT instrument also does some subtle modulation of a lowpass filter envelope with each key press, you could certainly do the same for extra credit! Tip: The A samples are named an octave too low, so A1 is actually A2, A2 is A3, etc. So for the first octave, your map's gonna be:
C1.wav
D#1.wav
F#1.wav
A1.wav
Rinse/repeat

[Tekalight]

Hey there @mikedailor

Thanks for chiming in and yes, I remember to have seen your post before, just didn't come back to mind

Since the samples are included it's indeed possible to recreate the instrument inside Kontakt Player or even Logic EXS24 Sampler, good point. I couldn't find a Kontakt demo in the resources, that might have been changed. Things have also evolved at Native Instruments since the time this tutorial was made. You now need to have a user account by them and use Native Access in order to run the free Kontakt Player or their free Komplete Start package. Before it was possible to download & install individual products & NI was using "Service Center" to authorize, this is not the case anymore.

@zagaroth_db

Check if you're using a demo of the full Kontakt sampler by clicking on the name in the top left corner as shown in the pic below and then you can follow this guide line in order to have the free Komplete Start package running. Give it a new try once you're sure you're all setup & running with NI stuffs. If the instrument stops playing again after a while, then we're back to my previous post and that's probably because it was made with an earlier version of Kontakt, I doubt you'll be able to re-save and convert it so therefore Mike's solution to recreate the instrument is the way to go.

[chrisgvitar]

Dreamy Synth Crew: For those looking to recreate this sound (without the experience of a keen ear and knack for synthesis), there's a patch I have for spire that is virtually identical. Since Spire has the plate verb, you can switch that off and further process to taste, as it will sound different in each mix. Glad to share if anyone is looking for it.

[Tekalight]

Hey there @chrisgvitar

Just a reminder here, be aware that you can only share personal & user soft-synths presets that were made from scratch, starting from the init settings. If this preset comes from factory or payed presets banks, you're not allowed to redistribute them .

[stocky81]

big fan of synthwave. minimal instruments but edited perfectly. great to learn how to do the basics really well rather than making a muddy mess which i tend to do hence why i am here! enjoying these tutorials

[Simonhubermusic]

seeing this kind of production being made step by step, is amazing! thank you!

[Whitty95]

Amazing, thank you!!

[4beats2thebar]

Really interesting as I don't know much about this genre

[Tekalight]

Hey there @4beats2thebar

There are other Synthwave Tutorial available on Sonic Academy if you'd like to see more in this genre.

https://www.sonicacademy.com/courses/synthwave-with-timecop-1983

https://www.sonicacademy.com/courses/michael-oakley-synthwave-control

[Goldglare]

What makes the guitars interesting is the pitch bends and hammers he makes that emulate real guitar playing. Unfortunately he totally skips that entire process, which in my opinion would have been the most valuable process to review.

[phil010182]

Wow, absolutely amazing tutorial. Thanks so much Tim (also for your humour). So great to learn from a band that I love....