While recording and sequencing the synthesizers in my project was not nearly as big or time consuming as recording guitar, bass, drums or vocals, it needed to be done with care and attention to detail. Due to the nature of being able to quantize and easily duplicate software instrument parts, the session was done quite quickly once I had found the synthesizers that I had wanted to use.
As intended, one of my tracks did not contain any synths. I did this because the track, ‘Antagonise’, is chiefly influenced musically and in terms of production by Rage Against the Machine who generally speaking only really use guitars, basses, drums and vocals.
The other three tracks on my EP however, did include synthesizers. The most prominent set features on ‘Fame’, in which I feel I have, quite successfully tried to replicate the synthesizer sound and style of Muse’s ‘Bliss.’ This track also features pads, among other synths, in the breakdown section reminiscent of ‘Megalomania’ from Origin of Symmetry. ‘El Pres’ features a cutting lead sound in the chorus sections that arpeggiates in a single octave, rather than two or three like the synthesizers from ‘Bliss’ or ‘Screenager’ from Origin of Symmetry. ‘Alive’ mainly features piano and organ software instruments, modelled on those from ‘New Born’ and ‘Megalomania’ from the same album but there is also a pad, which I actually modelled on Ruled By Secrecy from Absolution, and an arpeggiator which took inspiration from the one that can be heard on ‘Space Dementia’ from Origin of Symmetry.
As planned, I used Logic Pro’s ‘Alchemy’ synthesizer for nearly all of my synths due to the highly customisable nature of the sounds included. The tone-shaping made it quite easy to get the timbres I wanted . I also used Logic’s ‘ES2’ and ‘Retrosynth’, which are a fair amount more basic than Alchemy.
As I mentioned in my other post about synths, it has been difficult to find very much information on how Muse recorded their synths and what synths they used but my sequencing/recording session went exactly to plan and I believe the synthesizers on my album are reminiscent of those used by Muse on Origin of Symmetry.