The art
of sound design
Our emulations are marvels of music technology, but even the best-sounding synth and keyboard models would be dull without the incredible work and imagination of their sound designers.
Veterans of the industry and young upstarts alike, for more than a decade we’ve worked with some of the most talented musicians, producers, and sound designers around to create sounds that both honor the past, and help you create the future.
On this page, we pay tribute to the amazing men and women who helped create the signature sounds of our instruments, and give you an insight into their creative process.
Distant Bells
Avanti Singh
My favorite preset is 'Tech Sparkle'. I love making ambient and spacey sounds and incorporating randomness. I mapped the random parameter to the LFO rate and added randomness to the gate of the arps. This sound perfectly blends the old school computer music vibe with a futuristic twist. Experiment with chords and tensions and get swept away in this preset like I did!
Avanti Singh - on Synthx V
Sound designing with this instrument was so much fun! With the multi-arp feature and the amount of modulation and effect capabilities, there is so much to explore. The advanced panel is a game changer! I really enjoyed experimenting with different rates and random gates in the arps. All this combined with its sleek UI makes this instrument a really powerful tool for sound exploration.
I wanted to use the parameters characteristic to the original Synthex while blending in the modern touch. My process began with experimenting with the ring modulator, choruses, unison and glide parameters of the main panel and then playing with the multi-arp, modulations and effects to add the modern spice!
Tech Sparkle
Sparkly tech arp to take you to another dimension. Mod wheel adds tremolo, noise and opens cutoff.
Hypnos
Konstantin Klem
I have been passionate about music ever since I was a child. Huge influences for me are Eduard Artemyev, Didier Marouani, and Vangelis. During my college years, I released several singles in the trance style under the Qursion alias and then seriously got into sound design. My recent EP was released on the Label Billegal Beats. Currently, I'm immersed in crafting a new album and designing soundbanks for a variety of synthesizers.
Konstantin Klem - on Synthx V
I love the ease of use and sound quality of this synth. The filters, Multi-Arp, and effects are all exceptionally well-designed. It's a perfect choice for musicians who want to create rich, analog sounds.
I drew inspiration from the classic synth music of the 80s, but I wanted to push the boundaries and explore new sonic territories using the synth's built-in effects and modulation. The Synthx's filters have a unique character that guides the sound creation process.
Hypnos
Velvety, vintage sound characterized by its deep, warm bass. Mod wheel adds vibrato, PWM and amp modulation.
Alke Portal
Lily Jordy
The Duo mode offers such rich and complex possibilities. With the 13 presets I made for the Factory, I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what is possible. The Stereo Link is also super practical. Finally, my favorite most powerful feature is the new Multi Arp in the Advanced Panel, with the ability to stack up to 4 arpeggios!
Lily Jordy - on Synthx V
I was mainly experimenting but basically couldn't resist using the Duo mode...
Alke Portal is a synced evolving pad that is extremely well adapted for melodic techno...
Alke Portal
Spacious and evolving gated pad...
Mind Glitches
Sonar Traffic
"Mind Glitches". I like how the character of the original synths shines through the almost granular like random volume modulation.
Sonar Traffic - on Synthx V
I love the Synthx V for its light & wide character. It cuts through mixes really well and has a very refined character. Favourite features would be the flexible LFO's and the lovely multi mode filters.
I was aiming for a mix between 'classic' type sounds and more modern, modulated, maybe glitchy tones that use the extra modulation capacities in the Synthx V. All is well laid out with the new modulation routing system so you can easily experiment with the different possibilities.
Mind Glitches
Lofi, nostalgic and sad sounding keys. Movement Macro increases a function modulator's scale and speed, increasing the presence of 2 pitch modulated delay effects. Mod wheel adds tremolo and a subtle vibrato.
String Machine
Drew Schlesinger
The String Machine patch is one of my favorites as while it's mostly limited to the core hardware functionality, it mimics a beautiful synth string machine that utilizes the unique chorus of the original hardware and gets really close to the early 1980's synth string sound that takes me back to that time period. It's not exact but pretty darn close in my mind and a lovely sound.
Drew Schlesinger - on Synthx V
The Synthx V is a classic analog instrument and in its standard configuration is still quite versatile. However the Advanced functionality truly expands the sonic capabilities allowing the user to create some truly complex and modulated sounds.
The Synthx V is a truly classic and revered synthesizer that was used by some truly transformational synthesists and composers in the early 1980s. It was mostly used by those in Europe as distribution in the United States was pretty limited. Jean Michel Jarre, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson and others leveraged the Synthx to a great degree and made some truly classic recordings with the instrument.
String Machine
A classic 70's synth string machine timbre with lots of cool flanging and effects. Mod wheel adds a subtle vibrato.
Timewind
Laura Katic
My favorite preset is Timewind. For this preset, I was inspired to create a sound that feels like playing an orchestra, rich in texture and depth. I’m drawn to dimensional and atmospheric sounds that evoke the sublime and elevate the senses. I used layers A and B in Duo mode to enhance harmonic richness and applied effects to add dimension and color. I also programmed Aftertouch to introduce a voice with a vibrato reminiscent of classical opera singing, giving the preset a mystical and ethereal essence.
Laura Katic - on Synthx V
One of the major strengths of this synthesizer is the ability to use two layers to shape the sound, either by enhancing its robustness in DUO mode or by exploring two distinct textures with layers A and B in solo mode. I also really enjoyed the MultiArp, which offers unlimited possibilities for creating unconventional dynamics and unique polyphonies.
When I work on a specific genre, I create playlists and listen to related music for days. I focus on every texture and imagine how the sounds were made, recreating them in my mind. I explore the synthesizer and its architecture, looking into its synthesis possibilities. I also improvise over a beat to feel if the sound fits and ensure each control/macro is functional for live performance. Ultimately, I ask myself: does this sound have soul? If so, I release it.
Timewind
Classic pad with rich ambience and atmospheric depth. Aftertouch introduces a vocal-like vibrato for added expressiveness, while the Mod Wheel adds dynamic variation.
Faint Impressions
Rob Martland
My favourite is "Faint Impressions". I'm a huge fan of Aphex Twin - Flim adjacent synths, so I love that it has that deeply emotional and super melodic quality to it. Also the mix of noise and a light bitcrusher lights up the video game nostalgia part of my brain.
Rob Martland - on Synthx V
There's something about the tone of the oscillators that feels like plastic to my ears, and I really love that - it's really rounded and whole sounding. I know this is a small feature, but I really like the tone of the noise engine too. Outside of the synth itself, I love the new Pigments style mapping/FX matrix that Arturia has made for it.
I really challenged myself with the Synthx to come up with sounds outside of my usual electronica inclinations. So I'd try and push the synth really far, and then work backwards to shape that more extreme sound closer to my tastes.This meant I came up with sounds that felt like new territory for me as a sound designer, while still being something that felt like me.
Faint Impressions
Lofi, nostalgic and sad sounding keys. Movement Macro increases a function modulator's scale and speed, increasing the presence of 2 pitch modulated delay effects. Mod wheel adds tremolo and a subtle vibrato.