Listening with Francis Preve

Recently, I had the honor of appearing on The Listening Podcast—a weekly series sponsored by Liquid Cinema. In the podcast, renowned composer Jeff Rona and I discussed my relationship with sound design, DJ culture, synthesis, and the horizons of instrument design.

Below are links to Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Enjoy!

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CIqUGcGwYGUo6W44v4eIv?si=yLkokLwASSiwUD1J55cgBg

Apple Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-with-francis-preve/id1476332977?i=1000455970308

Xfer Serum Toolkit 3 Arrives

And now, a word from our sponsor… After over a year of development, Serum Toolkit 3 has finally arrived. For this pack, every patch includes original wavetables and samples, created from scratch using physical modeling and hi-res sampling. Many of the techniques used in this library are explained in my Serum Masterclass for Electronic musician.

In addition to the original wavetables, the pack also includes a huge number of sampled attacks, plucks, guitars, pianos, and percussion instruments. These elements add complexity to the wavetable oscillators and are a major departure from the usual “Serum sound”.

I also included updated Macros, including the new “XFORM” knob, that morphs between two completely different sounds. This basically doubles the number of presets to 200 - and lets you customize the results with a single knob.

Here’s a link to the pack, for Serum fans who are interested in checking out my design work - and as always, I’m happy to answer specific questions regarding these presets via my Contact link.

Serum Toolkit 3: https://xferrecords.com/preset_packs/serum-toolkit-3

With Serum Toolkit Vol. 3, iconic sound designer Francis Preve takes his Toolkit series to the next level. Featuring 100 custom wavetables based on physically modeled instruments and 70 sampled transients and decays - including recorded guitars and percussion - every core element in Toolkit Vol. 3 is original.

Master Class: DSI OB-6

It’s no exaggeration to say that Dave Smith Instruments’ OB-6—a true collaboration with Tom Oberheim—has quickly become one of the most sought-after analog polysynths of the 21st century. By combining elements of Smith’s own Prophet 6 with the filter topology of the Oberheim SEM, the OB-6 is capable of textures that are unlike any other analog poly to date.

For this Music Radar Master Class, I won’t be rehashing the generalities of analog synthesis. Instead, the focus is on programming tricks and techniques that highlight the possibilities lurking within the OB- 6. It’s also worth noting that several of the tricks in this tutorial also apply to the Prophet 6, thanks to its similar architecture, so proud owners of that synth may find a few tidbits they can use as well.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-master-the-dave-smith-instruments-ob-6

Master Class: Vocoders

Wendy Carlos recorded the first mainstream performance of a vocoder for her soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, using a 10-band version she developed with Bob Moog in 1970. From there, it was quickly established as a featured component for countless pop, funk, and dance hits—and is often confused with an effect known as the talk box, which is an entirely different method for embossing the characteristics of the human voice onto a musical performance.

Over the past 45 years, there have been many successful vocoders—both hardware and software. The earliest hardware units from Bode, Roland, Moog and Korg found their way into top artists’ studios. Nowadays, software versions are baked into leading DAWs from Ableton, Apple, and Propellerhead, to name a few.

Although vocoders are typically used for creating “robot vocals,” they are capable of generating a wide variety of effects. But to get the most from this unique processor, it is essential to understand how a vocoder works. Here’s my essential guide for Music Radar.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-vocoders-a-complete-guide

Master Class: Roland TR-8S

With the introduction of the TR-8S, Roland not only advanced the popular TR-8’s sequencing tools and iconic sound, but added sample import (via SD card) and expanded its editing features to a point where it truly is an instrument in its own right. Between performance-oriented patterns and sophisticated sound design amenities, you’ll get the most from this beast once you understand how to mold its sonic resources to match your artistic identity.

I'm also testing the waters for expanding this blog to include downloadable presets and examples for selected educational material. If you already own a TR-8S, below is a link to two original kits (with patterns) based on custom analog drum samples I created last month.

Master Class Link: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-master-the-roland-tr-8s

Download the TR-8S kit/patterns  [Instructions included]

Master Class: Novation Peak

Novation Peak

The Novation Peak has generated a serious buzz in the synth community by combining its innovative Oxford oscillators that deliver analog-grade resolution with a fully analog signal path, as well as modulation options such as polyphonic aftertouch and a pair of Animate buttons capable of real-time patch morphing.

With a front panel packed full of familiar controls, Peak gives you direct access to these and many other important functions. This Music Radar masterclass digs deeper into the synth, unveiling a world of functionality that sets it apart from many modern polyphonics. In this tutorial, I investigate those options.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-novation-peak

Master Class: The Minimoog Paradigm

Minimoog Model D

The synth that started it all.

Make no mistake, the Minimoog Model D was the synthesizer that kickstarted our industry. Its architecture has been the basis for countless analog monosynths to follow and its sound remains so distinctive that Moog recently reissued a circuit-perfect, limited-edition version for those with a devotion to authenticity.

But the modern era has brought us software and hardware versions of the Minimoog architecture that update the synth’s essential characteristics in ways that reflect the march of technology since 1971. For example, the Arturia Mini V has modulation amenities that would be impossible to do with analog hardware alone, whereas the Roland SE-02 offers far more flexibility than the original. And ApeSoft Mood, an iOS take on the Mini, approaches the original’s iconic filter behavior while adding sampling and FM to its array of Moogish oscillators. Consequently, if you’re in the mood for a Model D but can’t afford the real thing, these hardware and software interpretations can get you there, but with greater flexibility than the original and at a price that won’t break the bank.

My Music Radar masterclass shows you how to get the most out of of each of these synths.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/how-to-get-the-best-out-of-the-moog-model-d-and-3-emulations

Master Class: Korg Prologue

If you’ve read the specs, Korg’s new Prologue polysynth is far more complex than either of its siblings—the Minilogue and Monologue—though it shares their heritage. Consequently, the Prologue’s analog side is similar, but with a few notable upgrades.

The Prologue’s digital side, however, has some groundbreaking innovations. This Music Radar Master Class takes a close look at its synthesis engine and explains how to make the most of it.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-the-most-out-of-the-korg-prologue

Master Class: Korg Gadget

In 2017, Korg expanded Gadget’s range by introducing an identical version for Mac OS, bringing its intuitive approach to the desktop. The full install of Gadget for Mac is bundled with more than 30 plug-ins, including the recording gadgets Zurich and Rosario, as well as a virtualized collection of their most iconic hardware synths.

Though many of Gadget’s synths are so immediately approachable that there’s no real need for tutorials, others can look a bit cryptic to new users. Even if you’re an experienced synthesist, there are nuances in each of the instruments that go beyond the obvious functionality. So, for this Music Radar master class, we’ll dig deeper into the more sophisticated gadgets, exposing possibilities that may not be immediately apparent.

LINK: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/the-definitive-guide-on-how-to-use-korg-gadget-for-mac

Master Class: Operator

One of my biggest talks at the 2017 Ableton Loop conference was an in-depth studio session on the details of FM synthesis. Having designed presets for Operator since before it was released in 2004, I can honestly say that I have an intimate relationship with its capabilities.

This masterclass for Music Radar revisits some of the topics from my Loop session - and goes deep into the possibilities of this powerful FM and additive synth. Enjoy!

Link: https://www.musicradar.com/how-to/the-definitive-guide-on-how-to-use-operator-in-ableton-live

Trick Or Treat

As Halloween approaches, I’m re-releasing the Scapes project “The Haunting” for Ableton fans looking for spooky sounds for their DJ sets or party atmospherics.

Originally posted in 2015, “The Haunting” got some attention from Ableton guru, AfroDJMac, who runs an amazing website for all things Live. Below is his video that describes the project in detail.

The project file is a free download from the Scapes page and requires Ableton Live with Operator or Suite functionality.

Here’s the link: https://www.francispreve.com/scapes/