Simple Minds Lovesong Intro Sound

Jeremy Bender · Post by **Jeremy Bender** » Wed Dec 25, 2019 8:48 am

Merry Xmas all

I’m trying to recreate the repeating synth sequence sound that plays in the intro of Lovesong and then continues throughout. It’s probably a Jupiter 4 patch but it has a twangy, popping sound I can’t fathom how to create.

I’ve searched Google for help but found nothing. Any help would be much appreciated please!
Thanks

Happy holidays
Steve

SKung · Post by **SKung** » Wed Dec 25, 2019 9:30 am

That's a hard one. Only things that I guess:

There's a modulation on the cutoff of a low-pass filter, maybe controllable by velocity

It seems like the cutoff is controlled by a EG with short decay.

I think there is a flanger effect that is set to a fixed frequency.

Can't really tell what the oscillator is. Maybe a saw, maybe some kind of wavetable or FM synthesis.

tenohtwo · Post by **tenohtwo** » Wed Dec 25, 2019 9:36 am

This may sound lame, but I would suggest sampling the intro and creating a loop.

1002

SKung · Post by **SKung** » Wed Dec 25, 2019 10:48 am

It's true. At the song beginning you can hear that sound alone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wp6J4JDO6Y

Jeremy Bender · Post by **Jeremy Bender** » Thu Dec 26, 2019 1:34 am

Thanks both
I had thought about a sample but it’s more about trying to understand how that seemingly simple but actually quite complicated sound actually works.

Love the Thomas Dolby avatar by the wa Tenohtwo! A fan?

Best wishes
Steve

tenohtwo · Post by **tenohtwo** » Thu Dec 26, 2019 3:02 am

Yes, huge Dolby fan! I was 11 in '82 when I first heard "Science", and his music influenced me into getting into synthesizers. I have actually programmed a cover of "I Live In A Suitcase" on my old Triton Extreme several years ago, and next on my list is "Valley Of The Minds Eye" on the Kronos. Cheers, Jeremy!

1002

SKung · Post by **SKung** » Thu Dec 26, 2019 7:39 am

After hearing that sound again I suspect that they used a step sequencer that modulated and retriggered the cutoff decay.

Jeremy Bender · Post by **Jeremy Bender** » Thu Dec 26, 2019 9:46 am

Thanks SKung I’ll try a step sequencer approach. The oscillator selection is still a mystery as well. Very nasal pulse wave I think but could be the flanger effect.

Tenohtwo I love Dolby as well and have seen him live many times and had a great time meeting and chatting to him when he did his book promo tour a couple of years ago. Amazing songs and what a synthesist. Need some more music from him!

Thanks
Steve