How to Make a 'Synth Brass' Sound ('Africa' by Toto)

“Synth Brass” is one of a synth player’s go-to sounds for a lot of situations. Join me as we recreate this sound using a Nord Stage 3. The theories and techniques learned here should translate to your own synth here as well.

🙏🏽 Thanks for all the support and for the shared love of music. 🎶 🎹

== Chapters ==
0:00 Intro
0:09 Why this sound?
1:11 Demos
1:45 "Africa" (by Toto)
2:34 "Drive" (by The Cars)
2:55 Lesson begins
12:55 Nord Stage 3 specific settings
14:21 Additional ideas for the sound.
16:31 Ending

Links:

* Some links above are affiliate links providing me a small commission to help support the channel. The price is the same to you even if you use the links for your purchase. Thank you! 🙏🏻

[vibescribemuso]

H Mark I'm a student of yours love your tutorials. I so want to reproduce that brass sound on the Wave 2 but I can't, the descriptions of the controls Amp/Mod envelope are different to the Nord Stage can you please help me

[dstorfer]

Played as a lead this reminds me of the trombone sound on the ARP Pro Soloist. My dad had one when I was a kid and once you piped it through some reverb and chorus, it sounded really nice, and a lot like this.

[melissamurphyhorn]

Wow this channel is exactly what we need! We are really keen to get the most out of our Nord Stage 3, so thank you this channel is so helpful! We just recorded our own version of Africa, used the Nord for percussion but hadn't discovered its synth brass capabilities yet. Love love love your channel!

[DeanoPiano]

I was literally halfway through your synthesis courses (just started part 4, on understanding the synth section of the Nord stage 3, I feel I can understand it a lot better now, thank you so much, I might have been one of the very few people who pitched the idea to you a few years ago but I’ve only just got round to watching them, absolutely love your Nord videos, Hope your safe and well Mark, looking forward to watching this video now as I love Toto! ☺️

[frederichardouin]

Glad to see the Stage Viewer app on your latest video ! Makes it much more clearer with all the parameters in a single snapshot. Great sound and explanations as always Mark !

[dclementsmith]

Great video, so helpful, just what I was looking for to recreate that Africa sound on my stage 3.

[thomassalyers]

Thank you Mark! Really enjoy and learn from your videos, , ,

[stefanr.]

Big "Thank you" again from Germany! It is always a pleasure to see you creating a sound everyone knows and loves! I learn so much watching and listening to you!

Une belle sonorité de '' synth Brass" assez différente de celle que j'ai créé sur ma chaîne, mais cette sonorité est très belle aussi, bravo à vous et une très bonne continuation musicale 🎹 Theret Jean-Luc.

[bigbenskeys]

Hi Mark, I just stumbled across your channel from bonnie Scotland. Wow!! Nord have a huge influence and base in the UK, i wonder if contacting them to consider being a product demonstrator has ever crossed your mind? Your channel deserves to grow considering the excellent content and knowledge you have. Keep them coming, I'm a new fan, blessings.

[MG-Nordster]

Sounds great! love Africa, i hope i can replicate that on my old Nord Stage.

[junkokinoko]

Hi! Marc, I'm am gearing towards Stage 3 Compact because of the weight & price compared to the HP76, but I am not sure if the keybed is decent enough to play Piano and EP lines with sensitivity, that sometimes 16 note runs are more effective with heavier keybed. How do you feel regarding this? I saw you have used both in your videos. Cheers from Junko!!!

[claudiobenitez]

Increible video, no un canal en youtube que tenga este contenido ojala puedas subir mas videos de este estilo con sonido de canciones mas modernas!! gracias

[mckreunski]

Thanks Marc for this tutorial, very helpfull (as aways!)

[danielmikkelsen]

So cool! That is such a universal sound you will often need. I was really reminded of Rush Vital signs in the end :D Took me a while to realize

[BruceLeslieMusic]

I'm a newb using a Peak. I can't find the control to "introduce the modulation envelope" at 5:55. Do you have any training for the Peak?

[TheSouthernAccent]

Hi Marc, I am learning with my NS4 it worked but at first was a bit difficult because the controls on the NS4 are named differently than on the NS3. Maybe you could show it with the new NS4, thanks

[merlijnduynstee]

Hi Marc, Is this "slight pitch bend at the begin of the note" also possible on the NS2?

[blaueorange]

Amazing video, amazing sound, amazing guy! Love your sound-creation videos.

If you need a suggestion for a next video... I would love seeing you creating the intro synth from Dua lipa‘ s „Levitating“

See you in the next video ;)

[hots]

Not exactly brass, but how about that opening chord in Beat It. ?