the INDUSTRIAL METAL SYNTHESIZERS everyone should know

the INDUSTRIAL METAL SYNTHESIZERS everyone should know

Today I'm showing you the best synths and their vst synth plugin alternative for making industrial metal music. These are the most used synthesizers used to create cult industrial metal albums by bands like Rammstein, Ministry, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly and Fear Factory. Synthesizers like the Oberheim Xpander, Access Virus, Ensoniq ASR-10, Nord Lead or the Formanta Polivoks. Synths that are still used today by music producers and sound designers.

🔊Sounds, Presets & Templates🔊

Chapters:
0:00 - intro
0:09 - 1st Synth
1:30 - 2nd Synth
3:10 - 3rd Synth
5:36 - 4th Synth
7:47 - 5th Synth

#industrialmusic #musicproduction #musicproducer

[Tonepusher]

Most bands are using plugins right now, but in my heart nothing will ever replace hardware! hehe I'll probably make a plugin video pretty soon :) Do you guys think I forgot important synths?

And BTW I (of course) meant 95 for the release of the Nord Lead...haha 😅

[Costas_doom]

Very informative video dude! The Nord was the only one I already knew of and also my favourite sounding from the ones presented here. However I'd loved it if you had went ahead and showed us what newer Industrial Metal bands use. And tbf only sort of industrial cause now everyone's like a blend of different sub-genres. If anyone wants to check out an amazing breakdown of how to get the synth sound of more modern industrial bands like Architects, Northlane and Mick Gordon you need to check out Nick Mavromatis' videos on synths.

[Genshi]

Wow, how can you talk about industrial synths and not mention the Ensoniq Mirage and Skinny Pupoy!? Also, no mention of the iconic Waldorf Microwave/XT? Used by just about everyone in the industrial scene; Trent Reznor had a custom blacked out one made for him by Waldorf themselves, and Waldorf even put out an industrial album called “Sub Out” produced by Daniel Myer of Haujobb and featuring Waldorf synths being played by Frontline Assembly, Front 242, KMFDM, and many others.

[dudu]

Great video! I really love and feel pleased that you used my audios and information of my videos for this project! Also, Flake didn't use an Ensoniq ASR-10 in 2022 for Zeit, he only used until Untitled album, for the Hallomann solo for example. Nowadays he just uses VSTs like Omnisphere, and in live he uses 2 Nord Stage 2 EX.

Edit: Flake also used the Nord Lead from Sehnsucht to Reise Reise, for Weisses Fleisch, he only used the Nord Lead for Live aus Berlin, for example. The sample used in studio was actually sampled from the E-MU EMAX. Also, the Spielhur bells are actually from the Nord Lead also. If you want, we can talk a bit more privately, and I can share with you some other Flake stuff I have 😁

[mcal]

Loving this series! I helped Rhys Fulber with his Nord Modular. I think we bought them around the same time and he asked for help with the associated controller software. On the more melodic side of Industrial I was a huge fan of God Lives Underwater and knew both members. The Oberheim Xpander was all over their debut Album ‘Empty’ which was in heavy rotation in my place for many years.

[EffingtonCouldBe]

I still have my ASR-10. Have not played it in YEARS!!! Got the floppies too.

[ozzelot]

Hearing these sounds on their own makes me feel entirely new emotions.

[ClosetoHumanMusic]

Out of the 5 synths listed I've got 3. The POLIVOKS sounds great but is really impossible to work with. It refuses to stay in tune, the pots aren't well calibrated, it doesn't have MIDI (unless you convert it with a kit) and the keyboard feels cheaper than a child's toy. I'm anxiously awaiting the Behringer reissue.

If anyone out there has those original Ensoniq samples, I'd love to have them.🖤

[pccanelos]

Cool, video! 90s industrial is what got me into synths and electronic music. One quick thing, the Nord Lead was released in 95 not 85.

[NBDY_SPCL]

The Xpander was a monster.
I still have two ASR-10's, a keyboard and a rack. Both need their analog boards repaired as they are very vulnerable to bad power. They do have a unique sound, and the transwave function highlights this perfectly.

[unknownfilmmaker]

The limitations of the ASR-10 are what give it its "sound". Let's say you are inspired with some grand vision but then you run into the wall of limited memory. You must decide where and how much you lower the sample rate so you can make everything you want fit. The different rate changed the sounds individually as well as what they sounded like together. Another part of its sound is the simple nature of lower pitched notes taking longer to play the samples (as with any sample not time-stretched). Some of the examples of sounds, even in this video, are mimicking regular synth sounds of the time, like PCM sounds that sound cleaner and have more sonic variation. So while the texture of an individual note might seem normal and recognizable, the context of different notes playing back samples at slightly different speeds will also create something different. What I did with with a single ASR-10, with no output expander or contextual mixing, was overly ambitious and improperly produced. It was like building a skyscraper out of trash, whatever samples I could find, and lowing the sample rate more and more, to jam as many sounds as I needed onto each instrument. This was always made necessary by the longer, textural samples I wanted that took up so much memory. This poorly produced but overly ambitious approach resulted in a gritty sound and texture that could be suitable for whatever you want but is often associated with industrial or cyberpunk, or even hip hop (Kanye West used ASR-10, that's another story) ideas. Also the ASR-10 was built like a tank and quite heavy. You could take it to Iraq and come back from the war and it would still work. Anyway, nowadays you can just create whatever you can imagine easily, clean, dirty or otherwise on a PC. Nice video, thanks.

[andrewgreaves]

I took a chance and bought a Polivoks from Kazakhstan last year. The chance paid off. I love it!

[deanolium]

Another good industrial synth is the Prophet VS. The Volkanic sound is *the* NiN sound Trent used for ages with slight tweaks. It's also lovely for doing pads on. Lovely synth.

[Rooster-Wolf]

Very cool video man! I love industrial metal a lot. Zardonic is lately one of my favorites :)
I have a question. What are the song names of each chapter transistions? Especially I would like to know the song name at 7:47. :3

[ibria]

nice data!!! also..author & punisher knows the ways of grinding synths

[eyesintheskies]

Always wondered who did the electronics on those great early fear factory albums 👍

[regret_this_already]

I've used the Roland xp80 for all of my industrial metal recordings. It's very analog and uses floppy disks. I guess it is now considered classic gear, which I absolutely love!

[AlexAlcyone]

7:50 the Nord synths were mid 90s, definitely not around in 85 unless I jumped timelines or something. I think it was 95.

[theimperfectionist]

Well well well, looks like I've found my new favourite youtube channel...

[JS-wczz]

I got Ostirus up and running a couple weeks ago and it's amazing, it even prompted me to buy a new computer, as it is resource heavy