When you need a sick synthesizer solo

When you're programming a synth lead by hand, sometimes it's not clear how to generate cool variations on your riff - here's a method using note length and an arpeggiator, mapped to a midi controller to generate crazy new ideas.

Contents:
0:00 example of a synth solo
1:03 setting the stage
2:12 designing the synth lead
3:10 polymeter lead masterclass
5:22 subtle midi flavor
7:40 The synth solo (how to)
8:31 Doing it in my DAW

[MasterJake]

Dude, your channel has been so pivotal in my music production journey. So many YouTubers just explain production as "set these knobs to these values and it makes the sound." You, on the other hand, actually explain concepts to make the technique reproducible in other contexts. I also love your emphasis on techniques that lead to "discovery, " like mapping controls to physical devices and playing with knobs while recording. Keep it up!

[amphibiau]

there has never been a time in my life where i have not needed a synthesizer solo

[Centomila]

I use the same techniques and have the same haircut 😁. Love from Italy!

[FranckMartin]

Sounds good, I would put a vocoder on your voice, following the melodic line.

[andycordy]

Excellent idea, Oscar. Thank you. Soloing with synthesizers usually sounds tame, or even lame. I would never dare to let go in this way at the keyboard but you just showed a way through that anxiety to a fun and frankly wild way forward.

[viktorkalashnikov]

I love the groove and atmosphere of the whole track with the synth solo

[jean-marcdecanter]

Absolutely gorgeous ! you have to release that track ! Thank you Oscar for the lesson !

[bricelory]

Don't forget you can also record the MIDI to another MIDI track in Ableton, so you could perform the note length and appreciators, and then do a separate run where you perform changes to the synth and/or effects while it runs the same MIDI data to your solo.

[frankiewylde]

absolutely love this video Oscar, thanks again for providing us with so much forward thinking content and being vulnerable with your music making process. I was just thinking about how it would be sweet if we heard more solos in electronic music like back in the old rock and roll days!

[kennethbropson]

I LOVE your videos! You make it seem so easy and accessible for all levels. Plus, you seem like a super nice guy, which almost makes it like my friend is teaching me.

[isabellapakulska]

Could totally be utilised also in live setup!! Great stuff, didn't expect any less...

[rorycathcart]

that little bit at the end with shortening and lengthening the notes and seven steps on the arpeggiator! lovely. Great tshirt too btw.

[stephenparton]

Great idea, I was working on this kind of workaround to add more feel to a track this week and then you pop up with a wicked implementation.

[rawdrian]

I love your courage ❤ great vocal idea

[AcidCortex]

Oh this is nice. Giving me ideas. I don't generally go in for vocals, but I kinda like what you have done, keep working it <3

[MrZardoz]

Great video as always but then the last section just opened my mind completely! Superb. Thanks, Oscar ❤

[Andrew-rzqt]

Every time you say 'forgeting we are good' I would repeat just that fraise twice each time so that it book ends the rest of the lyrics.

[randomelements-acid]

Brilliant idea. I've been adding variations manually but this adds a whole new element.

Oh, and definitely continue working on the track!

[mradamcshaw]

Something I did in a track was use Ableton's MIDI Scale to lock the scale so I could just jam by hitting the cursor up and down while recording and then extracting the best bits. I've used this as an outro on a track and it sounds like I am vibing on the keyboard when in fact I am straight up cheating. I've also done this as an intro and locked the end as a repeating loop to feed through the track. I liked what you are doing you should finish it.

[mjlblake]

Dude. More than potential.

Islets love seeing your videos coming up in my subs notifications. Always inspirational. ❤