The TOTO - AFRICA brass sound tutorial

[DuaLeaD]

Building on what htinge said: The vintage synths used in the recording are going to sound warmer because they are true 100% analog synthesizers....Despite being the best Virtual Analog synth out there, Nords are still just that....VIRTUAL analog....Can't beat the real thing baby!!

[ORGANISER61]

not even close in my humble opinion !

[wildnites558]

CS80 or CS90. The newer Yamaha S90s,Motifs and MOs all have that "Africa" patch in the Brass category. No synth or "ROMpler" should be without it.

[comandante583]

it´s close, but the original sounds differently.

consider: This sound was made by Steve Porcaro on CS-80.

You can not create such a special sound in 6 minutes. Steve was an expert

[kurnilse]

It´s hard to copy the original sound from the mighty CS-80 used on Africa:-)

[FrederikMeyer]

Close... but not close enough.

[simon4tw]

Really like the sound - but this aint Africa.

[isaacrife08]

find any synth... pick saw waves turn the cutoff down to half and have the res a little bit lower... turn filter attack and release up a little bit and BAM you have a analog brass sound

not too hard

[tototootsie]

no no no,.,this is not the africa sound, not even close :( ,.,.,.

and the toto soft brass sound is Not made on a yamaha CS80

the real sound is made on a Yamaha GS1 ,.,

[azartrus]

What a great sound. I used this guide to get a similar sound out of my novation ultranova. I love the warmth of the filters on the nord lead

[PimpinBassie2]

Original brass sound came from the Yamaha CS-80

[myownservant]

The sound isnt bad...but why would you attempt getting a vintage analog tone like that on a nord lead

[V100BB]

@myownservant Because the nord lead is a virtual analog synth? It's original purpose was to emulate vintage analog tones, you silly-billy.

[SouthOCmixdown]

Roland RD-700. Afro Horns patch in the Brass section w/the EQ adjusted 4the 'Africa' sound. This sounds more like the synth patch sound from the chorus of C. Santana's 'Winning". Dont count out using a digital stage piano w/great samples, vs a programmable virtual analogue synth better used 4electronic music &texturals. Having a good producer's ear doesnt hurt either. Can hear a synth patch from any song Ive ever heard in my life, &verify &reproduce it w/85% &up acccuracy. THIS 1 earns a 60% IMO

[emilen2]

Excellent video.!

OT: Please delete the medog2020 posts, as he is creepy in an unhealthy way.

[musicfanaticman]

This guy went to all the trouble to make this video to help people out; he did not get paid a cent to make it, and all you guys can do is complain? Why don't YOU go make a video yourself instead of sitting on your butts and whining? I myself have the same synth he has and I found the video to be very educational! If you don't like this video don't watch it, but you don't have to ruin it for the people that do like it. And just for the record, it sounds pretty similar to the original to me.

[medog2020]

@musicfanaticman How does one ruin the video? Why don't you make a video yourself instead of sitting on your butt and whining? In order for one to determine whether or not you like the video, you have to watch it. It's common sense, buddy.

[musicfanaticman]

@medog2020 Unbelievable, you're actually following me around! How else would you have "discovered" my video, with a whopping 16 views? Or this video despite you have zero interest in synthesizers whatsoever?

Also, try making some since. The point I was making was that THIS GUY went to the trouble of making a video, and I don't want too! And these people aren't making videos either, the people that are complaining. So if they have a problem, they can make a video themselves.

[medog2020]

@musicfanaticman Ugly face? Laughing out loud!. I'm not the one filming myself wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses indoors. You've got more hair in between your eyebrows than you do on your lip. Don't be scared to show your face. Does your pussy hurt? Why did you block me? Laughing out loud!

[musicfanaticman]

@medog2020 You're telling me laughing out loud? The real laughing out loud is that at least 50% of your post involve "laughing out loud" at the end. In addition, this video is about a tutorial, and a great tutorial by the way. Who said anything about my face on this video?

And as to why I blocked you? It's because you're following me around?! In addition, at least I filmed myself at all. You never filmed yourself at all.

You clearly have time for this nonsense because you have no job

[musicfanaticman]

@medog2020 I find your comment about "In order for one to determine whether or not you like the video, you have to watch it" to be hilariously ironic. Partly because I DID watch the video and partly because you DIDN'T. And sitting on my butt whining? No, they are, and you are. I'm the one that's cheering this guy on for his great video. I'm backing the guy up.

[medog2020]

@musicfanaticman Stop whining, pussy. Laughing out loud! I'm going to film myself wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses indoors. Unfortunately I can't grow a peach fuz mustache or hair in between my eyebrows. Laughing out loud! You're such a pussy for blocking me. So how is your U2 cover going?

[musicfanaticman]

@medog2020 Did you know it's possible to make a post without saying profanity, or "laughing out loud"? Because it seems that's your only argument technique. I'm blocking you because you follow me around, and the more you follow me and reply, the more you prove me right. My U2 cover is great, because unlike you I actually make music and contribute to society. I also have a job. I doubt you have one of those either. 

So why don't you pick up your government check and continue to have nolife

[medog2020]

@musicfanaticman I have not used the word profanity at all until now. Laughing out loud! Obviously blocking me does not prevent me from "following you around." Rolling on floor laughing! So why did you block me? How can you make a U2 cover without a band? According to you a cover has to as close to the original as possible. Laughing my ass off! My government check is directly deposited into my bank account every 2 weeks. Laughing out loud!

[musicfanaticman]

@medog2020 I thought I was a little harsh when I accused you of living on benefits from the government, but I was surprised when you actually had to openly admit it. Now THAT is an ROFL moment. As to your question? 1. I made that video forever ago and now I have a band. 2. I have a synthesizer with 4 layers at one time. So I can do it by myself anyway.

I blocked you in hope that you might get a job and life, and a girlfriend (if you can). Also, so at least you can't comment on my vids

[medog2020]

@musicfanaticman As a government employee, I receive a government check. Laughing out loud! Yes I live on the benefits of the government. I have free health care and dental. Jealous? Laughing out loud! It's ironic you're on Youtube telling me to get a life. Laughing out loud!

[musicfanaticman]

@medog2020 For a government employee, you sure do have a lot of free time on youtube! What does your government pay you to do, look up videos on youtube and then stalk people?

[medog2020]

@musicfanaticman I don't work 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Yes I have a lot of free time. I have 16 hours of free time almost everyday. I'm paid to do maintanance on marine engines, auxilary components and a laundry list of other things I won't bore you with.

[danielortizdecaracas]

sounds like a sheldon voice of big bang theory

[fromthispoint]

Sounds pretty good to me,

[dvamateur]

Beautiful instrument! I tried it in a music store, and the keyboard feels very smooth. I heard they use Italian keyboard action. Great video! We need more of these kind of videos on YouTube, instead of just going-through-the-presets videos, which are quite boring...

[1978djd]

Not quite, keep trying, almost there. The real sound was created by artists doing what they could with the equipment they had in a bygone era. Thank God for them.

Maybe in a few years time, people will be buying old PCs to try to get that 'Benassi bass lead sound'.

[speier]

@1978djd a nord is not that different from a vintage synth - it's the same kind of modulation and oscillator. if it's not accurate, then he just needs to change the modulation a bit more

[X2T2X]

the Toto brass doesn't have variable envelope cutoff amount. Your dynamics shouldn't brigthen the sound when hitting harder. (or maybe a very small amount) Otherwise is pretty realistic.

[Josfen12]

... Intense terminology dude :L

[aarfeld]

Now if you could just play John Coltrane's African Brass you'd be all set.

[bobdlx]

c'mon get to the point!

[owie75]

Nah, that's not the africa sound. I got a very similar sound by combining two saw waveforms, detuning one of them, taking the sharpness away with the low pass filter and messing with the release....

[nat2078]

Your voice annoys me, if you want people to learn how to use a synthesizer then atleast speak in lateral terms thats much more bloody easy to understand!! :@ Im a musician myself n even i cudnt here what on earth you wer on about!!!

[syntesen]

@nat2078

Sorry... I don't know quite what you mean... oscillator, low-pass filter, contour, envelope etc are pretty generic terms...

but for the case of improving myself, i'd like some examples of what you mean! thanks for the honest comment though :)

[grousebeatertv]

@nat2078

No offence meant but I can understand what syntesen is saying perfectly and he has taken the time to help people out with synthesis so let's give him a thumbs up eh? :)

[DvvdJD]

@nat2078 - I'm an amateur and could understand him perfectly...

[PooPooOnMyNewShoe]

@nat2078 Idiot

[sacredgeometry]

@PooPooOnMyNewShoe Its the curse of the idiot, to think everything/one else is in the wrong. I think its called the Dunning–Kruger effect.

[PooPooOnMyNewShoe]

@sacredgeometry Right. I'm not familar with the Dunning-Kruger effect yet but I'll look it up. I just get annoyed when someone takes time to post something that may be informative to us, and then some bone head says that he dosn't like the guys voice.???? WTF. :)

[CrocodileRocker]

Resonance - way down.

[htinge]

Sorry, but this is not the africa brass sound.

Listen to the original! That is much warmer.

And the original key is A and not Ab ;)

[scavenom2008]

I agree but the sound is still very cool. keyboard wizard has the real sound!!! check it out

[keyboardprince]

i play this song every night in my band just a gm soft brass is right and the solo layer two flutes ans a kalima transpose one flute down 5 simitones and thats it , this will leave one hand free for the chords over the solo

[MARANTZamp]

Too much resonance, and the attack is too slow on the filter.

Nice try though

[markix88]

nice work but i think your sound is too much nasal than the original (for the square wave and pwm mod), i think it's better to use sawtooth waves for the classic cs80 brassy sound, as classic for most classic brass design...better with no velocity for filter, just envelope...good work

[MARANTZamp]

I agree....

That cs80 brass sound can be done just as well on a prophet-5. (perhaps even better)

[SpiffaJ]

Ican get a better sound on my korg x50 by combining session brass and analogue pad

[MrSynthfreak]

what about the solo parts sound?

[sarah100rebecca1]

Thank you so much. Love it!!!

[HelixMusic]

Nice!

[paulshillitomusic]

great to see how other people work to get thier sounds, nice tutorial.