How to Make an 8-Bit Growl Synth Build-Up in NI Massive

This is a sweet sound and a good lesson in how to combine different sounds, delivered in different ways, in one NI Massive patch without too much complication.

If you have ever wanted to combine two different sounds in a build up, but wonder how to get it all synced up perfectly, one way to get it done is to just design one instrument made up of the different sounds. This also gives you the added benefit of being able to modulate the sounds together for seamless consistency and continuity. This kind of sound design is no problem if you use a synth like Native Instruments Massive. You have more than enough flexibility available to you, so all you need to do is apply equal parts inspiration and experimentation. Let’s check out how this sound was made.

To begin with, load up a Crusher wavetable on the OSC1 panel, a Sawtooth wavetable is loaded into OSC2 and a Square Wavetable, increased three octaves, is loaded into OSC3. A small amount of Phasing is introduced to OSC3 by way of the Modulation OSC panel. Next, some Bright Noise is added to the mix. Now both OSC1 and OSC2 are run through a Daft filter on the Filter1 panel. OSC3 is routed through a Scream filter loaded into the Filter2 panel.

A Performer is set up to modulate the cutoff parameter of the Scream filter. And then an LFO is set up to modulate the Amp knob of OSC3 and the Amp knob of the Noise panel. Then a Performer is set up to modulate the cutoff parameter of the Filter1 panel. Finally, another Performer is set up to modulate the Pitch value of the OSC3 panel, which increases the pitch as the sound builds up.

Two Sine Shapers are inserted to help accent certain characteristics of the sound, including some introduced by a Classic Tube Amp which is added to the FX1 tab. Reverb is then added to the FX2 tab, which allows much more space for the sound to develop in. The wraps up the sound as you hear it in the video. If you feel like you want a little more form this sound, without much more programming time, try adding a voice or two via the Voicing tab. You can then take advantage of both the Pitch Cutoff and Pan Position features, which can add a touch more phase to the sound as well as spread it out across the stereo field.

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OhmLab