more modern synth sounds needed

[nicotina]

Reviewers say that my synth patches are dated. I have some trouble telling what is wrong with them, and how to find better ones. This was the listing:

SAD, MELANCHOLY INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a great, NON-Exclusive Music Library with a long history of placements, primarily, but not entirely on Reality TV Shows. They need Instrumental Cues in a range of styles and tempos. Please listen to these references to get an idea of the broad range of styles that could work for this pitch: Extreme Makeover: (starting at 1:15 to 3:00) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nMrFh-RJMA America's Next Top Model: (starting at 3:13 to 4:10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdASrSBndC8 Undercover Boss: (starting at 0:30 to 1:12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahJ3PBD6n48 Please send subtle, somber Melancholy Underscore Cues that can be as simple as a solo piano, a piano with a small string section, or fuller pieces that combine synth pads with orchestral instruments. As long as your piece evokes emotions like sadness, regret, or longing, and it doesn’t get too big or dramatic, you should be in the range of what this Music Library needs

This was my submission:

https://soundcloud.com/vincent-s-nicoti ... and-regret

The reviewer said "The piano aspect of this cue is working well, but the patches behind it sound pretty dated. We need to stick with a more current sound to match up well with current TV shows like those listed in the references here."

Can someone recommend a midi library I could buy with better patches?

thanks,

Vince

[Len911]

Vince, I'm not sure about dated, I'm not sure what you are trying to do, I mean it's sort of dronish but seems to stop too soon.

I'm not sure I would buy midi, why not just buy loops? Their relatively cheap, I think you might be looking for something in ambient style, or cinematic or downtempo.

for example
http://www.bigfishaudio.com/detail.html ... 65::518073

[mikehamm123]

I really like your writing, but your patches do sound dated, almost an 80's sound. Sounds like an ARP or Moog.

[annayarbrough]

That patch could work for something modern with an 80s influence (eg, Haim) but I think it's more a case of it not being a good fit for that particular style. For this kind of scene you'd be better off with something very warm with very little resonance (little of that synthy 'buzz' going on), or something like a soft string pad. What are you working with? A lot of the time you can go into your patch and pull that resonant stuff out—mess with/close the oscillators, adjust cutoff etc.

[fuzzbox]

Nicotina,
You haven't said what synth/VST you're using. If you have an FM type synth, you can create your own sound, so you don't have to buy one. If not try NI's FM8 which is now $149. They also have a myriad of presets where I'm sure one will close to what you need and then you can customise it closer to what you need. Just a thought.

[GuitarKit]

Yes the pad sound is very dated. Reminds me of and old prophet synth. What I am hearing in many of the reality T V sad stuff are pianos drenched in a warm reverb along with realistic sounding string sections for the pad.
Yes that doss sound like money.

[nicotina]

Thanks, everyone- that give me some things to try. I was using the preset pad sounds on my old Roland RD700-SX- they probably are from the 80's I'm more of a piano/organ guy then a synth guy- but I know I need to update.

[EvanLainhart]

I actually like the patch quite a bit. I really like that slightly weezy retro Boards of Canada sound. What I think would've helped is some distortion and/or reverb to give it a little more pazzazz. Maybe a bit of stereo delay to widen the sound?

Evan