Synth masterclass with Dave Gale
Pumping synths
This month’s versatile synth patch resides in enigmatic music or hardcore extremes, in equal measure. Dave Gale gets pumping
#10
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Download the accompanying video and the MIDI/audio files at filesilo.co.uk/computermusic
One sound that’s instantly recognisable is the pumping synth. This came right to the front of the mix with the onset of 90s dance culture, but its history extends back further.
The ‘pumping’ sound was originally conceived quite by accident, as large amounts of compression were applied to entire drum kits. That’s the well known effect where it sounds like the cymbals are splashing around, being interrupted by the sound of the main drums themselves. Move on 20 years or so, and the concept of side-chaining compressors became commonplace, as many different sustaining sounds would again be interrupted, but by instruments such as a bass drums. Apply this to 4-to-the-floor of disco and 90s dance music, and you had yourself a neat little effect, which became ever more present in production fields.