#27

This month, we use a retro sound in an über-contemporary setting, as our synth strings get the Gorillaz treatment

> We have always loved the connection between the development of technology and the way it is harnessed by artists. The early electronic music pioneers had to develop all sorts of clever techniques to create the music they wanted to produce, often improvising with cheaper technology.

In a similar vein, products were sometimes produced to be more cost-effective. One such example emanates from the synthesiser replication of string sounds. In the early days, good polysynths were very expensive. Consequently, companies invented a type of synthesiser generically known as the string machine, offering more than a passing resemblance to the sounds of the same name.

String machines were cheaper by quite some margin, while remaining polyphonic, albeit in a slightly different guise, known as paraphonic (a cheaper and less flexible version of polyphonic). These string machine sounds adopted a whole class of sound all of their own, and while their place in history is decidedly vintage, there are no shortages of contemporary settings and artists wishing to use these sounds, either to pad out their productions or provide lead-line colour. This is where we draw inspiration for this month’s Synth Masterclass, as our house ZebraCM synth gets a Gorillaz-leaning makeover. This sound is perfect for melodies or counter-melodies, pads and more. Grab a free copy of ZebraCM, and let’s create a string patch!