{"id":56777,"date":"2025-01-30T20:03:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syntorial.com\/preset-recipe\/james-blake-retrograde-lead\/"},"modified":"2025-03-12T13:47:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T13:47:05","slug":"james-blake-retrograde-lead","status":"publish","type":"preset-recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.syntorial.com\/fr\/preset-recipe\/james-blake-retrograde-lead\/","title":{"rendered":"James Blake – Retrograde | Lead"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}"},"genre":[347],"preset-type":[365,372,464],"synthesizer":[376],"class_list":["post-56777","preset-recipe","type-preset-recipe","status-publish","hentry","genre-electronic","preset-type-lead","preset-type-fx","preset-type-riser","synthesizer-vital"],"acf":{"synth_recipe_type":"Song Remake","syntorial_lesson":false,"tutorial_video":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nC9JQ1BjHeg","artist_name":"James Blake","song_name":"Retrograde","original_performing_instrument":"","original_song_link":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6p6PcFFUm5I&start=101","sound_description":"James Blake's \"Retrograde\" features a haunting and ethereal synth lead that is particularly prominent during the song's climactic moments. The synth lead can be heard most distinctly as the song approaches its peak, particularly around the line \"Suddenly I'm hit.\" Although it sounds polyphonic, the pad is actually monophonic, with three detuned oscillators slowly converging to the same note.\r\n\r\nBefore diving into the creation process, it\u2019s essential to understand what makes the \u201cRetrograde\u201d synth lead unique. It involves an extreme and slow bending of multiple pitches at once to create an intentionally out-of-tune sound that eventually resolves into one still-kind-of-out-of-tune sound. This intentional dissonance creates an intense tension that adds to the song\u2019s emotional depth.","audio_clip":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/audiblegenius\/james-blake-retrograde-lead","recipe":"To recreate this sound, you\u2019ll need a synthesizer with three oscillators, and the ability to route an envelope to those oscillators\u2019 pitch. The envelope will also need to allow for both positive and negative modulation. Vital is a great choice. Additionally, a basic understanding of synthesis is beneficial.\r\n

Creating the Patch<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Oscillator Settings: Enable three oscillators, all with saw waves.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Filter: 24 dB Low Pass Filter. Bring the Cutoff down a little, just enough to take a bit of bright edge off the top.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Pitch Envelope: Modulate the first Oscillator\u2019s pitch with an envelope. Set the Envelope\u2019s Sustain to 0 so that the pitch jumps up and decays back down to the pitch you played. Adjust the modulation amount so that it jumps just the right amount. Make the Decay very slow, around 5 seconds. And if your synth allows it, give the Decay a pretty steep curve so that its descent moves faster at first and then really slows down as it approaches the Sustain.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Repeat the same thing for Oscillator 2 and 3 with one difference: use negative modulation so that the pitch jumps down and decays upward. For Oscillator 2 use just a small level of modulation amount. And for Oscillator 3, use more.<\/li>\r\n \t
  5. Smear and Pulsate: Tune Oscillator 1 up 10 cents, and Oscillator 3 down 10 cents. This will create a smearing, kind-of detuned sound as the pitches approach the Envelope\u2019s sustain level.<\/li>\r\n \t
  6. Filter Envelope: Modulate the Filter Cutoff using the same pitch-routed envelope above (or an additional envelope with the same ADSR settings) and give it a healthy amount of negative modulation. This will start the sound dark and get brighter over time.<\/li>\r\n \t
  7. Amp Envelope: Lastly, swell in the sound by adding about 1 second\u2019s worth of Attack.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","observations":"","sources":"