Synths in scores

[Frosty 0]

In wanting to mine the amount of knowledge the people on this forum have, I was wondering what kind of equipment, patches, etc. some film composers use in their scores. Please don't turn this into a "this person uses synths better than that person" or "Goldsmith is king of synths" in scores. I'm more interested in how and what technology is used. I have a Korg 01/W FD, but it is basically only used as input into Finale, beyond that, I'm pretty clueless.

Thanks for your input and ideas.

Frosty

[John Crichton 4]

Goldsmith is the king of synths.

[BLUMENKOHL 1,064]

There's a little sequencing software known as "FruityLoops" and it has a synth engine called Sytrus, which is bar-none the best in and out the price range.

If you can't find a sound in the pletheora of presets, you can configure them to get the effect you want.

[Frosty 0]

Goldsmith is the king of synths.

Thank you Captain Obvious!

There's a little sequencing software known as "FruityLoops" and it has a synth engine called Sytrus, which is bar-none the best in and out the price range.  

If you can't find a sound in the pletheora of presets, you can configure them to get the effect you want.

Can you give any examples of any scores that this might have been used in?

[Goldsmithfan 3]

There probably isn't a 'set' way to do it. A lot of synth stuff is done before or after everything else is recorded. (Logan's Run comes to mind) Or, as Basil Poledouris mentioned when discussing Flesh + Blood , synths can be performed live with the rest of the orchestra. I personally think this should be done more because they're instruments, as is the rest of the orchestra. But it's not always possible.

[Faceman 0]

Can you give any examples of any scores that this might have been used in?

Yes, as the FruityLoops program features many synth sounds that were also found on many Yamaha keyboards back in the 80's, you will notice alot of the "Poltergeist II" synth sounds on there. One that springs to mind instantly is the "angelic whistle" which Goldsmith used in the tracks "Things/The Gift", "Late Call" and "Reaching Out" performing the main parts of the Grandma Jess/New Carol Anne Theme.

Go to Sytrus, then Synth string and... "Hey Presto!!"

[Frosty 0]

Can you give any examples of any scores that this might have been used in?

Yes, as the FruityLoops program features many synth sounds that were also found on many Yamaha keyboards back in the 80's, you will notice alot of the "Poltergeist II" synth sounds on there. One that springs to mind instantly is the "angelic whistle" which Goldsmith used in the tracks "Things/The Gift", "Late Call" and "Reaching Out" performing the main parts of the Grandma Jess/New Carol Anne Theme.

Go to Sytrus, then Synth string and... "Hey Presto!!"

Sweet!

Goldsmith used synths among the orchestra. Does Fruity Loops come on Mac?

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

Goldsmith also used plenty of separately recorded synth, at least later in his career. On the documentary DVD, you can see him rehearsing and recording a piece with the orchestra which would later get a massive synth "upgrade".