Jan Hammer - "Crockett's Theme" question

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Dynamitri

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Hello everyone,

Probably everyone knows the "Crockett's Theme" off the "Miami Vice Soundtrack" - a synth-based classic. Now - my question is: What kind of wave is the main motive based on?
Is it a sine, square, triangle or sawtooth wave? Or is it a different type? Or maybe a mix?

I would really appreciate some help with that ;)
cheers and thanks in advance
 
I guess the "main motive" would be the main motive, not the pad nor the bass :)

Since it's most probably the DX7, you can't really name a waveform...or well, it's technically a bunch of sines but the frequencies and the order they're routed together matters about as much as the waveform. There's some good articles on the Sound on Sound site on synthesizing bell-type sounds, don't remember whether the approach was FM or subtrative though...
 
dansgold said:
Are you refering to the pad or the ostinato bass or what?
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Ha!
That is the good question ;)

I am a beginner tho, so I may miss the right word, but, um... The "pad" it would, be, I think. The sound that goes "D-C-A-F-G-F-G" etc. at around 0:36 in the 3:30 version of the song. Xylophone... Or whatever.
I need to reproduce it, the sound, using synthesis and it needs to sound as much alike original as possible - and, frankly speaking, I don't know much where to start and what to start with... So any kind of help would be really appreciated. :)
 
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THM said:
It sounds like an FM lead (so I guess Yamaha DX-7 too).
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Yeah - how can I get something similar, then? Need to do it from the basics, doesn't have to be exactly like the original, but it should at least ring a bell and strongly remenisce of it, if you know what I mean. What is the starting point?

I'm using Logic - don't know if it does mean anything at all, just a random bit of information that may be found useful... And may be not as well ; ]

PS
I'm aware this is a hardware forum, but I think I may reproduce the hardware effects while using software synths... Can't I? ;)
 
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Do you have an FM softsynth like FM-7 (or FM-8 now) from Native Instruments ? Highly recommended for these kind of sounds, 'cause it comes very close to the original DX-7 sound...
I'd almost bet the Jan Hammer "Crockette's Theme" lead sound will be available in one of the factory added patch libraries (and if not it's definitely possible to find it over the web as a free DX-7 or FM-7 patch)...

Now have a look on http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=fm8&ftu=25addc34797a29d&flash=9 firstly...
 
Well, it would all be cool - but I have to use internal Logic 7 synth. I need to do this for my coursework, and I am not allowed to use anything that's not included in Logic - and I need to do the synthesis myself, from the very basic wave, up to the point where it would sound at least alike the original. I start with some type of wave, and then I modulate it, add reverbs and all that - so I'd need to know where to start. Frankly speaking, I have got absolutely no idea, and that is why I have asked you on this board ;]

Any ideas, how to make the "Crockett's Theme"-motive sound using Logic and what kind of wave should I start with?
That's my biggest problem, I don't even know what type of wave should I use. Could have selected an easier track, but it's too late, eh. :rolleyes:
 
Since you're going for a very characteristic FM patch --- there's a FM synth (the EFM1) in Logic, right? I'm not familiar with it but I'd go with it. As I said before, you don't really start with a specific "wave" - read this article (and it's successor) if you're not yet familar with frequency modulation; don't be intimidated by the maths, they can be largely dismissed for now. FM ain't an easy path to follow, though...
 
I'm noticing a couple of things.

The FM-ish bell-tone seems to be layered with a typical Fairlight/Emulator choir sound. It also seem to be layered with a analog sound of some kind with a similar envelope to the FM part.
 
I think Hammer used mainly the DX7 and a Fairlight system when scoring the show, so that'd make sense.
 
Alright, fair enough. Thanks for your help, I'll have to find a way to sort it out ;)

Could you just please help me with the main motive, as I'm not pretty sure about the notes?
It's:

D-C-A-F-G-F-G-G-F-A-C, and then...?

not pretty sure how the melody goes... anyone to help? :D :cheers:
 
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