Synthesizing lead tone like in metal

[Lunahorum]

bands like children of bodom or sonata arctica - how do they get their lead tones. It sounds like a "poofy" square or saw wave with distortion, but I cannot quite get it. Anyone know how to mimic the sound?

http://www.sonataarctica.info/site07/gallery.php?id=15&s=20&l=uk here is an example. Solo is about halfway into it.

[The Legendary Zoltan]

I always thought it was something like a saw wave too, but I just figured that it was some kind of special preset that only comes on the keyboard that they bought.

[Rozovian]

I think much of its sound comes from how it's played. There's slides and stuff that give it the cool sound. Try mixing the signals of a saw and a sqare somehow, on a track with pitch bends and stuff, see if you can make it sound good.

Metallia kansalle...!!

[Tensei]

I think Snappleman pretty much nailed it here, so I think you should try to PM him about it.

[dannthr]

God, I love seeing some dude wail on a keytar in a metal band. Candy red too!

It sounds like a saw wave with a square envelope. It also has a dramatic pitch bend range and it also is a solo patch with a quick portamento setting.

There are ways to get that fatter sound depending on the way you can route your wave forms (to get harmonics and octaves) and also combining different waves with different Lo or Hi pass filters.

If your synth archetecture in whatever you're using lets you do these things, then I would suggest fiddling around with it more with some direction from other users--sometimes the best way to become familiar with your equipment is to emulate what you hear with it using only your own gut as guidance.

You learn a lot when you do it like that.

[Teh Mick]

Some lead programming tutorials here, which try to mimic some popular lead tones:

Derek Sherinian Monster Lead

Jens Johansson Lead

Jordan Rudess Liquid T Lead

[Lunahorum]

thanks awesome guys