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We linked up with Synapson to unpack the creative process behind “Tiger Teeth”—a silky, groove-infused track that blends deep rhythms with nu-disco flair. Known for their smooth balance of analog soul and modern production, the duo gives us a glimpse into the gear and techniques they used to craft this standout release.
Vintage keyboards, precise compressors, and subtle modulation all play key roles in “Tiger Teeth.” Synapson lets their instruments do the talking, relying on timeless sounds captured clean and tweaked just right in post. Whether it’s running warm chords through a Crumar Seven or adding the perfect punch with effects, everything is dialed in to hit the sweet spot.
In this exclusive breakdown, Synapson takes us through their setup, sharing insights on balancing texture and groove without overcomplicating things. If you’re looking to pick up a few tricks from masters of the craft, you’re in the right place.
Crumar Seven preset Mark
So in this music, the main courts are played with a Crumar Seven preset Mark I. An old keyboard from the 70s. It sounds ruff. It sounds warm. It’s one of my favorite keyboards of all time.
Every single start of inspiration I have in mind I play them on one of my two favorite keyboards: Rhodes mark I or Wurlitzer 200 a. So for this one I used the Mark I. I just play the chords over and over again and if at the end I still enjoy playing them this is the signal for me that these chords are the one. I recorded with two cables jack to Jack going in my audio interface RME 802
In my opinion, sometime on the live show, you can add some pedal to this awesome keyboard to make this sound unique. But when you are recording it in Studio, I think it’s better to record it dry. to have the signal as pure as it can be so you can then work on it and add whatever you want. This would be my advice.
Vulfcompressor
As many people now, I am a big fan of Vulpeck’s music Not just the melodies, but also how thing sounds. This is why on many instruments I use the Vulfcompressor. This is a compressor that bring your sound to a next level. Turn your puppy keyboard to a beast. 🙂
I use on this one the presets called “2-Blue Glue (Parallel)”. I bring down the compressor to 40 and the dry and wet to 28. Now you have to know that I use this compressor on all my keyboard and synthesizer even on the baseline of some other track made with a Moog little Phatty stage II.
NOW, IF I CAN GIVE YOU AN ADVICE ON THIS PLUGGING, IT IS NOT A COMPRESSOR FOR SMALL AND DEEP WORK. IT’S MORE OF AN AESTHETIC COMPRESSOR. It means that you really hear the difference between having it or not. It’s not something you use for small changes.
My advice here would be to make sure that you don’t overuse the compressor you normally shouldn’t be able to steal the volume of your keyboard going down if so, it means that press it to much.
Studio D chorus
One of the plug-ins that I use a lot is the studio D chorus. This plug-ins specialize your sound and I really love it.
Because there isn’t any dry and wet, there is only three buttons on it for three different presets. I apply it on the bus I think with all the synthesizer sounds like prophet 5 also keyboards likeRhodes or Wurlitzer it can be really, really helpful. And make your instruments sound bigger.
Like always, and particularly on this one use it with precaution a bit sounds great a lot sounds too much.
Pro-MB
For a long time, I had an issue because I’d liked to hear my keyboards loud, but I needed also to hear the voice of the senior and I had to make them match. Now I use a lot the Pro-MB from fabfilter. This one is an multiband compressor. This one helps you to avoid conflict between two element in your track.
So what I do on this one is that I make sure that when the vocals are here, there is a compression working on my keyboard, bringing down the frequencies that he shares with the vocals. Living place so that I can make sure that we hear and understand what the singers sing.
This plug-in is used to avoid conflict between two elements in your music, but you shouldn’t feel like the volume of one of it is going down. if you feel so that means that the compression is working too hard. So like a lot of plug-ins; use it, but don’t abuse of it.
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