GEOSynths

Having been into synthesizer music and electronic production since the late ’80s, I’ve always loved slow ambient sounds like motion pads, rich strings, and haunting textures. I also have a deep love for dance music, house in particular and over the years, I’ve developed my own sound and style, which I now create for various synthesizers as relevant presets.

Deep, dark, emotive pads and soundscapes with lots of motion, which is what GEOSynths is best known for. Perhaps my love for Vangelis and his epic scores plays a part in that. I aim to create synthesizer patches that are both musical and playable. If I don’t like a sound myself, it doesn’t go out.

I create a good mix of synthesizer presets and patches across many styles. My wide appreciation of electronic sound helps me avoid making too many similar-sounding patches.

First, I only release sounds that I personally like, no “that’ll do” approach. GEOSynths was the first sound designer to demonstrate every single sound in a preset pack via four videos back in 2017. Before that, most designers only showcased a handful of sounds over a drum loop. It’s incredibly important to me that customers hear every single preset in full context musical playability, mod wheel use, and all before they buy. I’m proud of my work and grateful to have created factory patches for companies like Moog (Moog One), Novation (Peak and Summit), Modal (Argon8), and GForce Software.

I use both hardware and software, though I primarily work with hardware, both analog and digital. That said, software has improved so much in recent years that I’m happy to work with either.

Yes, they’re ready to go. What you hear is what you get. Of course, many musicians like to tweak patches to suit their tracks, which is why GEOSynths demonstrates every single patch in a video so you know exactly what’s included.

Absolutely. Controllers are set up for every preset, the mod wheel, aftertouch, and any other available parameters. Often the mod wheel controls multiple things at once, like turning a polysynth patch into a lush pad. These are not just simple modulations, they’re programmed in detail and demonstrated in video.

If internal FX are available on the synth, I use them. Effects are just as important as any other parameter, and I spend just as much time on FX as I do on the core sound. In cases where synths like the Sequential Prophet-5, Prophet-10, or OB-X8 don’t have onboard FX, I create external FX presets and demonstrate both dry and wet versions on video.

Yes, many GEOSynths customers are live performers, and these patches can sound very powerful through a good PA system.

GEOSynths is a well-respected sound designer who has created banks and patch libraries for Moog, Sequential, Waldorf, Novation, Roland, Korg, and many other manufacturers.

Yes. Often a manufacturer will release a keyboard version, followed by a desktop or rackmount. As long as the internal sound engine is the same, the presets will work across versions.

GEOSynths works across many synthesis types: subtractive, wavetable, FM, physical modeling, phase distortion, Karplus-Strong, sample-based synthesis, and granular.

Yes, definitely. Although I do a lot of deep programming—especially with mod wheel and aftertouch (like macros) I design every preset so that returning the controllers to default always brings you back to the original sound. And of course, it’s a synthesizer…it’s made to be tweaked!

It depends on the synth and how many user slots it has. Most banks include 100 or 128 presets, all demonstrated in four videos. Sometimes I offer smaller packs of 64, and the pricing reflects that.

Generally, no. GEOSynths focuses on sound design. However, some patches may contain built-in sequences.

Yes, installation instructions are included with every download or are available on www.geosynths.com. For more involved setups, I also provide tutorial videos.

All patches can be used in your recordings and performances. You cannot resell them or tweak and resell them. Every patch includes unique “tells” I program in. You also can’t sample the presets and sell those samples.

At this point, GEOSynths has made thousands of sounds. The process is intuitive, it’s more of a feeling than a detailed plan. Often it’s just, “I haven’t made a bass in a while, let’s make one.” I experiment and wait for something to catch my ear, whether it’s the tone, shape, or movement.

Yes, though most of my presets are original, I also create classic sounds inspired by artists like Vangelis, Prince, Jean-Michel Jarre, Rush, and many more.

It’s definitely a challenge, especially as GEOSynths is a proper business competing with hobbyists who don’t declare income or pay taxes, often over years, allowing them to undercut pricing. That said, I pride myself on quality and transparency. GEOSynths was the first to demonstrate every patch in video form, others now copy this approach.

Yes, I have in the past. However, patch sales rely on volume over time. A $40 pack of 128 presets might take six weeks to make. So custom sound design requires pricing that reflects the time, cost of the synth, and overheads. I’m happy to do it, but the customer is paying for the time involved.

Yes, I’ve used them in my own compositions and performed live at EMOM (Electronic Music Open Mic) events. I also regularly receive tracks from customers using my presets, often in ways I never imagined. It’s always great to hear.