ive found that on my workstation i tent to use the same presets that are slightly modified somewhat or the same lead sounds and pad sounds i created when i first got my workstation. My sounds have been strings, electric drum sounds, pads, saw leads/triangle leads/myleads i created.

on my elektron i modified afew presets and made them more my own but ive designed way more sounds from aninitial soundwave onthe digitone than on my workstation. To me the sounds on my FA06 are so damn good i just get to writing. I get lost in the elektron modlations as they are so east to access and the effects on that box are superb and i usually trance out listening to patterns over and over on the elektron with slight modulations and enjoying the tone.

so ...

yes i use both my sounds and presets. Sound designers get paid to create at roland and they do a great job to me.

The Sequential/Dave Smith onboard analog distortion in the Prophet 6/OB6. For some reasons this thing ends up (to various degree) in nearly every sound I make

I'm not sure I have one. Though I guess everyone kind of does and it's just something that comes naturally from your preference in sounds, textures, production techniques chords, melodies etc. It probably has more to do with that than what plugins/hardware you use.

lo fi ambient

rings into clouds

space chill electronica

Signature sounds will become evident to others when you find it

No matter how hard you try to sound different you’ll fail, and that might be good

There are a few geniuses out there who can step out of their own sound but it’s rare

I eat a bowl of chili and mic up my posterior

I think my signature sound is primarily a side effect of being a trumpet and tuba player in my formative years so I rarely ever use intervals or chords. I like counterpoint melodies. I like monotone. Probably why I absolutely loved the Chameleons UK from an early age.

In the studio I very rarely use a patch or sample I didn't create. My setup is now entirely hardware and that effects things soundwise and also the workflow and that workflow leads to certain directions while writing.

That's my 2 cents.

Hmm, yes... I always think playing style when I think "signature sound" more than the literal sound of the instrument being used. I like to play arpeggio before playing the chord simultaneously, but I don't think that's particularly signature beyond being a hallmark of classical music. Maybe being needlessly complex is my signature sound, but that's just a hallmark of progressive music. I don't worry about it, unlike all the guitar players I've ever known that seem to obsess over it.

As other people have said, a signature sound will emerge naturally, by the aesthetic and compositional choices you make.
To try and create one or strive to have one is very counter-productive and limiting. I've heard beginning musicians or producers say this kind of stuff, and it just inhibits their artistic development. Learn your trade/craft first.

Presets are totally irrelevant. I remember this psytrance band I liked back when I was into that kind of music, a friend of mine had a virus and nordlead, turns out most sounds were stock out of the box presets. But they rocked it, and were totally original.

I do try to make music within the same concept, similar to stuff I like, usually quite dark (although when I create more complex sounds they tend to be rather OTT and get almost gaudy/cheesy. Then the trick is to tone them down or use context/arrangement to take off the edge of the erm 'christmas?' vibe.
My one rule of thumb is, I don't like sounds that sound too 'synthesizery'
I break that rule constantly.

I was working on a track with a specific sound and vibe on mind recently, got totally stuck with it, nothing seemed good enough, or enough like what I was going for.
Decided the next day to do a palate cleanser, just make a fun song without expectation or intent. Almost purposefully tried to do something totally outside of my 'sound' it could even be a happy hardcore or cheesy disco tune. Fun&games.
Ended up with a great track, that actually has my 'sound' more than ever, without a forced angle and therefore a lot more original.

I use lots of Kazoos, Gongs, and Glockenspiels.

Chicks dig it.

Hmm, gonna have to call you out on the kazoos... I do love me some gongs and glockenspiels though. In the infinite wisdom of T. Rex, "Bang a gong, get it on!"

I'll often consciously mix disparate elements to get something different -- figuring that, if all my ideas come from the same bag, the result will just be derivative (admittedly what many successful bands have done, but that doesn't feel very worthwhile to me). So the sounds used (and styles of songs created) might be almost anything -- but I still want to have a certain feeling in there, however it's achieved: sounds, engineering, phrasing. I figure that's the signature, even if it's something very different from the last project.

Signature isnt something you found, you create it again and again..

Also its not about you as much you would like to think.

I made at least ten unique (and not so unique) chains which generated something could be described as a signature, the one which sticked was the one that publisher demanded.

My signature sound is Kush UBK-1, Zynaptiq Wormhole and Prosoniq Ambisone. Forget the music.

I adopted the "No Preset" creed, waaaay back in the day.

It had NOTHING to do with "Signature sound" it had EVERYTHING to do with "I want to learn this instrument and master my tools"

I worked at a very successful music library at one point, we had major cue orders, where whatever we gave them (Front and back end) made network and cable air.

About 15 composers? Anyway, I remember the library owners had me giving "Synth lessons" to the other composers. Any electro stuff that wasn't just basic sounds, went to ME.

And to this day I can sit down at any synth and know how to use it. (Yes, I can program a DX7) Actually, let me amend that, I have no experience with modular...then again, I know how a synth works, so that would be no problem either.

That's the reason to do it, that's why I did it.

Now I could care less, If a preset is handy, I'll use it without thinking, if I have to make the sound myself, I do.