| Author
|
The great synth challenge
|
psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
52
Posts :
841
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 01:42
|
It's nice to have hardware, but it's not essential. Hardware to me is more like a luxury, you can make just as good of sounds with software...(analog is different of course)
Some software I can get great sounds out of include:
Sylenth 1
Zebra 2
Massive
Korg Legacy Collection
There are actually quite few more I just have been into these lately. Playing them right along side my virus I think they can sound just as good if not better in some cases.  ~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
|
|
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 01:47
|
|
ohshit
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
45
Posts :
605
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 03:27
|
I am not using hardware synths since a copule of years but i am still having a lot of fun!
my favs:
vanguard - it sounds right and fresh
albino - maybe my choice (cosmosis presets are enlighting)
sylenth1 - fat
discovery dsp - similar to the Nord Rack
my2c
http://soundcloud.com/alphadelphi |
|
|
|
Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 03:29
|
|
UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 05:04
|
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-18 01:40, pipe&slippers wrote:
Next to the Doepfer I had in uni, was a DX-7. I really liked some of the presets, but fucking hell, I never got around to making a decent sound. I HATED programming that synth.
|
|
I don't have a DX7 but I have an FS1R. Although the programming is a bitch, when I'm not feeling too lazy I do use it. It still sounds better than stuff like the FM7 or FM8. The PC editor does help a lot!
UnderTow
|
|
|
|
avduka
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
158
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 05:30
|
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-18 01:47, pipe&slippers wrote:
I think Zebra2 pisses over the Virus, both in sound and programmability. I love modular and semi-modular synths.
|
|
wow zebra pissing on the virus?
gotta check this synth out in more detail
but seriously have you owned a virus and really played with it not just browsing presets and twaking cutoff knob? |
|
|
|
Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 07:04
|
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-18 05:30, avduka wrote:
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-18 01:47, pipe&slippers wrote:
I think Zebra2 pisses over the Virus, both in sound and programmability. I love modular and semi-modular synths.
|
|
but seriously have you owned a virus and really played with it not just browsing presets and twaking cutoff knob?
|
|
Since he knows how to use a Doepfer I would say it is highly likely he has!!!
Upavas - Here And Now (Sangoma Rec.) new EP out Oct.29th, get it here:
http://timecode.bandcamp.com
http://upavas.com
http://soundcloud.com/upavas-1/ |
|
|
|
-aeon-
Aeon
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
546
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 09:54
|
i have a Virus and a Zebra... they're both good for different tasks.
Zebra has a wonderful GUI, is very flexible, has some great filter models and lovely oscillators. the Virus has a really nice reverb, cool FM implementation, and there's something that's just 'fat' about the waveforms.
Zebra is one of the only soft synths i would rate up there with the Virus sonically... but it's still not the same.
why?
firstly, the Virus's adaptive parameter smoothing is just wonderful... every knob tweak is just so silky smooth. when you first get one you spend hours just tweaking filter and osc tune (well, i did!) and there's no sense of digital 'stepping'.
secondly, and perhaps most importantly - as Undertow mentioned, the key thing about hardware is the interface. having dedicated knobs for major soundshaping functions makes using a hardware synth like playing an instrument. there is nothing so quick and intuitive as grabbing some knobs and tweaking away... not only can you move more than one parameter at once (one hand on the filter envelope amount, one on the FM depth!) but in terms of sound creation it's so inspiring. i know you can map a MIDI controller to your software but it's not the same!
thirdly, i'm much more likely to record virus parts or bounce them to audio. this is really good for workflow (it makes you finish sections, stop twiddling and move on with composing!) and audio is of course much more flexible than midi.
fourthly, it does sound... amazing. i have written many tracks without even opening a VSTi.
and finally - the Virus is 16-part multitimbral with no CPU usage 
i think any producer should aim to have a wide range of sounds and techniques at their disposal. forget software/hardware, cheap/expensive, new/old... just follow the sound and use everything you can |
|
|
|
gutter
Inactive User
Started Topics :
54
Posts :
3018
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 10:24
|
Quote:
| i think any producer should aim to have a wide range of sounds and techniques at their disposal. forget software/hardware, cheap/expensive, new/old... just follow the sound and use everything you can |
|
+1000
the more you dig sound synthesis and learn the more you dont care of what to use imo , you become more confident and always try to pull the best out of any synth, then youll make nice soundz , not just browsing presets, theres no synth in the market with your sounds
have a nord 1 and a powercore virus B , the dry nord is maybe more pain in the ass without a slight fx on it to (im recording it dry) but the oscillators are like grrrr , i like them more than the virus , though the second has become my official bass-synth ,like Aeon said, its has that "fatness" & stability that cannot compared to anything else, it is there and goes nowhere..
had also for two weeks an Novation KS Rack, which i recomment it to anyone, especially beginner, super wooow for fx's and novation bass sound with just nice fx section...
anyway, sound synthesis rules
|
|
|
|
Nectarios
Martian Arts
Started Topics :
187
Posts :
5292
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 11:20
|
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-18 05:30, avduka wrote:
but seriously have you owned a virus and really played with it not just browsing presets and twaking cutoff knob?
|
|
Yes (Virus B + the people I was making music with had the C and TI version, although we were pogramming the TI from the box since the editor was crashing the computer) and the reason I am not so keen on the Virus sound is because I turned all the effects off and simply programmed the synth from scratch.
The modulation matrix is great, but the sound is not all what people make it out to be.
Once again, I am not saying the Virus does not sound good, its a great all around synth and if by some way I had to make music using just one synth, the Virus would be in my first choices.
Its just all that hype behind it that surprises people as soon as someone says, "its good but such and such does a better job"
For example take Logic's native synths. I get better sawtooth trance basslines from ESM, better raw ripping leads from ES2 (with a little help from guitar amp Pro or guitar rig) and far better weird and evovling drones from sculpture (although its not your straight forward subtractive synth and takes a bit of getting used to, to program).
One typical test I do on synths, is get a single saw/square oscillator, and sweep the different filters, with varying resonance settings. The Virus really didn't sound that great and to me its important that the raw single oscillator with basic filter modulation, sounds good.
And speaking about Virus' reverb, Space Designer pisses all over it.
I know I sound biased when I speak of Logic 8, but it is a good example of "free" (you do have to pay for Logic) synths, sounding just as good and even better in a few cases, than the synth that is hailed as the holy grail of the scene.
http://soundcloud.com/martianarts |
|
|
|
Kane
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
1772
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 15:33
|
ARP 2600
You believe in the users?
Yeah, sure. If I don't have a user, then who wrote me? |
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 17:31
|
try vaz modular demo if you re experienced synth user, it s the best sounding plugins imo (and maybe best sounding va , it s subjective to taste, but about the sonic quality it s very good)
http://www.kiresounds.se/downloads/newdemo4.mp3
|
|
|
|
avduka
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
158
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 18:22
|
What good is a sound with no effect? Are you ever gonna put a raw saw into your song with no reverb and other effects? This is not a good way to compare sound quality of synths. You should really spend some quality time with the virus and you will see what the hype is all about.
After you do you will realize there lotsa ways to shape your sound. Put the 3d saw osc on, not good enough? put the twin unison on.. watch the sound just come at you..have you tried the analog boost? Filter saturarion? osc saturation? the list just goes on.. try all this with little reverb delay with your liking and put it in unison 8 then open onother midi channel put zebra in it, play it and lough.
Then go to your vst folder, select all vst synths then right click delete. I will do the a/b test with virus zebra one of these days |
|
|
|
LS.
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
25
Posts :
130
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 18:34
|
ESM
ES2
Massive (CPU heavy so track then bounce immediately)
Predator
Sylenth1
|
|
|
|
Fragletrollet
Fragletrollet
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
1748
Posted : Nov 18, 2008 18:37
|
Quote:
|
On 2008-11-18 18:22, avduka wrote:
What good is a sound with no effect? Are you ever gonna put a raw saw into your song with no reverb and other effects? This is not a good way to compare sound quality of synths. You should really spend some quality time with the virus and you will see what the hype is all about.
After you do you will realize there lotsa ways to shape your sound. Put the 3d saw osc on, not good enough? put the twin unison on.. watch the sound just come at you..have you tried the analog boost? Filter saturarion? osc saturation? the list just goes on.. try all this with little reverb delay with your liking and put it in unison 8 then open onother midi channel put zebra in it, play it and lough.
Then go to your vst folder, select all vst synths then right click delete. I will do the a/b test with virus zebra one of these days
|
|
Nothing is better than the weakest link... better to get it optimal the whole way!
http://www.myspace.com/fragletrollet
http://www.myspace.com/unknowncausesound
http://www.fragletrollet.com/ |
|
|
|
