Favorite Synths

Rambunkcious · #1 07-01-2007, 12:45 PM

Anyone got any favorites??

I just spent a day programming the DSI evolver, wow is all I have to say, that thing is a beast, I dont wanna sound like I work for DSI, but if I could choose to have only one synth ever that would be it.

Sweet ear candy, analog fuel for a biological mind, and I was kind of running low too.

sven hauck · #2 07-01-2007, 03:30 PM

I've been working with the Access Virus TI and it has really been one of the most versatile synths I've ever worked with. Sounds quite nice too with a great workflow.

Otherwise I use the Scope synths (DSP Based) like the Pro-12, Pro-One, Prodyssey, and the Solaris.

John Bowen, the creator of the Solaris for the Creamware Scope platform will be releasing a monster hardware version in October. I'm trying to get one of the first 100 units.

http://www.johnbowen.com/

Cheers,
Sven

Rambunkcious · #3 07-02-2007, 12:03 PM

Sven, Hi

That solaris does look like a monster, let us know what it sounds like, Im very interested to hear it. Its also interesting to find out that john bowen and dave smith worked together for a bit.

I always wondered how the instruments of the Scope platform sounded compared to software emulations running of the native processor.

Medway · #4 07-03-2007, 12:24 AM

Hard for me to pin down just one. The Juno106 is probably my all time used synth.

The scope stuff excels with complex modulation sounds, like FM. There's more detail to those timbres. This is also where analog shows an advantage.

Generally every synth is good at one type or types of sound. You have to try and identify this and use each accordingly.

klooptheloop · #5 07-03-2007, 12:56 AM

Still being a complete novice when it comes to hardware synths... i did pick up an old Yamaha CS1X....still sounds great, just trying to get my head round it

sven hauck · #6 07-03-2007, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambunkcious

Sven, Hi

That solaris does look like a monster, let us know what it sounds like, Im very interested to hear it. Its also interesting to find out that john bowen and dave smith worked together for a bit.

I always wondered how the instruments of the Scope platform sounded compared to software emulations running of the native processor.

Yeah, here's a cool interview of John Bowen by Sonic State (about 50 min.). It goes into his time at Moog, Sequential Circuits, Korg, and finally Creamware.

http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=4587

Like Jesse said, the Scope synths are solid, depending on what sound you are looking for. The hardware Solaris will run at 96 kHz - all the time. The secret is state of the art Analog Devices SHARC DSP chips.

For really complex sounds I've always had to turn down the number of voices on the Scope synths and do multiple takes or passes and then mix the parts. I never really bothered with 96 kHz because my 3 cards wouldn't carry the load.

Medway · #7 07-03-2007, 10:37 PM

The thing with running plugins at 96k is that you really shouldnt have to run the whole system up to that rate and lose half your dsp.

They should instead code the plugins to only upsample the components that can benefit from the higher rate. In many cases there is no advantage to doubling anyways because the process doesnt need it or in the case where doubling provides only an insignifigant increase of quality for the extra dsp cost.

In the case of the Minimax I belive it already does upsample internally to 96k.

sven hauck · #8 07-04-2007, 01:02 AM

Yeah, I imagine that coding, which is definitely a smarter way of coding, is more intensive & costly than applying one common process across all components.

Medway · #9 07-04-2007, 02:27 AM

It probably its, but it probably also comes down to a case per case basis on how much extra would be needed.

I'd be really interested to hear what John says is the specific advantage with running at 96k involving synth design. Most of the aruguments I've read against it pertain to dynamics processors and eq.

But from what I understand even very non-linear processes like distortion still only improve a very small amount, and perhaps not noticable enough to warrant the extra overhead.

sven hauck · #10 07-04-2007, 03:35 AM

True. I'll post some sample audio clips when get it. I do recall the presets on the Ambient synth, another Scope plugin by John Bowen, sounding much more complex and simply larger at 96 kHz, but let's put it to the test.

When I rebuild my studio in August I'll post some files at both 44 & 96 kHz from the Solaris plugin.