KVR Audio

yessongs · Post by **yessongs** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:38 am

Synthmaster is low cost and very affordable and it really is quite versatile. If your into old school prog you will love the banks by Nori and those banks are very inexpensive as well. The sounds of King Crimson, ELP, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, UK and Procul Harum are knocked off nearly perfectly and you can listen to the demos at the links below, then the early electronic music pioneers like Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, JMJ Wendy Carlos Vangelis and Chick Corea etc.... Your not going to find a more versatile and better sounding synth for less money.
https://soundcloud.com/kv331synthmaster ... ri-ubukata
https://soundcloud.com/kv331synthmaster ... ukata-dawn
https://soundcloud.com/kv331synthmaster ... -ubukata-2
https://soundcloud.com/kv331synthmaster ... bukata-art
https://soundcloud.com/kv331synthmaster ... -ubukata-3
https://soundcloud.com/kv331synthmaster ... -ubukata-1

FREE Synths.

Dune BE for pads is awesome as is Synth 1, Oatmeal, Firebird PG8X, Nabla, Deputy, Poly 2106, TAL's synths

For leads:
Prodigious http://www.vst4free.com/index.php?dev=Synthescience

Antitranspirant http://www.vst4free.com/index.php?dev=TubeOhm

Voyager http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ger&id=383

OBXD http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... XD&id=1844

Minimoque luxus http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?id=405

BBFG# · Post by **BBFG#** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:48 am

BDeep · Post by **BDeep** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:51 am

Out of that list, Synthmaster will fit the bill.

Chris-S · Post by **Chris-S** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:58 am

Wideboy.

> Analog-style, 3 oscillators per voice.
yes.

> PWM at least on impulse/square.
yes.

> Sync, ring mod.
yes.

> Some form of FM welcome.
yes.

> Multimode filter. 2 Filters welcome.
yes.

> 3 envs. 3 LFOs.
4 envs, 2 global LFO, 1 poly LFO

> A freely assignable matrix-mod with at least 10 slots and good capabilities (for example,
> modulating single envelope segments, etc.)
No matrix but massive-style.

> A clear 'front panel' screen would be a bonus.
yes.

> Stand-alone preferred, but VST or other OK.
No standalone, but you can use savihost.

>low cost
yes, it's freeware.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:22 am

I think Zebra is a good choice... It is semi-modular, so it can have a wide range of configurations, but you can make a template preset that has the modules you want 3 Osc, 2 Filters, etc... then have your students work from that set of modules.

Zebra is a fantastic learning tool... You can start simple, but then can do so so much. If you want to, you can explore some additive in an Osc. You can do some FM. Zebra can do PWM on any arbitrary waveform which the user can draw. You can draw wavetables and morph between them.

I think Zebra is well worth the price just to explore/learn synthesis. There are tons of presets, some excellent tutorials online, and importantly, the Zebra demo can save and load presets. So if someone in the class is poor and cannot afford to buy it, they could manage just fine in demo mode.

Zebra uses only a simple serial number, is stable, available on Mac/PC, and is going to continue to be developed long term so it is valuable to learn for users.

V0RT3X · Post by **V0RT3X** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 8:48 am

Might not be exactly what you want, but it is a great synthesizer to learn on none the less.

- Three oscillators, one with a FM modulation, one with ring modulation and synchronization, and one sub-oscillator. Osc 1 can operate as detuned supersaw.
- Two low-pass filters, one high pass filter, and one band pass filter, with distortion.
- Two assignable LFOs, which can be synchronized to a host tempo.
- An arpeggiator which can be synchronized to a host tempo.
- Several built-in effects, including a tempo delay, distortion, phaser, and chorus/flanger.
- Polyphony, monophony, and legato voices.
- Unison and portamento modes
- 32 notes polyphony
- Automation
- Low CPU usage

Online English Manual here : http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/synm ... meeng.html

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1-by-ichiro-toda

Audio Demos : https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/osc-1-synth1

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2633218/magic_synth_demo.mp3

It is also VERY CPU friendly.. so if your students have slower computers then this will still work on their systems.

beltrom · Post by **beltrom** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:11 am

I think Cakewalk Z3ta2 covers the list, including (limited) FM. Might be some quirks compared to expectations though. I think original Z3ta covers it as well, not sure how to find that one though (can't find it at Cakewalk), used to be given away in mags.

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/Features

Chris-S · Post by **Chris-S** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:25 am

Synth1 is a great "teaching synth", but it don't meets the OPs requirements.
It has only 2 env, 1 filter, 2 LFOs.

fluffy_little_something · Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:27 am

It has a mod matrix (not visible here) and is 20 bucks.

There is a detailed manual, which might help in teaching:
http://www.contralogic.com/data/vst-plugins/blarg/

V0RT3X · Post by **V0RT3X** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:36 am

beltrom wrote:I think Cakewalk Z3ta2 covers the list, including (limited) FM. Might be some quirks compared to expectations though. I think original Z3ta covers it as well, not sure how to find that one though (can't find it at Cakewalk), used to be given away in mags.

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/Features

Yah I would recommend Z3TA+2, it's a great synthesizer and very powerful. Only thing it's not exactly free at $100 USD. Still I think if someone started with this they could be set for quite a while

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/Sound-Examples

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 9:53 am

Synthmaster has an academic pricing of $59, so it's not free, but not a bad price either

beltrom · Post by **beltrom** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:14 am

V0RT3X wrote:
beltrom wrote:I think Cakewalk Z3ta2 covers the list, including (limited) FM. Might be some quirks compared to expectations though. I think original Z3ta covers it as well, not sure how to find that one though (can't find it at Cakewalk), used to be given away in mags.

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/Features

Yah I would recommend Z3TA+2, it's a great synthesizer and very powerful. Only thing it's not exactly free at $100 USD. Still I think if someone started with this they could be set for quite a while

http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/Sound-Examples

Agreed! It took some getting used to for some reason, but it's very easy and logical once you "get it". Kind of like Absynth in that sense. Now it's one of my favourites (like Absynth).

I know Cakewalk have special educational pricing on Sonar at least. Might be worth checking out.

https://www.cakewalk.com/Education

TonyVegas · Post by **TonyVegas** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:31 am

ImNotDedYet wrote:Zebra2

It's like every time someone asks which synth to get the knee-pad dawning Uhe fanboys come out of the woodwork, no matter how inapropriate their suggestions. Each of you should be ashamed of yourselves. Now, get your pads back on and get back in the gimp box 'cause daddy wants to go round the world tonight.

But to answer the OP question, Synth-1. Anything more is just a gimmick laden crutch that would hinder learning. If the student complain, tell them to nut up or shut up, and that Nicola Tesla only had 1 osc and he invented FM radio with it!

fluffy_little_something · Tue Sep 23, 2014 10:39 am

I kind of agree that any synth above 30 dollars is probably inappropriate, judging from the opening post, I already wondered if I should suggest that 20-dollar synth, but decided to do it.
Why use resource-devouring studio-quality synths when sound quality is not important?

I don't agree with your second paragraph, though. Maybe he is teaching an advanced class and needs the things he mentioned as his students are already aware with the basics...

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 11:09 am

oniram wrote:Hi guys, it's my first time here. I am an expert programmer but most of my experience is on hardware. Now, for one particular teaching situation, I need suggestions for a softsynth (I know a few, but none matches all these requirements).

Analog-style, 3 oscillators per voice.
PWM at least on impulse/square.
Sync, ring mod.
Some form of FM welcome.
Multimode filter. 2 Filters welcome.
3 envs. 3 LFOs.
A freely assignable matrix-mod with at least 10 slots and good capabilities (for example, modulating single envelope segments, etc.)
A clear 'front panel' screen would be a bonus.
Stand-alone preferred, but VST or other OK.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!!

Maybe Xils-Lab Oxium ? comes very close to what you're looking for, as far as I understand it :
Analog-style, 3 oscillators per voice : 2 osc + 2 noise osc but cumulative waveform Oscillators
PWM at least on impulse/square : Yes
Sync, ring mod : Yes. Gorgeous Sync
Some form of FM welcome : No but noise can mod almost anything, including filters
Multimode filter. 2 Filters welcome. : 2 multimode analog 0df filters.
3 envs. 3 LFOs. : Yes, 3 EVs with looping abilities, 3 LFO with cumulative waveforms. Can be triggered by mask sequencers for max flexibility.
A freely assignable matrix-mod with at least 10 slots and good capabilities (for example, modulating single envelope segments, etc.) : Yes you can modulate all EV segments + tons of other targets. 6 freely assignable slots + 15 semi hardwired slots. Performance modulations.
A clear 'front panel' screen would be a bonus : Very clear panel
Stand-alone preferred, but VST or other OK : Only VST/AU/AAX

+ Oxium has arpeggio and unique Mask Sequencers on board, wich means unseen modulation possibilities. So it has a lot of potential for students. And teachers as well.
Then, unfortunately, not free. But very affordable and only serial protected.

A few things Oxium can do :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csd8nFW5udU

Suggest a soft synth