Soft Synths with their own individual character?

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I kinda think every synth i use has its own character, certainly i turn to specific synths to fit particular roles in a track.

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I think what makes some virtual analog synthesizers sound interesting is that they have a saturation module apply subtle amounts of "warmth" per voice. I guess it's the same idea as Analog summing plugins such as Waves NLS. http://www.waves.com/plugins/nls-non-linear-summer

So instead of small amounts of saturation added to the audio tracks like you would with something like NLS, it would be added to the synthesizer components per voice. I don't think just any kind of saturation would work and it would all have to be measured to some degree so you don't "Overcook" the sound.

Of course it's not just the saturation, it's also the phase and subtle drift involved that adds character. I guess this is why i appreciate developers who take the time to model the analog component behavior in their synthesizers. Once you hear the subtle differences its hard to accept anything less from a virtual analog.
:borg:

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Isn't it amazing how much effort and technology goes into making high-tech sound low-tech?
Last edited by Synchanter on Sat Oct 25, 2014 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My latest crazy track "The Quick Brown Fox sampled the Lazy Dog": http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 4&t=425647
15 Free DIVA Presets: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 8#p5892108

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A bit of wood round the edge of the GUI ain't enough for folks these days.

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Synchanter wrote:Isn't it amazing how much effort and technology goes into making high-tech sound low-tech?
Popper's theory of tribalism... We are Devo. :wink:

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hehe. agh I had to google that poppers whazathingy theory.
Anyway, I'm off to upgrade my computer system to a newer and more advanced CPU so I can run emulations of ever older and more primitive tech.
My latest crazy track "The Quick Brown Fox sampled the Lazy Dog": http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 4&t=425647
15 Free DIVA Presets: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 8#p5892108

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Synchanter wrote:Isn't it amazing how much effort and technology goes into making high-tech sound low-tech?

Well, not really though. If you look at it instead in terms of something like a model of a flute or guitar... Our technology was really low-tech and is becoming more and more sophisticated.

This is sort of like how I looked at Xhip while designing it: "All this hand-waving about analog modelling and little pointless tweaks and saturation and bits seem to make these synthesizers a lot more ugly, messy and processing intensive. I want something low-tech done right, not something attempting to be high-tech done wrong."

There is a certain purity involved with utilization of the most basic functions. The result is unique not because it is complex, but because it is simple!

There is a certain beauty to good old cinder blocks that can't be matched by even the most ridiculously intricate patterns etched into concrete.
Last edited by aciddose on Sat Oct 25, 2014 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Free plug-ins for Windows, MacOS and Linux. Xhip Synthesizer v8.0 and Xhip Effects Bundle v6.7.
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Aalto
Syntplant
Chromaphone

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Synchanter wrote:Isn't it amazing how much effort and technology goes into making high-tech sound low-tech?
The old analog synths sounding "low-tech" to your ears? An compared to them a binary code is "high-tech"?

:idiot:
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valerian_777 wrote:
Synchanter wrote:Isn't it amazing how much effort and technology goes into making high-tech sound low-tech?
The old analog synths sounding "low-tech" to your ears? An compared to them a binary code is "high-tech"?
:idiot:
I remember people that recorded with the D50 using gates, limiters and such to make it sound hi-fi then. So if they're getting their impressions from old recordings, chances are it's still about the outboard rig/rack that wasn't Roland that gave it its sound.

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Nearly all soft synths have by definition their own individual character. For the best, or less.... For those that dont, it might be seen as a failure to the term "Synthesizer" itself.

This said, besides analog models who should all have a distinct sonic character, synths like NI FM 8, Waldorf Largo, or Sches Diversion have a particular character that pleases me. But synths like Blue, Absynth can also make pretty unique things. And all rounders like (put names here) are also handy, though they dont have a really special sound, but do a bit of everything with more or less grace .... and - a less pronounced- character. Just my 0.002/
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77 Exclusive Soundbanks for 23 synths, 8 Sound Designers, Hours of audio Demos. The Sound you miss might be there

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Lotuzia wrote:Just my 0.002/
Isn't there a zero too many in there? 8)

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Lotuzia wrote:Nearly all soft synths have by definition their own individual character. For the best, or less.... For those that dont, it might be seen as a failure to the term "Synthesizer" itself.
At least in theory. Reality is another thing where some stand out above the rest.
I try to avoid the term 'failure' for the many though and just categorize them in 'blah' to 'meh'.

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Nothing wrong with low-tech, high-tech or no-tech. If you like the sound that's the important thing.
I just find it interesting despite all the advancements in technology, some 60s, 70s and 80s pieces of hardware are not only still relevant but desired.
My latest crazy track "The Quick Brown Fox sampled the Lazy Dog": http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 4&t=425647
15 Free DIVA Presets: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 8#p5892108

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nvmd
Last edited by chk071 on Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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