Hi,

as UVI just releases a new sample machine for strings synthesizer http://www.uvisoundsource.com/, I'm wondering if Zebra could make that sort of sounds. Why in 2012, it's necessary to sample that old synthesizer ?
Actually I love the strings ensemble in "Play to the world" of Barclay James Harvest but I never got the same.
I tried with 2 saws and then apply a random pitch modulation that can be Solina like in the bass but not good in treble.
Maybe it's just an "ensemble" effect ?

Do you have any web site entries about that ?

By the way if Urs makes a string synthesizer someday I'll buy it for sure !

HS Semolina

That said two things make the string machine sound: the divide-down oscillator + an ensemble (rich chorus) effect.

The first isn't possible to replicate in Zebra.

The second is probably be fakeable (now if Zebra were to inherit Diva's chorus...).

Just get Loomer Strings synth.

Appologies to Urs

I don't have HS Semolina, I have HS stringmachine Z which is nice but not the sound I search for.

I was not clear in the post, I'm not talking about the prelude in Play to the world, but about the string synth that comes with the piano.
Also in the same type of sounds, the strings pads in Moondawn of Klaus Shulze was absolutely fantastic.

I will give a try Loomer anyway. Thanks.

It's one of the factory presets - in the Orgones bank, I think.

Ah yes I have it, sorry, very Solina with phasing, but the sound in BJH don't have phasing I think, it's more ensemble, a very thin modulation.

Try the Elektrostudio free pack. It includes a Solina emu that might do for you.
Last edited by hakey on Fri May 04, 2012 12:14 pm; edited 1 time in total

Actually if I take HS semolina, then lower both phaser VCF cutoff, set both VCO to 8", it starts to sounds better to my ear, because phasing is lower but ensemble is still here.

The basic sound of Loomer String is good... the problem is you cannot do much of any kind of modulation. It is so plain!

The BJH sound definitely has a phaser (with a slow rate).

Here's my rough attempt in Zebra:

BJH phase string machine
(on playback via this KVR player I get some distortion on this mp3 which I don't get in my host or my media player??)

The sound in Zebra needs at least two LFOs to modulate some parameters, then EQ, to get some mid boost, then chorus, followed by phaser, delay +reverb to emulate the sound in the record.

If you like it I can send you the preset. It just needs better EQ, either to find a more suitable mid frequency for boosting, and perhaps some low cut and I'm not sure if I got the phaser rate right.

I did a patch in DIVA that sounds very much like the Solina/Eminent. I was following more the Jarre sound (Equinoxe), but I think I can make it sound pretty much like any string machine sound. It's part of a bank I am preparing (not comercial, just to be made available for free) but if people are interested, I can upload it. Unfortunately, I don't have any upload service, so...

I just sent the patch to Brian (brzycki), and hopefully he will make it available to all in a shortwhile. Hope you find it usefull.

http://www.u-he.com/PatchLib/tmp/FMR-Equinoxe_String _Machine_ST.zip

AHA! You do have Zebra AND you're making patches for it! I'm still waiting for a bank from you. (BTW that audio sounds fabulous, even with the MP3 distortion, nice work)