Poly-Ana: Coming soon from Admiral Quality.

[bduffy]

Well, I think it looks promising. I'd have to test out the real thing to figure out if it's too big or not, but it's a little different than what we're used to - perhaps even challenging - and I would think that on KVR, that would be encouraged.

[toddyjoe]

No offense or slagging intended to anyone including Admiral, but I have a question for Admiral: who exactly is your target audience?

You define the potential customer base as "high-end" users. Maybe my perception is wrong, but when I think of high-end users I think of professionals and folks who make a living using top-quality software which often comes at a price. Unlike me, these people will likely plenty of money to invest in high-quality software and plenty of CPU, computer resources and monitor size/resolution ( ) to handle big power-hungry software. But I would think this crowd would be more inclined to choose a more-modern approach (like a flat, straightforward GUI as opposed to an artistic GUI that looks like a 70's synth) and choose functionality over form (preferring relative simplicity, clarity and readability for ease of studio use and having more computer resources dedicted to sound versus looks). After all, if these folks have the money and technology resources for high-end power-hungry software, wouldn't they simply pay to bring in a vintage hardware synth when their retro jones hits?

Like I said no offense intended to anyone. It just seems counter-intuitive to me that high-end users would choose a beautifully retro but power-hungry product when they have several other options that excel in modern functionality and use and even other options that excel at the retro thing. I am curious how big the market is for something like this.

[AdmiralQuality]

Good points toddyjoe. I think there's a niche between those niches though. Also, there was NEVER an analog synth that did everything that this one will. (Waveform modulation anyone? PWM, FM and AM... ALL AT ONCE? Built in stereo signal path all the way up to the oscillators. Adjustable env curves. And what about those Mod Mixers? I can't believe everyone is so fixated on the graphics that they aren't seeing the possibilities of this voice architecture or have nothing to say about it.)

I call this "Re-creating vintage classics that never were."

I started this thread mostly because I wanted people to start getting excited about the parameters. I should have just released the parameter list.

But to be fair, I've received some valuable feedback on the GUI here, some of which has already gone into the product. I'm stubborn, but not hopelessly so.

[bduffy]

Is that going to be deadly on CPU, all that crazy, built-in stereo, all-at-once architecture?

[.jon]

Oh I bet you would love me to shut up already, but honestly the contrast is so strong on the previews that it hurts my eyes trying to examine the synth itself.

I also have tried to make clear that I got very high expectations about the sound of your synth. I only got 1 pair of real analogue filters, so I can't claim to be an analog überwisser, but naive comes closer to the real deal than other vst filters I've tried. It can "sing" with hi-rez without sounding harsh. Generally it just sounds like the audio is going through real circuitry.

[fake]

Really, what's the point of doing what everyone else does? Certainly hard to do anything BETTER if you take that approach.

I hear you, that's a cool attitude and more people should follow!

...just make the GUI smaller and readjust the gamma of your monitor

Unless you have something spectacular or better to offer then it is stupid to knock the "norm", perhaps there is a valid reason why everyone else does it the way they do?

Making something that looks diferent does not=BETTER especially with this as the gui is so large that it will not show properly on a standard 17" monitor. It may be great to think "future" but by doing that you seem to be ignoring the "now" people and that is where your market is, so wise up and take note. You may eventually sell a few then.

Sorry but I too think it is ugly, those big dials look, er big and throw the gui out of balance. It also looks cluttered. You could make it smaller straight away by getting rid of the unnecessary keyboard, or making it an option.

As for price, I would like to know what you call "reasonable" or "affordable to all" cos at the moment, even if it were free I doubt if I would be happy using it.



fake

[Improv]

Oh I bet you would love me to shut up already, but honestly the contrast is so strong on the previews that it hurts my eyes trying to examine the synth itself.

Try turning the contrast down on the monitor itself?

[AdmiralQuality]

but naive comes closer to the real deal than other vst filters I've tried. It can "sing" with hi-rez without sounding harsh. Generally it just sounds like the audio is going through real circuitry.

That's exactly why I'm building a soft synth out of that same filter. Cuz all the other VA's, even the best of the best, sound like syrupy goo to me (very accurate syrupy goo, and arguably still useful musically, but still not exactly the flavour that us analog fetishists consider to be the holy grail.) So thanks for recognizing the difference in my filter. There actually aren't any big secrets in it, I just dared to throw more processor at it than everyone else (and will do the same with this softsynth!)

So, I am fully expecting this gal to sound REMARKABLY LIKE a real analog synth. Still... I have yet to hear it all together myself, so maybe I'm wrong (but I'm not.)

My only worry is that I may soon be forced to take a "day job" which would push the release of this to who-knows-when. But even if that's the case, it just means Moore's law will have that much more time to populate the world with systems powerful enough for this application. Cuz, bduffy, you're right... CPU is a BIG concern but I'm not letting that limit me. If I can run 4 voices on my 533MHz FSB then I'll be totally happy (and all signs are, so far, that it will.)

(Note that FSB/RAM speed is the only system spec I ever quote. But most everyone else rarely mention FSB and instead concentrate on GHz. It's all about how fast *memory* can be accessed. It's really the only spec that matters to us audio people. So again, minimum target system is roughly my P4 3 GHz @ 533 MHz. But maybe that just means that on a lesser system it'll only be useful as a monosynth? For the next few years anyway untill Mr. Moore brings us all new computers. )

At any rate, that's my philosophy on this one... Build exactly what I want, no limits, and if necessary, wait for the world to catch up. I know, I'm crazy. Somebody has to be...

[Kriminal]

Really, what's the point of doing what everyone else does? Certainly hard to do anything BETTER if you take that approach.

I hear you, that's a cool attitude and more people should follow!

...just make the GUI smaller and readjust the gamma of your monitor

Unless you have something spectacular or better to offer then it is stupid to knock the "norm", perhaps there is a valid reason why everyone else does it the way they do?

Making something that looks diferent does not=BETTER especially with this as the gui is so large that it will not show properly on a standard 17" monitor. It may be great to think "future" but by doing that you seem to be ignoring the "now" people and that is where your market is, so wise up and take note. You may eventually sell a few then.

Sorry but I too think it is ugly, those big dials look, er big and throw the gui out of balance. It also looks cluttered. You could make it smaller straight away by getting rid of the unnecessary keyboard, or making it an option.

As for price, I would like to know what you call "reasonable" or "affordable to all" cos at the moment, even if it were free I doubt if I would be happy using it.



fake

wasting ya time Fake, he's not interested.....

[Len]

My only worry is that I may soon be forced to take a "day job" which would push the release of this to who-knows-when.

Who are you taking a job with - IK Multimedia?

[Foxglove]

I think that the GUI looks amazing. I'd have to admit to not being a fan of huge GUI's but, in the end, it's the sound that counts. Anyone with even just a bit of experience with Subtractive synths should easily find their way around the GUI, and I think that there's a couple of people here who are in serious need of growing up. Constructive Critisism is great; going off and starting a thread called "Worst GUI Ever" is low...almost too low to a point that it reeks with envy and jealousy... Keep up the good work AQ.

[AdmiralQuality]

My only worry is that I may soon be forced to take a "day job" which would push the release of this to who-knows-when.

Who are you taking a job with - IK Multimedia?

Why's that funny? I'd be proud to work for IK. They make some great stuff.

So perhaps this is a good time and place to mention that my services ARE for hire. I'll even build stuff YOUR way, s'long as you're paying. If anyone is interested, email aq @...

[AdmiralQuality]

Constructive Critisism is great; going off and starting a thread called "Worst GUI Ever" is low

HA! I must have missed that one. (Is it still up or is that what Kriminal was complaining about being removed? No matter... I don't care if people wanna slag my stuff in their own thread. Or in this thread. It's all just free advertising.)

[Kriminal]

Constructive Critisism is great; going off and starting a thread called "Worst GUI Ever" is low...almost too low to a point that it reeks with envy and jealousy...

Whatever....have you actually read the comments in this thread from numerous other people saying the same thing?

[Kriminal]

Is it still up or is that what Kriminal was complaining about being removed?

it wasnt removed, its was locked, so everyone came over to this thread to 'slag it off'....