LennarDigital Sylenth1

[shamann]

Well, to spare others the pain, I've moved a SE-related question over here.

[Lennard]

Hi,

Thank you all for your interest in Sylenth1. Let me clear up a few things:

The entire audio synthesis and processing path in Sylenth1 was programmed in C++. That includes voice and polyphony management, ADSR envelopes, oscillators, LFOs, filters, MIDI functionality, host syncing, portamento sliding, audio routing, all the master sound-effects and several parts of the user interface. All time-critical parts have been heavily optimized using assembler, SSE processor instructions and innovative DSP algorithms. However, SynthEdit was used for certain parts of the user-interface, that's why you might find some references to it when digging through the core dll as some of you obviously have been doing.

I would furthermore like to point out that:

- SynthEdit does not allow control over polyphony and the number of active voices.
- SynthEdit does not support "slide-mode" portamento (sliding notes after pauses).
- SynthEdit's oscillators start degrading heavily in sound quality at very low frequencies (between 0 and 50 Hz), while Sylenth's oscillators keep their quality all the way down to 0 Hz.
- SynthEdit does not have filters that support such high amount of resonance and such high cutoff frequencies. Nor do they support harmonic filter drive.
- Running 256 oscillators and 32 filters simultaneously in full stereo, plus 6 master effects, would consume roughly 5 times the amount of CPU usage when made in SynthEdit.
- SynthEdit's ADSR does not allow sharp, nor linear, attack curves.
- SynthEdit does not support oversampling (Sylenth's distortion uses 4x oversampling and the phaser 2x).
- SynthEdit does not use (nor support the use of) SSE processor instructions

So, even calling it a "Hybrid SE plugin" would not do justice to Sylenth1, since not even a single SynthEdit module (either default or third party) has been used in the audio engine. SynthEdit simply lacks in quality and performance, and there is no way ANYONE could make a VST in SE only, that sounds full, warm and bright like this AND uses so few CPU resources.

I might still be migrating the user-interface parts to C++ too and get rid of SynthEdit at all, but since it runs perfectly fine the way it is now, I'm not sure if that's really worth the trouble.

If you are still not convinced, please try the demo, and simply compare it to any other VST (made with SynthEdit or not). And to some of you who mentioned something about its price, I can only say "All good things come with a price"

And btw, I will soon update the demo version to include more presets, I realized 32 is simply too few to get a good
impression of what it is capable of.

Cheers,
Lennard

[mmdejonge]

Thanks Lennard

[the way]

Thanks for popping in Lennard. I still find your answer confusing though! First you say:

However, SynthEdit was used for certain parts of the user-interface, that's why you might find some references to it when digging through the core dll as some of you obviously have been doing.

And then you say:

So, even calling it a "Hybrid SE plugin" would not do justice to Sylenth1, since not even a single SynthEdit module (either default or third party) has been used in the audio engine.

The GUI engine is built with modules, how can you use SE for the graphic engine but not use any SE Modules? Also have you checked whether or not this usage of Synthedit is allowed under the license agreement?

[RPH]

The GUI engine is built with modules, how can you use SE for the graphic engine but not use any SE Modules?

Simple, by inserting the VST plugin .dll into SE..
And then use the subcontrol modules for the GUI.
Then save-as-VST.

Also have you checked whether or not this usage of Synthedit is allowed under the license agreement?

Why are you wondering ?...it is allowed.

Cya.

[RPH]

and btw,. the demo's sound very nice

[waveriderarts]

If you are still not convinced, please try the demo, and simply compare it to any other VST (made with SynthEdit or not). And to some of you who mentioned something about its price, I can only say "All good things come with a price"

I will try it cause the the web site demo wavs are good, but there is no way I will get it ...because of the price. No offence but just letting you know that 200$ or more is not realistic for a vst. I bet you would make more money selling it in the 40$-80$ range. But I know this is just an opinion.

Maybe another synth (like a monophonic) as a freebie would be good marketing on your part to establish yourself on the map.... ...just a suggestion...

[the way]

The GUI engine is built with modules, how can you use SE for the graphic engine but not use any SE Modules?

Simple, by inserting the VST plugin .dll into SE..
And then use the subcontrol modules for the GUI.
Then save-as-VST.

So he gets around using SE modules by using SE modules? Now I'm even more confused! He said he used no SE modules and subcontrol modules are SE modules. Also, I don't think your assumption is correct because if he had basically used SE as a GUI "wrapper" the dll would be visable in the external folder because SE can't access dll files internally. For example, Interrupter's delay products use Magneto and when you load them they place the Magneto dll into the delay's subfolder.

Also have you checked whether or not this usage of Synthedit is allowed under the license agreement?

Why are you wondering ?...it is allowed.

Cya.

I'm asking because I find it interesting. I'm interested in plugin development and wondered how he'd done it. You aren't necessarily right to say "it is allowed", if he has done what you think he has then yes it is allowed but if he's used them inside a non-Synthedit wrapped plugin this would go against the SE license.

[Lennard]

He said he used no SE modules and subcontrol modules are SE modules.

It uses NO synthedit modules in the audio engine. It does use a few subcontrol modules for the user interface.

if he has done what you think he has then yes it is allowed but if he's used them inside a non-Synthedit wrapped plugin this would go against the SE license.

I doesn't use a non-SE wrapper FYI. I'm sure you'd like to know exactly how I did it, but that remains a company secret

and btw,. the demo's sound very nice

Thanks

[Lennard]

I will try it cause the the web site demo wavs are good, but there is no way I will get it ...because of the price. No offence but just letting you know that 200$ or more is not realistic for a vst. I bet you would make more money selling it in the 40$-80$ range. But I know this is just an opinion.

I would like to point out that Sylenth1 is not just a regular synth. It offers superior sound quality, performance, options and usability. It can outperform plugins like Minimonsta, z3ta, Korg Polysix or Aturia's Minimoog (which are all priced in this range) on pretty much all aspects.

Maybe another synth (like a monophonic) as a freebie would be good marketing on your part to establish yourself on the map.... ...just a suggestion...

This is a good idea actually, I was already thinking alike. Something like that will very probably appear in the (near) future.

[the way]

Thank you for answering my questions lennard. Good luck with your synth.

[fred-hal]

I must admit, the demos on the site sound very nice..

..but then again, I'm a sucker for gear demos..

[elv]

Looks really good, and has a nice sound.But for the price I would buy something else