Ensoniq Fizmo

[Neurotronic]

What do you people think about it, is there any vst that sounds similar ?

[Shane Sanders]

What do you people think about it, is there any vst that sounds similar ?

Did the Fizmo have the Transwaves like the Ensoniq VFX and VFX-SD synths? I seem to recall a thread some time back that examined synths that might 'do' for a VFX substitute.

[Neurotronic]

yes, try google it

[ehdyn]

No, there's nothing like a Fizmo, but some dynamically modulated wavetables would get you close.

I haven't tried it, but maybe Krishna, Rapture, or Gladiator would be a good start.

[WilliamK]

Well, yeah, its Transwaves. I had an Ensoniq TS-10 that had it. Actually, all it does is modulate the loop point of a waveform. So you have a very large sample, which a small loop, and you modulate its start/end position. I think there are some synths that does this.

I did add this option to our Wusikstation, in case you wonder. Also, I think CronoX has that.

Edit: I remember the TS-10 transwave was very "dirty". It would "scratch" a lot and produce a lot of audible noise. Don't know if they fixed that on the Fizmo. My code is much like the TS-10, so I can't really complain.

Hope that helps.

Best Regards, WilliamK

[The Chase]

xoxos made a synth that works in much the same way (by no means a direct emulation). And it's quite great, really, though it may take as much CPU as the rest of your track.

[ehdyn]

Ah, just remembered who be good at achieving this sound.

Xphrase. Ha, at this point you'd need a flintstones computer to run it J/K.

[ouroboros]

xoxos' = "steam"

[ugo]

I am a long time owner of a Fizmo. How similar VSTs are to it depends on how picky you are about what you consider similar. For example, if you're just looking for the general wavetable type sound, then Kubik, Krishna, xoxos' Steam, CronoX, to a certain extent Massive, and others can provide various types of wavetable sounds. But beyond that similarity...no, thus far nothing quite sounds like a Fizmo.

Part of this comes down to the wavetables themselves or, in the Fizmo's case, transwaves. The raw material provided in the Fiz was unique to Ensoniq and so it provides a sound that is unique to their products.

Additionally, the Fizmo offered the option of layering up to 8 transwaves in a single patch. This could of course be achieved in VSTs by layering multiple instances, since most softsynths don't try to provide quite so many oscillators at once. While not everyone wanted to use quite that many transwaves at the same time, it is a factor in the Fiz' wall of sound potential. So depending on the Fiz sound you're trying to emulate, you may need to stack a few synths to get there.

Other factors in the unique sound of the Fiz are it's filters and effects. They are obviously digital through and through, but very smooth, clear, musical, and they suit the transwaves very well.

Adjectives such as digital, nasal, weird, clear, are all suitable to describe the synth, but they don't tell the whole story. Myself and other owners have at times described the Fiz as feeling strangely organic for something that is so unabashedly digital. It's not a synth for everyone. In fact, when it came out most people hated it. But it has a unique flavor all it's own.

[duncanparsons]

If you want a VST of it, hassle QDog of Betabugs... see him at http://kddmgroup.com/index.htm and he's here as Q-Dog, and his eamil can be found via here

It needs finishing! Come on Quinn, pull yer finger out

DSP

[liars&ashes]

----Ugo about nailed it really. The 2 important points are 1) no vst sounds quite like a Fizmo (for a small variety of reasons, most of which Ugo listed), and 2) it's sound is most definitely not for everyone (and in my opinion a tad bit over-rated really).

Jeff

[MitchK1989]

you could get close with symptohm, but the filter is going to sound way off.

ChronoX and Krishna might be able to get close as well.

[xoxos]

+1 on no fizmo, esp. for filters.

'steam' was intended to do transwave synthesis because there were no options at the time. the wavefiles that it comes with have bad header info so they read incorrectly (1 sample off) and click. i recommend using another vst for transwaves.

[emdot_ambient]

...Myself and other owners have at times described the Fiz as feeling strangely organic for something that is so unabashedly digital...

That's how every soundclip I've heard from it struck me. I never even heard of the thing until it was already discontinued. It really does have a sound, though, that fits perfectly into one of my many musical idioms. I've always wanted to get my hands on one, or on something substantially similar in concept.

[Stupid American Pig]

I remember being half tempted to buy a Fiz when MF blew them out for 499.(which they did twice). I played with one at a music shop once and I think I was still to interested in analog gear to want it. I think the fiz is one of those classics in the making. someone will use it in a song in another few years and skyrocket the resale value.