Future of Synth Squad - props and cons

[TommyBear]

.....
edit: I've noticed someone's already mentioned the beta thing. Maybe I'm lucky, I didn't have any CPU hit problems either. Probably I haven't used enough instances at once

nope this is one instance in a virgin project. using 2x oversampling for real time playing.

It is an acknowledge bug.. two years acknowledged..the arp cypher bug that is and the amber is by 'design'

rsp

I see. Well, I've been mostly using Strobe and Fusor, maybe that's why I haven't noticed the problem. I actually played Strobe 8x oversampled just to try and nothing bad happened to my CPU, so that's also why I thought the CPU usage wasn't so bad. As for one instance at a time, I had projects with up to 20 instances of Fusor and Strobe and still no problems occured.

But I'll take a better look at Amber and Cypher in the future .

[musikmachine]

Just a remark: Cypher seems to be left alone what comes to 3rd party presets, although it's architecture is something I'd like to hear more in full potential. Strobe is pretty straight forward and sounds great, Amber feels a bit one trick pony in my opinion. 70's flavour is good and bad thing, a little bit like disco strings

Are there any tutorials or videos showing Cypher in full action? It'd be interesting to explore this synth more carefully.

I was thinking the same thing. There's been a couple of Strobe soundbanks posted recently and it's used in most of the tutorial videos. I think it sounds better than Strobe but Strobe is more straight forward. Have you checked the quick tip tutorials etc?

There's a bunch here but you'll have to go through them, looks like they all use Strobe as well though.

I'm kinda surprised Groove3 or someone hasn't done a series on Synth Squad. They'd sell faster than an IK groupbuy!

[D-Fusion]

So are the 64bit SS going to be paid updates like BFD ? (Unbelievable that any company would charge for 64 bit updates, but this is FXpansion after all - cue usual fanboys to come and whine)

Buy Diva and you will be happy, great synth, great dev.

I don't think they will charge for 64bit update for synthsquad.
I am using the latest beta 1.0.1.29 which is 64bit.

[Aerocity]

I'm kinda surprised Groove3 or someone hasn't done a series on Synth Squad. They'd sell faster than an IK groupbuy!

http://www.groove3.com/str/synths-explained.html

i sold synth squad... diva fits me better (and zebra2 )

[sabiwa]

http://www.groove3.com/str/synths-explained.html

Unfortunately it's very basic tutorial and covers only Strobe. Otherwise good for starters I guess...

[filtide]

No CPU spikes here and i usually use 5-6 fusor instances in a project (Q9550). Diva eats more i think, but that's a mor vinatge sound. SS is more modern, but can sound vintage as well. And Transmod is one of the best things since cellphones.
Really depends on your taste.

[filtide]

They don't support XP and Vistas anymore, but that doesn't mean they won't work. They just don't have manpower for that.
If you have spikes and have Phenom you should try the new betas.

[sabiwa]

There has to be a way to browse presets quickly through with computer keys (or midi map those little arrows in preset slot). Any work around for this omission or is it only demo which lacks key commands?

[MFXxx]

How the heck did DIVA get dragged into this thread and continues to pop up. There is no way SS compares to it. Very different sounds and no doubt algorithms going on under the bonnet! Personally I think this comparison is an insult!

Don;t get me wrong I own both and more.

I have yet to get into SS so recommend some WOW factor for me to explore.

Personally I in find the GUI fiddly and messey. Soundwise I think vanguard is a better comparisson.

Post or recommend some astounding SS presets and I'll dig in. I find SS run of the mill till convinced otherwise.

[TommyBear]

How the heck did DIVA get dragged into this thread and continues to pop up. There is no way SS compares to it. Very different sounds and no doubt algorithms going on under the bonnet! Personally I think this comparison is an insult!

Don;t get me wrong I own both and more.

I have yet to get into SS so recommend some WOW factor for me to explore.

Personally I in find the GUI fiddly and messey. Soundwise I think vanguard is a better comparisson.

Post or recommend some astounding SS presets and I'll dig in. I find SS run of the mill till convinced otherwise.

This all is probably a matter of taste, but I personally like the sound and I find the GUI just very good - one may need some time to get accustomed at first.

As for presets, I'm just releasing a soundset for Strobe and Fusor. However, no one can recommend you it yet, as they'll get it on Tuesday

You can listen to the demos though, e. g. in this thread http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=342473

There are also some other soundsets, I've seen people saying that the Himalaya's one is very good (and it's for Cypher and Fusor if I remember well).

[himalaya]

Future of Synth Squad - props and cons

Some thoughts about Cypher only ( and audio demos at the bottom of the post). I've only dabbled with Strobe and Amber so I can't comment about these.


Cypher Pros:

- One of the best VAs for analog style FM. That FM knob has so much travel and each minute tweak adds a new shade of colour. All this depends how the carrier/modulator pitch is set up.

- Very authentic analog sounds. I've compared Cypher to a real Oberheim OBXa, a Minimoog and a Moog Prodigy, using various sounds adn Cypher held its own very well, despite not being an emu of any of these... In general for thick and characterful pads, Cypher excels in the mid to low frequencies. For high end, the patch needs to be created with the high end in mind, which may rob the low end of its 'brashness'. However, to create these sounds, Transmod has to be used very carefully. This is mainly to do with per-note detuning, which is set up as default in DIVA and OP-X, hence these sound immediately more 'creamy'. But that 'cream' is there in Cypher too, perhaps having a different character.

- Fabulous filter(s).

- Immense versatility. I particularly like how it is possible to send oscillators to both filters and have an non-filtered raw oscillator sound at the same time, in any amount. This allows for some nice layered sounds. The pre-filter drive module is also very handy.

- The TransMod modulation system. Easy and fast to work with. Virtually all parameters are available for modulation. Mod Matrix systems seem archaic after using this. TransMod is the key to Cypher's musicality. It is really easy to get a very expressive sounds here.

- LFOs are very well thought out. They can function as pseudo step sequencers, with swing.


Cypher Cons:

- Not immediately intuitive. It needs one to have a proper look at the interface, or a good read of the manual to understand all the options, as it packs perhaps everything that has ever been implemented in analogue synths (not counting effects like chorus, delay and similar).

- LFO rate could be improved in the upper frequency region.

- UI is too small. It really needs a resizable UI.

- Not enough LFOs for me. Set one LFO to aftertouch vibrato, set the second one to (very) subtle fine pitch modulation, and I have no LFO left for PWM duties. (But Fusor can supply more LOFs if need be).

- Not enough TransMod windows.

----
Cypher needs to be set to at least 2x, preferably 4x realtime oversampling mode (this can be memorised as a default, so each time Cypher is loaded, it will use the correct oversampling setting).

Last Cypher project saw 20 instances, running live on my Quad Core Q9300 PC at 512 samples. Obviously this depends on the type of patches used: polyphony, unison, filters, how many oscillators, etc, but I can use lots of instances in an average track. (BTW, this is in Reaper, my other host would not be able to handle so many instances).

Lastly, some audio.

Two comparisons: Cypher vs OBXa, Cypher vs Minimoog, you hear a note on one synth then a note on the other, alternatively (wav files,! You might need to download to play back without chopped audio):

Cypher vs OBXa
Cypher vs Minimoog

A Synth Pop track.
Grand Finale

All synth sounds from Cypher, drums Tremor. No processing of any kind on the synth sounds, not even a limiter. Two lead sounds have some delay. Some patches use long release envelopes which creates the illusion of reverb.

Below one preset sound from Fusor. This one is for all old school electronic music fans:
Electronic_Trip

None of the above demos are designed to dazzle anyone with some otherworldly analog sound. But I suppose sound makes a break from having to read so many words (sorry 'bout that).

[zvenx]

Raphael you know we have debated this quite a few times , but in fairness one of the cons you listed is no longer a con...... the new beta is resizable...you lose some of the sharpness but I use it at 125% and it isn't bad...
by the way nice comparisons.. for the obxa they really are very close, for the minimoog whichever one is played second has a more robust bottom end to me.... since I don't' know which is which that may be a great thing for cypher.....

rsp

[himalaya]

Hi Richard,
That's great news re the new GUI. I didn't know. I'll have to grab the beta and try it then.

I still owe you that audio demo I promised. (I didn't forget, just very busy times here ).

[zvenx]

I much rather you spending your time making soundbanks that I can buy. So no apologies necessary ....now if you were making presets for the other synth we were comparing it to, I would be elated

rsp

[himalaya]

Thank you for the vote of confidence.