Fatboy Slim thoughts about software synths

[thecontrolcentre]

I've moved on...to the future.

Oh, I see ... you live in the future.

[mcnoone]

I've got a Moog Slim Phatty and IMO they should have named it the Hardy, because it's strong point, for me at least, is it's harsher more biting tones. Over drive that filter and you're going to get a sound that Diva can't do by design. Urs wasn't going for that.

Lets hear it?
I don't believe there is a sound your Phatty can do that Diva can't.
Maybe "you" can't do it with Diva, or none of the presets have it, but I got some new sounds recently, and biting tones w/t overdrive is exactly how I would describe them...a few anyway.
Lets compare mp3 examples and see.
I'll post mine in a bit...after work, and you post your most overdriven-biting Phatty clip.
I don't like to hear something has limits, when it comes to synths.
Perceived limits can be overcome, with enough effort put into exceeding them.

[Tricky-Loops]

In future there won't be classifications like digital and analog. You will be able to make digital sound with your analog keyboard/controller/synth, and you'll be able to make analog sound with (good hardware emulation) software.

So what's best?

Use every tool you're convinced of and make good music!

[Vectorman]

I look at these things more from a practical standpoint. After working with my first Moog LP for quite a while, I found that the most useful thing it could do for me were rubbery, snakey bass sounds that are good for playing the sort of roving, pitch bend-laden bass parts that almost remind one of a fretless bass. I wasn't entirely into how the overdrive sounded when I cranked it, so that wasn't a major selling point for me. A lot of the bass sounds I hear people doing with Phattys, like those woofer-rattling sub-bass things with buzzy distortion on top, don't really appeal to me that much.

I'm not saying that I thought the Phatty was a bad synth. Obviously lots of people love the little guy. I'm saying that for MY needs, I wasn't getting enough out of it that I thought was sufficiently better than software for the kinds of sounds I found myself gravitating to it for. That doesn't mean I've lost all interest in analog. It just means I think that if I'm going to have an analog mono around, a different one might suit me better. The SE-1X Nova, which I was originally going to get before opting for another LP instead, might have been a better fit for me after all (I think, in hindsight, I really want something with a more open, present top end).

[trimph1]

To me the idea that one needs to ditch their 'obsolete' hardware synths to step into the future is a bit over dramatic.

If you like your softsynths and do not care for hardware that is fine..for you.

I, OTOH, prefer using what ever instrument(s) work for a given piece.

[ghettosynth]

I look at these things more from a practical standpoint. After working with my first Moog LP for quite a while, I found that the most useful thing it could do for me were rubbery, snakey bass sounds ... That doesn't mean I've lost all interest in analog. It just means I think that if I'm going to have an analog mono around, a different one might suit me better. The SE-1X Nova, which I was originally going to get before opting for another LP instead, might have been a better fit for me after all (I think, in hindsight, I really want something with a more open, present top end).

Right, I pretty much agree with this. Softsynths are getting good enough to replace analog synths for many bread and butter type sounds. The edge cases are still there though, but, if you aren't using them in your music, then there's probably not a lot of value in having a real analog around.

I find that having a small modular is really where it's at. The downside, of course, is that you have no genuine patch storage.

[awol9000]

Some of us, however, actually enjoy conversations like these, even if they ebb and flow. The reason is that they may lead to insights and different perspectives that are valuable to us.

I agree, I quite enjoyed the article and was excited to hear his perspective from a fan & producer's view. This thread could have taken a more stimulating turn.

[herodotus]

So, it's not wrong to make music with software, but it is wrong to say it sounds as good as good hardware, because that's just not true.

o·pin·ion   [uh-pin-yuhn]
1.a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
2.a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.



fact   [fakt]
1.something that actually exists; reality; truth: Your fears have no basis in fact.
2.something known to exist or to have happened: Space travel is now a fact.

Note how they are not the same things

[ATS]

well if a pro says software sucks it must. I am going to sell all my software so I can be as cool as the hardware people.

[ouroboros]

Some of us, however, actually enjoy conversations like these, even if they ebb and flow. The reason is that they may lead to insights and different perspectives that are valuable to us.

I agree, I quite enjoyed the article and was excited to hear his perspective from a fan & producer's view. This thread could have taken a more stimulating turn.

Not quite the Caravan of Love, afterall.

[ghettosynth]

So, it's not wrong to make music with software, but it is wrong to say it sounds as good as good hardware, because that's just not true.

Note how they (fact/opinion) are not the same things

Of course. Whether it sounds as good, is opinion, whether it sounds the same, is fact. Technology drives the limitations, and also the advantages, of software.

Whether the factual differences matter or not, can be both fact and opinion. The burden of proof for fact, in this case, is much higher.

[zerocrossing]

Dig a little hole in some sand and just stuff your head into it!

That's what you ANALog freaks are doing......remember, I've owned analog synths....owned as in past tense...I've moved on...to the future.

Calling an analog synth obsolete technology is like calling a violin obsolete technology.

Not hardly....a very poor ANALogy at best......there is a huge difference between a Violin and Violin samples. There's no practical difference at all between ANALog and VA...well except for crap like this:

you'll hear some weird phasiness or something on Diva.....You can hear what I'm talking about in the highs and mid tones as well. The high frequency is more muddy. Not as sweet sounding".

Hardly worth even mentioning.....especially in a mix.....


By the way I started out just like you.....an old crap guitar and a Synsonic drum machine......apparently our paths diverged somewhere along the line.

No, you're just behind a bit. I was like you. A guy who'd owned analogs, some hardware VA and stuff, went all software because it sounded good and was a hell of a lot easer to deal with. Then someone came along and pointed out the place where software VA fails and I could no longer hear past it. I can tell you won't even listen to that clip. What? Ya chicken? Bok bok bok!

Actually, I recommend not listening to that clip. Ignorance is bliss.

[zerocrossing]

The SE-1X Nova, which I was originally going to get before opting for another LP instead, might have been a better fit for me after all (I think, in hindsight, I really want something with a more open, present top end).

Not sure the differences between the SE-1x and the ATC-x, but my ATC-x does sound a lot more round and open... a bit more "hi-fi." It has the distortion too, where my ATC-1 did not and that does help when you're looking for a very hard sound. To make matters worse I have it going though a tube distortion. Still, I find the Phatty has a charm and a sound of it's own. If I had to choose I'd go with the Studio Electronics all the way though.

[zerocrossing]

I've got a Moog Slim Phatty and IMO they should have named it the Hardy, because it's strong point, for me at least, is it's harsher more biting tones. Over drive that filter and you're going to get a sound that Diva can't do by design. Urs wasn't going for that.

Lets hear it?
I don't believe there is a sound your Phatty can do that Diva can't.
Maybe "you" can't do it with Diva, or none of the presets have it, but I got some new sounds recently, and biting tones w/t overdrive is exactly how I would describe them...a few anyway.
Lets compare mp3 examples and see.
I'll post mine in a bit...after work, and you post your most overdriven-biting Phatty clip.
I don't like to hear something has limits, when it comes to synths.
Perceived limits can be overcome, with enough effort put into exceeding them.

It's a waste of my time. I already posted a clip where someone a/b'd Diva and the Phatty and the Phatty sounds clearly better. Did you listen to it?

[mumpcake]

Sorry if this has already been covered, but are we talking about a guy who wrote a song with the following lyrics repeated ad nauseum?

Right about now, funk soul brother,
Check it out now, funk soul brother.

If that's what he comes up with when he's "inspired", I'd hate to see what he does with a bunch of uninspiring softsynths.