Most Synths Sound The Same?

[Proxima4]

I tend to use all my synths without to much distinction or over regard to the sound, because their chosen on a the basis of synth type not sound quality, I find I can generally improve over all sound quality with eq,gain/limiters infact different patches have their gain modified by the writer of the patch, but that's allways my first port of call, if I think something sounds a bit weak.

Samplers ROM Players and samples in general, are a bit different, the quality of the original sample is essential to a good result, and this can be continued within the library.

At the end of the day, it's a complete package that I look for in a synth or sampler, that means workflow is going to be easier and the onboard filters and effects are strong enough to remain consistently present in my sets without worry of saving a patch with them in.

All bells and whistles isn't really that helpful, I've certainly moved over to the 'Only buying version changes' no new synths as I have one or two from the main types of synth & hybrid samplers.

Wavetable synth's are my favourite for all over sounds and patch design such as Pads and interesting electronic morphing soundscapes.

Subtractive are my favourite for Plucks, Arps, Leads.

FM or (FM8) is best for unusual Base, Pads and FX.

Samplers tend towards, Pad's Drones Soundscapes FX and good one shot drums etc.

In a nut, that's it.

[The Telenator]

"In the MIX" or not, something about the premise of this thread is skewed. All my electric guitars sort of sound the same to me. Uh, that's because they are all electric guitars. Aside from the 4 or so basic colour variations, all cats sort of look alike to me too. That's because they are all cats.

Not being facetious here to entertain. If all your synth parts are coming out sounding the same and this was not your intention, then A.) you are piling too much crap on the instrument tracks, B.) you don't know how to record professionally, C.) your ears aren't very well-trained or are full of wax, D.) you are picking presets that sound too much alike, etc., etc., etc., blah, blah, blah.

I'd like to hear someone make Alchemy and a Minimoog type sound the same. Those two are rather far apart in basic sounds. Mine don't sound alike, but I suppose I could go work on it. I choose various synths for the basic character each one offers. I have a couple that are in the popular Juno family, so obviously they will have some similar sounds. Overall, though, I'm not having the same experience that apparently some of you are. My choice of synths is more diverse than ever right now.

If your music is coming out "same-y" all the time, then maybe a career in something else, like carpentry or plumbing, would suit better. I mean, obviously, there is something fundamentally wrong below the surface -- as above, one or more of many possible reasons. Not observing this problem first hand, one can only guess at the cause(s). Sounds to me like some kind of mental, aural and/or artistic burn-out is behind all of this "same-y" stuff.

[Arksun]

Looking purely at soft-synths for the moment. In some ways this can also speak more of just how much we use a synth.

If we fall into the trap of buying a lot of soft-synths as well as barely brushing the surface of them, then they can all seem to sound more similar. But once you really get to know them better, learn them, what they're capable of, the differences become much more apparent. Even if you have a lot of synths, if you've truly mastered them well. Basic blocks can seem more similar, but the synth architecture plays a huge part.

As much as I really really love Zebra and could probably do almost everything non-sample based with it, I still feel like for making music, Alchemy, Diva, Harmor, Sylenth1, even the old Albino, still have their place and all have something to offer. There's one particular sound I made on Albino few years ago which I've tried to recreate on other synths, and whilst I've gotten fairly close, its just not the same, it doesn't have this particular magic that is has using that synth.

And as more built-in analog style colourations/character gets implemented into soft-synths, like Divas filters and gain staging for eg, differences will become more immediate and apparent between soft-synths. This could be the direction all soft-synths go, much more fixed in-built character and sound variation, but I'm hoping not with less control, I like control, how much random behaviour we want to dial in, how much harmonic generation etc, even if means its hidden in an advanced menu as long as its there.

[DHR53]

I've always like the space in-between the notes... that's what I'm shooting for!