THESE ARE JUST THEROIES....
A lot of American (hip hop) djs don't bother a lot with synthesizers. Instead we sample and timestrech, and that made hip hop. In america we eat to work, and we value time. We try to fit as much stuff into our schedules as possible.
Well what are you doing when you djing and sampling? Basically its just manipulating time. Maybe thats why we like it so much. Even though I dont make hip hop, as an american i can say that timestrecthing and sampling is the most versitile/fun effect/tool i have.
The japanese are a little nation, but they devote and comit themselves to things to obtain perfection. They have already made a name for themselves in several industries. They havent made anything new to contribute to electronic music culture, (as far as ideas), but they have a lot to offer the industry.
Europeons are way different than Americans, they work to eat, as opposed to america. They take thier time with thier music and they respect differing views. And it reflects in thier house music. They made new formulas for making music, and even though house instrumentals arent hugely popular in america, and imo aren't as advanced and all together as hip hop, they have definantly influnced pop music in america.
thats it.
American vs European and/or Japanese sound
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- KVRAF
- 9096 posts since 5 Feb, 2004
Well as flawed as this thread premise may be I'll jump in 
I agree it is more certain companies have certain sounds, but way back when, the components available in any certain country were likely limited and manufactures used whatever was around, so the Japanese would use certain components that reflected the availability at the time, as well as the Americans, and the Europeans. This is more an educated guess as to why there may be 'regional' similarities, as well as the knowledge pool (just another component after all) being cross-pollinated and copied regionally. The Russians for example likely had limited access to many components from the West and East. Nowadays though I don't think there is any such regional situation as even the knowledge can so easily come from any part of the world.
I agree it is more certain companies have certain sounds, but way back when, the components available in any certain country were likely limited and manufactures used whatever was around, so the Japanese would use certain components that reflected the availability at the time, as well as the Americans, and the Europeans. This is more an educated guess as to why there may be 'regional' similarities, as well as the knowledge pool (just another component after all) being cross-pollinated and copied regionally. The Russians for example likely had limited access to many components from the West and East. Nowadays though I don't think there is any such regional situation as even the knowledge can so easily come from any part of the world.If you have requests for Korg VST features or changes, they are listening at https://support.korguser.net/hc/en-us/requests/new
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- KVRAF
- 9096 posts since 5 Feb, 2004
But then look at Arturia and XILS-Labs for example, there seems some similarities exist in design to me for a lot of things, like the patch browsers. Certainly cultural thinking affects some things about the design of interfaces etc and what prominence certain features have in a design.
If you have requests for Korg VST features or changes, they are listening at https://support.korguser.net/hc/en-us/requests/new
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- KVRian
- 528 posts since 17 Apr, 2009 from portland oregon
I don't know anything other than the fact that I have undeniable lust for soviet synths, 6db filters, and tube driven reel to reel machines.
Everything else sounds bad.
Everything else sounds bad.
I run a netlabel http://oligopolistrecords.bandcamp.com
Free chill, hip-hop, lo-fi, ambient, experimental, for you! (Send me demos too!)
Free chill, hip-hop, lo-fi, ambient, experimental, for you! (Send me demos too!)
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- Banned
- 6129 posts since 9 Oct, 2007 from an inharmonious society
I think culture tends to have some small influential differences on design aspects of everything, including synths.
Something here though, is most preset sounds of many well known Japanese synths, from Korg, Roland, and Yamaha, are designed by designers from the US, and UK.
If your looking for the differences concerning the OP, they are simply more noticed through the music, than through synths, or the preset sounds done.
Not to mention that cultural influences are becoming so diluted, as the world naturally flows toward a more mixed cultural identity.
So if the OP is really just asking about sound differences from various countries, then I see nothing wrong with the topic.
It's just that, the most notable differences may be in the music itself, than with any synth or sounds used.
Like the greatest jazz fusion came from the US, and maybe they used certain types of sounds more than other places, but I guess it's the style of music, rather than the culture that influences that.
Just the same, it (in some cases) must be the culture that influences the music.
The OP wording is a bit odd, and I might be better to have put a "burn this thread" post here, but I always find cultural topics can be interesting, given the right context.
In the end, we all end up as a human culture anyway...homogenized.
Something here though, is most preset sounds of many well known Japanese synths, from Korg, Roland, and Yamaha, are designed by designers from the US, and UK.
If your looking for the differences concerning the OP, they are simply more noticed through the music, than through synths, or the preset sounds done.
Not to mention that cultural influences are becoming so diluted, as the world naturally flows toward a more mixed cultural identity.
So if the OP is really just asking about sound differences from various countries, then I see nothing wrong with the topic.
It's just that, the most notable differences may be in the music itself, than with any synth or sounds used.
Like the greatest jazz fusion came from the US, and maybe they used certain types of sounds more than other places, but I guess it's the style of music, rather than the culture that influences that.
Just the same, it (in some cases) must be the culture that influences the music.
The OP wording is a bit odd, and I might be better to have put a "burn this thread" post here, but I always find cultural topics can be interesting, given the right context.
In the end, we all end up as a human culture anyway...homogenized.
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- KVRian
- 504 posts since 11 May, 2006 from Northern Germany
Well, yes, apart from the fact that the thread title seems very much troll-appealing... But as we haven't had any "synth-racism" here, it's probably ok.So if the OP is really just asking about sound differences from various countries, then I see nothing wrong with the topic.
As to the topic, I still think that it's not going to lead anywhere in the world of software synths. Let's just compare a few well-known instruments with german/dutch developers: Albino, Gladiator, Zebra, Twin, Dune, Sylenth. I daresay they don't have very much in common, neither gui-wise nor concerning their sound. And if they had, it would probably rather be because the programmers know each other and collaborate.
@ soundnaut: I am german, and I work to eat (and to buy virtual instruments and other things). And I am even a lawyer. Ha!
Oh, I forgot: The ChineeKong products always give me a certain Chinese feeling. (Disclaimer: That was a joke. And I know they're sampled instruments).
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- KVRAF
- 5666 posts since 23 Mar, 2006 from pendeLondonmonium
Actually... the original post is not as silly as some would think here...
It appears that the OP is hinting at a (subjective) difference that musicians observed during the 1970's and early 80's.
Same with poly synths like the mighty Oberheim OBX vs say a Jupiter 8. The OBX is all about 'cream' and lush 'thickness', whereas the Jupiter allows to get a finer palette of sounds due to several sound sculpting options, including the high pass filter. It can also do the creamy analog goodness we all love, but it has a different vibe than the OBX. Objective? Subjective? It doesn't matter nowdays. Perhaps today we wouldn't mark these synths as having an 'American' or 'Japanese' sound, but that's how it was in the past.
How does it relate to software VA synths? Most analog modeling plugins offer enough sound sculpting options as to become true chameleons and provide the 'creamy warm density' or 'high precision thinness'. So unless the plugin is all about direct emulation of a specific hardware synth, I feel it could approximate any of the classic synths ( in its own way).
It appears that the OP is hinting at a (subjective) difference that musicians observed during the 1970's and early 80's.
Very simply put, by using an example: The Minimoog Model D is and was regarded as having a creamy, thick, 'warm' sound - the American style sound, whereas something like a Yamaha CS15 exemplified a more precise, dare I say 'thin' sound, which was nicknamed the 'Japanese' sound. What exactly makes it so? The signal path, its design and components used.What exactly did they mean by American sound or Japanese sound,
Same with poly synths like the mighty Oberheim OBX vs say a Jupiter 8. The OBX is all about 'cream' and lush 'thickness', whereas the Jupiter allows to get a finer palette of sounds due to several sound sculpting options, including the high pass filter. It can also do the creamy analog goodness we all love, but it has a different vibe than the OBX. Objective? Subjective? It doesn't matter nowdays. Perhaps today we wouldn't mark these synths as having an 'American' or 'Japanese' sound, but that's how it was in the past.
How does it relate to software VA synths? Most analog modeling plugins offer enough sound sculpting options as to become true chameleons and provide the 'creamy warm density' or 'high precision thinness'. So unless the plugin is all about direct emulation of a specific hardware synth, I feel it could approximate any of the classic synths ( in its own way).
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- KVRist
- 459 posts since 30 Jul, 2002 from netherlands
What?!?soundnaut wrote:The japanese are a little nation, but they devote and comit themselves to things to obtain perfection. They have already made a name for themselves in several industries. They havent made anything new to contribute to electronic music culture, (as far as ideas), but they have a lot to offer the industry.
Where were the Roland 808, 909 and 303, Korg MS20 (and lots of other standard electronic music gear) invented and made? Ever heard of Tomita or Yellow Magic Orchestra? (Or Pizzicato 5, or Cornelius?) Ever wondered why Kraftwerk made a special Japanese version of Pocket Calculator?
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- KVRAF
- 15135 posts since 7 Sep, 2008
What a load of crap that was.soundnaut wrote:THESE ARE JUST THEROIES....
A lot of American (hip hop) djs don't bother a lot with synthesizers. Instead we sample and timestrech, and that made hip hop. In america we eat to work, and we value time. We try to fit as much stuff into our schedules as possible.
Well what are you doing when you djing and sampling? Basically its just manipulating time. Maybe thats why we like it so much. Even though I dont make hip hop, as an american i can say that timestrecthing and sampling is the most versitile/fun effect/tool i have.
The japanese are a little nation, but they devote and comit themselves to things to obtain perfection. They have already made a name for themselves in several industries. They havent made anything new to contribute to electronic music culture, (as far as ideas), but they have a lot to offer the industry.
Europeons are way different than Americans, they work to eat, as opposed to america. They take thier time with thier music and they respect differing views. And it reflects in thier house music. They made new formulas for making music, and even though house instrumentals arent hugely popular in america, and imo aren't as advanced and all together as hip hop, they have definantly influnced pop music in america.
thats it.
"I was wondering if you'd like to try Magic Mushrooms"
"Oooh I dont know. Sounds a bit scary"
"It's not scary. You just lose a sense of who you are and all that sh!t"
"Oooh I dont know. Sounds a bit scary"
"It's not scary. You just lose a sense of who you are and all that sh!t"
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- KVRAF
- 7504 posts since 14 Nov, 2006 from Ankara, Turkey
Tricky-Loops wrote:I have a problem:
I've purchased Synthmaster but it doesn't sound Turkish at all. How can I get some real Turkish sounds out of it?
(sounds just joking, but that was a real question originally...)
You can try downloading some scala tune files and place them on the Scales folder.
EDIT: I have a friend who's a well known musician in the Boston area - Mehmet Ali Sanlikol. I'll ask him for a "Turkish" audio demo
Works at KV331 Audio
SynthMaster voted #1 in MusicRadar's "Best Synth of 2019" poll
SynthMaster One voted #4 in MusicRadar's "Best Synth of 2019" poll
SynthMaster voted #1 in MusicRadar's "Best Synth of 2019" poll
SynthMaster One voted #4 in MusicRadar's "Best Synth of 2019" poll
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- KVRAF
- 5817 posts since 8 May, 2008 from ssssskipping ......... I left you there
No, no. Japan is a little nation of just 127,650,000 inhabitants who haven't made anything new to contribute to electronic music culture (read hip-hop, its more advanced manifestation).monopoli wrote:What?!?soundnaut wrote:The japanese are a little nation, but they devote and comit themselves to things to obtain perfection. They have already made a name for themselves in several industries. They havent made anything new to contribute to electronic music culture, (as far as ideas), but they have a lot to offer the industry.
Where were the Roland 808, 909 and 303, Korg MS20 (and lots of other standard electronic music gear) invented and made? Ever heard of Tomita or Yellow Magic Orchestra? (Or Pizzicato 5, or Cornelius?) Ever wondered why Kraftwerk made a special Japanese version of Pocket Calculator?
Their ninja skills are seriously lacking too.
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- KVRAF
- 5666 posts since 23 Mar, 2006 from pendeLondonmonium
It's a little known fact but modern day ninjas kill with self oscillation.standalone wrote:
Their ninja skills are seriously lacking too.
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- KVRAF
- 4197 posts since 23 May, 2004 from Bad Vilbel, Germany
ECM says you're blinkeredmcnoone wrote:Like the greatest jazz fusion came from the US
Last edited by Howard on Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 2802 posts since 31 Aug, 2011
Actually its more the fact that they were made by the same guy.braj wrote:But then look at Arturia and XILS-Labs for example, there seems some similarities exist in design to me for a lot of things, like the patch browsers. Certainly cultural thinking affects some things about the design of interfaces etc and what prominence certain features have in a design.
(Xavier, was it?)
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- addled muppet weed
- 111274 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
yeah xavier was the guy who got arturia into bother for sockpuppetry here back in the moog clone wars...ENV1 wrote:Actually its more the fact that they were made by the same guy.braj wrote:But then look at Arturia and XILS-Labs for example, there seems some similarities exist in design to me for a lot of things, like the patch browsers. Certainly cultural thinking affects some things about the design of interfaces etc and what prominence certain features have in a design.
(Xavier, was it?)
