Arturia SEM is a beast!...on par with DIVA or not

[damoog]

I've recently just purchased the SEM V from arturia (from audio deluxe) and I'm completely blown away how analog this synth sounds,I mean I totally love DIVA and I thought that urs was the only one who really nailed analog sound in digital form but I've gotta say that Arturia's effort on this synth is comparable in terms of analog authenticity?

Now I know that diva is an entirely different league,we all love it here but as far as analog sound I'm loving SEM

In particular I would like to know urs opinion of this synth?...are you there urs?

[Numanoid]

Sound On Sound have done thorough review of these plugins, here are their recommendations for alternatives:

There are numerous species in the genus 'revered vintage monosynth becomes virtual polyphonic soft synth with lots of extras and effects bolted on'. Arturia's other offerings in this area include the Minimoog V, Moog Modular V and ARP2600 V, while their local neighbours, XILS-Lab, entered the field with the innovative XILS-3, which was inspired by the EMS VCS3. In the UK, GForce recreated the OSCar, recently updating their impressive ImpOSCar to V2 status while, in the Far East, Korg reinvented their own MS20 for inclusion in the Legacy Collection. None of these are turkeys — indeed, all are capable of superb synthesis and sound quality — so your choice will probably be determined by taste rather than by any objective measure of superiority.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul12/a ... -sem-v.htm

The closest alternative I can think of for believability and accuracy is the collection of Synth Squad instruments from FXpansion. While also excellent and hungry, this collection is split into different instruments, each with a new interface to learn, and effects are added via a separate plug-in, which I find less convenient.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep12/a ... e-diva.htm

[donato]

It's top-notch and definitely upper echelon stuff IMO.

[Sendy]

Arturia SEM certainly has a unique sound. The way it's waveforms interact with eachother, either via layering, dual oscillator patches or polyphony, it's... different. The layering sounds "harder" somehow to me. And yet, the SEM is great for drifty string sounds. It's high pitched sounds hold up well.

Personally, I hear WAY more analog-ness in Diva but whether Diva is "better" than SEM is entirely a matter of the job at hand and taste. If I had to choose one or the other, see my sig

[donato]

Also check out the patches Oberman did for free here:

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/smf/in ... ic=5730.15


There's not many, but they're top-notch and free.

[damoog]

Personally, I hear WAY more analog-ness in Diva but whether Diva is "better" than SEM is entirely a matter of the job at hand and taste.

i agree,i cant say it is better than DIVA,it just isnt,but bloody hell it sounds good

[aMUSEd]

The 8 voice programmer is what I like the most - very deep

[ariston]

What do you mean by "analog sound"? Not a trick question, I'm really curious.

I was considering the SEM V at one point because people seem to like it a lot (even those that say "all Arturia synths sound the same"), but I thought I'd wait for the Diva additions that are just around the corner.

[audientronic]

Also check out the patches Oberman did for free here:

http://www.arturia.com/evolution/smf/in ... ic=5730.15


There's not many, but they're top-notch and free.

Can someone post these? The links aren't working. I guess someone would need to ask him first?

[damoog]

What do you mean by "analog sound"? Not a trick question, I'm really curious.

I was considering the SEM V at one point because people seem to like it a lot (even those that say "all Arturia synths sound the same"), but I thought I'd wait for the Diva additions that are just around the corner.

basically if i closed my eyes i would swear that sem v was a real analog synthesizer..the filter on this thing is what makes it 'analog' i would say...also the tuning sounds almost too good for a softy,if you have used analog you should know that i mean

[sqigls]

the SEM sounds lovely, but the functionality is nowhere near Diva. the sound though, is it as 'analog' sounding as Diva?... well, if i closed my eyes in a room full of different SEM clones, i doubt I could tell which one was the plugin. Possibly. There's THAT many different versions and clones of the hardware though, i'm not sure how it racks up to the particular Oberheim model, but it sounds great. A bit 'retro', but I love the SEM. On the same golf course as Diva, perhaps a few holes behind?

[electro]

that musictrackjp site did a side by side comparison with a real SEM and it sounded pretty close. It's probably Aruria's best emulation to date.


I use the Oberheim OB-X emulation from Sonic Projects.

[Frantz]

There is nothing wrong with Arturia's SEM but I think Diva is a much more flexible and capable synth. Also u-he is about to add an Oberheim multimode filter to Diva which will make SEM less unique.

[aMUSEd]

There is nothing wrong with Arturia's SEM but I think Diva is a much more flexible and capable synth. Also u-he is about to add an Oberheim multimode filter to Diva which will make SEM less unique.

Well the filter is just a small part of what makes the SEM great though, as I said earlier for me what stands out is the 8 voice programmer.

On the other hand what Diva does have going for it (aside from the great sound) is the responsive support u-he provide - Arturia still have a long way to go there and too often shoot themselves in the foot (as with the recent SEM update)

[sqigls]

I think the limitations of the SEM are part of why it's so cool.