KVR Audio

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 6:53 am

really!?
i think the Moog sound is either a love-hate type thing. I don't hate it, but it doesn't really do it for me. It's fat but too round i think? Not sure if i can put my finger on it.

There's a few things missing from the list i see... i know the BassStation has a sine wave...

Tupapupa · Post by **Tupapupa** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:52 am

An interessting list, but says nothing about the sound and useability.

Xenophone could be very interesting, but no one ever heard a tone of it...and if it's in the same price range ? (even the DomX is a "bit" above)

eXode · Post by **eXode** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 8:57 am

I read this test of the Vermona Mono Lancet which also provides plenty of audio demos. I was very impressed with the "vintage" tone it delivers. Could be a contender to the Minitaur. Some features are different but a similar price tag.

GreatSynthesizers - Test: Vermona Mono Lancet

bobborries · Post by **bobborries** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:50 am

Yes the Moog is the best sounding, the Mopho not so much. I can hardly wait to audition the Pulse II at the store.

Shy · Post by **Shy** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 9:55 am

bobborries wrote:I've been trying to decide which programable analog synth to buy, so I made this feature chart.

Well, some of the synths in your list have things like digitally controlled oscillators and envelopes. There is a significant difference, but whatever, let's skip the digital/analog BS. The most important thing is that your feature/specification chart won't help you understand how the synth sounds, how well the interface, including real-time control features and accuracy suits you, if at all (plus it's also directly related to the sounds you can get), how some parts of it are really implemented (for example max LFO frequency, and PWM and sync which in turn are effected by the oscillator's core type such as triangle vs saw), and basically whether the synth is the one for you.

I'm only writing this for the sake of anyone who is having trouble and just wants a good synthesizer - pay attention to specifications and learn what feature is important for what, it is important, but DON'T pay too much attention to quick specs, which are ALWAYS far from telling the whole story, it's a REALLY BIG mistake, not just with synths, but especially. What seems simply as "more" or "better" on paper isn't necessarily. Listen to informative demos if they're available (like some of those posted in this thread) and try it out yourself if you can.

bobborries · Post by **bobborries** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:02 am

Yes Shy, I think your words are wise, I hope most people do this when deciding which synth to buy.

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:14 am

just buy them all

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:16 am

@Shy: Thanks for that post, i was almost up to post the same...

Your choice depends on what you look for and for certain cases a Minitaur could be superior to other choices.

As others mentioned also the workflow is important. This is nothing that could be really "experienced" by what others tell you or based on a picture. IMO the workflow of the Pulse 2 is better than some fully knobbed synths but that's my personal opinion.

Ingo

acidfever · Post by **acidfever** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 10:31 am

sqigls wrote: i think the Moog sound is either a love-hate type thing. I don't hate it, but it doesn't really do it for me. It's fat but too round i think? Not sure if i can put my finger on it.

I have the same. I demo'd a Sub Phatty for two weeks and while I am impressed with the quality of the sound I can't get myself to love it enough to purchase one. I have no relation to that typical "Moog sound" whatsoever and in the end I bought a BS2 and a Pulse 2 for the same money as one Sub Phatty.

Both the BS2 and Pulse 2 can get "Moogish" while the Moog can never get close to the wealth of modulation and analog FX options these synths have.

This doesn't mean the Moogs are bad synths....not at all, they are great. But in the genre I use my synths in (electronic/techno) having the "Moog sound" isn't essential. While the Moogs are capable of lush basses but as you already mentioned....that creamyness/roundness isn't for me.

Luckily the analog market is filled with a lot of different options at the moment and I feel that even the Pulse 2 and BS2 coexist without a problem since they have a very different character.

bobborries · Post by **bobborries** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 11:51 pm

Moogs are limited in modulation capabilities, but sound the best to my ears, that's why I bought one, I love my Minitaur. This is a Pulse II topic, so I intend to do my complex stuff with it. I will probably buy one after I give it a test drive.

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:08 am

acidfever wrote:
sqigls wrote: i think the Moog sound is either a love-hate type thing. I don't hate it, but it doesn't really do it for me. It's fat but too round i think? Not sure if i can put my finger on it.
I have the same. I demo'd a Sub Phatty for two weeks and while I am impressed with the quality of the sound I can't get myself to love it enough to purchase one. I have no relation to that typical "Moog sound" whatsoever and in the end I bought a BS2 and a Pulse 2 for the same money as one Sub Phatty.

Both the BS2 and Pulse 2 can get "Moogish" while the Moog can never get close to the wealth of modulation and analog FX options these synths have.

This doesn't mean the Moogs are bad synths....not at all, they are great. But in the genre I use my synths in (electronic/techno) having the "Moog sound" isn't essential. While the Moogs are capable of lush basses but as you already mentioned....that creamyness/roundness isn't for me.

Luckily the analog market is filled with a lot of different options at the moment and I feel that even the Pulse 2 and BS2 coexist without a problem since they have a very different character.

Same for me, was gonna bite the bullet on the sub phatty, but it just doesn't quite grab me. So yeah I also bought the Bass Station 2 and the Pulse 2. Demoed the Studio Electronic Boomstars, Minotaur, Minibrute etc, was just looking for something new and interesting, with patch recall for my live sets.
Off to check out the Pulse 2 editor by SynnyS. I only own Live Standard and mostly write in Cubase, so I'm not sure how it will all work out. Editing on the machine is easy enough, but I wish there was a VSTi version. Damn, the drive is gritty. Can't wait for word on this effects board, anyone know anything more about it? Fingers crossed!

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 11:53 am

sqigls wrote:Can't wait for word on this effects board, anyone know anything more about it? Fingers crossed!

In the Beta forum there was not much more than collecting a few ideas so far.
Not sure if there is any protyotype yet and even if the specs would be still secret.

Ingo

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:34 pm

oooOOOOOoooh secret specs. I wonder if it will be a user capable mod or a factory sendy waity mod.
Or is it a case of there already being a DSP chip in the synth that needs some code?...
Internal effects would be smashing, double can't wait.

sqigls · Post by **sqigls** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:49 pm

Does anybody know if there's a thread here or anywhere for SynnyS editor? cheers

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Sat Oct 19, 2013 12:58 pm

sqigls wrote:oooOOOOOoooh secret specs. I wonder if it will be a user capable mod or a factory sendy waity mod.
Or is it a case of there already being a DSP chip in the synth that needs some code?...
Internal effects would be smashing, double can't wait.

No dedicated DSP chip on the synth, just a CPU/microcontroller (Freescale Coldfire MCF51JM128VLK).

There is not much to tell about the expansion board yet and even if then Beta testers are to publish certain details at the moment.

Ingo

Waldorf Pulse 2: officially released (OS updated to v1.18)