Is the Sylenth 1 still good?

[Echoes in the Attic]

Heh... You think famous people are immune to "Me Too-ism"?

Fads start all the time... and rich and poor people alike jump on them.

Ok, but that's all hypothetically speaking. Fact is there's a holy lot people liking Sylenth1 on this board alone. The fact that you do not like it doesn't make everyone who does a celebrity wannabe.

I didn't say everyone... but a significant some? sure... plenty of analog synths have also been purchased because some well known song used a particular preset. That is equated with quality/success/coolness.

Like with fads in general, Sylenth was in the right place at the right time. It did the supersaw sound well which meant that people did not need to buy a Virus. Sylenth was much cheaper and easily available for free.

It was well made, had a smart choice of features vs ease of use and it deserves credit for that and for its place in history. However, soundwise, today it has been surpassed... and not by a tiny bit... it has been lapped.

I don't know what this last part means really. I'm not sure it means anything. Sound quality of synths I think can only be objectively analyzed if the synth has some specific goal like emulating a hardware counterpart. And since this isn't the case with Sylenth1, what exactly would be the reference? There is no doubt that analog modelling has come a long way since for example the NI Pro-53 and other synths of the day. For example we measure quality of analog emulations partly by how accurately their inaccuracies and imperfections are reproduced. But when a straight up VA like sylenth1 isn't trying to emulate something, what are the factors that go into a quality assessment? I see it as the same way for a nord or virus or something. They are virtual analog but not exactly trying to nail any specific analog synth. They have their own character and you like them or not.

Perhaps there are objective things that can be analyzed, but I think whether those indicate "quality" to someone or not is something people won't agree on. For example you might want a little more low end punch or something that could be improved for your purposes. But I just see sylenth1 as one of those classic synths that has it's own thing going on, like many of the hardware VAs. They don't really get superseded, they just are what they are.

[pdxindy]

I don't know what this last part means really. I'm not sure it means anything. Sound quality of synths I think can only be objectively analyzed if the synth has some specific goal like emulating a hardware counterpart. And since this isn't the case with Sylenth1, what exactly would be the reference? There is no doubt that analog modelling has come a long way since for example the NI Pro-53 and other synths of the day. For example we measure quality of analog emulations partly by how accurately their inaccuracies and imperfections are reproduced. But when a straight up VA like sylenth1 isn't trying to emulate something, what are the factors that go into a quality assessment? I see it as the same way for a nord or virus or something. They are virtual analog but not exactly trying to nail any specific analog synth. They have their own character and you like them or not.

Perhaps there are objective things that can be analyzed, but I think whether those indicate "quality" to someone or not is something people won't agree on. For example you might want a little more low end punch or something that could be improved for your purposes. But I just see sylenth1 as one of those classic synths that has it's own thing going on, like many of the hardware VAs. They don't really get superseded, they just are what they are.

Like I said, Sylenth was smartly designed. The flaws are fairly well hidden because it does not do much that reveals them. That is one of the reasons various features are not there. PWM, Sync, Ring Mod, Filter FM etc. Users asked and asked for them.

Filter designs are significantly better today. Drive/distortion and FX have all improved too. Look at the software reverbs available today vs 10 years ago. On basically every front, advances have continued. Synths are much better today. The consistent quality and diversity of sound under a wide range of situations is much better today. Look at the soft-sync you can get today vs 10 years ago. Etc.

I remember when there were constant threads comparing various softsynths to the Virus. That has passed. Sylenth's day has come and is nearly gone too. In another year, two at the most, there will not be threads like this one. It will linger on with some sentimental value.

[fisherKing]

I don't know what this last part means really. I'm not sure it means anything. Sound quality of synths I think can only be objectively analyzed if the synth has some specific goal like emulating a hardware counterpart. And since this isn't the case with Sylenth1, what exactly would be the reference? There is no doubt that analog modelling has come a long way since for example the NI Pro-53 and other synths of the day. For example we measure quality of analog emulations partly by how accurately their inaccuracies and imperfections are reproduced. But when a straight up VA like sylenth1 isn't trying to emulate something, what are the factors that go into a quality assessment? I see it as the same way for a nord or virus or something. They are virtual analog but not exactly trying to nail any specific analog synth. They have their own character and you like them or not.

Perhaps there are objective things that can be analyzed, but I think whether those indicate "quality" to someone or not is something people won't agree on. For example you might want a little more low end punch or something that could be improved for your purposes. But I just see sylenth1 as one of those classic synths that has it's own thing going on, like many of the hardware VAs. They don't really get superseded, they just are what they are.

Like I said, Sylenth was smartly designed. The flaws are fairly well hidden because it does not do much that reveals them. That is one of the reasons various features are not there. PWM, Sync, Ring Mod, Filter FM etc. Users asked and asked for them.

Filter designs are significantly better today. Drive/distortion and FX have all improved too. Look at the software reverbs available today vs 10 years ago. On basically every front, advances have continued. Synths are much better today. The consistent quality and diversity of sound under a wide range of situations is much better today. Look at the soft-sync you can get today vs 10 years ago. Etc.

I remember when there were constant threads comparing various softsynths to the Virus. That has passed. Sylenth's day has come and is nearly gone too. In another year, two at the most, there will not be threads like this one. It will linger on with some sentimental value.

you could make the same argument for analog synths, or any 'classic' equipment. yet people worship these things (not me, lol). outside of momentary trends (wobble bass, anyone?), a good sound is a good sound... and the music-makers will get to that, with whatever tool works for them... which is why i re-added sylenth1 to my setup after an absence of about 2 years. i liked it before, i like it now. just like i enjoy using newer tools (ie spire, serum). whatever works...

[fluffy_little_something]

Some new synths such as Hive don't have Sync, Ring Mod and Filter FM, either, if I remember correctly. And don't tell me U-he do not know how to implement that. Maybe both developers thought that those features would not fit the character of those two synths.

[pdxindy]

Some new synths such as Hive don't have Sync, Ring Mod and Filter FM, either, if I remember correctly. And don't tell me U-he do not know how to implement that. Maybe both developers thought that those features would not fit the character of those two synths.

Urs already said there are plans to add additional features to Hive down the road. So let's discuss it again in a year.

[fluffy_little_something]

I am no developer, but I imagine that some of those features might be difficult if not pointless to implement with such multi-wave oscillators. I remember messing around a bit with the FM on Noizemaker, even with just one wave per osc it was hard to make it sound musical and in tune so to speak.

[Dúnedain]

How long does the discount last???

[Robmobius]

Yes - Sylenth is still a very decent synth imo. Not my favorite but in my top 10.

[DJ Warmonger]

those features might be difficult if not pointless to implement with such multi-wave oscillators. I remember messing around a bit with the FM on Noizemaker,

I had very satisfying results with FM mode in Serum, with wavetable modulating another wavetable.

This is example of modern synth that can bo pretty much everything what Sylenth1 can, plus it has more features and even better GUI.

[chk071]

Not sure why, but FM sounds nice in some synths and pretty bad in others.

[DJ Warmonger]

Not sure why, but FM sounds nice in some synths and pretty bad in others.

With same settings? FM can be easily overdriven to nuts and cause extreme aliasing, it can also easily generate inharmonic sounds.

[recursive one]

Not sure why, but FM sounds nice in some synths and pretty bad in others.

This is irrelevant because Joe-Schmoe-With-Boombox doesn't know which synth you have used

[fischkopf]

Some new synths such as Hive don't have Sync, Ring Mod and Filter FM, either, if I remember correctly. And don't tell me U-he do not know how to implement that. Maybe both developers thought that those features would not fit the character of those two synths.

At least with u-he there are chances of getting those features for free as an update (if there is a big demand), you couldn't say that about Sylenth1.

[chk071]

Some new synths such as Hive don't have Sync, Ring Mod and Filter FM, either, if I remember correctly. And don't tell me U-he do not know how to implement that. Maybe both developers thought that those features would not fit the character of those two synths.

At least with u-he there are chances of getting those features for free as an update (if there is a big demand), you couldn't say that about Sylenth1.

Can't imagine that really. They always said Hive is supposed to be a simple approach synth. If they added all those things that wouldn't be the case anymore. But even if, I'm sure at least some of those things are on Lennardigital's agenda too.

[fisherKing]

those features might be difficult if not pointless to implement with such multi-wave oscillators. I remember messing around a bit with the FM on Noizemaker,

I had very satisfying results with FM mode in Serum, with wavetable modulating another wavetable.

This is example of modern synth that can bo pretty much everything what Sylenth1 can, plus it has more features and even better GUI.

i dunno, i have both, and they sound very different here. would not give up one for the other.