DUNE2 vs Sylenth1

[AnX]

Maybe the term should be VS for virtual subtractive rather than VA to begin with

I don't think the definition of analog sound has changed since Sylenth was first launched. And back then people praised it for its analog sound. Sure, they didn't know Monark or Xils, yet, but still, it is absurd to assume that what was considered analog sound 8 years ago is now digital.

Subractive isnt virtual. Analog is, in software.

[Aiynzahev]

I think I can say that Dune2 is cleaner, more HI-Fi, modern. It's fast modulation such as FM in particular is much higher "resolution".

Sylenth1 OTOH is warmer and has a bit more of an immediate character that works very well. You can program thinner sounds on the Sylenth and it will still fill out the mix well, Dune2 needs to be pushed more I think, as in it excels with oscillator stacking more.

Just my 2c and It's just very general and not going to apply all the time.

[fluffy_little_something]

IMO, the sound of the raw oscillators in Dune is too thin to really call it sounding very "analog". Oscillators on analog synths are usually very full and rich sounding. Actually i would also say that it IS very surgical and clean sounding, while Sylenth1 is rather raw, saturated. Also there's something unpleasant with the unison when detuned, which sounds better in Sylenth1 too (which is obviously why it is THE choice of trance producers since pretty much it's release). Again, just my 2c, and nothing to get angry about, feel free to disagree.

Yep, you seem to hear things the way I do Dune's strength is piling up loads of relatively pale individual waves, whereas Sylenth can sound powerful and analog with just two oscillators and a single wave on each.

Just recorded a few chords with just two saw waves and my EQ analog settings, I like how lively and electrified it sounds, similar to the sound of some old hardware synths judging from various YT videos.

https://app.box.com/s/p0nr5f1q24u6kq8d4nvogtxsytxokkbt

Dune did not sound like this if I remember my tests correctly.
Of course it sounds way better when adding a second saw per osc (this enables the stereo spread knobs) or turning on the chorus

[AnX]

I actually get better sounds using D2 in its simplest forms, without stacking (for the sake of it, as a lot of ppl seem to)

Convincing analog is pretty easy in D2, but thats not why i use it. Its fast and easy to make good sounds that work.

Never found Sylenth fitted in to my work.

[AnX]

Considering how these synths are poles apart, i dont really see why there is a 'vs' thread....

[fluffy_little_something]

I actually get better sounds using D2 in its simplest forms, without stacking (for the sake of it, as a lot of ppl seem to)

Convincing analog is pretty easy in D2, but thats not why i use it. Its fast and easy to make good sounds that work.

Never found Sylenth fitted in to my work.

Post some chords, using the same settings. i.e. 2 slightly detuned saws and no effects.
Here are the settings I used:
https://app.box.com/s/xgu464h1tl50vq040k82jn5uexubu9r2
I want to hear what you consider better

[chk071]

Don't we all enjoy a good this vs. that thread sometimes?

[fluffy_little_something]

What I noticed is that many synths including Sylenth seem to have a different volume distribution across the keyboard than hardware synths. When I watch Oberheim videos, the bass is stronger than on soft synths. I think there should be a key track knob for the volume just like the one for the cutoff frequency, which we all take for granted. On chord patches I usually use the modulation matrix to do so, on the patch below I set the mod value to -10, which seems extreme, but I like the result

[Teksonik]

IMO, the sound of the raw oscillators in Dune is too thin to really call it sounding very "analog". Oscillators on analog synths are usually very full and rich sounding. Actually i would also say that it IS very surgical and clean sounding, while Sylenth1 is rather raw, saturated.

Do this test. INIT a patch in DUNE 2 then INIT a patch in Sylenth.......they sound nearly identical and I say nearly just to avoid an absolute........

INIT Test

[Teksonik]

I think there should be a key track knob for the volume

DUNE 2--->Mod Matrix--->Source:Key Tracking--->Destination:Volume..........

[fluffy_little_something]

With the Init patch in Sylenth the filter is bypassed, so I doubt such a comparison of mere osc output says much

[fluffy_little_something]

I think there should be a key track knob for the volume

DUNE 2--->Mod Matrix--->Source:Key Tracking--->Destination:Volume..........

Sure, it works the same way in Sylenth. What I mean is, there should be a dedicated knob for that for instance in the amp section.

[Teksonik]

With the Init patch in Sylenth the filter is bypassed, so I doubt such a comparison of mere osc output says much

The filter is effectively bypassed in D2's INIT patch as well since it's not filtering anything.

But feel free to turn D2's Filter Off.......they still sound the same.

In case you failed to read the quote:

IMO, the sound of the raw oscillators in Dune is too thin to really call it sounding very "analog".......while Sylenth1 is rather raw, saturated.

[chk071]

IMO, the sound of the raw oscillators in Dune is too thin to really call it sounding very "analog". Oscillators on analog synths are usually very full and rich sounding. Actually i would also say that it IS very surgical and clean sounding, while Sylenth1 is rather raw, saturated.

Do this test. INIT a patch in DUNE 2 then INIT a patch in Sylenth.......they sound nearly identical and I say nearly just to avoid an absolute........

INIT Test

Yet they sound very different when creating anything else but a simple one oscillator init patch. Almost every synth will sound very similar to the other, when doing such simple patches. I listened to a Sylenth1 vs. Thor sound demo on another forum, and they sounded almost identical with some simple patches, which were made to match the sound. But frankly, that's not how you do a comparison really. The real differences come when you slightly vary, add more oscillators, do unison patches, add some resonance, add filter envelope (much variety there), or apply modulation. That all will bring out big difference in any synth.

Btw, i know that you're a strong advocate of Dune 2 in general, and that's perfectly fine. I don't mean all of this to generally bash on the synth, or try to convince other users that my opinion, and that's all that i state here, is the nonplusultra, and end of all wisdom. Everyone is different when it comes to taste, so it will vary from user to user which they do prefer.

[Teksonik]

For the record I've gotten some awesome analog sounds out of DUNE 2. Calling it "too thin" is simply incorrect in my opinion.

Let me put it this way.....if I had to sell DIVA or DUNE 2, Diva would be gone long before DUNE.......