Synth1 in hardware

[Numanoid]

Isn't Synth1 loosely based on a Nord Lead?

Yes, it is.

Can Synth1 import Nord Lead sysex data like disco dsp Discovery ?

No. But i always wondered why such a function would be relevant anyway, if the synth engine isn't the same, and the parameters aren't identical either.

Kind of the same way that users want to load DX7 sysex into FM8 et al

But maybe Synth1 just uses Nord Lead to piggyback attention ?

[chk071]

Isn't Synth1 loosely based on a Nord Lead?

Yes, it is.

Can Synth1 import Nord Lead sysex data like disco dsp Discovery ?

No. But i always wondered why such a function would be relevant anyway, if the synth engine isn't the same, and the parameters aren't identical either.

Kind of the same way that users want to load DX7 sysex into FM8 et al

But maybe Synth1 just uses Nord Lead to piggyback attention ?

Surely not. But i wonder if Synth1 was really based on the SOUND of the Nord Lead, and not the architecture. If it was based on the sound, then i must say, mission not accomplished. The filters sound nothing like it.

[Numanoid]

Surely not. But i wonder if Synth1 was really based on the SOUND of the Nord Lead, and not the architecture. If it was based on the sound, then i must say, mission not accomplished. The filters sound nothing like it.

All this uncertantity...

Good job i got Discovery

[do_androids_dream]

We all love Synth1.. but it sounds nothing like a Nord of any description.

[brok landers]

Oh come on, not that argument again. You can tell very well how a synth sounds from YouTube videos. And that comparison with more expensive stuff didn't come from me, someone said Synth1 sounds better than a Nord Lead, which is, let's say, pretty brave to claim.

From this video for example (yes, it's an A1, not a NL 2), you can tell pretty well, the filter behavior, including resonance sound, the oscillator sound, the unison, and the envelope behavior:



Really, has nothing to do with compression or anything. If you can't figure out the general character of a synth from such videos, then you're simply deaf. Of course, fiddling around yourself with it, and creating your own sounds, and see what sounds the synth excels at is better still.

that's not much of an argument, to compare synth1 to a nl a1 at all. the nl a1 is redesigned in so many areas compared to the nl1 or nl2, which synth1 is loosely based on. the filters in the a1 have some added ladder modes, etc...
if you really want to do a fair comparsion in terms of sound, use the nl1 or nl2.
i was the second one in germany who bought two nl1s including 12 voice expansion back then and i had them for 7 years and no production where they weren't part of it to max extend. i know them very well. soundwise synth1 is the closest (though not the same, it catches the character better than all others) of the so called "emulations" of the nl1, though it misses the most crucial feature of the nordleads in general - the morphing feature. then again, synth1 has a bunch of effects and some features the nl1 and nl2 don't have (osc phase retriggering, etc).
in the end, there's no real comparsion of those two. use them if you like them - don't if you don't.

[gentleclockdivider]

Soo anyone else have an opinion of Synth1 vs NL or similar HW? Synth1 does have a very unique feel I mean I've tried and owned a lot of synths and this one stands by itself (just like Juno's did,) and really doesn't sound analog but digital in a great way. A HW version would be really cool. wouldn't something around Raspeberry PI or Arduino be possible?

I have a nord modular g1 , which has the original nord lead filter ( amongst others )
Synth 1 is nice , but no it does not come even close when comparing with the nord filter .
The nord modular has a optional gain reduction on the filter , which is hard wired on the nord lead , for taming high resonance peaks .
Synth 1 resonance fully /filter sweep and you'll notice where the filter is starting to fall apart .
It's a nice soft synth because its easy to use and has a bunch off usable effects , the only reference it has to a nord lead is the architecture ofthe synth ...and the nord lead was loosely based on the prophet 5 .
I bet those saying synth 1 sounds better , haven't even touched a nord in their life
I have my nord modular since 1997 , and even today it still sounds verry good , Internal audio rate @96 KHz , control and logic rate at 24 Khz .. altough modulation can also be at 96 Khz etc....

[brok landers]

>snip< I have a nord modular g1 , which has the original nord lead filter ( amongst others )
Synth 1 is nice , but no it does not come even close when comparing with the nord filter .
The nord modular has a optional gain reduction on the filter , which is hard wired on the nord lead , for taming high resonance peaks .

not saying that synth 1's filter sounds the same (or better or worse) as a nl1 or nl2 - but the g1 does _not_ have those filters - they're derivates of the nl1 and nl2, but heavily optimized and don't sound as crappy as those on the nl1 and nl2.

[izonin]

For those who don't own a NL, this page contains various samples of raw oscillators, filter sweeps, etc.

https://translate.google.com/translate? ... ne_pnl.htm

[Chris-S]

Thanks, so some features of the NL2 the Synth1 does not have:

-Morphing
-Noise colour

[recursive one]

Isn't Synth1 loosely based on a Nord Lead?

Yes, it is.

Can Synth1 import Nord Lead sysex data like disco dsp Discovery ?

No. But i always wondered why such a function would be relevant anyway, if the synth engine isn't the same, and the parameters aren't identical either.

Fully agree. People are improrting Nord sounds into Discovery and then post "comparisons" showing that they sound nothing alike at the same settings. Therefore Discovery is famous as a "failed Nordlead emulation" rather than as a good VA synth which it certainly is.

[tripleflows]

My short Synth1 review, with some comparison to Nord Lead 2:

Blessing or Curse? A Synth1 Review

[chk071]

Hey, i didn't really follow this thread for a long time, some nice pieces of info here. Also thanks for your comparison, tripleflows, that's very useful.