What modern synthesizer would you like to see emulated in software?

[Mister Gibson]

Oh don't make me face palm smiley, cos I'll do it.

Pittsburgh Modular synths are very snappy. Go and listen.

Any YouTube vids?

[wagtunes]

No mention of Make Noise Shared System or 0-coast yet?

Urs, I have to admit, I have no idea what those are. LOL.

The Shared System is a pre-configured modular system by Make Noise. I never thought it'd interest me until I saw people performing live on it. Now that I have one myself, I'm not sure what to think of synthesizers composed of oscillators, filters and envelopes anymore.

Here's a video of a performance with a keyboard attached to it:

Wait a minute. You're telling me this thing has no oscillators, filters or envelopes? How the hell does it make sound?

[Urs]

Wait a minute. You're telling me this thing has no oscillators, filters or envelopes? How the hell does it make sound?

It does have oscillators, but not the traditional saw/square ones. It uses FM and waveshaping to *add* harmonics, and thus forgoes the need for typical 12/24 dB filters. It's kind of additive, but analogue. Instead of those filters it has lowpass gates, which are a crossover of VCAs and simple filters (6dB...). Instead of ADSR-enevlopes it has function generators that act as LFOs or simple envelopes, or mixtures of those.

Also, where "normal" synthesizers deal mainly with audio signals and control voltages, this approach has a strong influx of trigger signals, sequencing and randomisation. There's a module called "Wogglebug" which does all sorts of different kinds of noise, which can trigger and control things, or be heard.

Additionally, delay lines, tape loops (digital...) and reverb are part of the deal. It's a lot about recording something inside the synth and then feeding that back into the stream of audio and control signals.

Much of what's done with this stuff sounds chaotic and, well, honestly, unpleasant. However, it's up to the sound designer / composer to do something with it that may as well be nice and pleasant sounding (like this video).

[Urs]

I think what I wanted to say was, I thought it was all about beeps and bleeps. And for many people, I guess it is. However, after spending a lot of time learning these things, I'd much rather want to see something like this in software than any randomly exchangeable poly synth with the same basic feature set as any decent VSTi had for ten years.

To a degree, Softube Modular offers some of it, but not quite all of it.

[wagtunes]

I think what I wanted to say was, I thought it was all about beeps and bleeps. And for many people, I guess it is. However, after spending a lot of time learning these things, I'd much rather want to see something like this in software than any randomly exchangeable poly synth with the same basic feature set as any decent VSTi had for ten years.

To a degree, Softube Modular offers some of it, but not quite all of it.

Well, that's basically what I've been looking for in a soft synth but I seriously doubt it's ever going to happen unless you make it happen. I mean that sincerely. You're pretty much our only hope for something like this.

[Mister Gibson]

..

Korg Karma.

Not quite an emulation but the actual Karma Function is available and can be applied to any hard or soft synth. I have the Triton version. The only drawback was it required a Korg Triton sized dongle be connected at launch. I hope they've removed the requirement since then.

http://www.karma-lab.com/karmasoft/karm ... index.html

[e@rs]

Jomox Sunsyn.

Studio Electronics CODE.

[Urs]

I think what I wanted to say was, I thought it was all about beeps and bleeps. And for many people, I guess it is. However, after spending a lot of time learning these things, I'd much rather want to see something like this in software than any randomly exchangeable poly synth with the same basic feature set as any decent VSTi had for ten years.

To a degree, Softube Modular offers some of it, but not quite all of it.

Well, that's basically what I've been looking for in a soft synth but I seriously doubt it's ever going to happen unless you make it happen. I mean that sincerely. You're pretty much our only hope for something like this.

It's tempting. I'm wrecking my brain thinking about ways to incorporate this kind of stuff into our existing portfolio.

[mellotronaut]

I think what I wanted to say was, I thought it was all about beeps and bleeps. And for many people, I guess it is. However, after spending a lot of time learning these things, I'd much rather want to see something like this in software than any randomly exchangeable poly synth with the same basic feature set as any decent VSTi had for ten years.

To a degree, Softube Modular offers some of it, but not quite all of it.

have to try this one at least

[fmr]

The Shared System is a pre-configured modular system by Make Noise. I never thought it'd interest me until I saw people performing live on it. Now that I have one myself, I'm not sure what to think of synthesizers composed of oscillators, filters and envelopes anymore.

Here's a video of a performance with a keyboard attached to it:



(to clarify: I just saw the system in this vid has some of the original modules swapped for some others, and I'm not so sure the video is taken from the performance we can hear... anyhow, I recently got into this stuff...)

I have to confess this was completely new to me. This girl is well known for her expertise with the Buchla. So, no wonder she feels comfortable with a system like this.


So, Urs, this could be a good foundation for a new addition to Berlin Modular

With the proper authorization from the builders of Make Noise, you could come up with a modular founded on the same basis

[rod_zero]

It would be great if u.he got his hands into developing a software modular as the Softube one, maybe he could attract more brands and keep a steady development (softube has been veeery slow).

Anyway, when you think about it Reaktor can do almost anything it is the end game for software synths.

[Urs]

It would be great if u.he got his hands into developing a software modular as the Softube one, maybe he could attract more brands and keep a steady development (softube has been veeery slow).

Yeah, but I think this would be a bottomless pit. I don't envy Softube, I think they might have opened a can or worms that might bind more resources than they expected.

For ourselves I'd much prefer to realise original concepts, and after our recent (current) ordeal with a slavish emulation of a vintage synth family, we can't imagine doing anything "emulative" without a large creative input from ourselves.

[.jon]

I think what I wanted to say was, I thought it was all about beeps and bleeps. And for many people, I guess it is. However, after spending a lot of time learning these things, I'd much rather want to see something like this in software than any randomly exchangeable poly synth with the same basic feature set as any decent VSTi had for ten years.

To a degree, Softube Modular offers some of it, but not quite all of it.

Well, that's basically what I've been looking for in a soft synth but I seriously doubt it's ever going to happen unless you make it happen. I mean that sincerely. You're pretty much our only hope for something like this.

Reaktor Blocks offers all of it and more. Madrona Labs Aalto does the Shared System thing and wraps the west coast concept in a preconfigured package.

[masterhiggins]

Yeah, but I think this would be a bottomless pit. I don't envy Softube, I think they might have opened a can or worms that might bind more resources than they expected.

How do you mean?

[wagtunes]

I think what I wanted to say was, I thought it was all about beeps and bleeps. And for many people, I guess it is. However, after spending a lot of time learning these things, I'd much rather want to see something like this in software than any randomly exchangeable poly synth with the same basic feature set as any decent VSTi had for ten years.

To a degree, Softube Modular offers some of it, but not quite all of it.

Well, that's basically what I've been looking for in a soft synth but I seriously doubt it's ever going to happen unless you make it happen. I mean that sincerely. You're pretty much our only hope for something like this.

Reaktor Blocks offers all of it and more. Madrona Labs Aalto does the Shared System thing and wraps the west coast concept in a preconfigured package.

Reaktor Blocks also sucks the life out of my I7 16 gig PC. One instance can be as much as 50%. That is NOT a viable solution.

As far as Aalto goes, don't even get me started on some of the most ghastly interfaces ever seen to man. I'd rather walk on barbed wire than use one of their synths.