u-He Diva vs Native Instruments - Analog Dreams: Which should I buy?

[zzz00m]

In case you have Diva, can you tell me a preset you think sounds very analog?

Pretty much any!

u-he modeled the oscillators and filters of Diva (and Repro1/5) from analog circuits.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/uhe-diva
https://u-he.com/products/diva/
https://u-he.com/products/repro/

[electro]

Diva is the right choice. Versatile synth with a large selection of 3rd party patches.

[e-crooner]

What do you mean by 'mono' regarding the oscillators? Mono as in not stereo?

My take: Mono as in "monophonic vs. polyphonic" as used in this context. I wouldn't expect this to be an issue with a synth like Hybrid if you are using unison. I assume most oscillators are mono. If you are using one voice at a time is all that is required in most lead synth lines. Easy to remember: Monophonic = no chords; Polyphonic = chords.

The other mono context would be referring to actual audio output as in "monophonic vs. stereophonic".

Stereophonic output from a synth would not really be necessary, unless you were using on-board stereo FX units in the synth, or you were generating a stereo mix in the synth. Some recording engineers might prefer a monophonic source from an instrument in order to control the stereo image in a mixing console of multiple channels. Also, for example, guitars are typically mono, but some guitar amp sims are stereo.

Yes, I didn't quite get the point of his/her remark regarding mono oscillator unison, either. Actually, I don't like stereo spread, it kind of dilutes the sound whereas analog sound tends to be compact and dense in my view. Stereo reduces the interaction between individual waves.

[e-crooner]

In case you have Diva, can you tell me a preset you think sounds very analog?

Pretty much any!

u-he modeled the oscillators and filters of Diva (and Repro1/5) from analog circuits.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/uhe-diva
https://u-he.com/products/diva/
https://u-he.com/products/repro/

I just tried to make a kitschy brass pad in Hybrid, similar to the ones among the Diva factory presets.
It may not sounds exactly like Diva, but analog enough for a synth that is often sold for 10 bucks I suppose I would have to fiddle with the effects and graphical envelopes a bit more to make it sound more analog, but I don't feel like wearing glasses at the moment, the interface is a bit small

https://app.box.com/s/de1sjspsxaxo8ad487cmz3f1cu4l38pt

[zzz00m]

For analog brass pads I would check out the free OB-Xd with the "KVR Brass + Synths.fxb" bank. https://www.discodsp.com/obxd/

Although I like Hybrid, from the AIR instruments, I think I would prefer Vacuum Pro ($14.99 at https://www.jrrshop.com/air-music-tech-vacuum-pro) rather than Hybrid for analog style sounds. https://www.airmusictech.com/product/va ... fFbrdVOlaQ

https://soundcloud.com/airmusictech/met ... vacuum-pro

And not mentioned too often around here, the Waves Element 2 is a reasonable analog emulation, often found on sale for $29.
https://www.waves.com/plugins/element

https://youtu.be/9J_Vn6D-tXY

[EnGee]

In case you have Diva, can you tell me a preset you think sounds very analog?

Pretty much any!

u-he modeled the oscillators and filters of Diva (and Repro1/5) from analog circuits.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/uhe-diva
https://u-he.com/products/diva/
https://u-he.com/products/repro/

I just tried to make a kitschy brass pad in Hybrid, similar to the ones among the Diva factory presets.
It may not sounds exactly like Diva, but analog enough for a synth that is often sold for 10 bucks I suppose I would have to fiddle with the effects and graphical envelopes a bit more to make it sound more analog, but I don't feel like wearing glasses at the moment, the interface is a bit small

https://app.box.com/s/de1sjspsxaxo8ad487cmz3f1cu4l38pt

This is a nice one

Yes, you can achieve similar (but not identical) results with most synths really. Once one did a preset we thought it is Diva, but it was Synth1! So, you can craft the sound and spend enough time to have accepted results. The power of layering is not to be underestimated as well

Anyway, for me it is Diva (or any other analogue emulation) rather than Hybrid or Massive or even Synth1 because I don't like to spend one hour keep modulating the very small bits. I choose a nice preset in those synths (Diva and family) and tweak it. Even if I start from scratch, it won't take long till I have the analogish result I want

btw, you reminded me of someone! But I'll keep it to myself

[AcrossTheSky]

try Vacuum Pro - when its on offer its around 5$ or even less.(was). - great synth,

..also read on some topic that new stuff from Air will appear in 2019...well...
I cant hide that I'm looking forward to the Loom (3) hopefully !! Airrrrrrrr...

[e-crooner]

In case you have Diva, can you tell me a preset you think sounds very analog?

Pretty much any!

u-he modeled the oscillators and filters of Diva (and Repro1/5) from analog circuits.

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/uhe-diva
https://u-he.com/products/diva/
https://u-he.com/products/repro/

I just tried to make a kitschy brass pad in Hybrid, similar to the ones among the Diva factory presets.
It may not sounds exactly like Diva, but analog enough for a synth that is often sold for 10 bucks I suppose I would have to fiddle with the effects and graphical envelopes a bit more to make it sound more analog, but I don't feel like wearing glasses at the moment, the interface is a bit small

https://app.box.com/s/de1sjspsxaxo8ad487cmz3f1cu4l38pt

This is a nice one

Yes, you can achieve similar (but not identical) results with most synths really. Once one did a preset we thought it is Diva, but it was Synth1! So, you can craft the sound and spend enough time to have accepted results. The power of layering is not to be underestimated as well

Anyway, for me it is Diva (or any other analogue emulation) rather than Hybrid or Massive or even Synth1 because I don't like to spend one hour keep modulating the very small bits. I choose a nice preset in those synths (Diva and family) and tweak it. Even if I start from scratch, it won't take long till I have the analogish result I want

btw, you reminded me of someone! But I'll keep it to myself

I didn't have to, the only modulation was a pitch modulation of only one of two oscillators, which creates that detuned brassy sound. They did the same on Diva, the only difference being that on Hybrid I have 2 additional envelopes so I don't have to reuse the filter or amp envelope for that.
Added the Hybrid patch...
https://app.box.com/s/j4qrn8q8aexewfvreavu0we1z23n8igu

Personally, I am not really surprised that Synth1 etc. can sound convincingly analog because all the fine hardware details that Xils, Tal, U-he, Synapse Audio etc. model account for only a small part of the final sound. So, with skillful programming something like Synth1 is enough for making convincing analog sounds.

[EnGee]

I don't have Hybrid and I don't want to install iLok, so I can't test it. But, I'll try tonight to replicate some Diva and other analogish synths with synths like Massive 1 and Largo maybe and see what I can get

[EnGee]

I have spent all yesterday's night exploring several synths I have included mainly two emulations (Diva and Super and several Wavetable synths (Massive, Largo, Factory) besides some other synths like Nemesis and Sylenth1.

I chose a preset from Diva (BT toto from memory) and tried to clone it in Massive and Largo. I failed! I could reach about 75% of it but there is one thing sure is missing and it is the character (the overall presence). If I try harder, I might reach better results but still not the same. Maybe I haven't tried hard enough or maybe I lack the knowledge to do that.

I did went with the Massive and Largo presets and advanced them further to my liking. I liked the results, but they are completely unrelated to Diva's preset! So, why I should put Diva's preset as my goal in the first place? Even Super 8 is very different from Diva.

I spent another time with Factory, then Nemesis and Sylenth1. Not trying emulating anything, but to know what is specific about each synth. There are specific characteristics impossible to ignore! I might not highlight them, but the synth itself shines with such characteristics.

I spent a great time with all the synths above and I have come to a conclusion. The synths are like actors. In theory they should make every rule out there, they are actors after all! But, realistically, choosing the most suitable actor for the rule is the best approach rather than make one actor to do all the rules (although it is possible, but rare requirements).

What contribute to the character is not just a simple Saw or Pulse wave and that's it! The other parameters like filters, envelopes and effects contributes a lot to the characteristics of the synth. Sure I can do a music with one synth, but I'm sure also I'm missing a lot of characteristics of other synths.

So, in the end, it is like a play I prepare as a director. I choose the play and the actors for each rule, then action!

[telecode]

I have spent all yesterday's night exploring several synths I have included mainly two emulations (Diva and Super and several Wavetable synths (Massive, Largo, Factory) besides some other synths like Nemesis and Sylenth1.

I chose a preset from Diva (BT toto from memory) and tried to clone it in Massive and Largo. I failed! I could reach about 75% of it but there is one thing sure is missing and it is the character (the overall presence). If I try harder, I might reach better results but still not the same. Maybe I haven't tried hard enough or maybe I lack the knowledge to do that.

I did went with the Massive and Largo presets and advanced them further to my liking. I liked the results, but they are completely unrelated to Diva's preset! So, why I should put Diva's preset as my goal in the first place? Even Super 8 is very different from Diva.

I spent another time with Factory, then Nemesis and Sylenth1. Not trying emulating anything, but to know what is specific about each synth. There are specific characteristics impossible to ignore! I might not highlight them, but the synth itself shines with such characteristics.

I spent a great time with all the synths above and I have come to a conclusion. The synths are like actors. In theory they should make every rule out there, they are actors after all! But, realistically, choosing the most suitable actor for the rule is the best approach rather than make one actor to do all the rules (although it is possible, but rare requirements).

What contribute to the character is not just a simple Saw or Pulse wave and that's it! The other parameters like filters, envelopes and effects contributes a lot to the characteristics of the synth. Sure I can do a music with one synth, but I'm sure also I'm missing a lot of characteristics of other synths.

So, in the end, it is like a play I prepare as a director. I choose the play and the actors for each rule, then action!

cool post. thanks for the detailed info!

[zzz00m]

I would definitely check out SynthMaster 2 for the analog emulations it can do.

The expansions from BigTone (Analog Basics 1 & 2) and Nori Ubukata (Historic Synth Giants 1-4, for example Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, JMJ, Genesis, Pink Floyd, etc.) show off the chameleon like nature of this synth. It can become almost any analog synth in the hands of an expert sound designer!

[vitocorleone123]

The best analog soft synth under $100 is, to me, The Legend (and you can get 4 or 8 note polyphony now, too, with it, in addition to mono and unison). TAL-U-NO-LX is the 2nd best... or first, if you love the Juno sound more than a Moog. If you have Komplete, it's harder to justify The Legend over Monark, vs. just buying Super 8 and maybe TAL, and being very happy.

That said... a Diva+Repro+Legend set of synths is golden.

[ricowave202]

The bx_oberhausen ($50 currently) is one of the very best analog emulations. Repro and The Legend are the others that come to mind. Just depends on which characteristic sound you prefer.

[layzer]

Diva is the right choice. Versatile synth with a large selection of 3rd party patches.

any synth is the right choice really, if you know wtf you are doing to make it sound good....and get sausage fattener. even free synths.