KVR Audio

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 9:40 am

wagtunes wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:14 pm FWIW, I went to Youtube and listened to the 505. I can't even begin to tell you how underwhelmed I was. In comparison to the Solina, IMO of course, if the Solina sound is the one to die for (which, IMO, it is) and a 10, the 505 is a minus 6. I have heard very few keyboards of any kind that sound that bad. It doesn't even sound like synth strings. Hell, I don't know what it sounds like. But I wouldn't use one if somebody gave it to me for free. I'd sell it and use the money to buy something that sounds good.

Again, just my opinion.

But really, THIS is the best XILS could come up with, with ALL the great synths that have NEVER been emulated?

This one is a real head scratcher if you ask me.

Well it's all a matter of taste of course. But possibly also control. Here's a comparison between a lot of vintage and glorious String Machines. Besides the big sound differences, you'll also notice the number of controls you get on the different original machines. And remember : This is only for the pure string sounds. RS-505 can do more than this/

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 11:24 am

Yes, it also had wonderful bass sounds.

billybong · Post by **billybong** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:12 pm

Did sound good on that video, particularly on the Full Strings setting.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:41 pm

Oh well it's low hanging fruit that will probably sell well to the younger crowd since it's an old synth so good luck to Xils........

First time I'm glad I didn't win something..........

Niowiad · Post by **Niowiad** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:46 pm

Very far off from what I would have thought, but sure looking forward to the demo :harp:

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:23 pm

billybong wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:12 pm Did sound good on that video, particularly on the Full Strings setting.

The "Dark Strings" sound was great too. "Basic Strings" was probably the weakest of the bunch, but I think that was because the sound's a tad too weedy and thin without that bottom end.

I hope the next Xils synth after this isn't three years away.

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:25 pm

Lotuzia wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 9:40 am
wagtunes wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:14 pm FWIW, I went to Youtube and listened to the 505. I can't even begin to tell you how underwhelmed I was. In comparison to the Solina, IMO of course, if the Solina sound is the one to die for (which, IMO, it is) and a 10, the 505 is a minus 6. I have heard very few keyboards of any kind that sound that bad. It doesn't even sound like synth strings. Hell, I don't know what it sounds like. But I wouldn't use one if somebody gave it to me for free. I'd sell it and use the money to buy something that sounds good.

Again, just my opinion.

But really, THIS is the best XILS could come up with, with ALL the great synths that have NEVER been emulated?

This one is a real head scratcher if you ask me.
Well it's all a matter of taste of course. But possibly also control. Here's a comparison between a lot of vintage and glorious String Machines. Besides the big sound differences, you'll also notice the number of controls you get on the different original machines. And remember : This is only for the pure string sounds. RS-505 can do more than this/

Two months ago I made a comment under the video, telling the author that I totally agree with him that the winner of this comparison (in the types of configuration he presented) was the Korg Trident, and I also suggested to him to do the same tests with another string-synth of a brand almost absent in this kind of synthesizers but which had made a model of incredible sound beauty, the Yamaha SK30 (listen to , especially the background strings, from this nearly unknown string-machine, and here the sounds in this video are just a short selection and not within the best ones) that I had the chance to play for several years (without really being the owner, it was my brother's).

There were also other crual absents in that comparison to make it really reliable: The Crumar Performer (some of the most famous strings and brass), the Farfisa Syntorchestra (I had one, it was even my first purchased synth), the ARP Quadra (not the Quartet but really the Quadra), the Moog Opus-3 (I had one also). And there I'm not sure that the Trident would have been still the winner.
For me the best of all times was the ARP Quadra (not only for its cristalline oscillators but also for all its exclusive features, as double-portamento, aftertouch, section layering, filters with resonance, phaser, Sample'n'Hold, arpeggiator, duophony, paraphony AND polyphony, etc.). Imagine : 40 years after its release it remains THE synth of my dreams ! Today if someone had to offer me an old analog synth and letting me choose between a Jupiter-8 and an ARP Quadra... you will tell I'm mad but I would choose the ARP Quadra !!!

But the RS-505 remains one of these beasts in these sounds. And it was also very versatile with its brass sounds and its bass section. This RS-505 emulation is my next purchase.

Laurent, if Xavier doesn't read this post, show him about all the technical features of the ARP Quadra. It is really THE BEAST that I would really, highly love to see him emulate ! And after you have watched this technical video (watch it until the end !) then read these two pages from SoundOnSound (the part 1 and the part 2).

Stringzy · Post by **Stringzy** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 5:37 pm

Quadra emulation would be actually great. Without its quirks and flaws, of course. Heavenly string section and 14-stage phaser, another work or art, just like RS-505 chorus ensemble.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:41 pm

epiphaneia wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 6:19 pm
Lotuzia wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:43 pm Also, yes, there are other machines. I especially would like a Chroma for example. But I think I'll still use the X-505 a lot. The sound is simply great, and it's more versatile one could think at first view. So it's not really a one trick pony.
I probably missed that bit (my apologies in advance), but when will it be released?

+- Xmas

(if all goes well)

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:42 pm

boombaxx wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:47 pm https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Roland+RS-505 ... mEMTPd2VgY.

One of my favorites :

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:54 pm

Lotuzia wrote: Thu Dec 19, 2019 6:42 pm
boombaxx wrote: Wed Dec 18, 2019 5:47 pm https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Roland+RS-505 ... mEMTPd2VgY.
One of my favorites :

Agreed!

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 7:04 pm

This also was integrally played with a RS-202 on the album then with a RS-505 on stage during years:

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 7:09 pm

Another style of work, beautiful again, much more recent:

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 7:16 pm

Serge Modular
Its classic, hasnt been done yet and its French

BlackWinny · Post by **BlackWinny** » Thu Dec 19, 2019 7:21 pm

Who said that old analog synths are boring ? Listen :

Xils-Lab X-505 String Machine 'The Analog Orchestra' : Released + intro price