Upcoming Synapse OB-Xa: Obsession

[Teksonik]

Perhaps it's so they could use the same GUI framework alleviating the need to create a new one. Perhaps that same framework could be used in the hinted on P600 and MemoryMoog emulations as well (if they are indeed planned).

I'd be disappointed if they use this square box format for a memorymoog vsti.

Why ? If the workflow is efficient and the sound is spot on why care ? The Legend doesn't look exactly like a MiniMoog. Do you really need an on GUI keyboard ?

If using a common GUI framework allows them to produce plugins in a more timely manner that seems like a win/win to me.

[Aliens]

Because in design, form follows function, and I reckon moog sort of hit it right, first time around.
With a MM, you could easily leave out the control section and hide a lot of the stuff on the left of the keyboard in a settings menu, but for workflow's sake, and historical accuracy (if that's relevant in software recreations), keeping the mod section/osc/filter/envelope layout would be my preferable option.
The keyboard I can live without, but the panel, not really.



I think not having the emulation look anything like the original, despite whether it nails the sound, is a bit of a gamble.

[tony10000]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

[BONES]

It was like the rule was "make it the same dimensions as The Legend even if that makes no sense here."

I don't see the problem with that. Nothing is crowded, everything is clearly labelled and it works really well. From a usability standpoint, the GUI is a standout. Rich said he tried mimicking the hardware's blue lines but it made the labels too hard to read. I think it looks fine, great even.

Because in design, form follows function, and I reckon moog sort of hit it right, first time around.

Yes, because they had a big, long 5 octave keyboard sitting below the controls, so it made sense to go horizontal. Without that constraint, in software, why slavishly follow the original? After all, the original MiniMoog's control panel is about three times wider than it is high, yet The Legend is 4:3 or so.

I think not having the emulation look anything like the original, despite whether it nails the sound, is a bit of a gamble.

The success of The Legend would suggest otherwise.

[wagtunes]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

I have HALion 6, think it's a wonderful product, but no way in hell does this sound like an OB-Xa. It sounds nice, don't get me wrong. But even they say it's not meant to be a one to one emulation and it's not. I can get these sounds right now out of my HALion 6 without buying Rast-A.

[tony10000]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

I have HALion 6, think it's a wonderful product, but no way in hell does this sound like an OB-Xa. It sounds nice, don't get me wrong. But even they say it's not meant to be a one to one emulation and it's not. I can get these sounds right now out of my HALion 6 without buying Rast-A.

If you are a purist and you want an exact emulation of a certain hardware synth, that would matter.
If you are looking for something that sounds great and is in the ballpark, it would not. I'm in the latter category.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

I have HALion 6, think it's a wonderful product, but no way in hell does this sound like an OB-Xa. It sounds nice, don't get me wrong. But even they say it's not meant to be a one to one emulation and it's not. I can get these sounds right now out of my HALion 6 without buying Rast-A.

I'm confused as to how it's modeled inside Halion 6. They say it's modeled on the OB, oscs and filters. But it would have to be sampled, or use wavetables or the built-in oscs so I don't understand what's going on there.

[Aliens]

Yes, because they had a big, long 5 octave keyboard sitting below the controls, so it made sense to go horizontal. Without that constraint, in software, why slavishly follow the original? After all, the original MiniMoog's control panel is about three times wider than it is high, yet The Legend is 4:3 or so.

If you're happy with your soft synth guis in a box, fair play to you, but you know we have wide screens now, and there's no valid reason to shoe horn controls in to that format... Unless it's to keep with a pre ordained design philosophy, which is sort of the opposite of form following function.

The success of The Legend would suggest otherwise.

How successful was it compared to the repro suite from U-he?

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

It was like the rule was "make it the same dimensions as The Legend even if that makes no sense here."

I don't see the problem with that. Nothing is crowded, everything is clearly labelled and it works really well. From a usability standpoint, the GUI is a standout. Rich said he tried mimicking the hardware's blue lines but it made the labels too hard to read. I think it looks fine, great even.

Here's a tip: if you're developing a synth, Bones is beta testing it, and he can't be critical of anything, then stop; there's something glaringly wrong with your product.

What's wrong with it? Just look at the layout. The modulation is front and center. When is the modulation the most important thing on a synth? Do NKS mappings put the LFO controls on page 1? Why would the OSC and Filter be at the bottom? Does it make the virtual knobs easier to reach while playing the keys? It's "burrying the lead" (e.g. putting the important stuff somewhere that isn't front and center).

If they put the bottom third of the GUI on top, and the top two-thirds on the bottom, I'd at least have understood it. But this weird...1) PB/MW top-left, 2) modulation section spread across the entire center of the GUI, and 3) oscs, filter, envelopes at the bottom...layout feels completely shoe-horned.

You can't figure out why Minimoogs are revered but you think this GUI is "great even?" Also, no one suggested it wasn't legible, or that it needed f*cking stripes. Stop with the straw man arguments.

[wagtunes]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

I have HALion 6, think it's a wonderful product, but no way in hell does this sound like an OB-Xa. It sounds nice, don't get me wrong. But even they say it's not meant to be a one to one emulation and it's not. I can get these sounds right now out of my HALion 6 without buying Rast-A.

I'm confused as to how it's modeled inside Halion 6. They say it's modeled on the OB, oscs and filters. But it would have to be sampled, or use wavetables or the built-in oscs so I don't understand what's going on there.

HALion 6 has the capability of creating custom instruments. It's not for me because you need incredible patience and skill, kind of like with Reaktor. But it can be done.

[tony10000]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

I have HALion 6, think it's a wonderful product, but no way in hell does this sound like an OB-Xa. It sounds nice, don't get me wrong. But even they say it's not meant to be a one to one emulation and it's not. I can get these sounds right now out of my HALion 6 without buying Rast-A.

If you are a purist and you want an exact emulation of a certain hardware synth, that would matter.
If you are looking for something that sounds great and is in the ballpark, it would not. I'm in the latter category.

Also, I think RAST-A sounds better than the Arturia emulation. I played with the demo.

https://soundcloud.com/steinbergmedia/c ... for-halion

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

The success of The Legend would suggest otherwise.

Except...The Legend follows the Minimoog layout almost exactly. Except for the top row. You look at it and go, "oh, it's a Minimoog clone." Anyone who is at all familiar with one would see that. Obsession's GUI does not resemble the OB. Certainly doesn't follow the same layout, which is the bigger issue (the overall layout being the bigger issue, not the fact that it doesn't follow the layout of the OB-Xa exactly).

The buttons are pretty, the fonts are legible, the knobs are knobby. It's the layout that makes no sense.

[wagtunes]

I do have to admit, I don't like the layout of Obsession at all. At least the Legend was close to the Mini. This is in a different universe and quite honestly, I don't get it.

And unless it comes out before June 9th, I probably won't.

[tony10000]

Another far less expensive competitor that runs in Halion SE and sounds quite good. I can't wait to hear a shootout between the various OB emulations out there:

https://new.steinberg.net/rast-a/

I have HALion 6, think it's a wonderful product, but no way in hell does this sound like an OB-Xa. It sounds nice, don't get me wrong. But even they say it's not meant to be a one to one emulation and it's not. I can get these sounds right now out of my HALion 6 without buying Rast-A.

I'm confused as to how it's modeled inside Halion 6. They say it's modeled on the OB, oscs and filters. But it would have to be sampled, or use wavetables or the built-in oscs so I don't understand what's going on there.

HALion 6 has the capability of creating custom instruments. It's not for me because you need incredible patience and skill, kind of like with Reaktor. But it can be done.

Yeah, you can build complex instruments in Halion 6 and they can run in the free Halion SE:

[mholloway]

Perhaps it's so they could use the same GUI framework alleviating the need to create a new one. Perhaps that same framework could be used in the hinted on P600 and MemoryMoog emulations as well (if they are indeed planned).

I'd be disappointed if they use this square box format for a memorymoog vsti.

Why ? If the workflow is efficient and the sound is spot on why care ? The Legend doesn't look exactly like a MiniMoog. Do you really need an on GUI keyboard ?

If using a common GUI framework allows them to produce plugins in a more timely manner that seems like a win/win to me.

Teksonik, also knows as, the guy who won't just allow people to dislike UI's that he himself likes. Let it go man, our opinions do not have to match yours.