I wish hard sync was actually good...
- KVRAF
- 5679 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
I usually dislike hardsync (any issues of aliasing aside) because of the nasty buzz it introduces when the frequencies don't match. But then, I find a raw sawtooth irritating most of the time anyway.
The best though, is what the Intellijel Shapeshifter calls "1Shot" sync (which you can also do with a function generator/envelope generator). Each time the sync threshold is passed, one cycle runs. If the sync frequency is below the core frequency it's equivalent to hardsync -- but if it's above, it's PWM-like and pleasant.
I'd kind of like to hear a smart "N-shot" sort of sync which knows that the sync frequency is (for instance) 4.6 times the core frequency, so it will play 4 cycles and then stop. So the actual moment of phase reset is at silence, but it still has the other characteristics of a hardsync sound. (If it knows when its zero crossings are, maybe it can sneak in fraction cycles as well; oscillators based more on FM or something are going to have a harder time with that though.)
The best though, is what the Intellijel Shapeshifter calls "1Shot" sync (which you can also do with a function generator/envelope generator). Each time the sync threshold is passed, one cycle runs. If the sync frequency is below the core frequency it's equivalent to hardsync -- but if it's above, it's PWM-like and pleasant.
I'd kind of like to hear a smart "N-shot" sort of sync which knows that the sync frequency is (for instance) 4.6 times the core frequency, so it will play 4 cycles and then stop. So the actual moment of phase reset is at silence, but it still has the other characteristics of a hardsync sound. (If it knows when its zero crossings are, maybe it can sneak in fraction cycles as well; oscillators based more on FM or something are going to have a harder time with that though.)
- KVRist
- 98 posts since 17 Sep, 2019
- Suspended
- 4030 posts since 22 Mar, 2009 from gent
Amongst the best , like all TAL(commercial) plugs.pdxindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:17 amHow do you like TalMod for audio quality?gentleclockdivider wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:22 amHard sync can also be verry usefull to extend into further synthesis methods like Windowed sync , for fake resonant waves like the casio cz ( that 's the part where it doens't use phase distortion )
Talmod can do this , modulating the amplitude of the slaved osc by the master sync osc
Eyeball exchanging
Soul calibrating ..frequencies
Soul calibrating ..frequencies
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- KVRAF
- 5419 posts since 23 Mar, 2006 from pendeLondonmonium
Not always!

Hard-Sync is great for bass sounds too. Either static, where the hard-sync frequency adds a nice edge, or modulated, where the hard-sync frequency moves slightly (not too much) and adds a lot of very cool harmonics. Below is an example, which you can hear at 30sec onwards. The hard-sync bass has the frequency modulated ever so gently by a random mod source. Before that you can hear dual, panned hard-sync, where two-hard-sync frequencies are moving separately. The next level hard-sync you may say.

https://soundcloud.com/electric-himalay ... d-sync-fun
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- KVRAF
- 5419 posts since 23 Mar, 2006 from pendeLondonmonium
Nothing besides that it has the capacity to frighten the living daylights out of all cats and dogs in your neighbourhood. Is this an example of a very sick hard-sync?Xbucket wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:11 amAnd whats wrong with phaseplants hard sync?
https://soundcloud.com/cross_ed/hardsyn ... VAqDq8hoSP
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- KVRAF
- 8941 posts since 12 May, 2008
I happen to like the goog ol' Odyssey hard sync, which I think both Korg and GForce did pretty well.
System: Windows 10, Dell XPS 2-in-1, Bitwig 3, Steinberg UR44.
- KVRist
- 98 posts since 17 Sep, 2019
haha, well it´s a little morehimalaya wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 12:36 pmNothing besides that it has the capacity to frighten the living daylights out of all cats and dogs in your neighbourhood. Is this an example of a very sick hard-sync?Xbucket wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:11 amAnd whats wrong with phaseplants hard sync?
https://soundcloud.com/cross_ed/hardsyn ... VAqDq8hoSP
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As i´m quite new to the whole synth realm i found this one interesting and wanted to check what Architeuthis is talking about. Hardsync is something i didn´t used that deliberately but also like to understand what´s going on under the roof and what controls resulting in what kind of sounds. so always great to have threads like this!
- KVRAF
- 18507 posts since 3 Feb, 2005 from in the wilds
Thanks... I'll give it a demogentleclockdivider wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 11:56 amAmongst the best , like all TAL(commercial) plugs.pdxindy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:17 amHow do you like TalMod for audio quality?gentleclockdivider wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:22 amHard sync can also be verry usefull to extend into further synthesis methods like Windowed sync , for fake resonant waves like the casio cz ( that 's the part where it doens't use phase distortion )
Talmod can do this , modulating the amplitude of the slaved osc by the master sync osc
- KVRAF
- 3113 posts since 28 Jan, 2006 from Phoenix, AZ
Topic Starter
Sounds really good.
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- KVRian
- 538 posts since 20 Apr, 2005
Love this! Absolutely Epic!Architeuthis wrote: ↑Tue Mar 02, 2021 4:52 pmBack when I first started getting into synths I loved the idea of hard sync, easy screaming
I present to you the culmination of all my synth know how over the years, the coming together of the best of both worlds (filters and oscillators): http://www.elanhickler.com/transfer/scr ... 0synth.mp3
Comes from the same firey pit that my FMD filters come from.
Is this something that would end up your bundle? I love the look of the other 'mini synths' you have over at sound emote.
Will also be checking out your flower child filter for sure, could be just what I need for a collaboration I'm part of.
- KVRAF
- 3113 posts since 28 Jan, 2006 from Phoenix, AZ
Topic Starter
This is the kind of instrument I've been wanting to create since the day I first got into analog synths. Finally bringing it to life in the digital world.
https://www.elanhickler.com/transfer/fe ... rmance.mp3 (adjusting mod and pitch wheel)
I'm not very good at the keys sorry!
https://www.elanhickler.com/transfer/fe ... rmance.mp3 (adjusting mod and pitch wheel)
I'm not very good at the keys sorry!
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- KVRAF
- 1585 posts since 2 Jul, 2010
An interesting take on this sort of thing is the NLC 555 resonator https://www.nonlinearcircuits.com/modules/p/its-555 which fires off a tweakable steppy function in response to inputs up to audio rate. I don't have one so not sure how easy it is to align the width CV to V/oct; maybe a log/exp converter is needed?foosnark wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 10:22 amThe best though, is what the Intellijel Shapeshifter calls "1Shot" sync (which you can also do with a function generator/envelope generator). Each time the sync threshold is passed, one cycle runs. If the sync frequency is below the core frequency it's equivalent to hardsync -- but if it's above, it's PWM-like and pleasant.
I'd kind of like to hear a smart "N-shot" sort of sync which knows that the sync frequency is (for instance) 4.6 times the core frequency, so it will play 4 cycles and then stop. So the actual moment of phase reset is at silence, but it still has the other characteristics of a hardsync sound.
- KVRAF
- 5454 posts since 6 Jan, 2017 from Outer Space
Thanks for that hint. Reading up about soft sync and that image made me first think I should get Tal-Mod immediately. But then I made a little Grid patch, also to get into VOSIM areas again. And found a way to do that very flexible. I guess for this kind of stuff I don't need extra plugins ever again...gentleclockdivider wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 4:22 amHard sync can also be verry usefull to extend into further synthesis methods like Windowed sync , for fake resonant waves like the casio cz ( that 's the part where it doens't use phase distortion )
Talmod can do this , modulating the amplitude of the slaved osc by the master sync osc
https://app.box.com/s/koeg5339tjmz0jakjb4e2i4wvxg88tx7