Softube Model 82

[Arashi]

The Roland Boutique SH-01A is still available.

And still awesome.

[zerocrossing]

The comments under that new Dash Glitch video baffle me. "A step backwards" "A poor attempt at the sound of a 101", I mean really? Sure as hell sounds like a 101 to me. At the very least, it's close enough to not matter. Artists that I know who actually release music are not spending their time comparing waveforms in oscilloscopes. In fact most don't even care if software emulations are all that accurate, they just care if it sounds good to them or not, seeing as most of them have never even played the synths being emulated.

We have a lot of synths with analog characteristics, so if you just want something that sounds good, there’s not much use in grabbing another plugin that doesn’t have a specific sound of the original. That said, it sure sounds like it to me, but I’ve never owned one and really only know it from recordings. I don’t think I’ve actually ever worked in a store that sold them, though that must be wrong because I did work for a big Roland dealer back in the time of the 101. Maybe it didn’t make a big impression on me.

[_leras]

Wow thats pretty cool that you got to see him. I will check out orbital and underworld

definitely feel lucky to have got to see him, and at such a good venue. it was an epic banging show.

Orbital - Wonky - it's like a deluxe version of the orbital stuff before
Underworld - probably just start with their greatest hits 1992-2012

Can't go wrong with either of those.

[_leras]

The comments under that new Dash Glitch video baffle me. "A step backwards" "A poor attempt at the sound of a 101", I mean really? Sure as hell sounds like a 101 to me. At the very least, it's close enough to not matter. Artists that I know who actually release music are not spending their time comparing waveforms in oscilloscopes. In fact most don't even care if software emulations are all that accurate, they just care if it sounds good to them or not, seeing as most of them have never even played the synths being emulated.

I went and had a look at that... a strange video. He didn't seem to match up the levels very well, seemed like his 101 had the sound too low, though the delay still high... so then it was hard to tell if there was any meaningful difference.

Anyway, I don't care, it sounds really good to me and covers all the 101 ground. I expect I'll get lots of use out it. I think you do have to tweak it right to get the sweet spots - but that's part of playing this synth.

[pixel85]

Finally, I had time to check Softube's demo videos like 'walkthrough' etc. Wow, it's probably one of the most unimpressive demos I ever saw (right after the demo of Behringer's micro-clone of JP8000 and UB-Xa). With closed eyes, I would think that they're selling a €10 keyboard for children
The track in the 'Introducing Model 82 Sequencing Mono Synth' video sounds very close (almost identical lead sequence) to the Eurodance track that I did 20 years ago in FruityLoops with SimSynth, so L O L.

Alex Bell was able to squeeze a way better demo. At least he showed that it can be used as a musical instrument

It's just me, or almost zero demo videos are showing it in a musical context? How many youtube videos do we need where they're showing that the saw oscillator can do 'bzzz' and sine osc can do 'piiii'?

[chk071]

I get your point (and I agree with it), but, on the other hand, if they present fully produced sounds in a track context, people will complain again about how it's not the raw, pure sound of the synth.

Apart from that, they probably want to avoid the costs of hiring someone to do a professionally sounding demo of it.

What I would do is record some comparison they surely did with the real thing, and then showcase those to show how close the emulation is to the real thing. Like NI or TAL do (especially, they do it with some more extreme sounds, which is nice, as those are much better for comparison than bog standard simple sounds, which often sound very similar on most synths):

https://soundcloud.com/nativeinstrument ... comparison

https://soundcloud.com/tal-togu-audio-l ... vs-tal-j-8

[pixel85]

I get your point (and I agree with it), but, on the other hand, if they present fully produced sounds in a track context, people will complain again about how it's not the raw, pure sound of the synth.

These days Starsky is the "the man" to do those raw comparisons. His videos are very informative and he's usually one of the first to get new toys.
Other, small youtubers are not doing much favour to themselves by repeating something that is already done on a professional level.

Ps. For me the best "synth test videos" are those recorded through a microphone

[Friendly Noise]

Big fan of Starsky here, but after I made myself some comparison videos for my channel, I came to the conclusion that raw comparisons can be a trap.
And then I tried to make something different…
Please make sure that you read all notes included in the video.

[Fernando Carvalho]

Very nice Video Friendly Noise. Mode 82 really delivers. I´m in love with the envelope and the filter. Sometimes the filter envelope falls short for some cases and I use offset in Modular for a more prominent filter envelope. I am enjoying using the modules, you can get very nice sounds combining them with other modules. I got a nice bass sound with the sine module going to the intellijel wavefolder, summing that with the sh101 suboscilator and driving the result into the filter. Little level variations between the two oscilator sources, even subtle ones, bring lots of variations. I wish we had subpresets for the patches. We need some improvements to the Modular system, but either way I am enjoying all I can get, sounds full of character and with a real presence. It is one of the few virtual instruments that I dare to put in front of the mix with no fear.

[Friendly Noise]

Very nice Video Friendly Noise. Mode 82 really delivers. I´m in love with the envelope and the filter. Sometimes the filter envelope falls short for some cases and I use offset in Modular for a more prominent filter envelope. I am enjoying using the modules, you can get very nice sounds combining them with other modules. I got a nice bass sound with the sine module going to the intellijel wavefolder, summing that with the sh101 suboscilator and driving the result into the filter. Little level variations between the two oscilator sources, even subtle ones, bring lots of variations. I wish we had subpresets for the patches. We need some improvements to the Modular system, but either way I am enjoying all I can get, sounds full of character and with a real presence. It is one of the few virtual instruments that I dare to put in front of the mix with no fear.

Thanks.

I don’t know to describe it, but with the software you seem to be looking for the right sound, while the hardware is all sweep spot. Then again, when you listen to the recorded sound, the differences can be small or negligible (ymmv). I still think after the video that my SH-101 won’t be sold, but like you, I would take the Model 82 for recordings without reservations.

[zvenx]

...

very well done.
much appreciated.
rsp

[Friendly Noise]

Very nice Video Friendly Noise. Mode 82 really delivers. I´m in love with the envelope and the filter. Sometimes the filter envelope falls short for some cases and I use offset in Modular for a more prominent filter envelope. I am enjoying using the modules, you can get very nice sounds combining them with other modules. I got a nice bass sound with the sine module going to the intellijel wavefolder, summing that with the sh101 suboscilator and driving the result into the filter. Little level variations between the two oscilator sources, even subtle ones, bring lots of variations. I wish we had subpresets for the patches. We need some improvements to the Modular system, but either way I am enjoying all I can get, sounds full of character and with a real presence. It is one of the few virtual instruments that I dare to put in front of the mix with no fear.

Thanks.

I don’t know how to describe it, but with the software you seem to be looking for the right sound, while the hardware is all sweep spot. Then again, when you listen to the recorded sound, the differences can be small or negligible (ymmv). I still think after the video that my SH-101 won’t be sold, but like you, I would take the Model 82 for recordings without reservations.

[plexuss]

Very nice Video Friendly Noise. Mode 82 really delivers. I´m in love with the envelope and the filter. Sometimes the filter envelope falls short for some cases and I use offset in Modular for a more prominent filter envelope. I am enjoying using the modules, you can get very nice sounds combining them with other modules. I got a nice bass sound with the sine module going to the intellijel wavefolder, summing that with the sh101 suboscilator and driving the result into the filter. Little level variations between the two oscilator sources, even subtle ones, bring lots of variations. I wish we had subpresets for the patches. We need some improvements to the Modular system, but either way I am enjoying all I can get, sounds full of character and with a real presence. It is one of the few virtual instruments that I dare to put in front of the mix with no fear.

Thanks.

I don’t know to describe it, but with the software you seem to be looking for the right sound, while the hardware is all sweep spot. Then again, when you listen to the recorded sound, the differences can be small or negligible (ymmv). I still think after the video that my SH-101 won’t be sold, but like you, I would take the Model 82 for recordings without reservations.

One good thing is the Model 82 has that consistent dullness compared to the hardware. Model 82 might be able to be brought to hardware fidelity with some saturation and/or EQ. Since its a consisistne character we migth be able to get away with a statis adjustment. But yes the hardware sounds brighter and the attacks more prominent and sharp, than Model 82.

[vitocorleone123]

Very nice Video Friendly Noise. Mode 82 really delivers. I´m in love with the envelope and the filter. Sometimes the filter envelope falls short for some cases and I use offset in Modular for a more prominent filter envelope. I am enjoying using the modules, you can get very nice sounds combining them with other modules. I got a nice bass sound with the sine module going to the intellijel wavefolder, summing that with the sh101 suboscilator and driving the result into the filter. Little level variations between the two oscilator sources, even subtle ones, bring lots of variations. I wish we had subpresets for the patches. We need some improvements to the Modular system, but either way I am enjoying all I can get, sounds full of character and with a real presence. It is one of the few virtual instruments that I dare to put in front of the mix with no fear.

Thanks.

I don’t know to describe it, but with the software you seem to be looking for the right sound, while the hardware is all sweep spot. Then again, when you listen to the recorded sound, the differences can be small or negligible (ymmv). I still think after the video that my SH-101 won’t be sold, but like you, I would take the Model 82 for recordings without reservations.

One good thing is the Model 82 has that consistent dullness compared to the hardware. Model 82 might be able to be brought to hardware fidelity with some saturation and/or EQ. Since its a consisistne character we migth be able to get away with a statis adjustment. But yes the hardware sounds brighter and the attacks more prominent and sharp, than Model 82.

Hmm. The Model 82 is brighter to me - as said in the video, the ranges on the software are a little deeper, a little further than the hardware.

For me, the noise on the Model 82 is the weakest part. I don’t have the hardware, though, to compare it.

[vitocorleone123]

Very nice Video Friendly Noise. Mode 82 really delivers. I´m in love with the envelope and the filter. Sometimes the filter envelope falls short for some cases and I use offset in Modular for a more prominent filter envelope. I am enjoying using the modules, you can get very nice sounds combining them with other modules. I got a nice bass sound with the sine module going to the intellijel wavefolder, summing that with the sh101 suboscilator and driving the result into the filter. Little level variations between the two oscilator sources, even subtle ones, bring lots of variations. I wish we had subpresets for the patches. We need some improvements to the Modular system, but either way I am enjoying all I can get, sounds full of character and with a real presence. It is one of the few virtual instruments that I dare to put in front of the mix with no fear.

Thanks.

I don’t know to describe it, but with the software you seem to be looking for the right sound, while the hardware is all sweep spot. Then again, when you listen to the recorded sound, the differences can be small or negligible (ymmv). I still think after the video that my SH-101 won’t be sold, but like you, I would take the Model 82 for recordings without reservations.

Have you considered that fact you’re comfortable with - and used to - the hardware? Someone using only the software for a couple years could easily say the same about the hardware - about how the software is easy but you have to hunt for the sound on the hardware.

Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s one thing you didn’t acknowledge in the video (a video I appreciate you making).