If you could have only one synth, what would you choose?

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Uncle E wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 6:56 pm
gaggle of hermits wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 6:39 pm why that as an example? A Juno emulation seems a bizarre choice anywhere on a “one synth only” thread in the first place.
Because Klassik-106 is the only Kontakt wavetable recreation of a synth I know of.
yes, but what does it have to with the point you were replying to?

in any case, there are any number of Kontakt wavetable synths. the only special feature of that one seems to be that it is trying to do a 1:1 of a particular hardware model. I can’t say I’m that bothered but how do they do the Roland filter? is that emulated ensoniq-style using wavetable or does it rely on the k6 engine filters? the answer to that question might answer your question.

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gaggle of hermits wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 7:07 pm yes, but what does it have to with the point you were replying to?
The point I was replying to wrote:one would be a fool to claim that a sampler covers most of the ground a synth does
gaggle of hermits wrote: in any case, there are any number of Kontakt wavetable synths. the only special feature of that one seems to be that it is trying to do a 1:1 of a particular hardware model. I can’t say I’m that bothered but how do they do the Roland filter? is that emulated ensoniq-style using wavetable or does it rely on the k6 engine filters? the answer to that question might answer your question.
K6 engine filters. DCO-106, Model 84, and U-NO-LX are all more accurate emulations than Klassik-106 is but the only ground they cover that Klassik-106 can't is unison (which could be done, it just hasn't been done in Klassik-106). Again, my posts in this thread are only related to the question "Is Kontakt a synth?" I'm not making any claim that Kontakt is an especially powerful or full featured synth, just that it is a synth.

Anyway, I like your idea of using Ensoniq-style filtered wavetables. The VFX is an underappreciated gem.

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Uncle E wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 7:51 pm
gaggle of hermits wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 7:07 pm yes, but what does it have to with the point you were replying to?
The point I was replying to wrote:one would be a fool to claim that a sampler covers most of the ground a synth does
K6 engine filters. DCO-106, Model 84, and U-NO-LX are all more accurate emulations than Klassik-106 is but the only ground they cover that Klassik-106 can't is unison (which could be done, it just hasn't been done in Klassik-106). Again, my posts in this thread are only related to the question "Is Kontakt a synth?" I'm not making any claim that Kontakt is an especially powerful or full featured synth, just that it is a synth.
i don't disagree but though i can't be sure i don't think that was the point being made in that original post. and i'd say you've used a pretty narrow interpretation of that point. the juno is an extremely simple synth architecture that clearly kontakt, and many other samplers, can replicate in spirit if not entirely accurately if you want a specific synth emulated.

but as i was pointing out, if you drew a venn diagram of the two, you'd get a lot of overlap with areas where they are likely to diverge: waveform modulation on one side; easy multisample mapping and scripting for articulations etc on the other. tracktion's biotek, for example, does a bit of the latter while also implementing 4-op FM; falcon does a bit of the former and a lot of the latter: and one tends to get classed as 'synth' while the other 'sampler'.

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The Kontakt wavetables can be modulated. Klassik-106 uses the PWM, for example.

Anyway, we're not in deep disagreement over this. Your venn diagrams leans slightly in one direction, mine leans slightly in the other. I have not yet become a Kontakt fascist.

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I think to all those choosing Kontakt as a synth, really need to choose a single instrument from it and say why. i.e
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I think just as saying Reaktor would not be in the spirit of things, but a single Reaktor instrument (i.e Razor, Monark) would be.

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think to all those choosing Kontakt as a synth, really need to choose a single instrument from it and say why. i.e
Modular icons
or those who put a single cycle saw wave into it...
admittedly, Kontakt is a bit overkill just for that, but there are enough people who do this on other, "smaller" samplers
The GAS is always greener on the other side!

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You certainly can turn Kontakt into a rudimentary synth if you load waveforms into it and manipulate them. It has been done. But, as others have said, it would not be my choice as the "one" synth to rule them all.


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For some reason I might actually choose Korg's Triton Extreme.

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if hardware, Sequential's Prophet X for me, no question.

[a Kontakt Keyboard :hihi: ]
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Michael L wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 11:11 pm if hardware, Sequential's Prophet X for me, no question.

[a Kontakt Keyboard :hihi: ]
The Prophet X does also have DSP based oscillators. Probably a good choice if you have to have only one hardware synth.
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All these samplers! Eek! <clutches pearls>
I started on Logic 5 with a PowerBook G4 550Mhz. I now have a MacBook Air M1 and it's ~165x faster! So, why is my music not proportionally better? :(

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syntonica wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:01 am All these hybrid synths! Eek! <clutches pearls>
FTFY
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Michael L wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:23 am
syntonica wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:01 am All these hybrid synths! Eek! <clutches pearls>
FTFY
Dude, please! You're ruining my faux outrage!
I started on Logic 5 with a PowerBook G4 550Mhz. I now have a MacBook Air M1 and it's ~165x faster! So, why is my music not proportionally better? :(

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syntonica wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:29 am
Michael L wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:23 am
syntonica wrote: Fri Oct 21, 2022 2:01 am All these hybrid synths! Eek! <clutches pearls>
FTFY
Dude, please! You're ruining my faux outrage!
So terribly sorry, I was rather desperate for this thread to be politically correct. Like, mea culpa!
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_leras wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 9:43 pm I think to all those choosing Kontakt as a synth, really need to choose a single instrument from it and say why. i.e
Modular icons

I think just as saying Reaktor would not be in the spirit of things, but a single Reaktor instrument (i.e Razor, Monark) would be.
in the spirit of what though? OP didn’t set any rules so why are you so intent on having some arbitrary set of rules? if someone picks one of those (and I’d be surprised if reaktor doesn’t appear somewhere on a list like this) aren’t they just saying “I can’t make a decision” or “I need flexibility”. it’s still a personal choice. the thread is “what would you pick?” not “what’s the one synth to rule them all”, which is why it’s so funny people making up exclusions for themselves ‘cos samplers are icky or something.

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