Emulations we are still missing 2023 edition

[T-CM11]

universally loved product

You're being silly, right?

Anyway...
My Desktop Evolver is the only piece of "bad-interface-hardware" that I kept. I'm sure that there's software that can match its functions/specifications... but it I've never heard "that sound" in software.

[Lbdunequest]

I was thinking earlier today that it’s kind of weird. No one’s done a Evolver emulation. It’s been 20 years since its release. It’s time.

Had a Poly Evolver rack for a while, which broke down unfortunately. It had some quite unique sounds for a hardware synth, but nothing that can't be done with any proper vsti imo.

I always used it with the editor, so i could use it sort of like a plugin. When it broke down there were already plenty of software synths that ran circles around it, so never really bothered much about it. Always found it to be pretty digital sounding anyway. The distortion was nice tho.

Show me a single plugin that covers all an Evolver can do and sound good doing it. Not just the digital oscillators, the DCOs as well. I’m not saying that it can’t be done. I’m saying that I’ve never seen it yet.

Feature set might be different but Serum, Opal, Rapid, Phase Plant, Hive, Dune 3, Massive X, Vital, Surge XT can do so much and sounds amazing. Can Evolver do what those synths can?

[zerocrossing]

I was thinking earlier today that it’s kind of weird. No one’s done a Evolver emulation. It’s been 20 years since its release. It’s time.

Had a Poly Evolver rack for a while, which broke down unfortunately. It had some quite unique sounds for a hardware synth, but nothing that can't be done with any proper vsti imo.

I always used it with the editor, so i could use it sort of like a plugin. When it broke down there were already plenty of software synths that ran circles around it, so never really bothered much about it. Always found it to be pretty digital sounding anyway. The distortion was nice tho.

Show me a single plugin that covers all an Evolver can do and sound good doing it. Not just the digital oscillators, the DCOs as well. I’m not saying that it can’t be done. I’m saying that I’ve never seen it yet.

Feature set might be different but Serum, Opal, Rapid, Phase Plant, Hive, Dune 3, Massive X, Vital, Surge XT can do so much and sounds amazing. Can Evolver do what those synths can?

I have all those, except Rapid, and I’ve yet to find any that capture the character of the DSI Curtis chip synths. Some hate them, but I love them.

[syntonica]

I have all those, except Rapid, and I’ve yet to find any that capture the character of the DSI Curtis chip synths. Some hate them, but I love them.

We need a Six-Trak/Multi-Trak emu stat! Can get any more Curtis-y than those.

[DrGonzo]

i too like the evolvers, but where they a universally loved product? as in, guaranteed to sell lots of licences? or are they more cultish?

A bit cultish yeah. Maybe not as much as the Buchla - and that found its way to the V Collection so you really never know.

Looking back it feels like the Evolver marked the point when developers started to move back to hardware again after years of plugin-mania.

[zerocrossing]

i too like the evolvers, but where they a universally loved product? as in, guaranteed to sell lots of licences? or are they more cultish?

A bit cultish yeah. Maybe not as much as the Buchla - and that found its way to the V Collection so you really never know.

Looking back it feels like the Evolver marked the point when developers started to move back to hardware again after years of plugin-mania.

It’s definitely a bit cultish, but you’re right, it did harken the trend of analog and hybrid hardware comeback that we’re currently enjoying. Also, like some proto-mammal, it branched off into many sub species. A smart emulation of the Evolver could also be a MoPho, Prophet ‘08, Tempest and REV2.

[SebAV]

RMI Harmonic Synthesizer has a Reason emulation but I’m not aware of a VST one.
This synth is known essentially thanks to Jean-Michel Jarre and is different in that it has a simple approach to additive synthesis

[Lbdunequest]

I was thinking earlier today that it’s kind of weird. No one’s done a Evolver emulation. It’s been 20 years since its release. It’s time.

Had a Poly Evolver rack for a while, which broke down unfortunately. It had some quite unique sounds for a hardware synth, but nothing that can't be done with any proper vsti imo.

I always used it with the editor, so i could use it sort of like a plugin. When it broke down there were already plenty of software synths that ran circles around it, so never really bothered much about it. Always found it to be pretty digital sounding anyway. The distortion was nice tho.

Show me a single plugin that covers all an Evolver can do and sound good doing it. Not just the digital oscillators, the DCOs as well. I’m not saying that it can’t be done. I’m saying that I’ve never seen it yet.

Feature set might be different but Serum, Opal, Rapid, Phase Plant, Hive, Dune 3, Massive X, Vital, Surge XT can do so much and sounds amazing. Can Evolver do what those synths can?

I have all those, except Rapid, and I’ve yet to find any that capture the character of the DSI Curtis chip synths. Some hate them, but I love them.

Whats so sepcial that you cant replicate the sound in other synths? Im sure you can make similar brass, filter sweeps and bass sounds with any synths

[chk071]

Whats so sepcial that you cant replicate the sound in other synths?

I don't really think it makes sense to discuss this, if, in your opinion, there's nothing special about synth XY's sounds, and you think you can easily replicate it with synth AB.

And, I think it's a bit of a re-occuring theme as well. "There's nothing special about synth X, I can easily replicate it with Dune 3.". Well, do that then. But, please realize that there are people who can hear the difference, and who are very keen on having it replicated as close as possible in software. Otherwise there wouldn't be a market for emulations, and we would all use Synth1, and live happily ever after. Especially happy about the bank balance.

[Lbdunequest]

Whats so sepcial that you cant replicate the sound in other synths?

I don't really think it makes sense to discuss this, if, in your opinion, there's nothing special about synth XY's sounds, and you think you can easily replicate it with synth AB.

And, I think it's a bit of a re-occuring theme as well. "There's nothing special about synth X, I can easily replicate it with Dune 3.". Well, do that then. But, please realize that there are people who can hear the difference, and who are very keen on having it replicated as close as possible in software. Otherwise there wouldn't be a market for emulations, and we would all use Synth1, and live happily ever after. Especially happy about the bank balance.

I dont think you understand me. I agree some synths do have distinctive sound but many high end software synths can be used to make sounds that would be same as hardware. Synth1 is a bit of a low end leaguge.

[DrGonzo]

I agree some synths do have distinctive sound but many high end software synths can be used to make sounds that would be same as hardware.

Looking from a distance you see four cars zoom by (the listener). You notice that two cars are blue but they drive too quickly for you to see what brands the blue cars were (the mix). Both cars are heading to the same location.

The passenger of Blue Car #1 is driving a cheap Citroen C3 and is very warm as he cannot use the air conditioner because that will make the car go slower, so he has his windows down to get some air. He is listening to Radio Hits and is humming along.

The passenger of Blue Car #2 is driving a BMW. He listening to Bohemian Rhapsody on full blast while having a nice breeze cool down the interior of the car.

Driver of car #1 doesn't care about cars.
Driver of car #2 loves his car and the experience it gives him.

Both will arrive at the destination at the same time.

[vurt]

what happened to the otter two cars?

[DrGonzo]

what happened to the otter two cars?

We do not speak of them.

[chk071]

I dont think you understand me. I agree some synths do have distinctive sound but many high end software synths can be used to make sounds that would be same as hardware.

Define "the same".

I surely don't get the same sound as a Minimoog filter sweep at high resonance from my "average Joe" soft synths. Except for the more recent Minimoog emulations which at least get reasonable close, of course, but, that's the point we're trying to make in this thread.

[Lbdunequest]

I dont think you understand me. I agree some synths do have distinctive sound but many high end software synths can be used to make sounds that would be same as hardware.

Define "the same".

I surely don't get the same sound as a Minimoog filter sweep at high resonance from my "average Joe" soft synths. Except for the more recent Minimoog emulations which at least get reasonable close, of course, but, that's the point we're trying to make in this thread.

Who cares about the sweeps? Is there a particilar genre where what was used to make the sweep matters? Its just a sweep. This sounds alot like audiophile bs