Buchla-200e.jpg
Emulations we are still missing 2023 edition
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- KVRAF
- 9851 posts since 15 Sep, 2005 from East Coast of the USA
Should be updated to say "2024 edition" at some point.
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- KVRAF
- 2452 posts since 1 Jul, 2021
This one would be cool!
Imo devs often focus on getting the same sound,
but very often playability and response do not match the original synth. Even though I don't know every real synth of course, I can tell when I listen to some songs where some synth was used.
I can't play all Softube synths, cuz they have a strange behavior.
And the main issue is that you usually have one or two master keyboards that are very different to the original keys of a keyboard, so you won't ever get the same feel.
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- KVRian
- 547 posts since 16 Aug, 2002 from Ontario. Canada
Ensoniq Mirage - Need a crunchy VST/AU that can load Mirage images
AKAI S5/6000/Z4/Z8 - Need a modern 64bit native AK.SYS replacement for MAC
AKAI S5/6000/Z4/Z8 - Need a modern 64bit native AK.SYS replacement for MAC
Missiles Kill Militants / Avionik / Neutronaut
Cubase Pro/Wavelab Pro/SSL UF1, UF8, UC1/Binaural & 7.1
https://missileskillmilitants.bandcamp.com/
Cubase Pro/Wavelab Pro/SSL UF1, UF8, UC1/Binaural & 7.1
https://missileskillmilitants.bandcamp.com/
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- KVRAF
- 2783 posts since 24 Nov, 2023
They are, in the meantime Plogue's OPS7 does a really good job of emulating it since in extended mode it has the TX81Z waveforms and all of the TX81Z algos exist inside of DX7 algos. It gets you pretty damn close with the added bonus of two additional operators and the ability to layer and detune the same patch with itselfnominil wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2026 1:41 pm Yamaha TX81z
FM Lab has it covered but it’s not the same thing as a dedicated emu. I think Plogue might be working on one.
Plogue did an amazing job of modeling the original 12 DX7 DAC and while the TX81Z has a 16bit DAC being sent 12 bit bit data it's pretty close. This is something FM doesn't have and is to clean
Beyond that Yamaha did some math trickery to generate both the Sine Waves in the DX7 and the extra waveforms in the TX81Z which are just slices of a sine wave assembled together to make it easier on the CPU. OPS7 nails this while FM lab does so in an entirely different way that makes it way to clean
I will buy the Plogue TX81Z the day it comes out but it will be a while as they are working on other things first. In the meantime OPS7 does a fine job and is closer than anything else
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- KVRist
- 122 posts since 3 Dec, 2009
I'm really hoping it's next after FC. I hope/wish that David would decide to release two synths in rapid succession (FC and 81Z), but I think that's not a realistic or fair expectation unless Plogue can clone themselves.IvyBirds wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2026 2:43 pm
I will buy the Plogue TX81Z the day it comes out but it will be a while as they are working on other things first. In the meantime OPS7 does a fine job and is closer than anything else
Agreed on the greatness of OPS7.
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- KVRAF
- 2783 posts since 24 Nov, 2023
David from Plogue mentioned on the OPS7 thread like 5 years ago that they already had a reversed engineered firmware for it so they are pretty far along already so you never know and they already have done a ton of research with the main Yamaha chipnominil wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2026 11:15 pmI'm really hoping it's next after FC. I hope/wish that David would decide to release two synths in rapid succession (FC and 81Z), but I think that's not a realistic or fair expectation unless Plogue can clone themselves.IvyBirds wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2026 2:43 pm
I will buy the Plogue TX81Z the day it comes out but it will be a while as they are working on other things first. In the meantime OPS7 does a fine job and is closer than anything else
Agreed on the greatness of OPS7.
And between OPS7 and CSMD they have a lot of the backend stuff taken care of already
If you don't have it already you should check out Plogue's ChipSynth MD. It's based off the Yamaha 4op chip used in the Sega Megadrive/Sega Genesis and a few other video/arcade games
It's four op FM that has the same algos as the TX81Z (numbered differently as they start numbering at zero not 1) , in addition to lowfi sample playback, noise, and square wave output. You can layer everything and have up to 6 layers
I don't have any nostalgia for the Sega Genesis as it was after my time since I am old AF, so I don't care that much about emulating it. I use this more like a cool and different multi timbral 4 op FM synth that also has a weird lowfi 1980s sampler built right in for that it's awesome
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- KVRAF
- 6241 posts since 26 Sep, 2003 from right here, as you can see ...
I hope "The Usual Suspects" eventually do a clone of the Novation Supernova II ProX. To me that's still one of the most underrated synths that have been out there since long.
regards,
brok landers
BIGTONEsounddesign
gear is as good as the innovation behind it-the man
brok landers
BIGTONEsounddesign
gear is as good as the innovation behind it-the man
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machinesworking machinesworking https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8505
- KVRAF
- 7986 posts since 15 Aug, 2003 from seattle
There's more Soviet era Formanta greatness besides the PolivoksI would love to see.
This combo string synth and Polivoks like synth:
and the FAEMI-1M alone which just sounds great if you like old 60's and 70's weirdness.
Filter tweaking:
A more musical example:
This combo string synth and Polivoks like synth:
and the FAEMI-1M alone which just sounds great if you like old 60's and 70's weirdness.
Filter tweaking:
A more musical example:
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Korg Supporter Korg Supporter https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=386399
- KVRAF
- 1872 posts since 4 Oct, 2016
I hope KORG DSS-1 shows up in the next KORG collection. It was a beefed up DW8000 with sampling capabilities.

