SWAY - a synth modeled after the Yamaha SY77

[himalaya]

I'm creating a synth that's meant to emulate the Yamaha SY77.

Amazing!

SY77 user here. I've had my SY77 since when they first came out which was sometime in the early 1990. (I can't be that old! )

I've used my SY77 for several decades, did 2 complete albums on it, so if you need any help give us a shout.

I have a sound bank for the SY77, am I correct to think that the FM sound data (except the samples) will be compatible? (I didn't read the whole thread).

[himalaya]

No MPE support at the moment, but I might add it in the future.

Please consider MPE support. FM is perfect for the extra expression that MPE affords. And if you need help, I can help. I've been at the forefront of the MPE revolution from its inception, and before it was even called 'MPE'. Too many synths implement MPE in the most rudimentary manner with some devs failing to understand that simply adding an 'MPE' switch is not good enough.

[himalaya]

I will add a versatile set of samples myself though. I know that doesn't help with playing the original AWM patches, but I still think the project makes sense without being able to do that. Honestly, if I had the space I would've gotten a SY99 instead of a TG77, precisely because you can go beyond the original samples with it. The original sample set of the SY77 is not all that interesting imo.

Agreed!

When the SY77 came out most people wished for user import of samples. This was achieved later when SY99 was released.

The SY77 samples are not really that interesting, and unless one is fixated on playing the factory presets then don’t spend one second being disappointed. If you are not interested in mediocre samples from the early 90s, provided you will be able to use your own samples with the FM engine to accomplish RCM synthesis then you will be happy. But even then, you will realise how difficult to tame RCM is. It’s simply a recipe for noisy, distorted and harsh sounds, if done without outmost care. With care it can be very interesting, for example the sax preset uses RCM synthesis to give the sax sample an edge on higher velocity. I think this is cool. Although it functions today as a relic, curiosity from the 90s, as personally I’d much rather use something like the SWAM sax than this today…if I were to be called to do a cover of Careless Whispers…

I’d used some of the factory samples for my own RCM patches, and some are very unique sounding, and I’m looking forward to using my own samples for RCM synthesis although nowadays you can do RCM-like sounds in a few synths, myself I tend to use Equator2 for this mostly due to its MPE prowess….still it would be amazing to do it all in a new SY77 plugin.

[audiojunkie]

One can never have too many SFZs and SF2s. Post’em if you’ve got’em! Thanks!

[himalaya]

So...this topic has inspired me to fire up my Sy77 after a very long time of no action, and I made a new sound after what seems like an eternity. It's amazing though...after all these years my fingers still have the muscle memory and automatically fall on all the buttons with ease.
Sadly though, some of the buttons are not responding well again, so please hurry up and finish the plugin!

[Caesarg86]

For any serious fans of the SY/TG series...this will be an instant buy! You can add my name to the growing number of folks who would love to reconnect with one incredible synthesizer! Looks and sounds great!

[DCrown]

Sounds great, whenever it's Yamaha it's an instant buy, I am a big fan

[himalaya]

I've pretty much got all the internals working, apart from the effects section.

Coming back to this...how are you approaching this? Are you recreating all effects 1:1?
Personally, I think the Symphonic effect is a must-have. This adds such a glorious dimension to the sounds. For me, FM synthesis and the Yamaha Symphonic effect is a match made in heaven. However, since the original SY77 reverbs and delays were some of the worst effects in the history of effects, I wouldn't worry about replicating these, and would much rather see new algorithms.
What's your take on this?

[sheaf]

I have a sound bank for the SY77, am I correct to think that the FM sound data (except the samples) will be compatible? (I didn't read the whole thread).

Correct.

Coming back to this...how are you approaching this? Are you recreating all effects 1:1?
Personally, I think the Symphonic effect is a must-have. This adds such a glorious dimension to the sounds. For me, FM synthesis and the Yamaha Symphonic effect is a match made in heaven. However, since the original SY77 reverbs and delays were some of the worst effects in the history of effects, I wouldn't worry about replicating these, and would much rather see new algorithms.
What's your take on this?

I'm trying to get them to sound as close as possible, including the dreadful reverbs, but getting them to match exactly might be beyond my abilities.

In addition I'm thinking of adding an option to swap out the reverbs for higher quality ones that have a similar echo density build up and tail, but that just don't sound as metallic.

[perpetual3]

I would love to beta test for Mac Intel and M processors. I’m an FM fanatic.

[himalaya]

I'm trying to get them to sound as close as possible, including the dreadful reverbs, but getting them to match exactly might be beyond my abilities.

Please don't!

Or, if you really like your ears to experience sonic masochism, then please offer an alternative set of reverbs and delays for your users.
There is really nothing redeeming about the SY77 reverbs and delays. They do not add any vintage digital charm, nor anything else worthy of emulation. Yamaha knew this when they equipped the SY99 with a slightly better reverb effect.
The old SY77 reverbs and delays simply destroy the presets. Better reverbs and delays will also save you from the ire of your future customers. Trust me.

[gentleclockdivider]

I must be in the minority but I love the crappy effects on my tg77

[himalaya]

You must be a collector then, not a musician.

[pinbot]

Feature request: if it's not already included, put a Mod Matrix in it.

[gentleclockdivider]

You must be a collector then, not a musician.

Most certainly not .
And you had one of the finest synths ever made , years in storage