SWAY - a synth modeled after the Yamaha SY77

[lalo]

Just a quick note: I'm 99% recovered and fully back on track when it comes to work.

Only 19 samples to go (though I might want to revisit/redo a couple after that) and then I'm ready to send out the beta.

Happy to know you're fine now!

[soundman007]

In attendance of SWAY I got Vol 1 of SY-TG for Kontakt from Amazound. Don't do it! Fortunately it only cost 20 Euros. I've been comparing the sounds with the original sounds from my SY77 and they are way off, there is harshness not present in the original sounds, the releases are far too long, if you play a chord (3 notes or more) there is distortion, ...

[Tj Shredder]

Sample based libraries are just useless, as you can't tweak the sounds in the same way as a synthesizer. I guess they used an automatic tool to record already tweaked presets, and didn't even bother to test it. If you got the hardware, you can do this yourself with any of those tools yourself and with your own sounds...
That is, why we wait for SY77.
I wonder though, if Halion 7 can do the same in terms of synthesis...

[soundman007]

I have to somewhat qualify what I said earlier. There are some differences with the original sounds but they can indeed be tweaked. Also the distortion only happens slightly with a few sounds and so do the long releases. Apologies if I came over too harshly. Of course it was just a "toy-thing" while waiting for SWAY

[cslevine]

LOL... i did try this doundbank, too as a "toy thing" waiting for SWAY... i recognize a few of some firsts presets and this bring some firsts impressions to what it will be "in the matter" to play with TG77...
Of course : no possibility with samples, having else than presets. ... well i did sample 2 of my external Synthworks soundbank patches for integrations in my musics, but sampling brings few noise when adding voices...


i think too , about how is structured soundbanks memories in TG77, wich is very "special" :
+ 64 memories for patches themselves
+ a few memories slots for reverb effects
+ a few memories slots for PAN effects
+ 2 memories for slots microtunings
and how these memory slots are "called" into patches...
Well, Sheaf said that SWAY will behave too as soundbank manager for the real hardware. So this is very, very CLEVER to doing like this, and this could be seen as a world first new behavior in a VSTi !
Then, when saving a preset in the .vst3preset format, is will indlude itself ALL parameters + PAN + microtuning + reverb in it's file without thinking about external "slots". Very CLEVER too.

3rd : i think about very subtile LFO time parameters, which in some patches leads to "near sequence effects", which maybe would have to be proof testings from original hardware VS plugin. This will be very interesting to see, (and hear ) how the first beta will behave with that. ...i would not be surprised if all could directly be exact. ( but ... well, emotional surprise experiencing this, as a human, after loading sys ex, and playing Cubase MIDI tracks )

[Uncle E]

In attendance of SWAY I got Vol 1 of SY-TG for Kontakt from Amazound. Don't do it! Fortunately it only cost 20 Euros. I've been comparing the sounds with the original sounds from my SY77 and they are way off, there is harshness not present in the original sounds, the releases are far too long, if you play a chord (3 notes or more) there is distortion, ...

This is Kontakt's gain staging. People who make sample libraries need to provide headroom, otherwise Kontakt will distort. You can fix this yourself by editing the library within Kontakt and turning down the volume.

[soundman007]

Thanks Uncle E, will do!

[slaambo]

Good point Uncle E

[lotus2035]

Sample based libraries are just useless, as you can't tweak the sounds in the same way as a synthesizer. I guess they used an automatic tool to record already tweaked presets, and didn't even bother to test it. If you got the hardware, you can do this yourself with any of those tools yourself and with your own sounds...

I would say UVI's sample based stuff (Vintage Vault and some other single synths) are the best sounding/most analog sounding collection of plugins I have ever used. Syntronik sounds amazing too. Yes they are not as tweakable as softsynths and require more work and layering to get more modern sounding results but with built-in fX and 3rd party fx it's far from impossible. The workflow is closer to a more hardware based setup but in this age of 'too many options' some might welcome that. Less can be more after all. Overall, I would take sound quality over tweak-ability any day of the week. Depends on what your goals are.

[oldmica]

I'm having fun with Emulator X3 for exactly that reason. Sometimes just hitting the go button and working with what you've got at the moment is what hits the spot.

Sheaf please let me (and others here) know if/when you want any beta testing done - and more importantly hope you're in good knick and staying that way!

[Uncle E]

Overall, I would take sound quality over tweak-ability any day of the week. Depends on what your goals are.

It would be pretty amazing if SWAY could eventually load other sample formats (nki, fxp, exs, or sxt).

[JK1974]

Being able to load samples would transform SWAY into an SY99 emulator (apart from the additional ROM samples and improved FX section). I have a working one here, so I would also be ready for delivering any missing info or helping with beta testing as soon as we get to this point. However, getting a virtual SY77 would already be fantastic.

[oldmica]

+1. If we could update samples (maybe these could simply be individual files in a directory, if not already) the community could put effort into conversion routines. Count me in if so!

[Uncle E]

SY99 = Posh Spice
SY77 = Scary Spice

[oldmica]

DX7 = Old Spice



(just kidding - love the whole product line, from the original on up.)