SWAY - a synth modeled after the Yamaha SY77

[Uncle E]

The original SY77 waveforms are less than special. SWAY will not be harmed by having waveforms that aren’t identical to the originals.

[wagtunes]

The original SY77 waveforms are less than special. SWAY will not be harmed by having waveforms that aren’t identical to the originals.

Either was the Korg Wavestation but that's what gave that synth its unique character that sounds like no other synth. Same with the Ensoniq Mirage. Nothing sounds like it.

Sometimes less than special is exactly what you want.

[Uncle E]

The original SY77 waveforms are less than special. SWAY will not be harmed by having waveforms that aren’t identical to the originals.

Either was the Korg Wavestation but that's what gave that synth its unique character that sounds like no other synth. Same with the Ensoniq Mirage. Nothing sounds like it.

Sometimes less than special is exactly what you want.

With all due respect, you’re making a bigger deal about it than those of us who actually owned the real SY77.

[mholloway]

Let's be clear, no respect is due, whatsoever. This is a man with no personal experience or attachment whatever to the SY77 who repeatedly shows up in an SY-77 emulation thread to complain that the emulation won't be good enough.

[wagtunes]

Let's be clear, no respect is due, whatsoever. This is a man with no personal experience or attachment whatever to the SY77 who repeatedly shows up in an SY-77 emulation thread to complain that the emulation won't be good enough.

With no respect at all, I have owned many Yamaha synths over the years and am very familiar with what the SY77 sounds like even if I never owned one. THAT is the sound I want. Not something that sounds LIKE it.

[IvyBirds]

Let's be clear, no respect is due, whatsoever. This is a man with no personal experience or attachment whatever to the SY77 who repeatedly shows up in an SY-77 emulation thread to complain that the emulation won't be good enough.

With no respect at all, I have owned many Yamaha synths over the years and am very familiar with what the SY77 sounds like even if I never owned one. THAT is the sound I want. Not something that sounds LIKE it.

Cool,, since it's so important for maybe you can explain what is exactly is the sound you want

The SY77 has 16 bit PCM waveforms.

The first 33, are multi-sampled acoustic instruments. What exactly about them do you find so special and unique about them? For example why are samples of things like the piano, marimba, guitar, flute, trumpet, and violin so important to you that you absolutely have to have them and nothing else would do? Having used them for 35 years, I can't imagine anyone caring about a short cello or violin sample all that much so please help me understand what exactly about them is so important that literally any other 16 bit marimba sample wouldn't work for you?

There next 22 are super short samples intended to be layered and used with the FM sounds which would make up the bulk of the timbre. Again help me understand why the tuba, harpsichord, and cello samples are so important that only those will do and other tuba, harpsichord and cello samples won't?

The next 9 are simple single cycle waveforms. What is so important about the sawtooth, and the triangle waves?

After that are super short transient samples so the SY77 could pretend to be a D50 again with the bulk of the timbre coming from AFM. Please explain why those samples and only those transient samples of pianos, saxophones, and people blowing into a bottle will do as opposed to any other samples of such things?

The next 9 are sound effects. Again not sure why anyone would care about them

Finally the last group are acoustic drum samples that you will find in all kinds of Yamaha drum machines and synths from the late 80s and early 1990s. Even home keyboard models. There is nothing special or unique about them

And that's it, not sure why anyone cares so deeply about having the exact Tuba, Marimba, Guitar, Violin and other type sounds. Note that the overwhelming majority of them are in every General MIDI box ever made and if it's Yamaha branded from the 1990s they are pretty much exactly the same if you really need them that badly. If you have other AWM2 Yamaha Synths from the early 1990s you probably already have them

You can also get samples of the SY77 itself rather easily that will have every one of them in isolation if those 16 bit PCM Marimba sounds are critical to your workflow

[wagtunes]

For the same reason that the crappy Ensoniq Mirage sounds are important to me. Authenticity. It's that simple.

[IvyBirds]

The original SY77 waveforms are less than special. SWAY will not be harmed by having waveforms that aren’t identical to the originals.

Either was the Korg Wavestation but that's what gave that synth its unique character that sounds like no other synth. Same with the Ensoniq Mirage. Nothing sounds like it.

Sometimes less than special is exactly what you want.

Why are you comparing an 8 bit sampler with super crunchy lowfi samples played through an analog Curtis filter with the 16 bit PCM waveforms used in the SY77? The mirage has a unique character because of that. The 16 bit PCM Marimba and Tuba samples in SY77 don't have those things compared with every other 16 bit PCM sample, especially as the samples no matter the source, will go through the same engine, effects, and filter as if they were the factory samples

As for the Wavestation it sounds unique because it uses Wave Sequencing and Vector Synthesis not because it's Tubs sample is special or has any character

[IvyBirds]

For the same reason that the crappy Ensoniq Mirage sounds are important to me. Authenticity. It's that simple.

But the samples in the SY77 don't have the lowfi vibe that the 8 Mirage had, and it doesn't have its 16 bit PCM

But again if you want the factory ROM simply install it. Or just buy the hardware if you really want authenticity

[Spitfire31]

Guys, finally please show Sheaf some respect and don't let this Wag troll obstruct the thread!

Just ignore him.

/JHS

[IvyBirds]

Guys, finally please show Sheaf some respect and don't let this Wag troll obstruct the thread!

Just ignore him.

/JHS

But we are showing great respect when we explain exactly why not having the original factory samples isn't a big deal at all

[Artie Fichelle]

Original Roms, not necessary, we can get them on the Internet of we desire to. I am looking forward to the release and I bet you will soon hear sounds far better than Yamaha did. Why? We now understand FM and have the tools to program it precisely.

[soundman007]

I'm also looking forward to SWAY. It will be interesting comparing my SY77 to SWAY. Funny really, using the old lady merely as a keyboard to trigger her own "new" sounds in SWAY.

[wagtunes]

Okay, you've all given me a lot to think about. I suppose it doesn't matter if I don't have the original ROM files as long as it still has the capabilities of an SY77.

Sorry for being so obtuse but I am a long time Yamaha user going back to the mid 70s. I've owned many of their synths including the CS, DX, TG, etc. They were my first synths next to my Moog and ARP synths. So there is a long history there. My last Yamaha synth was the Motif. I never really jelled with it and never bought another new Yamaha synth. They lost their charm. Yeah, I know, they technically sounded "better" but something about them just left me cold.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the SY77 if it ever comes out. I'm still not holding my breath on that.

[epiphaneia]

The original SY77 waveforms are less than special. SWAY will not be harmed by having waveforms that aren’t identical to the originals.

I own a TG77 and would pay good money if there was a way to equip it with different samples