We now finally have at least one thing clear regarding Synth1...

[EvilDragon]

Speaking for myself, I really wanted for Synth1 to have a future. It's not ARM compatible, it doesn't run on Linux without emulation, it has a limitation for patch browsing that shouldn't be there in 2026 (fixed number of banks). And of course, the UI could be better.

But as it stands, it will bitrot into oblivion eventually. Sad.

[Nug Wrangler]

Sad indeed.

[wikter]

it has a limitation for patch browsing that shouldn't be there in 2026 (fixed number of banks).

You can use zipbanks for thousands of banks. Virtually Unlimited. A zipfile containing multiple banks. They're read-only. And you keep adding writeable banks up to 100. If 12800 writable patches is not enough, then you have a problem...

[wikter]

First of all, I want to apologize if this message sounds rude. Synth1 was a great plugin, and it helped me create my first custom presets and sounds when I was just starting out in music. It’s great that you wanted to request the code to perform an update or upgrade, but now comes the part where I have to apologize, because I’m simply an amateur music producer and not a VST plugin developer:

What was the actual motivation for diving into modifying the code for Synth1, when it’s fair to say that SurgeXT far surpasses this VST instrument in terms of capabilities? And a second question: if the goal is an easy-to-use synth that will have similar success to Synth1, why not “strip down” SurgeXT and create a Synth1 clone that has similar parameters and a fast workflow compared to the complex monster that is SurgeXT?

Thanks for reading.

y-

The simple answer is, not all synths sound equal. If the code is not up-to-date, it could be buggy on modern operating systems. And the Surge Sound Team has a fork of OB-Xd. If you want a modern Synth1, the closest thing that is free is Charlatan 3.

Charlatan 3 is Windows/Linux Only, no Mac version. There's also the "old" Charlatan 2 which is a very limited monosynth (poly is buggy, altough setting on DCO sometimes get rid of the bug) but has no effect and modulation is scarce.
Anyway, S1 still working fine under Windows 10/11.

[EvilDragon]

it has a limitation for patch browsing that shouldn't be there in 2026 (fixed number of banks).

You can use zipbanks for thousands of banks. Virtually Unlimited. A zipfile containing multiple banks. They're read-only. And you keep adding writeable banks up to 100. If 12800 writable patches is not enough, then you have a problem...

Zipbanks are unpacked on every instantiation of Synth1, it is a crude hack of a solution, and so I'm not using it.

[wikter]

Why would he? Why would anyone want it? It's a relic, doesn't come close to stuff available now

Says the man who still uses Orion.

Just about everyday. Its a sequencer. Does what it says on the tin.

If it supported vst3 you'd probably still be using it.
Doesn't matter here. There isn't a single vst3 I'm interested in, and sequencing my hardware is unaffected.

You can use VST3 plugins in Orion with Buzz Polac Adapters. It also does some kind of x64<>x86 bridge.
https://www.xlutop.com/buzz/

[wikter]

There were some other interesting instruments like Iblit/PolyIblit whose code is updated and freely available :
https://gitlab.com/andreasersson/polyfilur-auv3
A new splitted version of ERS Drums is also there.
https://gitlab.com/andreasersson/drumelidrum-auv3

In fact, I have both working on my Windows machine, it's up to anyone to compile it... (someone did that for me)

[rod_zero]

Nothing lasts....but nothing is lost.