KVR Audio

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 5:23 pm

I like the non-EDM presets that Yu Chen (Kaiyoti) crafted for Hive; they are emulations of traditional instruments. Check out the following KVR thread.

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 5:26 pm

Has anyone done any patch comparisons between Hive and Sylenth, such as recreating a few of your favorite Sylenth patches on Hive and do a blind comparison test?

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 5:56 pm

billcarroll wrote:Has anyone done any patch comparisons between Hive and Sylenth, such as recreating a few of your favorite Sylenth patches on Hive and do a blind comparison test?

The following YouTube video compares a pad sound that was created in Hive to emulate a pad sound originally created with Sylenth. It is not a blind comparison, but I suppose one could be created by extracting the appropriate audio portions from the video to create an A-B blind comparison audio loop.

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 6:08 pm

Thanks @tonedef71.

I still think there is some fun to be had here. Maybe we could select 5 great Sylenth patches and have a contest of some sort to recreate them in Hive? I don't own Sylenth, or I'd pick the patches now and get something going.

I suspect Hive would do really well up against Sylenth in a blind shootout.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 6:16 pm

tonedef71 wrote:
billcarroll wrote:Has anyone done any patch comparisons between Hive and Sylenth, such as recreating a few of your favorite Sylenth patches on Hive and do a blind comparison test?
The following YouTube video compares a pad sound that was created in Hive to emulate a pad sound originally created with Sylenth. It is not a blind comparison, but I suppose one could be created by extracting the appropriate audio portions from the video to create an A-B blind comparison audio loop.

See, this is what I don't get. And I'm a big U-he fan. He says, after playing both patches that he thinks the Hive one beats it.

I don't hear any fricken difference at all.

It's like some of you are brainwashed when it comes to your favorite synths.

fluffy_little_something · Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:08 pm

tonedef71 wrote:
billcarroll wrote:Has anyone done any patch comparisons between Hive and Sylenth, such as recreating a few of your favorite Sylenth patches on Hive and do a blind comparison test?
The following YouTube video compares a pad sound that was created in Hive to emulate a pad sound originally created with Sylenth. It is not a blind comparison, but I suppose one could be created by extracting the appropriate audio portions from the video to create an A-B blind comparison audio loop.

Yes, that kind of patch is so dense, it doesn't really matter whether one uses Hive, Sylenth, Dune, Mux or something similar.

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:15 pm

fluffy_little_something wrote:
tonedef71 wrote:
billcarroll wrote:Has anyone done any patch comparisons between Hive and Sylenth, such as recreating a few of your favorite Sylenth patches on Hive and do a blind comparison test?
The following YouTube video compares a pad sound that was created in Hive to emulate a pad sound originally created with Sylenth. It is not a blind comparison, but I suppose one could be created by extracting the appropriate audio portions from the video to create an A-B blind comparison audio loop.

Yes, that kind of patch is so dense, it doesn't really matter whether one uses Hive, Sylenth, Dune, Mux or something similar.

And therein lies the crux of my whole argument of why this is so pointless. Sure, if you want to argue Synth A has a more pure sawtooth wave than Synth B (after running it through your analysis programs) or that Synth X is easier to get from screen A to screen B than synth Y or that I like Synth X better because it doesn't have a screen B (everything on one page), I can get behind all of that. I prefer to use synths that make me jump through less hoops if I can get the same sound than from a synth that makes me jump through more hoops.

But in the context of making music that Joe Blow on the receiving end walking around with his boom box is going to be able to tell that we used Synth X instead of Synth Y and for that matter even cares, is ludicrous.

Just give me something I can make good music with and get sounds that I think will fit that music.

The rest is just window dressing and nonsense.

fluffy_little_something · Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:24 pm

Most listeners have no clue of synths, so indeed all that matters is the sound, no matter how it was created. Does it sound good or pleasant enough?
So, when I program the same sound on two synths and the result sounds different, the listener might prefer one to the other. This is where the choice between two synths might become important.
Many listeners don't really care about the details of the sounds they hear, though. They are not audiophiles. Some just want a melody with simple lyrics to sing along to. Others just want a good groove to dance to.

I have noticed that since I started messing with synths, I have kind of lost that innocent attitude towards music. I no longer simply listen to a song and enjoy it, but automatically analyze the sounds, which is terrible.

tonedef71 · Post by **tonedef71** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 8:57 pm

fluffy_little_something wrote:I have noticed that since I started messing with synths, I have kind of lost that innocent attitude towards music. I no longer simply listen to a song and enjoy it, but automatically analyze the sounds, which is terrible.

Acknowledging that one has a problem is the first step toward recovery.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:37 pm

wagtunes wrote:And therein lies the crux of my whole argument of why this is so pointless. Sure, if you want to argue Synth A has a more pure sawtooth wave than Synth B (after running it through your analysis programs) or that Synth X is easier to get from screen A to screen B than synth Y or that I like Synth X better because it doesn't have a screen B (everything on one page), I can get behind all of that. I prefer to use synths that make me jump through less hoops if I can get the same sound than from a synth that makes me jump through more hoops.

What is pointless to you can be fun for others... If some people enjoy comparing the minutia of Synth A vs Synth B then why denigrate something that they enjoy?

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:52 pm

pdxindy wrote:
wagtunes wrote:And therein lies the crux of my whole argument of why this is so pointless. Sure, if you want to argue Synth A has a more pure sawtooth wave than Synth B (after running it through your analysis programs) or that Synth X is easier to get from screen A to screen B than synth Y or that I like Synth X better because it doesn't have a screen B (everything on one page), I can get behind all of that. I prefer to use synths that make me jump through less hoops if I can get the same sound than from a synth that makes me jump through more hoops.
What is pointless to you can be fun for others... If some people enjoy comparing the minutia of Synth A vs Synth B then why denigrate something that they enjoy?

It isn't the comparisons that I mind. It's the definitive statements (synth X is better than synth Y BECAUSE it has a more pure sawtooth wave) that drive me crazy. Do all the comparisons you want if it makes you happy. As long as you understand in the final analysis that it doesn't mean diddly to the person who is listening to your music, if you even make music at all. I wonder how many of these analysis junkies actually use their synths for more than just running through analyzers?

I like to make music with the stuff that I paid a lot of money for because that's supposedly what it's there for.

Or am I the oddball around here?

Igro · Post by **Igro** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:54 pm

fluffy_little_something wrote:
I have noticed that since I started messing with synths, I have kind of lost that innocent attitude towards music. I no longer simply listen to a song and enjoy it, but automatically analyze the sounds, which is terrible.

I did that when I was 15-19. I'm glad it wasn't too long so I can just enjoy a song rather than thinking about every single sample within a song.

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:55 pm

wagtunes wrote:
pdxindy wrote:
wagtunes wrote:And therein lies the crux of my whole argument of why this is so pointless. Sure, if you want to argue Synth A has a more pure sawtooth wave than Synth B (after running it through your analysis programs) or that Synth X is easier to get from screen A to screen B than synth Y or that I like Synth X better because it doesn't have a screen B (everything on one page), I can get behind all of that. I prefer to use synths that make me jump through less hoops if I can get the same sound than from a synth that makes me jump through more hoops.
What is pointless to you can be fun for others... If some people enjoy comparing the minutia of Synth A vs Synth B then why denigrate something that they enjoy?
It isn't the comparisons that I mind. It's the definitive statements (synth X is better than synth Y BECAUSE it has a more pure sawtooth wave) that drive me crazy. Do all the comparisons you want if it makes you happy. As long as you understand in the final analysis that it doesn't mean diddly to the person who is listening to your music, if you even make music at all. I wonder how many of these analysis junkies actually use their synths for more than just running through analyzers?

I like to make music with the stuff that I paid a lot of money for because that's supposedly what it's there for.

Or am I the oddball around here?

With 3000+ posts in a year here, it kinda looks like what you really like is posting in forums.

Seriously though, comparing synths can be fun. It also leads to sound design, and *GASP* making music. All in good fun.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:05 pm

tonedef71 wrote: The following YouTube video compares a pad sound that was created in Hive to emulate a pad sound originally created with Sylenth. It is not a blind comparison, but I suppose one could be created by extracting the appropriate audio portions from the video to create an A-B blind comparison audio loop.

I started the video then realized it is 17 minutes long and I that was that

Hive and Sylenth have a different tone... some sounds can be very close, but others not.

I think each person has to try them and decide if one or the other is better for them. I'd pick Hive over Sylenth without a second thought.

Sylenth has some lovely sweet spots... but overall, I find the sound quality of Hive significantly better. Hive is easier to use and has a much better modulation system. You can modulate envelope slope per stage which leads to more variety of plucked/key/lead sounds. Similar Sylenth sounds have too much same-ness in the character as created by the envelope (I don't mean timbre) which bugs me.

Hive is a u-he synth which also means interesting and creative ongoing development (not impossible but unlikely with Sylenth). One example, and for me a big one... Hive works with the new breed of controllers like Linnstrument and Seaboard Rise. When u-he adds their preset tagging and browser, I know Hive will be updated with it. The u-he GUI's scale nicely and stay sharp at the various sizes. Hive has better midi controller/learn support and the arp/seq combo is better.

I don't particularly love the spaceship visuals of the Hive GUI (I'd prefer plainer)... but in terms of ease of use and speedy workflow, Hive is the best I have used. With drag-n-drop modulation, copy/paste between modules, modules presets, 1 window interface it is such a pleasure to use.

Trancit · Post by **Trancit** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 11:50 pm

Ok, many good arguments and statements here...

For me being more on the Sylenth´s side, there are at least 2 things really making a difference for me personally...

1. (and the most important) I cannot stand Hive´s envelope attack... sounds to me like a heavy negative logarythmic curve (dunno, if this is correct ... I mean slow start- fast end)... with attack times about 300-600 ms there´s first nothing (or very little), then comes the sounds very abrupt ... I personaly find negative logarythmic (if this term is correct) very ugly for attack times about these values I posted... it´s just sounding shitty (sorry

)

2. (this is not an showstopper like the first) I don´t like every parameter readout to be in percentage...
Imho, envelope times have to be in ms/sec, Filter Cutoff in Hz etc...
I know this is not a biggie and I know, that´s more or less the U-He way but for me it´s just annoying ...

Anyone here use Hive?