Wire up a couple of transistors, a few resistors, some diodes, and a couple of op-amps and you get 'analog'. Now, manufacturing gets better and you pack them into an simple hardwired circuit component, and you get an IC. Still analog. Then, technology advances and you manage to pack a couple hundred IC's into a silicon wafer. Now you're VA'ing.... funny how we want exactly that which engineers have worked so hard to render obsolete...
I own a virus, and for me it's the interface, the interaction, the ownership, aswell as the sound. For the record I believe Spectrasonics' Atmosphere is easily the sonic equal of the TI. I believe FM7 does FM better, and I believe my old PPG wave VSTi did wavetable better. I still love the delicate transparency of Albino [still haven't upgraded to 3, though]. I think Wusik sounds brilliant. And I'm guessing that once we're all 64 bit, 96 or 192kHz, my TI might sound a little old hat.
But after mousing it, and turning anonymous assigned knobs for an age, I just felt that I needed an instrument, not just a program with a generic interface. I like the way that the filter cutoff knob is always filter cutoff, and I can reach for it in the dark or with my eyes closed [ooh, matron!]. I still own, use and love VST synths, and frankly they sound just as good to my ears. It's just down to choice, that's all. Shouldn't we stop making such a big deal about comparing?
VSTis as good as hardware? Similar to Access Virus Quality?
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- KVRAF
- 2028 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from New York, N.Y.
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- KVRAF
- 2028 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from New York, N.Y.
C'mon snooky, without threads like this your post count would probably be 2. Let's face it, you're addicted to these threads!
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- KVRAF
- 8686 posts since 24 May, 2002 from Tutukaka, New Zealand
Nah...Danbroad makes some sensible comments. I can't argue with him on interface etc. I too would always rather use an interface with dedicated knobs, sliders or ribbons etc. It's part of the pleasure. And if that's why people buy things like Viruses - i.e. they like its particular character and like having a real interface, then good on them for doing so.
If they buy a Virus simply because it's h/w (and the only one they can afford) and they simply don't have the ears to assess which are the real quality VSTi synths around to compete with it or better it, then they're idiots. And unfortunately there do seem to be quite a few I've come across who give that impression. But Dan's reasons for buying a Virus are perfectly sound.
I'll always prefer a synth with a dedicated interface if it's a straight choice between a s/w one and a h/w one that sounds identical, although the price will likely sway me towards the s/w one admittedly. For example I'd rather play with a crappy Juno than with PolyIblit and a mouse (although PolyIblit has more flexibility), but they're both of comparable sound. But if it's between something crappy like a Juno and something tasty like impOSCar...impOSCar will win over the Juno and its sliders. There really is no contest between bad h/w and good s/w IMO.
Shame I don't have a soundcard in this PC...can't listen to Aciddose's MP3. Because I know for a fact that s/w can produce filtering as good as many a good analogue synth...just that not too many have achieved it yet. But if it's filtering that just sounds like a Virus...ain't worth the bother IMO. I'll give them a listen tonight at work.
Hmmm...I can't even remember what the question was now. Something about VSTi compared to h/w? Completely depends on the VSTi and the h/w. If he means Junos and Jens and Viruses, or horrible S&S synths such as those nasty Korg NXYZ354720GTiTurbo thingies....I could list many VSTi that are better. ImpOSCar, Vaz, Oddity, Minimonsta (although I don't personally like the Moog sound), Creakbox, CS80v, MS20, Wavestation, Wusikstation and strangely enough - even things like Bojo's Impulse (some freebies really do perform well in certain areas).
If he means Waldorf Waves, Obie 8-voices, Serge modulars, VCS3s etc...hmmmm that seriously narrows the list down.
If they buy a Virus simply because it's h/w (and the only one they can afford) and they simply don't have the ears to assess which are the real quality VSTi synths around to compete with it or better it, then they're idiots. And unfortunately there do seem to be quite a few I've come across who give that impression. But Dan's reasons for buying a Virus are perfectly sound.
I'll always prefer a synth with a dedicated interface if it's a straight choice between a s/w one and a h/w one that sounds identical, although the price will likely sway me towards the s/w one admittedly. For example I'd rather play with a crappy Juno than with PolyIblit and a mouse (although PolyIblit has more flexibility), but they're both of comparable sound. But if it's between something crappy like a Juno and something tasty like impOSCar...impOSCar will win over the Juno and its sliders. There really is no contest between bad h/w and good s/w IMO.
Shame I don't have a soundcard in this PC...can't listen to Aciddose's MP3. Because I know for a fact that s/w can produce filtering as good as many a good analogue synth...just that not too many have achieved it yet. But if it's filtering that just sounds like a Virus...ain't worth the bother IMO. I'll give them a listen tonight at work.
Hmmm...I can't even remember what the question was now. Something about VSTi compared to h/w? Completely depends on the VSTi and the h/w. If he means Junos and Jens and Viruses, or horrible S&S synths such as those nasty Korg NXYZ354720GTiTurbo thingies....I could list many VSTi that are better. ImpOSCar, Vaz, Oddity, Minimonsta (although I don't personally like the Moog sound), Creakbox, CS80v, MS20, Wavestation, Wusikstation and strangely enough - even things like Bojo's Impulse (some freebies really do perform well in certain areas).
If he means Waldorf Waves, Obie 8-voices, Serge modulars, VCS3s etc...hmmmm that seriously narrows the list down.
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- Banned
- 4026 posts since 27 Jan, 2004
or perhaps I'm secretly in love with you!!jplanet wrote:C'mon snooky, without threads like this your post count would probably be 2. Let's face it, you're addicted to these threads!
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- KVRAF
- 2028 posts since 18 Mar, 2004 from New York, N.Y.
snooky wrote:or perhaps I'm secretly in love with you!!jplanet wrote:C'mon snooky, without threads like this your post count would probably be 2. Let's face it, you're addicted to these threads!
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2685 posts since 14 Jul, 2005 from Australia
Check out what I did with Zebra tonight...
http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/OceanlabZebra.mp3
This might be THE synth
BTW, I know the EQing is kinda harsh on it, but that's actually kinda how the original was ... wierd
in fact, the original had way more treble too
Fots
http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/OceanlabZebra.mp3
This might be THE synth
BTW, I know the EQing is kinda harsh on it, but that's actually kinda how the original was ... wierd
in fact, the original had way more treble tooFots
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- KVRist
- 83 posts since 11 Apr, 2004
oh cmon... if a synth is good sounding or not is subjective, but fact is that the virus is the fav synth of many many many dance music producers (including me), and in particular trance producers ( they like JP8000 too ). The synth simply fit the genre and its sound conventions. Also don't forget that the virus has 1024 presets, plus many great preset libs that are availiable. ( get the vengeance ones if your after supersaws... ) It uses 0% of you CPU, and comes with a nice set of knobs. 
In my ears the virus beats all softsynths i tried, and ive been around since reality was the latest and hottest softsynth...
Dont forget to try firebird, its very "trancy"...
In my ears the virus beats all softsynths i tried, and ive been around since reality was the latest and hottest softsynth...
Dont forget to try firebird, its very "trancy"...
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2685 posts since 14 Jul, 2005 from Australia
hey, thanks for the advice, I'm checking out firebird right now. Since you use a Virus, can you maybe tell me ..Mr Smith wrote:oh cmon... if a synth is good sounding or not is subjective, but fact is that the virus is the fav synth of many many many dance music producers (including me), and in particular trance producers ( they like JP8000 too ). The synth simply fit the genre and its sound conventions. Also don't forget that the virus has 1024 presets, plus many great preset libs that are availiable. ( get the vengeance ones if your after supersaws... ) It uses 0% of you CPU, and comes with a nice set of knobs.
In my ears the virus beats all softsynths i tried, and ive been around since reality was the latest and hottest softsynth...
Dont forget to try firebird, its very "trancy"...
Suppose I want a sound like this..
http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/HugeSyncSounds.mp3
That hard sound you hear in each of those 3 tracks. I've been working so hard on Zebra2 and Synth1 and can only end up with cheesy 303 sounding distortion like this...
http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/MyHardLead.mp3
and the distorted lead in this
http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/SoundPa ... Sample.mp3
I program these with a highly resonant filter and a distortion, the sounds in the commercial tracks don't appear to be using hard sync and I've tried it but it sounded completely different. Any idea how they do it ? It's almost like a robotic sound, kinda metalic at parts, and I just love it ! It sounds so real and alive, mine sound out of date and crappy.
Could this be a limitation of soft-synths or am I doing something wrong ?
Huge thanks
Fots
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2685 posts since 14 Jul, 2005 from Australia
you mean the oceanlab lead ? Yep I guess they can but that's more like ... spread over 2 octaves, 8 voice unison = 16 oscs per note.aciddose wrote:soundpalace, but.. that is just a lame unison saw.. what am i missing?
cant every synth do that?
but yep I guess most can although this is the closest I've gotten to the original which was done on a virus imho
I've heard some unisons that sound like flangers, I think this shows the strength of a unison algorithm too.
But yep, I guess it's nothing special, just thought I'd share what I'm playing with
Fots
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2685 posts since 14 Jul, 2005 from Australia
Hmm, let me make sure I know which you're referring to...
What I wish I could do (not my tracks): http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/HugeSyncSounds.mp3
Zebra2: http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/MyHardLead.mp3
Synth1: http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/SoundPa ... Sample.mp3
which one are you referring to Ildon ?
Cheers
Fots
What I wish I could do (not my tracks): http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/HugeSyncSounds.mp3
Zebra2: http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/MyHardLead.mp3
Synth1: http://www.users.on.net/~djbros/SoundPa ... Sample.mp3
which one are you referring to Ildon ?
Cheers
Fots
Sorry.