Baby Audio BA-1 synth out now!

[beely]

yeah I meant stores that are not 1) directly the manufacturer, 2) plugin boutique or 3) plugin alliance. First time hearing of JRR I tought it was geared more towards hardware.

Eric (JRR) sells quite a bit of software (as well as hardware of course). In fact their regular promo blurbs they email are almost all software offers...

[dopet]

Well, I bought it. . Like many here, sometimes I need to make ‘simple sounds’ in a simple fashion, so I appreciate the layout/controls. Also, I really dig the sound and character of this one.

[steffensen]

A simple subtractive synth is going to sound similar to everything else, a more complex one can sound different. You seem to think the opposite, but having less features than everything else isn't going to make it sound unique.

Ah, that explains why so many mention this.
Sorry to say, you couldn't be more wrong.

Minimoog and Odyssey are somewhat similar in features (somewhat), do they sound the same? NO. Because they have totally different circuitry inside.
Most of the vintage synths have their own sound, no matter how many features they have.
Could be a generation thing i guess. I grew up listening to, and using these differences, while the majority of the synths today sound very similar with the same features onboard.

[j wazza]

A simple subtractive synth is going to sound similar to everything else, a more complex one can sound different. You seem to think the opposite, but having less features than everything else isn't going to make it sound unique.

Ah, that explains why so many mention this.
Sorry to say, you couldn't be more wrong.

Minimoog and Odyssey are somewhat similar in features (somewhat), do they sound the same? NO. Because they have totally different circuitry inside.
Most of the vintage synths have their own sound, no matter how many features they have.
Could be a generation thing i guess. I grew up listening to, and using these differences, while the majority of the synths today sound very similar with the same features onboard.

subtractive saw and squares can still sound different from each other, I'm not saying they all sound exactly the same. I said earlier that BA-1 does have a different sound from my other VAs. But different saw waves do sound more similar to each other than different complex modular setups.

I don't understand how 2 people can think the opposite, do you think there is more difference between 2 saw waves from different synths than the difference between 2 complex waveforms from different synths?

Some people like simple synths, some people like complex ones, so having a choice of both is best. I'm not against simple synths existing, as I said I like them sometimes but not always, and I bought BA-1. I don't get why anyone is against more complex versions existing, just don't buy it if you don't want it.

[Artie Fichelle]

Evolution is a slow process, best you can do, is to test it yourself. I did, but will not tell you my verdict.

[osiris]

I like the demos but demos can be processed. Simple, clean layout, good price - what's not to like? It also looks like the Osc section has a slider that can mix waves. Nice feature.

[steffensen]

subtractive saw and squares can still sound different from each other, I'm not saying they all sound exactly the same. I said earlier that BA-1 does have a different sound from my other VAs. But different saw waves do sound more similar to each other than different complex modular setups.

I don't understand how 2 people can think the opposite, do you think there is more difference between 2 saw waves from different synths than the difference between 2 complex waveforms from different synths?

Some people like simple synths, some people like complex ones, so having a choice of both is best. I'm not against simple synths existing, as I said I like them sometimes but not always, and I bought BA-1. I don't get why anyone is against more complex versions existing, just don't buy it if you don't want it.

I'm not against a Extended version. I'm against adding more to this one.
I always get stunned when i have too many options and features these days. I almost always end up spending weeks tweaking the sounds, comparing A to B to C... instead of making music.
I used to love many features, but now i just don't have the time or patience anymore.
If it's there, i will tweak it however. I just can't stay away.

For me it's not about what the biggest difference is between A and B. It's about how it sounds like. A simple synth that sounds great, with the right features selected is what many of us really could use in a world of options.

This "simple" synth, have already been the base of 50 new presets made, from just a few hours of use. All different from the other.
Again, for me, that's plenty.

[machinesworking]

A simple subtractive synth is going to sound similar to everything else, a more complex one can sound different. You seem to think the opposite, but having less features than everything else isn't going to make it sound unique.

Ah, that explains why so many mention this.
Sorry to say, you couldn't be more wrong.

Minimoog and Odyssey are somewhat similar in features (somewhat), do they sound the same? NO. Because they have totally different circuitry inside.
Most of the vintage synths have their own sound, no matter how many features they have.
Could be a generation thing i guess. I grew up listening to, and using these differences, while the majority of the synths today sound very similar with the same features onboard.

subtractive saw and squares can still sound different from each other, I'm not saying they all sound exactly the same. I said earlier that BA-1 does have a different sound from my other VAs. But different saw waves do sound more similar to each other than different complex modular setups.

I don't understand how 2 people can think the opposite, do you think there is more difference between 2 saw waves from different synths than the difference between 2 complex waveforms from different synths?

Some people like simple synths, some people like complex ones, so having a choice of both is best. I'm not against simple synths existing, as I said I like them sometimes but not always, and I bought BA-1. I don't get why anyone is against more complex versions existing, just don't buy it if you don't want it.

I guess some of us are bigger nerds than others. I've taken every synth I've owned at one point and open the filter up, turned off any resonance etc, just to hear the sound of the oscillators. They don't all sound the same. Subtractive synthesis starts with that sound, and so without any surprise they all sound different when you start filtering, detuning, etc. etc.

If it was true that all synths sounded the same at the core then one could use Reaktor, Max/MSP, Falcon or Ominsphere and be done with it, but it's not.

One more point, I have hundreds by now fantastic FX plug ins, that IMO work best with simpler synths, there's not any reason to put Filterscape on Falcon or a Reaktor instrument, but adding it to this synth would be fun though.

[BONES]

A simple subtractive synth is going to sound similar to everything else, a more complex one can sound different. You seem to think the opposite, but having less features than everything else isn't going to make it sound unique.

Except it is because it has features you won't find on any other synth. Which other synth, for example, has a speaker emulation mode? Or models the behaviour of flat batteries? It won't be able to recreate the range of sounds of a more complex synth but it will definitely be able to make its own, unique sounds.

The other thing is, who cares if it isn't all that unique anyway? Everything worth doing has already been done and what's left these days are sounds nobody would be interested in. Trying to chase a unique sound is a waste of time, things like ease of use will serve most of us far better. Everything can have its place, if you have the creativity to find it.

Minimoog and Odyssey are somewhat similar in features (somewhat), do they sound the same? NO. Because they have totally different circuitry inside.

I think that's a bit of a stretch. I can't think of two more different synths that Odyssey and Model D. For a start, one has three oscillators, the other only has two. The thing is though, they are both capable of making the same sounds and most of the time you are not going to know which you are listening to in a mix. I think the differences between synths is massively over-emphasised these days.

[gentleclockdivider]

Minimoog and Odyssey are somewhat similar in features (somewhat),

Yeah right …somewhat
Minimoog:
-Osc 3 —>osc 1 Fm
-Osc 3 —> filter FM
That’s it
Oddisey :
-osc fm
-Filter fm
- pulse width mod
- Osc sync
-ring mod
-s/h mixer

[j wazza]

subtractive saw and squares can still sound different from each other, I'm not saying they all sound exactly the same.

They don't all sound the same. If it was true that all synths sounded the same at the core then one could use Reaktor, Max/MSP, Falcon or Ominsphere and be done with it, but it's not.

I even put it in bold and you missed the point, this is the most kvr post ever

[j wazza]

A simple subtractive synth is going to sound similar to everything else, a more complex one can sound different. You seem to think the opposite, but having less features than everything else isn't going to make it sound unique.

Except it is because it has features you won't find on any other synth. Which other synth, for example, has a speaker emulation mode? Or models the behaviour of flat batteries? It won't be able to recreate the range of sounds of a more complex synth but it will definitely be able to make its own, unique sounds.

The other thing is, who cares if it isn't all that unique anyway? Everything worth doing has already been done and what's left these days are sounds nobody would be interested in. Trying to chase a unique sound is a waste of time, things like ease of use will serve most of us far better. Everything can have its place, if you have the creativity to find it.

I was talking generally about simple subtractive synths getting more samey than complex synths. You're right that the speaker and batteries features are unique to BA-1, which is cool.

You said that adding more features will make it the same as every synth (less unique), I said that having less features makes it less unique, and you replied who cares if its not unique? That negates your own point about adding more features making it the same as every synth.

Not everything needs to be unique, but I get bored of using only the same subtractive sounds that people have used for decades. I disagree that everything worth doing has already been done. And lots of synths, even the ones that can make complex sounds, are still pretty easy to use imo

Its also just about having enough features to make it a great VA synth, and adding unison would make it shine imo, its always a good feature for VAs and this could make really lush pads as BA-1 already sounds great

[kevinsparks]

Some more strange behavior. I can't tell if it's a bug or a feature. When playing more than one note at a time, some notes jump up an octave. In the clip, I'm playing a simple D minor, just those three notes at the beginning. You can hear the octaves jump around when the notes start bleeding over each other

https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code ... RxeJ4GkAYk

[machinesworking]

subtractive saw and squares can still sound different from each other, I'm not saying they all sound exactly the same.

They don't all sound the same. If it was true that all synths sounded the same at the core then one could use Reaktor, Max/MSP, Falcon or Ominsphere and be done with it, but it's not.

I even put it in bold and you missed the point, this is the most kvr post ever

Yeah like how you left out that your whole dammed point has been they need more features because. \

But different saw waves do sound more similar to each other than different complex modular setups.

I don't understand how 2 people can think the opposite, do you think there is more difference between 2 saw waves from different synths than the difference between 2 complex waveforms from different synths?

Some people like simple synths, some people like complex ones, so having a choice of both is best. I'm not against simple synths existing, as I said I like them sometimes but not always, and I bought BA-1. I don't get why anyone is against more complex versions existing, just don't buy it if you don't want it.

So, which is it? are you arguing that this synth needs more features, because sawtooth waveforms are not complex or are you arguing that this synth needs more features because they will sound different, but not because the raw sound is different? You've talked yourself into a corner, and you're doing that internet thing where you act like other people don't understand your point, we get it, you wanted attention, and you have some, congratulations.

[j wazza]

So, which is it? are you arguing that this synth needs more features, because sawtooth waveforms are not complex or are you arguing that this synth needs more features because they will sound different, but not because the raw sound is different? You've talked yourself into a corner, and you're doing that internet thing where you act like other people don't understand your point, we get it, you wanted attention, and you have some, congratulations.

The raw sound of different analog sawtooths IS different. That difference is less than the difference between the complex waveforms that can be made with more than simple subtractive synthesis.

BA-1 can't do complex sounds. Complex synths have a wider range of possible sounds, so they can sound more different from each other than simple synths. More complex features = more complex sounds, so more complex features = wider range of difference in sound. So 2 sawtooths sound more alike than 2 complex additive patches. I think this is self-evident.

Mostly, I'd like more features like unison for BA-1 because it would sound good. It doesn't need to become super complex, it's a VA.

I started off saying I want more features, then I've been responding to other people's arguments that don't make sense, such as more features making a synth less unique, which is not my argument, I'm saying the opposite. This debate is quite theoretical, and pointless when people don't properly read a post. I've said multiple times that different subtractive synths have their own sound, and that simple synths also have their benefits, and then people respond with those same points that I've already agknowledged.