Emulations we are still missing 2023 edition

[Shabdahbriah]

Most of the tools I'd like to see cloned are digital and had an amazing sound and workflow. The sounds of analog are not super sought after by myself and I can build something if I really feel I need it, but an insanely accurate Nord modular G1 and G2 that would run with full recall and no cables would make my day. Also having kyma port their DSP over to run inside a plugin along with their nifty interface would be super rad.

I have 'analog' hardware that does everything I need or can imagine I'd want/need, but the above two things would definitely be something I'd be all over. Those, and a Waldorf Microwave XT.

Honestly I'm as happy as I've ever been with the state of sound generating tools.

Same.

[Ah_Dziz]

Most of the tools I'd like to see cloned are digital and had an amazing sound and workflow. The sounds of analog are not super sought after by myself and I can build something if I really feel I need it, but an insanely accurate Nord modular G1 and G2 that would run with full recall and no cables would make my day. Also having kyma port their DSP over to run inside a plugin along with their nifty interface would be super rad.

I have 'analog' hardware that does everything I need or can imagine I'd want/need, but the above two things would definitely be something I'd be all over. Those, and a Waldorf Microwave XT.

Honestly I'm as happy as I've ever been with the state of sound generating tools.

Same.

I did very much enjoy the XT back in the day but I haven't really ever missed it with the amount of great wave table stuff there is out there. I used it as a "pad machine" for years, but honestly I'd pick a perfect emulation of the an1x for that role over the XT in a heartbeat. Probably just a matter of personal preference.

[zerocrossing]

Now we just need to find someone who is willing to make captures of an Evolver at various drive and feedback settings. It won’t be the same, but I bet it would be cool anyway.

One cool thing about Tonex is it reacts to the input volume you give it. I've found that (with guitar amps, at least) I don't need to capture every gain level, I just need to capture the maximum gain level and then turn down the input level. I'd be happy to do it if I had an Evolver, it only takes a few minutes of set up time (the computer has to work on it for hours but that's all automatic).

Yeah, I have noticed that Tonex models work really well that way. I don’t know if they stay “true”to how an actual amp sounds as the input decreases, but I don’t care, it sounds very good to me.

[Uncle E]

Yeah, I have noticed that Tonex models work really well that way. I don’t know if they stay “true”to how an actual amp sounds as the input decreases, but I don’t care, it sounds very good to me.

You can do it yourself using the TONEX demo. It's fully functional for 10 days. It's also much easier to set up since all the signals are line level (no need for the IK Capture hardware).

[zerocrossing]

Yeah, I have noticed that Tonex models work really well that way. I don’t know if they stay “true”to how an actual amp sounds as the input decreases, but I don’t care, it sounds very good to me.

You can do it yourself using the TONEX demo. It's fully functional for 10 days. It's also much easier to set up since all the signals are line level (no need for the IK Capture hardware).

But I sold my Evolver a while ago. The idea was that I’d eventually get two PolyEvolvers, and I never could find them in rack form. I got tired of waiting so I got a Prophet 12, which I love, but does not have a line in for processing.

[zerocrossing]

Something in my psyche believes that synthesizers are best when its oscillators are in odd numbers.

1,3,5 or 7.

You must love Supersaws.

Actually don't care for them much at all. And in the realm of 7 and 9, those seem most suited toward the algorithmic operators. I really don't understand why any developer limits their plugin with a 4 op engine. I've been hoping a bit for Biotek to add 1-3 more to correct that weakness.

I think it’s more because simpletons like me can barely manage 6, find 8 uncomfortable and consider any more to be the realm of Vulcan science officers.

[dionenoid]

Had a Poly Evolver rack for a while, which broke down unfortunately. It had some quite unique sounds for a hardware synth, but nothing that can't be done with any proper vsti imo.

I always used it with the editor, so i could use it sort of like a plugin. When it broke down there were already plenty of software synths that ran circles around it, so never really bothered much about it. Always found it to be pretty digital sounding anyway. The distortion was nice tho.

Just out of curiosity, what are these software synths that run circles around an Evolver? Do they have four oscillators - two analog and two 12 bit digital featuring Prophet VS waveforms, four LFOs, three envelopes, numerous hard-wired modulation routings, an additional four slot mod matrix, four step/parameter sequencers, dual analog filters with a "split" parameter for great stereo filter effects, FM and ring modulation on the digital oscillators, and all manner of digital sound mangling effects. I've never heard any synth plugin sound as gritty and intense as an Evolver. Nor have I ever come across a synth plugin with an architecture that is this unique. The only thing that comes close to an Evolver is a hardware modular rig that includes a number of digital modules. Reaktor won't cut it. Not even close.

It's not about the specs, but what sounds you make using the specs. And the actual sounds that an Evolver produces are not too different from many other synths.

When mine broke down i had no problem making the same type sounds with the softsynths of those days, like Massive, Z3ta and even Sylenth1. But Reaktor would have cut it too. Process with some plugins or analog gear to spice things up further, and the possibilities are endless.

Nowadays, Serum would be the obvious replacement for an Evolver. Not because of the specs or architecture, but because it's really good at producing 'gritty and intense' sounds. And synths like Phaseplant or Melda Sound Factory for example, have pretty much unlimited specs if you really want that.

[Ex Machina]

It's not about the specs, but what sounds you make using the specs. And the actual sounds that an Evolver produces are not too different from many other synths.

When mine broke down i had no problem making the same type sounds with the softsynths of those days, like Massive, Z3ta and even Sylenth1. But Reaktor would have cut it too. Process with some plugins or analog gear to spice things up further, and the possibilities are endless.

Nowadays, Serum would be the obvious replacement for an Evolver. Not because of the specs or architecture, but because it's really good at producing 'gritty and intense' sounds. And synths like Phaseplant or Melda Sound Factory for example, have pretty much unlimited specs if you really want that.

Let me get this straight. You're saying that Serum, Phaseplant, and Melda Sound Factory can each replace an Evolver? I guess if you mean sound will come out of the plugins when you play notes on a keyboard controller just like the Evolver will also produce sound when connected to a MIDI keyboard, then sure, Serum, Phasplant, and Melda Sound Factory can replace an Evolver. They all make noise, right?

But if you want something that actually sounds like an Evolver, you're SOL with these, or any other, plugins. Man, if I had a dollar every time some doofus proclaimed that Serum is THE BEST SYNTH EVER, I would have more than enough to buy a hardware Jupiter 8 AND a CS-80 which do in fact sound quite good unlike these shitty plugins.

[Shiek927]

At this stage, the only emulations I'm looking for are:

JP8000/8080
Roland JD990
Novation Supernova
Roland V-Synth


The "Digital Oscillator" in Diva is fantastic, but not quite the real thing. My gut says that Roland Cloud will make a plugin based on it sooner or later. The JD990 is a masterpiece, but the chances that a plugin comes out that isn't from Roland Cloud is incredibly low. The same with the V-Synth which never had it's time to shine even as hardware.

The Supernova is amazing and incredibly fat-sounding. All of these synths are fantastic in their own right.

[electro]

Doesn't the ToneX trainer account for all the volume levels?

Now we just need to find someone who is willing to make captures of an Evolver at various drive and feedback settings. It won’t be the same, but I bet it would be cool anyway.

One cool thing about Tonex is it reacts to the input volume you give it. I've found that (with guitar amps, at least) I don't need to capture every gain level, I just need to capture the maximum gain level and then turn down the input level. I'd be happy to do it if I had an Evolver, it only takes a few minutes of set up time (the computer has to work on it for hours but that's all automatic).

Yeah, I have noticed that Tonex models work really well that way. I don’t know if they stay “true”to how an actual amp sounds as the input decreases, but I don’t care, it sounds very good to me.

[Krakatau]

Having an opinion, even if it's a negative one, is never wrong.

I have no opinion ?????

[zerocrossing]

Doesn't the ToneX trainer account for all the volume levels?

Now we just need to find someone who is willing to make captures of an Evolver at various drive and feedback settings. It won’t be the same, but I bet it would be cool anyway.

One cool thing about Tonex is it reacts to the input volume you give it. I've found that (with guitar amps, at least) I don't need to capture every gain level, I just need to capture the maximum gain level and then turn down the input level. I'd be happy to do it if I had an Evolver, it only takes a few minutes of set up time (the computer has to work on it for hours but that's all automatic).

Yeah, I have noticed that Tonex models work really well that way. I don’t know if they stay “true”to how an actual amp sounds as the input decreases, but I don’t care, it sounds very good to me.

All input volume levels, but not power amp gain.

[Uncle E]

All input volume levels, but not power amp gain.

Power amp saturation is also affected by input volume. When I feed a lower level into my Princeton captures, they clean up in the same way as the real amp cleans up.

[Freaqpeak]

Yamaha FS1R with a nice programmable GUI. No "formant + FM" based VSTs I've tried come close to what it can do...

[SirKen]

At this stage, the only emulations I'm looking for are:

JP8000/8080
Roland JD990
Novation Supernova
Roland V-Synth


The "Digital Oscillator" in Diva is fantastic, but not quite the real thing. My gut says that Roland Cloud will make a plugin based on it sooner or later. The JD990 is a masterpiece, but the chances that a plugin comes out that isn't from Roland Cloud is incredibly low. The same with the V-Synth which never had it's time to shine even as hardware.

The Supernova is amazing and incredibly fat-sounding. All of these synths are fantastic in their own right.

Hope Arturia is listening.