KVR Audio

Goseba · Post by **Goseba** » Mon May 28, 2012 3:52 pm

Hi braj, I have been looking at this for a while myself. How many effects type presets are included do you reckon?

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon May 28, 2012 3:56 pm

Goseba wrote:Hi braj, I have been looking at this for a while myself. How many effects type presets are included do you reckon?

oh I don't know its not in front of me now, but a whole lot, most maybe in a certain sense

it is a very interesting beastie that's for sure, maybe not everyone's cuppa but if you like weird and progressive 70's stuff then it is great.

Goseba · Post by **Goseba** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:00 pm

I think I might just have to pick it up for myself.......in fact, I just did

xavier · Post by **xavier** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:07 pm

Echoes in the Attic wrote:I got this in a no brainer deal but I've never used it. Every time I fire it up it just sounds muddy and a bit lifeless to be honest. Not a fan myself. I also find the behavior a bit weird. Some patches don't make sound and some are crazy effects that send the channel way into the red so maybe there are bugs as well (OSX Lion).

Hi Echoes,

As far as I know, there isn't any known bugs on Lion (or other systems) which involve the audio engine.
But when the XILS 3 was released, now three years ago, we left the sound designers almost free. So some of the patches show their feeling at that time for this first version of the XILS 3. Chris Pitman from Gun N'Roses, for instance, didn't create bread and butter 80's sounds ..., but Cliff Douse or Kevin Lamb feeling was different.

An other point to be noticed, which could puzzle a little : as for the real thing, you can connect oscillators (or any module output) directly to the main audio output. So a sound can be listen even if the keyboard isn't pressed (in monophonic mode). Chris as well as Simon (Soundsdivine) make use of this feature.

Complex Polyphonic presets can also produce some clicks or strange sounds : The reverb, the ring-mod are monophonic. So using them between two polyphonic modules (oscillators, filter, ...) can bring some weird result (there is a mix of the various activated voice at their input) but which can be part of the sound.

Best regards
Xavier

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:13 pm

I said it before, but it is worth saying again: I got my head around the synth more quickly once I loaded an initiation patch, then you ca start to add things to the matrix and get a better idea of what is going on. I need to invest some time with the manual for sure though, but that was the most helpful thing I did by far to get started.

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:14 pm

Goseba wrote:I think I might just have to pick it up for myself.......in fact, I just did

cool!

xavier · Post by **xavier** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:24 pm

braj wrote:I said it before, but it is worth saying again: I got my head around the synth more quickly once I loaded an initiation patch, then you ca start to add things to the matrix and get a better idea of what is going on. I need to invest some time with the manual for sure though, but that was the most helpful thing I did by far to get started.

You're right Braj,

Factory->XILS-lab->Substractiv is the preset to begin. A simple one osc (saw)+filter+vca, for which the cutoff frequency and the VCA level are modulated by the envelope trapezoid (which is trigged by the keyboard)

same way : Xils Lead1, Xils Lead2, Xils Bass1, ...

Best regards
Xavier

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:50 pm

I thought this was worth linking to:

http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/vcs3.php

braj · Post by **braj** » Mon May 28, 2012 4:58 pm

And a little more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCS3

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Mon May 28, 2012 5:40 pm

Nice EMS site:
http://www.emsrehberg.de/SYNTHI__s/synthi__s.html

The official EMS website:
http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/

Looks like it is still possible to purchase the real thing there but i'm not sure.

Based on this thread it looks like they are still available, with a waiting list involved:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/electron ... ction.html

---------

Here is a list of the additional features of the full Xils 3 and some of those are really helpful and nice (e.g. additional envelope):

"New modules : Two envelopes, 1 MIDI synced LFO, 1 MIDI synced S&H, 1 Voltage Processor (for increasing the modulation shapes)
New sources and destinations for the matrix : A menu allows a wide range of destinations or sources, without increasing to much the matrix size.
Matrix Pins : 4 different colors for four different amounts and new sort of pin for inverting the signal.
New sequencer features : mouse editing, three independant sustain times, ...."

Ingo

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:01 pm

Xils3 LE is just a steal at that price. Full modular synth. Unqiue trapezoidal envelopes, wich translates into new ways of playing the keys, + everything can modulate anything, and this can lead to very surprising and unconventional results .... for those who appreciate uncommon analog sounds. A mad scientists and tweakers dream.

Just wanted to add details for the PolyKB player though : Going from the free CM version to the full enhanced player version, you'll not only gain 8 modulations slots with assignable destinations ( like all filters parameters, two enveloppes etc etc) but you'll also gain a lot of presets, ie starting points, wich is essential for a player.

You have also minimal control over the FX, or arpegiattor settings, to be be able to adapt them to context/track/song.

This said the PolyKB II player is maintly intended for people who are into presets, while also wanting the ability to tweak the crucial parameters ( cutoff, res etc) and who are after a stellar sound with a minimal price + easy install with serial only protection. ( I often use it on my laptop during WE or holydays) Dont get it if you're into full sound design and total control, its more a musican oriented unit.

You can also update at every moment to the flagship version with full control on its hundred of paramters, but it will requires a .... dongle. The price of the update is very fair, so purchasing the PKBII player will never be a lost investment.

Lastly : for the Xils3 LE : Yes, It doesnt require a dongle.

andrelafosse · Post by **andrelafosse** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:11 pm

LOOOOOOOVE this synth. It was my gateway drug to softsynths, courtesy of the audiomidi no-brainer a couple of years back.

For me, a crucial feature is using the sequencer to send commands to various parameters, rather than note values. And as mentioned before, being able to adjust the sequencer tuning on a sub-semitone basis produces some fabulously edgy sounds.

Definitely not a bread-and-butter synth by any stretch, and I can understand why some people wouldn't dig it, but I find it tremendously inspiring. I did a 70-minute album with the XILS3 LE for 80% of the synth stuff, and I'm still finding new things to do with it. Haven't upgraded to the "full" version yet, mainly because I find the "limited edition" so deep and inspiring.

Big up XILS!

Ja.x · Post by **Ja.x** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:28 pm

Just ordered it

!

Goseba · Post by **Goseba** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:30 pm

Can anyone recommend any additional banks that have lots of effects based patches (thinking wooshes, Jarre type burbles, sweeps etc).

Nielzie · Post by **Nielzie** » Mon May 28, 2012 6:37 pm

andrelafosse wrote:LOOOOOOOVE this synth. Definitely not a bread-and-butter synth by any stretch, and I can understand why some people wouldn't dig it, but I find it tremendously inspiring.

Yes me too! It's still my favorite XILS-lab synth. I used the Xils 3 LE for everything but drums in both of my contributions to the XILS song contest some time ago.

Ohh how I would love to own an original VCS3. Especially the one build in a briefcase, the Synthi A

XILS 3 LE and PolyKB II Player, good buys!