Ace XL?

[Gonga]

Well, if we're going to ask for features now, the only one I've requested (years ago now) is punchier VCA envelopes. You have to admit, they're anemic compared to Zebra or DIVA.

[V0RT3X]

What is so great about super snappy envelopes?

I think ACE already pretty snappy envelopes. How much snappier do you want?

[Gonga]

Not snappy, punchy VCA. ACE has no VCA attack balls at all. Its VCA does not make me feel like it's an analog synth. It's the one aspect of ACE that imo screams "VA." Urs explained to me once that ACE uses a different approach than Zebra in the VCA if I remember correctly. This was before DIVA era. DIVA has very powerful VCA punch.

I know there's a lot to what constitutes the attack component of the VCF and VCA of VAs. And I'm not an expert, but I do know what the old Roland and Moog VCAs sounded like, and ACE isn't it. Now I never owned an ARP unfortunately, and perhaps the ARPs didn't have that powerful dynamic attack of the other two, but somehow I doubt that's the case, because I remember George Duke talking about how he used very punchy attacks with his Odyssey in the 70s to "make it spit at you." He talked about getting people's attention with extremely dynamic, explosive attacks. That's my preference as well, particularly when using a lot of distortion and effects on a lead. All that goop tends to soften the attack to the point of completely obscuring it. If you start with a really dynamic, explosive (OK, call it a click if you want), then the attack will cut through all that like the pick of a guitar string does. ACE can't do it. Zebra and DIVA can.

Not that that's what I want to do with ACE. I just prefer very dynamic VCA attacks in many sounds, particularly pluck and bell sounds, and I view ACE as my favorite modular VA.

I'm not one of these guys that records compressed EDM. My patches tend toward organic and very dynamic. Real acoustic instruments have attack dynamics that impart a beautiful, delicate sense of reality that many VAs cannot, and imo the dynamics of the attack are a major failing of many VAs for guys like me who like to really focus intimately on the sound of a single monophonic voice. It's easier to demonstrate than explain.

I have recordings for demonstration purposes which I can dig up if you like In fact, this one here was recorded for the express purpose of showing how DIVA has a very dynamic VCA attack (this is the Roland VCA):

https://soundcloud.com/dan-ling/clearplastic

ACE cannot do this sort of sound at all. (FINE! you say ) You can probably imagine that this patch makes it very clear when I'm playing legato (and not), will cut through a lot of club noise, and might be a good foundation for an effects-laden lead. It's a bit extreme, as is the recording, which was for demonstration only

[V0RT3X]

Not snappy, punchy VCA. ACE has no VCA attack balls at all. Its VCA does not make me feel like it's an analog synth. It's the one aspect of ACE that imo screams "VA." Urs explained to me once that ACE uses a different approach than Zebra in the VCA if I remember correctly. This was before DIVA era. DIVA has very powerful VCA punch.

I know there's a lot to what constitutes the attack component of the VCF and VCA of VAs. And I'm not an expert, but I do know what the old Roland and Moog VCAs sounded like, and ACE isn't it. Now I never owned an ARP unfortunately, and perhaps the ARPs didn't have that powerful dynamic attack of the other two, but somehow I doubt that's the case, because I remember George Duke talking about how he used very punchy attacks with his Odyssey in the 70s to "make it spit at you." He talked about getting people's attention with extremely dynamic, explosive attacks. That's my preference as well, particularly when using a lot of distortion and effects on a lead. All that goop tends to soften the attack to the point of completely obscuring it. If you start with a really dynamic, explosive (OK, call it a click if you want), then the attack will cut through all that like the pick of a guitar string does. ACE can't do it. Zebra and DIVA can.

Not that that's what I want to do with ACE. I just prefer very dynamic VCA attacks in many sounds, particularly pluck and bell sounds, and I view ACE as my favorite modular VA.

I'm not one of these guys that records compressed EDM. My patches tend toward organic and very dynamic. Real acoustic instruments have attack dynamics that impart a beautiful, delicate sense of reality that many VAs cannot, and imo the dynamics of the attack are a major failing of many VAs for guys like me who like to really focus intimately on the sound of a single monophonic voice. It's easier to demonstrate than explain.

I have recordings for demonstration purposes which I can dig up if you like In fact, this one here was recorded for the express purpose of showing how DIVA has a very dynamic VCA attack (this is the Roland VCA):

https://soundcloud.com/dan-ling/clearplastic

ACE cannot do this sort of sound at all. (FINE! you say ) You can probably imagine that this patch makes it very clear when I'm playing legato (and not), will cut through a lot of club noise, and might be a good foundation for an effects-laden lead. It's a bit extreme, as is the recording, which was for demonstration only

nice legato playing! I liked the riff and legato synth sound.

I don't like the click in it though, it's kind of annoying to me. However you did mention that the example was a bit overkill.

I get what you're saying though. I can see how in smalller doses that click might be interesting.

[EvilDragon]

Yeah I like some "spit" in my attack, but that example has it horribly overdone IMHO...

[chilly7]

As i know Ace has digital ampblulobe. I am not saying it is better or worse. I just want an option for an analog one. So in music contecst i decide which o ne i need.
Maybe a button wjoch turn digital o r nalog.

[EvilDragon]

All u-he plugins are digital, everything in them is digital.

[exmatproton]

As i know Ace has digital ampblulobe. I am not saying it is better or worse. I just want an option for an analog one. So in music contecst i decide which o ne i need.
Maybe a button wjoch turn digital o r nalog.

You mean analog emulation vs digital ?

[Gonga]

nice legato playing! I liked the riff and legato synth sound.

I don't like the click in it though, it's kind of annoying to me. However you did mention that the example was a bit overkill.

I get what you're saying though. I can see how in smalller doses that click might be interesting.

Yes, it's a bit annoying because I overdid it a bit to demonstrate what a really dynamic VCA can do. But this type of sound is what real analog synths sound like too. DIVA is really good!

[Gonga]

Yeah I like some "spit" in my attack, but that example has it horribly overdone IMHO...

Right, but now people aren't going to say that all synths can do this. Nope, there are only a few that really have the dynamics balls of real analogs.

[Howard]

https://soundcloud.com/dan-ling/clearplastic
ACE cannot do this sort of sound at all.

Sure, this is more Diva's speciality. However, you CAN coax this kind of sound out of ACE - see attachment (requires aftertouch, BTW). Trick: Don't switch on the Snappy option if you are using very short envelopes. Also make sure that the "singing envelopes" option is active.

[david.beholder]

All u-he plugins are digital, everything in them is digital.

Oh man you're braking my heart

[Gonga]

https://soundcloud.com/dan-ling/clearplastic
ACE cannot do this sort of sound at all.

Sure, this is more Diva's speciality. However, you CAN coax this kind of sound out of ACE - see attachment (requires aftertouch, BTW). Trick: Don't switch on the Snappy option if you are using very short envelopes. Also make sure that the "singing envelopes" option is active.

Thanks Howard! If anyone can do it, it'd be you. I admit I haven't experimented with the singing envelopes feature yet. That's a fun patch...the vibrato too. There's no doubt that's a stronger attack transient than I've ever gotten from 'er. When I try those techniques I don't get the same results with my patches so far...time to go back and RTFM for those new features.

[chilly7]

I was wondering is that possible to make in Ace expansion oscillators with all features like Bazzilie has but analog?
I think Bazzilie digital oscillators are lifeless for me. Interesting to see what analog would do to them?

[EvilDragon]

It doesn't work that way.