FXpansion D-CAM: Synth Squad for sale now!

[Angus_FX]

Yep, it's more an issue around licensing than anything else.. some of the effects are licensed from 3rd parties, and we don't have clearance to allow audio input. So we'll probably have to take those out for the FX version.

[MitchK1989]

Yep, it's more an issue around licensing than anything else.. some of the effects are licensed from 3rd parties, and we don't have clearance to allow audio input. So we'll probably have to take those out for the FX version.

Ahh, ok. That makes perfect sense then.

The cynic in me thought it was a sign that you were planning on selling the FX in a pack later, trying to make people pay for the same algos 3 times (BFD, Synth Squad, and a separate pack)... But I suppose I should've known that Fxpansion is more trustworthy than that

I guess you kind of get bitter with how some other companies treat their customers (like sugar bytes selling that same vowel filter over and over again, not even getting a crossgrade price for buying the filter that's already in the synth you bought from them, but not allowing audio input into the synth because then you wouldn't buy the filter... No crossgrade price between effectrix and artillery, even though both share some algos and are different approaches to the same thing, making the vocoder in artillery monophonic just so you have to buy their dedicated vocoder if you want chords, etc.)

Anyway, sorry to be a bother over a misunderstanding. The synth squad looks/sounds awesome so far, especially cypher. I know I'll be picking it up, as I've been hemming and hawing over what to get in the VA department for awhile now. I wanted something more vintage sounding rather than a nord/virus wannabe, but at the same time didn't like the limitations inherent in models of one particular synth... I have filterscape VA which I love, but it's not really anything like these. The animator looks kickass too!

So with fusor, will you be able to use all of cypher's LFOS and envelopes on strobe, then process the whole thing through the formant filter on amber? That sounds like a fun time!

[gareth_fx]

This is Cypher in use in a choon im working on.

Bassline is strobe but the main line and the pads and atmopherics are Cypher and Cypher processing an external input at the very beginning of the track.

Drums are Guru and some BFD2 with the Taiko pack in the mid section.

Work in progress so forgive the shortcomings!

cheers

Gareth

[MitchK1989]

This is Cypher in use in a choon im working on.

Bassline is strobe but the main line and the pads and atmopherics are Cypher and Cypher processing an external input at the very beginning of the track.

Drums are Guru and some BFD2 with the Taiko pack in the mid section.

Work in progress so forgive the shortcomings!

cheers

Gareth

ummm, there's no link there.

[gareth_fx]

woops sorry

http://colourofsound.8088.org/mousetrap.mp3

Gareth

[djsubject]

so forgive the shortcomings!

ummm, there's no link there.

[djsubject]

woops sorry

http://colourofsound.8088.org/mousetrap.mp3

Gareth

[Angus_FX]

So with fusor, will you be able to use all of cypher's LFOS and envelopes on strobe, then process the whole thing through the formant filter on amber? That sounds like a fun time!

Indeed. You also have the "Monomod" modulation generator block available (4x LFOs and 4x envelope followers) so you don't have to tie up an instance of Cypher to add extra LFOs to your Strobe or Amber.

[MitchK1989]

So with fusor, will you be able to use all of cypher's LFOS and envelopes on strobe, then process the whole thing through the formant filter on amber? That sounds like a fun time!

Indeed. You also have the "Monomod" modulation generator block available (4x LFOs and 4x envelope followers) so you don't have to tie up an instance of Cypher to add extra LFOs to your Strobe or Amber.

Envelope followers rather than midi triggered envelopes? That could get interesting.

[Naive Teen Idol]

This is getting difficult...

I own Reason 4, the TimewARP 2600, the Gmedia Oddity, and the CS-80V. I'm trying to move away from VA and toward hardware...yet something like Synth Squad STILL somehow appeals to me.

Andrew, honestly, am I going to need something like this? I have zero interest in using these things in a modern context, with FX for acid tracks and what not -- if anything I want to make music that sounds like it was recorded in 1978. But for all the above plug-ins, I feel like I may still not *quite* be there...

[andy-cytomic]

This is getting difficult...

I own Reason 4, the TimewARP 2600, the Gmedia Oddity, and the CS-80V. I'm trying to move away from VA and toward hardware...yet something like Synth Squad STILL somehow appeals to me.

Andrew, honestly, am I going to need something like this? I have zero interest in using these things in a modern context, with FX for acid tracks and what not -- if anything I want to make music that sounds like it was recorded in 1978. But for all the above plug-ins, I feel like I may still not *quite* be there...

Wow, you have bought a lot of VA. It's a shame that you haven't found what you are looking for in them.

Goog analog synths don't have to cost loads, and they do sound great. But be aware that modulation is typically limited to a few destinations for a single mono lfo, and a few for an envelope which is sometimes doubled up for use as an amp env and that's it.

The Synth Squad is designed to sound nearly as good as real analog, but provide polyphony and loads of modulation options, as well as recall the sound in your project and provide useful things that most analog just doesn't do to improve playability. The most important of these is being able to map velocity polyphonically with glide to everything.

I would suggest borrowing / hiring a decent analog synth of someone and giving it a go in your production. This will quickly point out to you the great sound, but sometimes limited control of analog. Then, come back and have a listen to synth squad once all the demos are done and make up your mind then how best to spend your money.

Andrew Simper

[Naive Teen Idol]

This is getting difficult...

I own Reason 4, the TimewARP 2600, the Gmedia Oddity, and the CS-80V. I'm trying to move away from VA and toward hardware...yet something like Synth Squad STILL somehow appeals to me.

Andrew, honestly, am I going to need something like this? I have zero interest in using these things in a modern context, with FX for acid tracks and what not -- if anything I want to make music that sounds like it was recorded in 1978. But for all the above plug-ins, I feel like I may still not *quite* be there...

Wow, you have bought a lot of VA. It's a shame that you haven't found what you are looking for in them.

Goog analog synths don't have to cost loads, and they do sound great. But be aware that modulation is typically limited to a few destinations for a single mono lfo, and a few for an envelope which is sometimes doubled up for use as an amp env and that's it.

The Synth Squad is designed to sound nearly as good as real analog, but provide polyphony and loads of modulation options, as well as recall the sound in your project and provide useful things that most analog just doesn't do to improve playability. The most important of these is being able to map velocity polyphonically with glide to everything.

I would suggest borrowing / hiring a decent analog synth of someone and giving it a go in your production. This will quickly point out to you the great sound, but sometimes limited control of analog. Then, come back and have a listen to synth squad once all the demos are done and make up your mind then how best to spend your money.

Andrew Simper

Well, I'm less certain it's that I haven't found what I want as much as I haven't figured out what it is that I want.

But thanks for the thoughtful reply. I actually own a Roland JP-6, which is in the shop right now. But I'd be interested to know your thoughts on other analog emulation products -- specifically, the TimewARP, which also does audio rate modulation and has been a source of a lot of fun for me. I certainly am not asking you to trash talk a competitor, but your insights into where other products have succeeded and failed in context of the Synth Squad would be of value here.

[SWAN808]

Wow, you have bought a lot of VA. It's a shame that you haven't found what you are looking for in them.

Goog analog synths don't have to cost loads, and they do sound great. But be aware that modulation is typically limited to a few destinations for a single mono lfo, and a few for an envelope which is sometimes doubled up for use as an amp env and that's it.

The Synth Squad is designed to sound nearly as good as real analog, but provide polyphony and loads of modulation options, as well as recall the sound in your project and provide useful things that most analog just doesn't do to improve playability. The most important of these is being able to map velocity polyphonically with glide to everything.

I would suggest borrowing / hiring a decent analog synth of someone and giving it a go in your production. This will quickly point out to you the great sound, but sometimes limited control of analog. Then, come back and have a listen to synth squad once all the demos are done and make up your mind then how best to spend your money.

Andrew Simper

What a sensible response!

Its refreshing to read such clarity on KVR. You can get away with it Andy - being seen as a knowledgeable developer. If just anyone was to 'kindly suggest you go and get a real analogue synth and you will see the great sound' (compared with most softsynths) - all hell would break loose!

Around here - one has to be careful not to upset anyone talking about analogue synths like that!

But I agree with you wholeheartedly and applaud your measured, un-hype-laden and balanced statements about your products...

[rouge]

Wow, you have bought a lot of VA. It's a shame that you haven't found what you are looking for in them.

Goog analog synths don't have to cost loads, and they do sound great. But be aware that modulation is typically limited to a few destinations for a single mono lfo, and a few for an envelope which is sometimes doubled up for use as an amp env and that's it.

The Synth Squad is designed to sound nearly as good as real analog, but provide polyphony and loads of modulation options, as well as recall the sound in your project and provide useful things that most analog just doesn't do to improve playability. The most important of these is being able to map velocity polyphonically with glide to everything.

I would suggest borrowing / hiring a decent analog synth of someone and giving it a go in your production. This will quickly point out to you the great sound, but sometimes limited control of analog. Then, come back and have a listen to synth squad once all the demos are done and make up your mind then how best to spend your money.

Andrew Simper

What a sensible response!

Its refreshing to read such clarity on KVR. You can get away with it Andy - being seen as a knowledgeable developer. If just anyone was to 'kindly suggest you go and get a real analogue synth and you will see the great sound' (compared with most softsynths) - all hell would break loose!

Around here - one has to be careful not to upset anyone talking about analogue synths like that!

But I agree with you wholeheartedly and applaud your measured, un-hype-laden and balanced statements about your products...

+1

[Naive Teen Idol]

What a sensible response!

Its refreshing to read such clarity on KVR. You can get away with it Andy - being seen as a knowledgeable developer. If just anyone was to 'kindly suggest you go and get a real analogue synth and you will see the great sound' (compared with most softsynths) - all hell would break loose!

Around here - one has to be careful not to upset anyone talking about analogue synths like that!

But I agree with you wholeheartedly and applaud your measured, un-hype-laden and balanced statements about your products...

It was a very good response. Just to be clear, as I said, I own a real analog. I have for 25 years. I know exactly what one sounds like and how mine behaves. So, my question wasn't "What does a real analog sound like and why can't I get it from my VA's?" It was "I like analog synth music from the 1970's. I'd prefer to make it on my computer than by buying $20K of vintage gear. What do you think the best software tools are to make that kind of music?"