Oh boy, another VA synth. This time from Waves!

[pdxindy]

I also noticed the FM and phasemod features of Element alias quite badly. What I really liked most in Element were the oscillators (raw sound), filter and envelopes. Indeed I'd have bought the synth on the strength of those alone if it weren't for those knobs.

I honestly can't believe some of you guys aren't moaning about the knobs. Do you have WRISTS of STEEL or something?

All of this +1 and more.

Has everyone gone deaf and blind in 2013? This is a run-of-the-mill VA without one single thing that makes it stand out. It is not a bad synth by any means, the mod targets are plentiful, there are surprisingly many ways to manipulate the simple waveforms, and I do acknowledge that it has a certain character to it. But comparing the sound quality to Synth Squad, Diva, Oxium, LuSH... you have got to be kidding me. Like I already said, if you keep to the middle ground, it's all good. Anything with fast modulation and played in the higher registers just sounds awful to my ears.

Element is comparable to Kilohearts One, which is also good - and you can push it into extreme territory.

Okay, you can go ahead and call me a whiner now. But let's see if many people will mention this synth one year from now.

There are too many excellent synths by small developers that do not get enough mention. Poly-ana has been around a long time and as an analog emulation is still way more interesting a synth than Element but it hardly ever gets mentioned. It is also on sale for $89...

[billcarroll]

Nice article on Element that echoes my sentiments

Does The World Need Another Subtractive Synth VI?

http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home-pa ... th-vi.html

What a nauseating review! It is only because it is Waves that it gets so much immediate attention and people comparing to an industry changing product.

I don't think the article was a review, but hey thanks ... I try

[billcarroll]

I also noticed the FM and phasemod features of Element alias quite badly. What I really liked most in Element were the oscillators (raw sound), filter and envelopes. Indeed I'd have bought the synth on the strength of those alone if it weren't for those knobs.

I honestly can't believe some of you guys aren't moaning about the knobs. Do you have WRISTS of STEEL or something?

I agree on the knobs, and the steppy automation. I'd love to see both addressed.

[pdxindy]

Also the Phase modulation feature of Element (OSC1 modulates phase of OSC2) seems to be quite unique.

Not unique, I'm afraid. Cypher does it too.
Looking at your quote from Element's manual I can say that Cypher does all the FM and Phase modulation which Element can do.

And Cypher has so much more as well... dual filter, 3 osc, variable sync, audio-rate sample hold, continually variable waveshapes, beat-detuning etc etc... Cypher is a unique and creative synth.

[pdxindy]

I miss a lot of features.

could you give examples?

The LFO's are really basic. There is no LFO delay or phase control. No option for the LFO to be global or per voice. No sample/hold.

No Osc phase control. Only 4 waveforms. No control over sub waveform or sub octave. Only 1 noise type.

No unison spread, pan, or detune option. No mono last/high note priority option.

Also, no pitchbend range control or global tune...

[Uncle E]

But comparing the sound quality to Synth Squad, Diva, Oxium, LuSH... you have got to be kidding me.

<snip>

Element is comparable to Kilohearts One, which is also good - and you can push it into extreme territory.

Agreed on all points. For me, Element replaces Sylenth1, as I find it to be a smoother, fuller sounding version of that type of sound. It also fulfills some of the gearlusting I have for the Korg OASYS, Radias, and Z1. I personally prefer it over Kilohearts One but you're right that they're more similar to each other than either is to DIVA.

As I said earlier in this thread, Element provides for me a good sounding, low CPU background synth that frees up processing power for DIVA to be the most important voices.

[ariston]

There are too many excellent synths by small developers that do not get enough mention. Poly-ana has been around a long time and as an analog emulation is still way more interesting a synth than Element but it hardly ever gets mentioned. It is also on sale for $89...

True enough. In the case of Poly-Ana, though, I have to admit that the UI holds me back. I really like the sound, but the interface is sensory overload. I demoed it again due to the current sale, but I just can't get used to it.

[Guy Rotem]

A brief explanation of the 'SINE MOD' feature:

The 'SINE MOD' knob, controls the amount by which an "invisible" keyboard tracking sine wave oscillator, phase modulates oscillator 1.

This can be used to create some interesting new shapes, that are usually unattainable with traditional analogue oscillators.


Tip:

By phase modulating oscillator 2 with a sine modulated oscillator 1, and syncing oscillator 2 to oscillator 1, it is possible to achieve sounds that are usually only possible with digital algorithmic synthesizers.

Keep in mind that such modulations, sound much better at high sample rates (although sometimes the "grittiness" you get at lower sample rates, can actually be a desirable effect).

[Uncle E]

And Cypher has so much more as well... dual filter, 3 osc, variable sync, audio-rate sample hold, continually variable waveshapes, beat-detuning etc etc... Cypher is a unique and creative synth.

Personally, I already have DCAM and DIVA, and I wasn't looking for the same thing. My MacBook Air can't handle me getting any more supersynths.

[X2]

A brief explanation of the 'SINE MOD' feature:

The 'SINE MOD' knob, controls the amount by which an "invisible" keyboard tracking sine wave oscillator, phase modulates oscillator 1.

This can be used to create some interesting new shapes, that are usually unattainable with traditional analogue oscillators.


Tip:

By phase modulating oscillator 2 with a sine modulated oscillator 1, and syncing oscillator 2 to oscillator 1, it is possible to achieve sounds that are usually only possible with digital algorithmic synthesizers.

Keep in mind that such modulations, sound much better at high sample rates (although sometimes the "grittiness" you get at lower sample rates, can actually be a desirable effect).

So why did you code it in synth edit and transfer across to waves or am I still missing out on a really bad joke some pages ago I missed

[Uncle E]

So why did you code it in synth edit and transfer across to waves or am I still missing out on a really bad joke some pages ago I missed

The other Element, the one by Xoxos, is made in Synth Edit. Waves' Element is not.

[pdxindy]

And Cypher has so much more as well... dual filter, 3 osc, variable sync, audio-rate sample hold, continually variable waveshapes, beat-detuning etc etc... Cypher is a unique and creative synth.

Personally, I already have DCAM and DIVA, and I wasn't looking for the same thing. My MacBook Air can't handle me getting any more supersynths.

You know the obvious solution then?!! a faster computer!!!! hehehe

seriously, my comment was just in reference to a previous claim that Cypher does not have the features that Element does, when it is the other way round... Everyone should use what they like

btw, how does Element satisfy your gearlust for a Korg Z1?

[robotmonkey]

A brief explanation of the 'SINE MOD' feature:

The 'SINE MOD' knob, controls the amount by which an "invisible" keyboard tracking sine wave oscillator, phase modulates oscillator 1.

This can be used to create some interesting new shapes, that are usually unattainable with traditional analogue oscillators.


Tip:

By phase modulating oscillator 2 with a sine modulated oscillator 1, and syncing oscillator 2 to oscillator 1, it is possible to achieve sounds that are usually only possible with digital algorithmic synthesizers.

Keep in mind that such modulations, sound much better at high sample rates (although sometimes the "grittiness" you get at lower sample rates, can actually be a desirable effect).

So why did you code it in synth edit and transfer across to waves or am I still missing out on a really bad joke some pages ago I missed

[hibidy]

JHFCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please stop with the synth edit questions is was a joke, it was never made with synth edit There is a forum member who has a synth edit product named the same thing.

IT
WAS
A
JOKE

Can we move on now? Pretty please???

[Crackbaby]