Simulate natural instruments

[opus_diaboli]

Hi all,

Would it be possible to create sounds similar to acoustic instruments like wind instruments, strings or percussions with a virtual analog synthesizer like Sylenth1 or do those synthesizers only allow to produce synthetic sounds for techno, dance and similar styles? Okay, I know that it's not possible to create really realistic sounds with any kind of synthesis, that's the special subject of sample players. But what is possible with virtual analog synths? Respectively, what is possible with Sylenth1? Provided that you know how to handle Sylenth1.

[autodafe]

search the net for some old analog synth manual, or better preset charts. They should be good as a starting point for syntheisi of some "natural" instrumants Check for example the ARP odyssey manuals, they are true "lessons" in Analog Synthesis...of cours eth eresults are "approximate"

[autodafe]

TAKE THIS FOR EXAMPLE

[Lennard]

Actually it's kind of funny that the first analog synths were built to simulate acoustic instruments. While they failed horribly (the TB303 for example was built as a bass guitar synthesizer), we are now building synths to recreate the sound of those analog synthesizers instead of the acoustical instruments

Yes, it is possible to synthesize acoustical instruments, but it is pretty hard to get the sound right. And there's not much need to do so since you can use a sampler instead, which will sound perfectly like the original instrument. There might be a few synths out there which simulate blowing sounds and piano like effects, but Sylenth1 was not built to do that

With Sylenth you can create high quality basses and leads for modern (dance) music and you can alter the sound (and keep on changing it) with the filters, oscillators, effects and modulation options.

[Topiness]

Yes, it is possible to synthesize acoustical instruments, but it is pretty hard to get the sound right. And there's not much need to do so since you can use a sampler instead, which will sound perfectly like the original instrument.

...but depending on the playing style you're trying to emulate, it can be pretty hard to get realistic expression and articulation into a line when you use samples.

I've got a few FM brass and wind patches that don't compare to a sample when you hit one note, but when you start to play passages, they can really respond and allow expression.

with a simple VA (which is what i believe sylenth is, from the site) you obviously have less to work with. But you should still be able to come up with some expressive sounds. BPF, low resonance, pulse wave for wind and saw for strings/brass, a gentle attack and add a bit of vibrato is a decent place to start.