VST - Synthesis vs Sampling

[condra]

Hey guys.

Just wondering what kind of sound design tools you guys like, both for instruments, and fx.

Im relatively proficient in synthesis. I love Ableton Operator and Uhe Zebra 2. I'm also getting into Albino 3 right now, though it does love soaking up cpu.
I spend a lot of time creating my own patches. Its a hobby.

I never really fully got into Absynth, though I suspect a few of you sound designers on here probably love it. I guess the tutorial DVD would really help someone get into Absynth.
Ive played around with Massive, and although it sounds amazing, it kills my computer.

When sound designing, I often end up going back to sample based synthesis. I use Kontakt and Ableton Sampler. I just love the way something like a high-hat can be quickly turned into a monstrous shimmering sweep.

When I ask about Synthesis vs Sampling, Im talking about sampling as part of sound design (as opposed to multisampling instruments)
What do you prefer to use when patching instruments such as keys, leads and pads? I prefer to use a hybrid like Operator (FM/Subtractive) for instruments, but when designing special effects, I love sampling.

I'm curious though, do any of you use sample based stuff for instruments. I suppose samplers such as Kontakt can be used in similar ways to synths, but it seems a bit overkill to me.

Interested in what people think on the subject.

[aaastronomer]

since i use a lot of commercial sample sets, it is really incumbent upon me to change 'em in at least some small way...so i use kontakt and stylus rmx a lot. for atmospherics my instrument is a rack of: atmosphere + morphology + vapor (and soon...outer limits)...the kind of music i do is like monolake and biosphere and loscil and pan american and some minimalists...grain sampling/synthesis produces the kind of quantum foam i like as a background...but, of course, altered: crowds, orcas, waves, trains, planes, storms, and wet highways are a must too...then there's also audiomulch for further sample mangling. i want to add devine machine's frame synth, krishna, next. then, when i have $750US to blow, max/msp/jitter. from what i've seen on you tube, if you're a serious samplist or electronics artist, max/msp/jitter is what you need to concentrate on. perhaps i could go further and say, its currently the only s/w instrument you need for real sample artistry.

on the h/w side of things, an ideal rack would be:

a korg m3 +
two roland v-synths (old one + gt) +
two kaos 3 pads (gives you eight sample channels) +
laptop and/or roland mv-8800

[JimmiG]

I'm a fan of analogue synths at heart so most of my sound designs start their life as one of the basic analog waveforms.

Selecting and tweaking the waveform for the oscillator however is only the firt step, IMO. No matter if it's generated from granular synthesis, a sampled cat meow, an FM sound or just a plain sawtooth, it always ends up going through the same analogue-style signal chain of filter(s), amplifier, effects etc.

Devices that allow for more waveforms than the standard handful of analog waveforms are always interesting, especially if they allow the waveforms to dynamically change (cross-modulation, sync, FM, waveshaping, time stretching and pitch bending of samples etc.) Combined with complex envelopes, complex routing options etc. this allows more flexibility than a standard modular synth.

[jcivil]

to me a sampler is for discrete instruments combined in a multi as an ensemble, emulating regular instruments, or playing back something done - finished - in a {standalone} synth workstation, say reaktor 5, absynth 3, that eats more resources than I can often use in a plugin. using audio as basic building block material in absynth is truly awesome

[MaliceX]

There should be a synthesizer that blends oscillator functions with waveforms, imported samples/loops, and graphs from maths.

[Acrobat]

There should be a synthesizer that blends oscillator functions with waveforms, imported samples/loops, and graphs from maths.

good idea!

[Elijah.P]

if you are a preset user anyways you can use samples

[MaliceX]

There should be a synthesizer that blends oscillator functions with waveforms, imported samples/loops, and graphs from maths.

good idea!

The thought of maths came to mind because it's already possible for generative art through mathematical sequences (Fractal Art). I've yet to see a synth that does this sort of thing, other than the ones that are used for physical modelling. (However a closed-system, there is always maths involved, just not an open system.)

Sure, processing power for continuous calculations for 'exact waveforms' created with 'ridiculously complicated equations or calculus/arithmetical/vector/imaginary number/algebraic sequences' would be extreme, what are the possibilities?

[deastman]

There should be a synthesizer that blends oscillator functions with waveforms, imported samples/loops, and graphs from maths.

good idea!

The thought of maths came to mind because it's already possible for generative art through mathematical sequences (Fractal Art). I've yet to see a synth that does this sort of thing, other than the ones that are used for physical modelling. (However a closed-system, there is always maths involved, just not an open system.)

Sure, processing power for continuous calculations for 'exact waveforms' created with 'ridiculously complicated equations or calculus/arithmetical/vector/imaginary number/algebraic sequences' would be extreme, what are the possibilities?

Your basic sine,saw,square,triangle waves are already being generated by mathematical formulas. It is highly unlikely that the average musician will want to experiment with writing their own algorithms for the mathematical generation of waveforms. If they do, they will probably want to look to a more generalized audio sandbox such as Reaktor, Max/MSP, or Csound.

Other than that, it sounds like you should check out Absynth.