Hey Urs what are your favorite synths?
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- KVRian
- 816 posts since 4 Sep, 2007 from Los Angeles
I know you mentioned this in another thread but i forget which one. And what do you like about them?
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- u-he
- 30215 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Do you mean software or hardware? Or both?
My favourite synth must be the Roland System 100M which was the first modular synth I stumbled upon at grammar school when I was 16. But maybe my memory glorifies this thing dramatically.
I had to do something to overcome my cravings for the 100M, so I started collecting modules for a Doepfer Eurorack. Maybe it's the colour (almost same as 100M), maybe not, but half of my stuff is from Cwejman. Thus I'd say, my favourite synth I've never played would probably be a Cwejman SE-1.
Over the years (from 1985 till today) my admiration has shifted from feature richness to, hmmm, conceptual integrity. And thus I'd probably favour a Virus C over a TI (I have an A and a TI). The Little Phatty falls a bit short here, I wished I had saved up for a Voyager instead.
All in all, the ultimate synth I never touched (not even saw one in person) must have been the SynthiA or the VCS3.
That said, I find hardware overly exhausting to use with a DAW, so whatever lands in my lab is used for reference, for toying around and sometimes even for a giggle.
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Software is a different story.
From "strictly synth" there's all my stuff, and there's the timewARP (which was and is the holy grail of analogue modeling). I like to fire up demos of impOSCar and Minimonsta every now and then. I also enjoy to admire SynthSquad. I highly admire Reaktor even though it's not my kind of beef. I could make a long list of synths that I appreciate for this or that, but in the end I have to say, I'm very much into the kind of synths that I make.
Currently I would say though that my favourite synth is Bazille. Zebra is closing back in though, due to the serious overhaul it gets these days.
Urs
My favourite synth must be the Roland System 100M which was the first modular synth I stumbled upon at grammar school when I was 16. But maybe my memory glorifies this thing dramatically.
I had to do something to overcome my cravings for the 100M, so I started collecting modules for a Doepfer Eurorack. Maybe it's the colour (almost same as 100M), maybe not, but half of my stuff is from Cwejman. Thus I'd say, my favourite synth I've never played would probably be a Cwejman SE-1.
Over the years (from 1985 till today) my admiration has shifted from feature richness to, hmmm, conceptual integrity. And thus I'd probably favour a Virus C over a TI (I have an A and a TI). The Little Phatty falls a bit short here, I wished I had saved up for a Voyager instead.
All in all, the ultimate synth I never touched (not even saw one in person) must have been the SynthiA or the VCS3.
That said, I find hardware overly exhausting to use with a DAW, so whatever lands in my lab is used for reference, for toying around and sometimes even for a giggle.
--
Software is a different story.
From "strictly synth" there's all my stuff, and there's the timewARP (which was and is the holy grail of analogue modeling). I like to fire up demos of impOSCar and Minimonsta every now and then. I also enjoy to admire SynthSquad. I highly admire Reaktor even though it's not my kind of beef. I could make a long list of synths that I appreciate for this or that, but in the end I have to say, I'm very much into the kind of synths that I make.
Currently I would say though that my favourite synth is Bazille. Zebra is closing back in though, due to the serious overhaul it gets these days.
Urs-
- KVRer
- 28 posts since 16 Sep, 2008 from Stockholm, Sweden
First of all: Yes I'm a Reason nerd.
How do you feel about the modular concept of Reason and the synths in it? Subtractor, Malström and last in the mix, Thor?
Personally I think that both Subtractor and Thor does much of the same old like other synths and VA (even though Thor is extremely flexible if you dig into it).
Malström however is a very unique beast (designed by Magnus Lidström/Sonic Charge). It's great for evolving and moving pads but also for a lot of other stuff.
How do you feel about the modular concept of Reason and the synths in it? Subtractor, Malström and last in the mix, Thor?
Personally I think that both Subtractor and Thor does much of the same old like other synths and VA (even though Thor is extremely flexible if you dig into it).
Malström however is a very unique beast (designed by Magnus Lidström/Sonic Charge). It's great for evolving and moving pads but also for a lot of other stuff.
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- u-he
- 30215 posts since 8 Aug, 2002 from Berlin
Well, I havn't checked out Subtractor yet but I have checked out Thor. Thor is really good, just like so many others. It would be in the long list of synths to mention for some things I like.exode_sound wrote:First of all: Yes I'm a Reason nerd.
How do you feel about the modular concept of Reason and the synths in it? Subtractor, Malström and last in the mix, Thor?
Personally I think that both Subtractor and Thor does much of the same old like other synths and VA (even though Thor is extremely flexible if you dig into it).
Malström however is a very unique beast (designed by Magnus Lidström/Sonic Charge). It's great for evolving and moving pads but also for a lot of other stuff.
Malström is a completely different beast, and rather sample based than strictly a synthesizer. Otehrwise I'd probably have mentioned it, along with Cameleon (havn't had a chance to try Alchemy) and Krishna.
Urs-
- KVRAF
- 13133 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
I recently got to play with a VCS3 for long enough to "get it", at least I think I did. I was actually a bit underwhelmed. Perhaps it was the hype, or my personal bias but I think I prefer the sound of an Arp 2600. The filter is distinctive and the oscillators do have a unique quality that really coms through when detuned and especially when using ring mod but if I were gonna drop that kind of cash on a vintage semi-modular, I'd go with a CMS modified Arp. That is just my personal experience though, it probably doesn't apply to anyone else.
I also got to play with a couple of Serge panels and an EML Electro-Comp 200. That was a sound I can get behind. Mmm. Banana Plugs...
I know the OP was addressing Urs but I love talking synths. Plus, I hate "What is the best?", I like "What is your favorite?" It provides for much more interesting conversation.
I don't have a single favorite and most of the time the results I seek come from the interaction of different devices but Zebra is easily my single synth. I don't say this to flatter our host but simply as a fact. I find it very inspiring to work with and also very satisfying. There are limitations which may have 4 different valid workarounds, each of which may cause sounds to change slightly depending on the signal chain. As I've said before I don't make a distinction between hardware and software, synths is synths to me. I also love my Eurorack modular but I mainly use that as an effect (I only have three or four oscillators) and my V-Synth is my very special but I only use it as a sampler.
DSI Evolver and Alesis Andromeda deserve a mention. As do Kurzweil K2500 (the first synth I learned to program) and Roland SH-2 (the first analog synth I played with).
I also got to play with a couple of Serge panels and an EML Electro-Comp 200. That was a sound I can get behind. Mmm. Banana Plugs...
I know the OP was addressing Urs but I love talking synths. Plus, I hate "What is the best?", I like "What is your favorite?" It provides for much more interesting conversation.
I don't have a single favorite and most of the time the results I seek come from the interaction of different devices but Zebra is easily my single synth. I don't say this to flatter our host but simply as a fact. I find it very inspiring to work with and also very satisfying. There are limitations which may have 4 different valid workarounds, each of which may cause sounds to change slightly depending on the signal chain. As I've said before I don't make a distinction between hardware and software, synths is synths to me. I also love my Eurorack modular but I mainly use that as an effect (I only have three or four oscillators) and my V-Synth is my very special but I only use it as a sampler.
DSI Evolver and Alesis Andromeda deserve a mention. As do Kurzweil K2500 (the first synth I learned to program) and Roland SH-2 (the first analog synth I played with).