will slightly randomizing all parameters make a plugin synth sound more analog?

[worldboy]

i had this idea to use a plugin that randomizes midi velocity for every note (random value from 0-127) and then having velocity slightly modulate (maybe 3-5%) as many parameters as possible such as attack, sustain, detune, cutoff, resonance, drive, pitch, lfo phase, etc. would this accumulation of subtle randomness make a digital synth sound more analog?

[Aiynzahev]

Whenever I had applied random modulation in small amounts in synths it does make it sound more lively and warm.

Your idea is good though. By all means try it out.

[risome]

no

[vata44]

Yes, i think this is a good idea. I used to do it a lot when I used exclusively Jeskola Buzz by applying multiple LFO's to various synths velocities, compressor ratios/att/rel, Delay wet/dry, etc. The list goes on and on.

I would do it so I could barely notice it. My thought was that in live playing, not every kick or key will be the same velocity or require the same about of compression or what not.

However, this was when I was using my QWERTY keyboard as a virtual midi controller. So all the notes were the same volume, unless I specified vel per note.

[Sendy]

Better to modulate these parameters using as many individual sources as possible. When I'm done with designing a patch I'll sometimes use up any remaining modulators on adding subtle chaos to different parameters (especially in hardwired synths where they're going to be running anyway and hence there's no extra CPU cost). Random and random glide LFOs work well. Small random pitch variations and differing ways to design this effect, are very effective.

For example, one thing I like to do is set keyfollow to modulate pitch just a tiny amount, so high notes are slightly sharp and low ones slightly flat (or vice versa). Then I'll have a random LFO or velocity or something modulate the amount to which this detuning is happening.

Zebra and Diva and I think Ace all have parameters to randomize the pitch of each note to whatever degree you choose.

[xh3rv]

Interesting question ... my answer: I'm convinced ears just really like lively, nuanced physics. For a synth simulating a physical instrument, the most authentic patches would use velocity to model all kinds of subtle effects on things like pitch, spectrum, or dynamics. Consequently, even if a sound is clearly synthetic - not authentically a physical instrument (and probably not even trying) - it's not essential but often useful to make velocity deeply important to the patch.

I'm not sure random velocities is my first option here. Parts with well performed or well drawn velocity modulation generally should be more strongly expressive than parts with really really random velocity. Of course, the patch has to consider velocity smartly for a really great part. I do think a light amount of random velocity for humanization (don't like the term, but ...) is just fine in the right context.

[worldboy]

i wouldn't necessarily need to use velocity as the random modulator. it could be any parameter that isn't being used in the patch.

think of it more as: if literally ALL parameters in a patch could be randomized by an individually chosen percentage, could a slightly more "analog" sound be the result?

[pdxindy]

i wouldn't necessarily need to use velocity as the random modulator. it could be any parameter that isn't being used in the patch.

think of it more as: if literally ALL parameters in a patch could be randomized by an individually chosen percentage, could a slightly more "analog" sound be the result?

I do a lot of randomization with modmappers but would not want to indiscriminately randomize everything... and it would not make it more 'analog', it would make it more randomly variable... may as well use an accurate descriptor than the vague term 'analog'.

[Howard]

Tip: if you have a sound with a strong filter envelope, randomly modulating the Attack can work wonders

[nilhartman]

or "lagging" the envelope while modulating the lag

[Howard]

or "lagging" the envelope while modulating the lag

Nope, that would be pretty useless IMO. Besides, it's not directly possible in Zebra.

[nilhartman]

All apologies, I didn't realize the thread was about Zebra. However, believe it or not, it can do wonder to acidic lead/basslines in Diva

[Bronto Scorpio]

Small amounts of random modulation here and there definitely help to make a sound more alive.

I also like to assign a slow global LFO to pitch, it gives a nice "warble" effect like those 80s synths on old VHS movies

Here is a preset which uses this technique: Retro Saw+

It's nothing special but the slight random modulation of the osc pitch and the global LFO make it more alive.

Edit: Oops
One of the XY controls wasn't assigned, I quickly fixed that.
The mix modulae really needs an equal power crossfade mode by the way. I'm too lazy to work around that in this preset at the moment.

Cheers
Dennis

[Sendy]

Yeah, slow lfo to pitch and then a delay, so that the sound is always mixing with a detuned version of it's-self in a constantly changing process (unlike two detuned oscillators which are constant).

[Kriminal]

i had this idea to use a plugin that randomizes midi velocity for every note (random value from 0-127) and then having velocity slightly modulate (maybe 3-5%) as many parameters as possible such as attack, sustain, detune, cutoff, resonance, drive, pitch, lfo phase, etc. would this accumulation of subtle randomness make a digital synth sound more analog?

In a word, no.