-=[THE SYNTH ZONE]=-

Synths, synths, synths, let us talk about all the synthesizers

They're great instruments.

SYNTH FACT OF THE DAY: Despite performing what is called "photosynthesis", plants are in fact NOT synthesizers.

do you a favorite synthesizer?

Are you an old school analog synth fetishist?

Fave synth, that's a hard question. I like synths where every function has a knob you can twist, so let's go with that. The Yamaha CS-80 is my dream machine, though. The recent Dave Smith synths like Prophet 12 are good contenders for My Fave Synth as well.

Analog synths do sound great (I own a Microbrute) but some of the analog-fetishism (or rather digital hatred) can seem ridiculous for some. After all, it's the player that makes an instrument sound good, not the other way around.

Speaking of analog and fav synths, if I owned this synth I would be happy for the rest of my life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imuCQ3Do6lk

I am interested in what envelopes and VCAs sound like, usually the first thing I do when I check out a synth is how "snappy" the envelopes can get, how nicely the VCAs and filters respond to it, the percussive qualities. Buchlas sound like "pk" then "pup" then "plup". ARP 2600s sounds like "clk" then "cluck". Rolands and new DSIs do not have any percussive qualities that are as useful as those synths.

I love the sound of FM synth + analog filters these days and have been tooling around with a couple of Mutable Instruments objects that are very interesting. Switchable tuning! turn a knob and it's real, it's Pythagorean, pretty cool stuff.

FM synthesis definitely needs a comeback

My first encounter with FM synth (outside of pre-pubescent .cmf programming, and I didn't really get what was happening) (ditto a DX7 in high school) was with a Nord Wave, where it was suddenly like oh! I don't need to artificially create an overtone series? I really love the pairing of FM oscillators and analog filters, the Mutable stuff has been super fun. A friend of mine has a... Wave, PPG? what is it. Something like that. The big one. I played around with it but again the envelopes were mushy, it was all tone and no snap.

A studio I worked in had a CS-80 and it's not all that. When it came time for futuristic polysynth it was always the Jupiter 8-- which at this point has an equally ridiculous price tag

I know the CS-80 is mostly associated with Vangelis sounds although it is capable of more and may be not that great after all... but just look at that design! It seems like no other synth that came before and after the CS series has the same looks/design influences. As far as reliability goes.. at least it's not the PolyMoog.

Actually, now that I think about it, the Polymoog DOES share some design similarities with the CS-80

The CS-80 is surprisingly difficult to get into "dialling in" a sound, its interface isn't as intuitive later synths. Also tbrr I need MIDI or CV/gate connectivity, have the computer play the line while I work with the sound, and I don't know if that's a possibility for CS-80s (or if any owner would go for it if it was)

I don't have much use for MIDI to be honest, sitting at a computer and programming notes, I am unable to work like that (and I tried). It just doesn't give me the same kind of joy that touching a keyboard while twisting knobs does. But it's helpful when I need to synchronize several synthesizers.

You can also buy a MIDI kit for your CS-80 at a bargain price of 470 £!

Hmm, I get you. My process is this: typically I dial in a sound, record the take simultaneously as MIDI info and as audio, then save the patch (if applicable). When the song develops and suddenly I realize the synth is too glassy or too dark or whatever, or just wrong, I just feed the already-recorded MIDI info back into the synth and fix the patch in realtime. Not so fastidious, just an easy way to make changes.

A side note to this is that I've gotten so enamoured of my ARP 2600 that I rarely use any analog poly synths, I typically track each voice monophonically using MIDI-to-CV. The signal-to-noise on the ARP is so ridiculously low that you can track 10+ tracks of it and still have silence (provided you keep the spring muted). I love my ARP. I bought it with the money from a soul-destroying film gig several years ago, best decision ever-- though I'm told the Cwejman 2600alike is just as good/better (and cheaper and easier to service)

I usually dial in a sound, play along to the track and slightly change the settings until it fits in well, record (often with a metronome) and hope for a good take or two. Sounds risky and not as professional as your method, but personally I don't like having all these "safety nets" while working on creative stuff. Having this slight tenseness helps me concentrate and evaluate certain synth sounds, mixes and parts more. Like, every part you record could be the last one of your life.

The ARP 2600 is awesome and I wish I could own one. In fact, I wish I could own every classic monosynth. I'm more of a poly guy anyway, although in our multi-tracking DAW age monophonic synthesizers work just as well for me.

Speaking of awesome monosynths, Soviet synthesizers are rarely talked about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IMpElp0a_Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rceP4hDkXi4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYEYzPW6mes

i was digital only for a few years but i'm getting into using analog synths more and more. it's baby steps, but i've been using a Microbrute (running straight audio) and i just got the Korg Volca Keys (controlled via MIDI).

i know a lot of dudes who are more into messing around with old gear and than they are into making records and i never want to be that, so i'm just getting hardware when i'm having a specific sound that i'm not satisfied with the digital version of.

speaking of, i really do think they both have their place...soft synths can sometimes cut through a mix much more easily.

haven't messed around with FM synthesis yet but i really want to, probably going to get NI FM8 to learn on.

"Always appreciate all kinds of synths and syntheses." - Synthfucius

Speaking of digital synths and new purchases - I'm about to get a Yamaha AN1x for 250 €. Way underrated VA synth in my opinion. And even if I don't need its sounds I can use it as a MIDI controller with velocity and aftertouch and whatnot.

Jordan, I agree with you re: creating music vs. farting around, but making bloopy shit can be fun and even cathartic sometimes.

Anyone get a Microbrute? Looks pretty sweet, especially for the price.

I use a Prodigy that someone in our practice space owns, and I love it, but the newer Moog stuff is $$.

I also just bought Korg Gadget for my iPad mini, which is pretty neat. I cannot find a software synth that comes close to sounding as good as the Prodigy, though.

Whoops just saw your post Jordan. What do you think of the Microbrute? Can you get big, squelchy sounds out of it?

i loooove it, and yes. mostly i've been using it for thick saw basslines and square-ish leads, and lfo chaos. it's very intuitive imo.

Awesome. I think I'm gonna get one. I wish it had another octave, and full-size keys, but other than that it looks sweet.

Unfortunately my main keyboard (Nord Electro) does not have pitch/mod wheels.

Also, I got to play a Jupiter 8 on our latest record, and DAMN that is fun to play.

Does anybody want to recommended sites or tutorials for gaining a practical understanding of synthesis? All I do is play with free VST synths at this point and I get the basics but I want to have a better handle on it.

Also own a Microbrute - it's brilliant. The minikeys aren't as shitty as on the MicroKorg, allowing you play quite smoothly. And it can do anything from exquisite to big and squelchy.

St3ve, check out the Synth Secrets series, should teach you a bit (start from the bottom): http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

Oh yeah, I had started in on those Synth Secrets articles but gotten sidetracked, thanks for reminding me.

i've had the most luck looking on youtube for either the VST i'm working with or general synthesis tutorials.

what are your favorite synths for bass sounds? that's the #1 thing I'm lacking right now. I've got an Oberheim Matrix 6 (I finally got it fixed!) which makes some really lovely & mellow sounds, and I also recently bought an MS-20 Mini but haven't done anything too ambitious with it yet.

the Matrix isn't very good for heavy tweaking on the fly though

read that as heavy twerking on the fly

uhm, I think your MS-20 mini should be able to produce some great bass sounds, although I personally don't like the KORG Sound, it's just too.. "crispy" and "defined" for my taste.

The MS-20 is a fabulous bass synth, probably the best currently-available combo going, in that regard? I always forget about it! So great.

yay for fixed matrix!

my fave bass machines are juno 60 & pro one

i'm in a snit with vintage machines at the moment though since my really fucking expensive prophet 5 hasn't worked at all since i got midi installed

Vintage synths can be so uncompromising, that's why I like them

Well, until they stop working of course.

ha. it wouldn't hurt so much if it didn't sound so incredible when it's working

Speaking of vintage synths, I just realized how much 70's and 80's library music has this sci-fi synth soundscape thing going on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di_HMqlO28E

So many broken synthesizers. ;_;

Green Day - Boulevard of Broken Synths

Actually I'm wondering: Has anyone here played a Synclavier?

no, but if i did i would make it say jammin on the one

I am fascinated/curious about what makes people say this or that synth is good for particular applications, or how to to understand the different character of different synths besides the dry technical details about oscillators and such. e.g. electricsound says he likes the Juno 60 for bass sounds but for whatever reason I associate Juno 60s more with string pads and like mini Moogs or Korg SH101s with bass sounds? Maybe those are just more obvious cliches?

Yeah, it's interesting since I always thought synths to be sonic all-rounders, even with their various configurations and designs. But maybe some people like the sonic capabilites of, let's say, an ARP Odyssey more than the capabilites of a Minimoog in terms of bass/lead/pad?/... sounds.

personally when i say the 60 is good for bass it is because it has nice snappy envelopes and very tight but not wooly low end. it can do string pads well too though, it it a p amazing machine tbh. i appreciate it even more now after five years than i did in my initial rushes of excitement when i first got it

also i have never played a minimoog or sh101

i need to step up my pad game

One day I'll type out my synth adventures but not today. I own a lot of synths. Maybe I will type it. Here we go.

Juno-106 - great entry level synth. Start here and end here if you plan to own house or children. Only issue is that the oscillators like to burn out, and replacing them involves ordering chips and soldering.

Juno-Alpha - teeny tiny, the B is velocity sensitive, super light, super durable, mine got the shit kicked out of it and it still works. There is a cool fifth- and sixth-stage on the envelopes, it's like an ADADSR, so you can make stuttery sounds. It is a pain to program. I bought a PG-300 (the programmer) from a guy who was looking at me like I was a sucker and then I sold it to somebody and understood what a sucker looks like. This takes a little effort to program properly but it's easier than a DX-7. It's good if you're somebody who needs to travel light.

Juno-60 - I think it's this one that has the miracle arpeggiator. Any time I want to do something arpeggiated I borrow one of these guys. I have never owned one but I use them a tonne. It receives clock in so you can send it pulses from Logic using beat mapper to live drum takes and have the arpeggiation stay in time. It also has CV-out so you can double it up with an ARP or a Minimoog. The "ensemble" function is famous and it sounds good, I never felt comfortable using it because any time I turn it on it's like "oh, that sound". This is a great synth and I'd own one except that I own a Jupiter 8.

Jupiter-8 - a weird synth. It's hella expensive, I bought it with a film score budget for a sci-fi movie. It is heavy (a two-person lift, really) and runs hot. The envelopes are too mushy to be really useful for percussion but they are good for bass and pads. I was working on a film where the director hated synthesizers, and he came by the house and kept asking for any noodles to be removed, he just wanted lame-ass indie piano/ukelele plunky-plunks. The Jupiter was the one exception, he loved the Jupiter. It does sound otherworldly, like The Best Synth Ever! But its arpeggiator sucks, it can't be controlled without MIDIfying it (and the kits are poorly reviewed so I haven't done it), it's not particularly routable, and it's too heavy and expensive to really be useful in any home studio. Mine is out on semi-permanent loan to a friend's studio until I get my own space for it, which will probably never happen. I don't know what to do with it, it's kind of like having a convertible in the garage.

Nords - they sound bad. There is something in that frequency spectrum that drives me crazy. Their pianos and organs sound "realistic" without sounding good, and they never sound good in a band. Nord synths are slightly better but still bad-sounding. All that said, I travel with and play a Nord Wave because it's light, it samples, the FM synths sound good, it's got built-in delay and reverb. You have to wrestle hard with these synths to make them sound good but the lightness, durability and usability makes it work it.

Nord Modular - especially these ones. Capable of sounding unbearably good. This is a DSP-run synth where you built a virtual modular on your PC and upload it into the hardware. Like, you drag and drop your modules on to an environment and connect them with patch cords. Super steep learning curve and, like other Nords, sounds terrible 99% of the time, but it worth it for that 1%. I am a thief, not a programmer, I download other people's architectures and tweak them. I have a Memorymoog clone on mine that is so precise in its emulation that it's uncanny. My Nord Modular is my DX-7 and my drum machine, what a great synth. Any time I need to do a shitty film score real quick I turn it on and the score is done.

ARP 2600 - my favourite synth ever, and the only one I use on recordings that I want to be proud of. It never sounds bad. The envelopes are enormously flexible, the CV modulation is amazing, you can build anything and get absolutely lost in creating self-generating patches. Sometimes if I have a houseguest I make a seagull + seashore patch and put it in their room. The spring is noisy but is fun to route sound through it and then back into other things. I am sending mine in to a synth spa in Savannah to get the ring modulator repaired and the connections tricked out. There is no HPF so you have to figure that out if you want to make hi-hats. There is no MIDI, but I use a lightpipe-to-CV converter; the added control of the Silent Way plug-ins is miraculous. I wish I was at home playing with this synth right now. Todd Terje says that the Cwejman S1 is just as good, better in other ways, and less expensive and that he's been using that these days instead of his ARP.

Mutable Instruments - I have a Shruthi and an Ambika. They are both totally awesome but I haven't found a use for either of them just yet.

I have a modular, too. I've lost a week of my life into creating beautiful, useless music with it, but haven't cracked it yet, made it feel like an instrument. I'll type about it another time.

the 106 is weird, i can't stand the results i get from playing one, but other people seem to be able to coax really nice things out of it

little ambient thing i did

https://soundcloud.com/momotaropeachboy/fluor

Not a synth at all, but these look and sound gorgeous!

https://www.vintagevibe.com/products/vintage-vibe-tine-piano

I definitely want to pick up one of these when they finally come out. Seems like a really flexible piece of gear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYHqBt6B234

Totally--that thing looks worth it for the effects alone. And I don't have the first clue about DSP, but it will be cool as heck to download other people's FX and oscillators.

I'm finally diving into the Microfreak tomorrow, and as it happens I have one day to essentially write and finish a track for a compilation. Hopefully it doesn't sound like a microfreak product demo, even if that's what it might be, lol.

Hoping for some of the old 'first time user, don't know what I'm doing' magic.

The Microfreak is the other recent synth that I've been considering - although at £260 it's a lot more than the Korg Nutekt. I was thinking about the Monologue when it first came out, but in the end I didn't buy one because although it could get pretty extreme it wasn't that far out of the usual palette of monosynth sounds. Automatic Gainsay's review of the Microfreak demonstrates that it has a lot more range and also potential for in-depth programming far beyond what the front panel controls suggest.

I'm very hopeful, in many ways it seems like the synth I've always wanted. Will report back (hopefully as a conquering hero).

I got to play with one at Guitar Center today, I really liked the touch 'keyboard.'

Omg I love this synth. I've barely cracked the surface, but it's surprisingly intuitive so far, and I've never had as much fun going through presets. The keyboard & pitch bend ribbon are just delightful.

Also preset #2 is basically a Pulse X bass, what a gift

Well now that I've successfully made a track out of the most immediately appealing & usable patches, I guess I need to learn how to actually program the thing

There were some quirks, like it didn't seem to be getting the bpm from my DAW (for LFOs/arps etc), but that was easily set manually. Also everything online talks about 160 factory patches, but I only had about 120 before it got into the user slots. Not a big deal though.

And I haven't figured out much with the matrix yet (basically a digital version of a patchbay where you can change lfo routing etc). All I know is I got some sick sounds, and the glide and pitch bends are amazing on this (always important).

making some really nice droney ambient with my new ehx cathedral pedal, this thing rules

https://soundcloud.com/momotaropeachboy/nnell

Has anyone picked up any of the Behringer remakes of vintage synths? Morality aside, they look quite interesting - analogue sound with contemporary improvements to functionality. What's always put me off has been the lousy build quality of their budget gear but the reviews suggest the new synths are pretty well made.

I want the vocoder.

Yes, that's the one which immediately stood out to me as well.

Meanwhile installed update on my analog4 mk1 last night and it’s a killer upgrade. Still getting my kind blown that you can update synth software and get new features.

The new sequencing functionality is making me reconsider not getting an Analogue RYTM.

Can’t speak on the rytm though I know it’s more limited than on the a4 because the a4 is built for polyphonic sequencing and I think there some limitations w the rytm. I also have a machine drum and love sequencing midi w it like a unique step sequencer. I only wish the a4 didn’t limit tit the 4 tracks. Like if it let you sequence the 4 internal voices and shift selecting tracks or something accessed 4 additional tracks for midi sequencing.

picked up a korg monotron duo for $30 on reverb, holy shit this thing is capable of some interesting sounds

i recorded a piece inspired by eliane radigue's "jetsun mila" with the monotron and the cathedral pedal, i think it turned out pretty good https://soundcloud.com/momotaropeachboy/jettison

The new 303 knockoff sounds pretty great!
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2019/11/08/behringer-td-3-an-updated-roland-tb-303-clone/

Behringer Crave is now on pre-orders (was revealed in january, then very little for 10 months). looks like a useful, and cheap, semi-modular.

https://www.behringer.com/Categories/Behringer/Keyboards/Synthesizers-and-Samplers/CRAVE/p/P0DPX

should i buy an MS-20 mini?

yes, they rule.

if you play guitar or bass, the external signal processing is pretty cool in and of itself

Software sound fuckery -
https://cdm.link/2018/02/mammut-free-software-completely-insane-things-sounds/
https://www.notam02.no/web/prosjekter/mammut/?lang=en

Behringer's 'clone all the synths you've ever wanted' project continues:

https://www.musicradar.com/news/behringers-wasp-synth-clone-revealed-and-you-can-pre-order-it-now

I have a Wasp filter in my Eurorack set-up but will probably pick this up as well at some point.

Behringer just announced a polyphonic Model D/Minimoog that looks close to the size of an original.

My main problem with the glut of Behringer stuff is that I don’t have any space left to put it, but this looks very cool.

I’ve ordered a Mutable Instruments Elements in the pre-Black-Friday sales and look forward to making lots of exciting plonking noises.

The behringer poly D is actually paraphonic not polyphonic apparently

a local seller in town had a roland s-10 sampler up for grabs, I couldn't resist! exactly the sort of chunky early sampling I wanted

here's a quick track I made using samples I created with the volca FM:

https://soundcloud.com/momotaropeachboy/11-26a

love those sounds

This inspired me to look up the Roland S-10, and then quickly download a 12 bit sampler emulation vst :)

glad you liked Jordan!

Signal Sounds has the Volca Modular and Volca Drum half price.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0_q8XLiW7U

I ended up getting an Intellijel Plonk to go with Elements and a second Mutable Instruments Yarns to sequence both via my Digitakt.

I simply don’t have any room for non-modular gear atm but Novation have some good discounts:

https://store.focusrite.com/en-gb/categories/black-friday-2019

https://i.postimg.cc/Qxyr1m8P/419-BC452-3-F79-4986-87-C8-683-B741-DB2-BD.png

My current setup, and unlikely to change for a while - though there is space to expand.

what all modules are you using?

https://i.postimg.cc/zvY6bszS/4-EDD00-BD-BF05-4-D0-D-926-A-9-D4-FC5494346.jpg

^ though the Polivoks filter is from ELTA rather than Malekko.

Lots of Mutable Instruments, as I love their whole approach, and a bunch of Doepfer.

so fancy, but what does it sound like?

Anything you want it to! I’ll have to put something on Soundcloud.

Are eurorack modules all meant for monophonic stuff, or are there polyphonic modules?

Anything you want it to! I’ll have to put something on Soundcloud.

New board description (for "I Love Modular")

(sorry couldn't resist, it's just the stereotype of constantly generating but not finishing anything...your setup is really impressive, I'm just always looking for the practical application when it comes to gear)

Ha! No, that’s absolutely correct. I’m terrible at finishing stuff anyway so can’t blame the synth.

Xps, most Eurorack stuff is monophonic, though you can get some poly modules, like the new Doepfer stuff here:

https://www.gearnews.com/need-polyphony-in-your-rack-doepfer-polyphonic-eurorack-modules-now-available/

You can also do chords from a single trigger with some.

I wound up buying a few modules used (a Batumi, a Pamela's New Workout and a Music Thing Radio Music) but almost immediately shelved the idea when I started contemplating the all-in cost with the modules I planned out on modulargrid. Maybe someday it will be feasible but currently not so much.

Enjoying VCV Rack more since I decided to start completely ignoring anything with a bad GUI/small knobs no matter what it does.

i'm really fixated on the idea of doing a 32hp dirty little monosynth modular rig; leave the effects and other fanciness to pedals

I was kind of looking at the opposite - the effects are where modular is interesting to me, Make Noise stuff like the Mimeophon, Erbe-Verb and Morphagene go places that pedals can't.

(The Make Noise shared system is only, uh, $4500...)

that's a cool approach too!