Help me build my dream synth!

[Argitoth]

NOTE: This message was also posted at Modularsynth.net: http://www.modularsynth.net/viewtopic.php?t=1515

In this post I'm going to share with you what my vision of a modular synthesizer looks like... or rather, sounds like. I'm going to be spending a few thousand dollars on it, I want to get it right! I'm tired of hearing awesome synth sounds that I can never recreate with my software synths. Now I'm looking elsewhere, in the analog modular world.

While I do like the idea of mindlessly buying all Plan B modules and expecting to get the synth sound that I've been longing for (for so long), I'm hoping you can give me a little bit of direction. The difference between software and hardware (sound-wise) can be perceived as a small difference. Even so, I can still hear a huge difference, especially when I fail to create a hardware synth sound. There are such tiny details in the sound of a hardware synth that I love, tiny transient differences, tiny expressions and behavioral differences; it makes all the difference. I'm looking for the raw sound of an analog synth, the character, the instability, the fatness, the BIGness, the softness, the harshness, the screamyness. Here are some audio examples that represent what I want from an analog synth. Note that some of these sounds have been created from virtual analog.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Juno-6%20clip.mp3
Juno-6 Clip: Wowowowowowowowow... I really like that saw and filter. I believe it's also using a chorus. A good chorus is key to many of the sounds I love.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Blofeld%20clip.mp3
Blofeld clip: Listen to the lovely analog strings and the filter that helps create it.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Jupiter-4%20clip.mp3
Jupiter-4 clip: Listen to those hard filter attacks. I think it's using a nice chorus too. Hard attacks like this I believe requires two ADSR envelopes.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Nova%20clip.mp3
Nova clip: Pay very close attention to that bass. I love everything about it. It has a THAPing attack, a chorus, and a nice filtered envelope shape.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Prophet%20clip.mp3
Prophet clip: Another bass, looks like it also has a touch of chorus or just a nice couple of saws. Again, a nice filter and envelope shape.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Jupiter-8080%20clip.mp3
Jupiter-8080 clip: A nice TB-303 sound. It's harsh and zippy.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Virus%20clip%202.mp3
Virus clip 2: Listen carefully, it's very quiet in the beginning. It has a lovely attack; partly emphasized by its quick short notes.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Virus%20clip%201.mp3
Virus clip 1: A harsh supersaw sound. Definitely is using distortion and compression. I don't expect an analog modular synth to compete with Virus' supersaw, but I'll leave the clip anyway.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/NFS%20music%20clip.mp3
NFS Music 1 minute: And without further ado, I saved the best, my favoritest music EVAR, for last. This is a series of beautifully distorted, chorused, screaming synths. Listen very carefully to all the fine details of each sound. Yes, you can sorta-kinda-somewhat create these sounds with software, but never will it have the harshness, the screamyness, the smoothness, or character. Also listen to some of the beautiful pads.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/NFS%2010%20minute.mp3
NFS Music 10 minute: If you have some time, download this 10 minute clip of various Need for Speed tracks. Beautiful pads, deep basses, sparkling chorus, unique screaming synths, awesome use of envelope characters and transients, fine-detailed attacks and envelope shapes, and synths that have a life of their own.

Lasty, to put Need for Speed music into perspective:

Need for Speed III: Hot Persuit - Released in 1998
Need for Speed: High Stakes - Released in 1999
I do not like any NFS music past Need for Speed 5 which was released in 2000.

I e-mailed Romolo di Prisco, one of Need for Speed III's composers. He wrote this:

"Back in the old days for NFS2 and 3, I used...

Atari ST with SMPTE Track Sequencer
Roland JV-880 with Vintage Synth Expansion
Roland Juno 60
Roland Juno 106
Roland TB-303
Yamaha AN1X
Akai S20
Akai S01
Alesis Midiverb II
Boss SE-50
Boss SE-70
Aphex Exciter C2
Ensoniq DP4"

Finished reading already? Sooooo, what modules do you suggest? 8)

[Muff Wiggler]

NOTE: This message was also posted at Modularsynth.net: http://www.modularsynth.net/viewtopic.php?t=1515

In this post I'm going to share with you what my vision of a modular synthesizer looks like... or rather, sounds like. I'm going to be spending a few thousand dollars on it, I want to get it right! I'm tired of hearing awesome synth sounds that I can never recreate with my software synths. Now I'm looking elsewhere, in the analog modular world.

While I do like the idea of mindlessly buying all Plan B modules and expecting to get the synth sound that I've been longing for (for so long), I'm hoping you can give me a little bit of direction. The difference between software and hardware (sound-wise) can be perceived as a small difference. Even so, I can still hear a huge difference, especially when I fail to create a hardware synth sound. There are such tiny details in the sound of a hardware synth that I love, tiny transient differences, tiny expressions and behavioral differences; it makes all the difference. I'm looking for the raw sound of an analog synth, the character, the instability, the fatness, the BIGness, the softness, the harshness, the screamyness. Here are some audio examples that represent what I want from an analog synth. Note that some of these sounds have been created from virtual analog.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Juno-6%20clip.mp3
Juno-6 Clip: Wowowowowowowowow... I really like that saw and filter. I believe it's also using a chorus. A good chorus is key to many of the sounds I love.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Blofeld%20clip.mp3
Blofeld clip: Listen to the lovely analog strings and the filter that helps create it.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Jupiter-4%20clip.mp3
Jupiter-4 clip: Listen to those hard filter attacks. I think it's using a nice chorus too. Hard attacks like this I believe requires two ADSR envelopes.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Nova%20clip.mp3
Nova clip: Pay very close attention to that bass. I love everything about it. It has a THAPing attack, a chorus, and a nice filtered envelope shape.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Prophet%20clip.mp3
Prophet clip: Another bass, looks like it also has a touch of chorus or just a nice couple of saws. Again, a nice filter and envelope shape.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Jupiter-8080%20clip.mp3
Jupiter-8080 clip: A nice TB-303 sound. It's harsh and zippy.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Virus%20clip%202.mp3
Virus clip 2: Listen carefully, it's very quiet in the beginning. It has a lovely attack; partly emphasized by its quick short notes.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/Virus%20clip%201.mp3
Virus clip 1: A harsh supersaw sound. Definitely is using distortion and compression. I don't expect an analog modular synth to compete with Virus' supersaw, but I'll leave the clip anyway.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/NFS%20music%20clip.mp3
NFS Music 1 minute: And without further ado, I saved the best, my favoritest music EVAR, for last. This is a series of beautifully distorted, chorused, screaming synths. Listen very carefully to all the fine details of each sound. Yes, you can sorta-kinda-somewhat create these sounds with software, but never will it have the harshness, the screamyness, the smoothness, or character. Also listen to some of the beautiful pads.

http://www.elanhickler.com/misc/NFS%2010%20minute.mp3
NFS Music 10 minute: If you have some time, download this 10 minute clip of various Need for Speed tracks. Beautiful pads, deep basses, sparkling chorus, unique screaming synths, awesome use of envelope characters and transients, fine-detailed attacks and envelope shapes, and synths that have a life of their own.

Lasty, to put Need for Speed music into perspective:

Need for Speed III: Hot Persuit - Released in 1998
Need for Speed: High Stakes - Released in 1999
I do not like any NFS music past Need for Speed 5 which was released in 2000.

I e-mailed Romolo di Prisco, one of Need for Speed III's composers. He wrote this:

"Back in the old days for NFS2 and 3, I used...

Atari ST with SMPTE Track Sequencer
Roland JV-880 with Vintage Synth Expansion
Roland Juno 60
Roland Juno 106
Roland TB-303
Yamaha AN1X
Akai S20
Akai S01
Alesis Midiverb II
Boss SE-50
Boss SE-70
Aphex Exciter C2
Ensoniq DP4"

Finished reading already?

Sooooo, what modules do you suggest?

None at all. I suggest you buy a Virus, a Juno 6, a Supernova, any Waldorf synth, and a Prophet 5. I think it would be a dire mistake for you to start on a modular synth.

[Cybananna]

yea, I agree 100%. You should not buy a modular. Based on the samples you linked, you are not looking for a modular. You would be terribly unsatisfied with a modular. I would suggest a virus. Those types of sounds could be pretty easily pulled from a virus.

All the ones Muff Wiggler suggested would be fine, but the virus (which I have lots of experience with) would be a good single synth choice, or a Waldorf Micro Q if a rack synth would be ok. Both are easy to find too.

[Argitoth]

None at all. I suggest you buy a Virus, a Juno 6, a Supernova, any Waldorf synth, and a Prophet 5. I think it would be a dire mistake for you to start on a modular synth.

No one will talk me out of getting a modular synth.

I'm getting a modular synth whether it fulfills my desires or not. Until I have a modular synth, start hearing it, start using it, there's no way you can talk me out of it. This is because I've already spent days researching hardware (virtual analog) synths and I've come to the conclusion that either the synths I would want are not available or too expensive to just buy without meticulously testing it.

Look. I'd rather spend $3000 on a modular synth (RAW ANALOG) and learn that it was a mistake than spend $1500 on a normal hardware synth (FAKE ANALOG) and sit there and wonder if I could have done better with a modular synth.

Muff, my friend, I'm in here for the long haul. If you won't suggest modules, then I'll try to figure it out for myself.

Edit: Plus, I am excited about all that comes with a modular synth- the new way of thinking about sound, the limitations which become freedoms, the modularity, the ability to build my own setup, the future ability to integrate my own components, the community, the coolness of it all, the new modules people are coming out with, and THE RAW AND UNSTABLE SOUND OF ANALOG CIRCUITS!

[MrDys]

[Kwote]

no offense argitoth but you really should do more action and less talking. your posts are starting to get agitating. sorry but it's gotta be said.

[Muff Wiggler]

None at all. I suggest you buy a Virus, a Juno 6, a Supernova, any Waldorf synth, and a Prophet 5. I think it would be a dire mistake for you to start on a modular synth.

No one will talk me out of getting a modular synth.

I'm getting a modular synth whether it fulfills my desires or not. Until I have a modular synth, start hearing it, start using it, there's no way you can talk me out of it. This is because I've already spent days researching hardware (virtual analog) synths and I've come to the conclusion that either the synths I would want are not available or too expensive to just buy without meticulously testing it.

Look. I'd rather spend $3000 on a modular synth (RAW ANALOG) and learn that it was a mistake than spend $1500 on a normal hardware synth (FAKE ANALOG) and sit there and wonder if I could have done better with a modular synth.

Muff, my friend, I'm in here for the long haul. If you won't suggest modules, then I'll try to figure it out for myself.

Edit: Plus, I am excited about all that comes with a modular synth- the new way of thinking about sound, the limitations which become freedoms, the modularity, the ability to build my own setup, the future ability to integrate my own components, the community, the coolness of it all, the new modules people are coming out with, and THE RAW AND UNSTABLE SOUND OF ANALOG CIRCUITS!

:kvr:

there's really only about two things I can say here:

- It's not that I won't recommend modules, it's that I can't. Because you aren't looking for a modular synth. If you cannot open your mind enough to see this, well, I'm sorry to have to say it, but the fact is you won't get far with a modular either then.

- If you still want to totally refuse to take the advice you sought, received, and then rejected, then fine, it's supposed to be a free country and all that. I will offer you this:

Your best path in the world of modular synths would be to start with a couple of PSIM-1 modules, and some Fenix-format Zeroscillators.

Good luck to you.

[Luka]

most the members here are aso at modularsynth so what is the use of duplicating the discussion

but in all regards to your topic, i think you should chill out and try explore what you can do with your current rig. most of the coolest sound applications come from experience with gear... not the purest sine waves and the uber fm tones. wanting the latest and greatest of everything is probably another vst mindset that is going to take a while to rub out.

[A Dingleberry Monstrosity]

buy a cwejman S1 or something

[parasitk]

He's banned, who cares!

[J.w.M.]

That whole thing was kind of sad and funny.

[Kent]

Sooooo, what modules do you suggest?

None at all. I suggest you buy a Virus, a Juno 6, a Supernova, any Waldorf synth, and a Prophet 5. I think it would be a dire mistake for you to start on a modular synth.

Man, Muff; you nailed it. Check out what Capt. AssHat has now posted @ Modularsynth.net.


Clicky-Click here.

Argitoth can't be for real, can he?

After having spent over $3000 on my analog eurorack modular synth and having spent much time researching, learning, and expirimenting with my synth, I am disappointed. The time and money I've spent on my analog synth is so far was not worth it.

[parasitk]

Bwahahahahahhaa, awesome.

[chimologic]

[Soy Sos]

Funny, I'm not sure I checked his samples when he first made
that post with "here are the type of sounds I want to achieve"
No wonder................

[jonkull]

This is why I don't 'hang out' on modularsynth anymore. I lurked there for a bit before finding this site. There certainly are some 'interesting' personalities over there...

What gets me about Argitoth is that he asks lots of questions and doesn't really care about what kind of advice people offer him. Why ask then? That and he doesn't know that he really wants a VA and not a modular. It's so clear from just about every post he makes but he just doesn't get it... At least it's a good source of amusement.

[neandrewthal]

I don't understand why some of you guys still try to help him. Can't we just answer him with "FAIL" every time until he gets sick of it?

[dougcl]

There seems to be a disease, the key indication of which is a statement, something along the lines of:

"I'm tired of hearing awesome synth sounds that I can never recreate with my software synths"

[felix]

OMG, this thread is BACK!?!

zombie thread.

[A Dingleberry Monstrosity]

holy shit, that is the greatest/saddest/funniest/awesomest quote ever!

[GCF]

I was really hoping the link would be to a listing for selling his entire system. I know, wishful thinking. He has probably tried 'improving' all of his modules by adjusting trimpots, making his modules a curse to anyone he would try to sell them to. Kind of like when he made the sine on his Doepfer VCO more buzzy since it was sine enough before.

[Babaluma]

i just get angry when i offer good advice and he doesn't even acknowledge my post, let alone say thanks.

[Suburban Bather]

OMG, this thread is BACK!?!

zombie thread.

Did somebody say Zombie?

[video][/video]

[Dragonslair]

Hey give the guy a break, he can't help it if he was born tone deaf and not the most intelligent rock in the pile.

Guys like him are the reason I stopped going to Modularsynth.net
About the only things I do there now, are post the odd for sale ad.

[parasitk]

Guys like him are the reason I stopped going to Modularsynth.net

ditto.

I'm happy there will be some moderation now, though.