Any synth that really sounds different

For fans of synths, pianos or keyboard instruments of any sort.

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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by The Elf »

Arpangel wrote:The MicroMonsta only goes a long way in confirming what the OP is saying here, very underwhelming, very conventional, with loads of effects, and the usual Techno sounds

It costs 240 quid, velcros to the side of a keyboard stand and will be powered by its USB port. MPE-compatible too (my main interest in this device). If that's 'underwhelming' I'll take it!

And nope, there aren't loads of effects - just delay and reverb. Though I can't see why effects are a problem. Better that than having to drag more boxes to a gig.

If it sounds boring then that says more about the person playing it than the device. The last time I looked the electric guitar was still pretty much the same machine, but some people seem to get exciting things out of it.

I don't do techno. What you're hearing are presets. You have to look past presets - which is where I came in...

I'm taking a chance on this one. I doubt I'll lose money if I decide it's not for me.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Arpangel »

I think we all need to take a step back, and approach this from a different angle.
We need to step back, and see these "instruments"for what they really are, see the big picture, not the view from inside a very narrow "worldly" technical perspective, it’s like a little prison.
Taking on board a new instrument, is like making a life long friend, potentially, we can’t do it lightly, instruments are powerful magic, and in the wrong hands can bring bad Karma, frustration, and ultimately waste our time, and our lives.
That’s how important an instrument is, they aren’t toys, or a slight diversion.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Eddy Deegan »

Arpangel wrote:I think we all need to take a step back, and approach this from a different angle.
We need to step back, and see these "instruments"for what they really are ...

We don't really need to do anything. You might, but everyone has their own relationship with their instruments and most will not align with yours ;)
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Arpangel »

Eddy Deegan wrote:
Arpangel wrote:I think we all need to take a step back, and approach this from a different angle.
We need to step back, and see these "instruments"for what they really are ...

We don't really need to do anything. You might, but everyone has their own relationship with their instruments and most will not align with yours ;)

My memory, it’s getting bad, I’ll do it now.....

"In My Opinion"

:D
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Drew Stephenson »

Arpangel wrote:
Eddy Deegan wrote:
Arpangel wrote:I think we all need to take a step back, and approach this from a different angle.
We need to step back, and see these "instruments"for what they really are ...

We don't really need to do anything. You might, but everyone has their own relationship with their instruments and most will not align with yours ;)

My memory, it’s getting bad, I’ll do it now.....

"In My Opinion"

:D

Maybe just add a disclaimer in your sig? ;)
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Folderol »

If nothing else, this thread underlines just how different people's approach is.
Could have something to do with the fact people are different :tongue:
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by The Elf »

Folderol wrote:Could have something to do with the fact people are different :tongue:

I'm not... ;):mrgreen:
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by N i g e l »

Manny Fernandez - From DX to MODX | Podcast
https://www.soundonsound.com/people/man ... dx-podcast

This is a great interview with a guy that gets the most out of his synths.

The link to his soundcloud page is worth exploring, some good sounds there.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Folderol »

The Elf wrote:
Folderol wrote:Could have something to do with the fact people are different :tongue:

I'm not... ;):mrgreen:
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But if you're not, but even a few others are, that means you are as well. Alternatively...

How is it you and I have different synths? :lol::beamup:
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by BillB »

Will, you need to watch Life of Brian :thumbup:
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by The Elf »

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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Arpangel »

Folderol wrote:
The Elf wrote:
Folderol wrote:Could have something to do with the fact people are different :tongue:

I'm not... ;):mrgreen:
Image

But if you're not, but even a few others are, that means you are as well. Alternatively...

How is it you and I have different synths? :lol::beamup:

We are all unique, just like everyone else.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by tea for two »

phil123456 wrote:Hi,

far from willing to be offensive, all synths reviews I watch gives me the feeling of a new package/branding, but the same sounds every time

I rarely heard a new /old synth really differentiate itself from the rest of the herd in term of sound it produces

anyone feels the same ?
are there some synth that really worth it ?

thanks for your advises

Phil

There is one synth perhaps the most different sounding unique, even though other synths may sound similar.

It is also the most analogue of synths.

There is plenty that can be done with this synth even though it has primarily a rather restricted range of sounds.

Just requires some processing some mangling some chopping up some sequencing.

Mostly it requires inventiveness.

It is also rather affordable.

Yep you and others guessed it : our voice.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by RonanMcDermott »

What sounds do you want to make that cannot be made by one or other of the gazillion hardware or software synths already in existence?
Answer that question, and this discussion can evolve.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Arpangel »

RonanMcDermott wrote:What sounds do you want to make that cannot be made by one or other of the gazillion hardware or software synths already in existence?
Answer that question, and this discussion can evolve.

I think like a lot of us, sometimes, we don’t have a sound in our heads, we go looking, and want to be surprised, the equipment is very much like exploring a giant abandoned house, with lots of rooms, full of lovely surprises, or nasty horrors, depending on our tastes.
We look to the equipment to provide the answer.
Not all of the time, sometimes we know what we want, but if you’re looking to discover a grand old eighteenth century ballroom covered in gold leaf, it’s no use exploring a two bedroom bungalow.
However, that grand old ballroom covered in gold leaf will sound different according to who’s imagining it.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Guest »

I can think of a few synths that sound pretty different:

The VSynth can sound unlike any other synth, alongside the other Roland VariPhrase stuff.

Kyma - if we can count that - can make very unique sounds.

EaganMatrix based Haken gear also sounds pretty unique.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Arpangel »

[ACCOUNT DELETED] wrote:I can think of a few synths that sound pretty different:

The VSynth can sound unlike any other synth, alongside the other Roland VariPhrase stuff.

Kyma - if we can count that - can make very unique sounds.

EaganMatrix based Haken gear also sounds pretty unique.

If we’re including VSTi's, there’s a lot of very unusual and interesting ones, Guagear, Animoog (possibly the best VSTi IMO) in recent years, Carbon 2, TC11, all really unique, amazing sounding things.
I’ve got Animoog wired into GarageBand on my i Pad, in fact, sometimes, I look at my hardware studio and think why am I bothering?
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by whitesun »

90% of synth sound is made by reverb after it. Raw synths' sounds are ugly. Try other reverbs, some very old ones and very imperfect ones.
Another thing is that hw synths all have separate vibrato of pitch of oscillators for each note which has not been usually implemented in software ones, perhaps for marketing reasons.
Try old synoptic probe from 2000. It's builtin reverb makes wonders. Find on youtube. It sounds very different. Maybe there had been crisis in minds of programmers during 2005-2018. In 2018 they at once started implementing that vibrato thing and for good.
Thirdly, hw synths' waveforms are never perfect, they have rounded corners and that rounding variates ie chaning timbres all the time - this refers to point 2 partly.
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by Folderol »

whitesun wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:05 pm 90% of synth sound is made by reverb after it. Raw synths' sounds are ugly. Try other reverbs, some very old ones and very imperfect ones.
Another thing is that hw synths all have separate vibrato of pitch of oscillators for each note which has not been usually implemented in software ones, perhaps for marketing reasons.
Try old synoptic probe from 2000. It's builtin reverb makes wonders. Find on youtube. It sounds very different. Maybe there had been crisis in minds of programmers during 2005-2018. In 2018 they at once started implementing that vibrato thing and for good.
Thirdly, hw synths' waveforms are never perfect, they have rounded corners and that rounding variates ie chaning timbres all the time - this refers to point 2 partly.

I respectfully disagree :shifty:
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Re: Any synth that really sounds different

Post by BJG145 »

(Just to note that the thread is three years old.)
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