On Wednesday 12 July 2006 16:02, Cesare Marilungo was like: > tim hall wrote: > >Really I'm yearning for analog synths, I have fond memories of playing > > with MS10s, SH101s and my old Pro1 and the kind of resonant filter sweeps > > that are possible with analog filters. Is the sound I am looking for > > simply not possible digitally? Would anyone with the appropriate skills > > consider modelling VCS3 or Prophet filters in software? The closest > > application is probably Alsa Modular Synth for what I want (as I'd like > > to be able to filter samples too), but it does appear to have > > limitations. I shall persevere, obviously. > > I still own (and use) a Korg MS20. I had an MS10 also, but sold it two > years ago to pay some bills :-) . I'm not a DSP expert but what makes > these synths unique were their unpredictability and their lack of > precision. An analog circuit like that is sensible to temperature, > humidity. The difference between a real analog synth and a soft synth is > much like the difference between a tape recorder and a digital recorder. > We're used to the sound of the first kind, a sound that is determined by > the intrinsic limitations of that technology. It's not just that we're used to the analog sound, there is a definite psycho-acoustic difference. IMO. > If we reproduce or store our performance in bits anyway, there's no > difference between a well programmed soft synth and a real analog apart > from the fact that the first one sound (and has been designed to sound) > too perfect. > > Isn't, again, a matter of introducing a bit of randomicity (if this is > the correct term)? It is possible to simulate oscillator drift et al., sure, but it is difficult to get good clean sine tones in the upper ranges digitally. I saw / heard some nice external boxes at the Sounds Expo, I don't remember the manufacturer offhand (I will look it up). They did a nice Prophet and Moog style synth, both digitally modelled, so I know it is possible. When I have a bit of spare cash I will probably get one of these - I have to say I also like the MS2000, which is in a similar price range. -- cheers, tim hall http://glastonburymusic.org.uk/tim We are the people We've been waiting for.
