IDM Mailing Archive

quoted 3 lines I've been under the impression that soft synth warez,

> I've been under the impression that soft synth warez, >as nice as cheap as they are don't carry the "umph" >that hard warez offer. Am'I wrong or...

well, emulation is always going to be just that. however, there are ways of making and manipulating sound on computers that just isn't available anywhere else. -- http://www.synthesizer.org/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

On Wed, 8 Mar 2000, mark soliday wrote:

quoted 3 lines I've been under the impression that soft synth warez,

> I've been under the impression that soft synth warez, > as nice as cheap as they are don't carry the "umph" > that hard warez offer. Am'I wrong or...

I am not sure what 'oomph' you're talking about. Hardware synths can have lots of knobs, making the editing experience more intuitive and hands on, and you can twiddle two or mor knobs at once. Soft synths are limited by having to twiddle one thing at a time with the mouse, though there are ways around that, like using the keyboard, or a MIDI fader/knob box. Soft synths have to contend with the latency in the sound card drivers -- i.e. the time between when input of some sort happens, and the effect on the output is audible. This comes from operating system overhead and buffering requirements. Hardware synths don't have to run Microsoft Office, so they can run a tight little loop, polling for input and generating output with a very short lag. Soundwise, they're different, but there isn't any problem coming up with 'umph' in the sound, it's just going to be a little cleaner (usually) and behave differently in the face of pathalogical tweakage. An analogue synth will soldier on and keep producing vaguely musical noises long after the softsynth has started sounding like your computer is being fed into a threshing machine. So there are places for both. With a few notable exceptions, the latency issue keeps a synth from being seriously playable, at least to people used to not waiting to hear a key after they've struck it. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 3 lines I've been under the impression that soft synth warez,

> I've been under the impression that soft synth warez, >as nice as cheap as they are don't carry the "umph" >that hard warez offer. Am'I wrong or...

It really depends on your computer. The Apple G4 processor has dedicated 'Alti-umph' processing unit that overcomes previous umph limitations. Older G3 computers need a library from Apple called "UmphLib" installed in at least MacOS 8.6 . On the Wintel side, Pentium IIIs process "umph" code much faster than the Pentium IIs, but certain "MMXumph" enhanced chips arent too shabby. It really depends on your box. Its really the "Wowee!" that you miss out on the Mac right now. Sure its been out on the PC for months, but supposedly there will be a Mac version soon that isnt a beta. hope that helps, ernie Ernesto Ikerd, (817) 763-4795 Company Graphics, Dept 17, MZ-4202 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Fort Worth, Texas --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

As far as I've seen, the cheaply available softsynths are pretty pants, but they are useful for getting used to the way synths work on the cheap. Otherwise, buying your first synth is pretty hellish... you're left pretty much at the mercy of reviews. Is there a cheap way of trying out FM synths (take it off list if its OT)... I've tried the soundforge built in job, but I can't get my head the ideas: it's a lot les intuitive than analogue modelling. Thanks Jorkens --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

mark soliday wrote:

quoted 3 lines I've been under the impression that soft synth warez,

> I've been under the impression that soft synth warez, > as nice as cheap as they are don't carry the "umph" > that hard warez offer. Am'I wrong or...

Both have advantages and disadvantages. There are plenty of 'names' out there in IDM land making crazy shit with soft synths like reaktor, building up custom ensembles who's only purpose is to completely mangle sound in new and unusually ways. Ae's weapon of choice now days, from what I hear. I know of a local idm producer who's been pushing the envelope by using up to 6000 individual (and unique) samples in his tunes and has pretty much gone 100% computer based, selling most of his gear and buying a third computer. Personally, I love soft synths but still sport wood over gear, especially the new virtual analogue stuff. We (me and my posse of hoodlums who have a studio together in Echho Parke) have tons of old/new gear but the ms20, nord lead and Z1 will always be favorites. I finally broke down and bought a virus b a few weeks ago and it's simply amazing. The depth of this box is astounding and with the 3.0 upgrade it turns into an completely mad filter box/vocoder. All knobs send midi, so it's perfect for use with any computer based software that responds to midi control, like audiomulch or reaktor. Controlling the virus in cubase or logic is a dream. The funny thing is, the 'virus' reaktor ensemble is one of the reasons I bought the actual hardware! Other great things that you're going to start seeing pop up in these machines (and their ensuing software upgrades!) are feature that are typically 'computer' style dsp effects, like bit-reduction and shaper distortion. boner! borkc --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

I wish that audio software would begin to branch out more on its own instead of simply attempting to emulate what I can already buy hardware to do. I think the real strength of software is that it is infinitely flexible. I can use my same PC to apply ANY audio effect I'd ever want, essentially. I don't know how many damn 303 emulators I've come across! Like I need ANY more of them! Argh. But at the same time I can achieve sounds with my computer that I could possibly get with hardware, and that's really cool to me. -- :: atomly :: atomly@atomly.com | atomly@atdot.org | atomly@cyrus.net http://www.atomly.com | http://www.mp3.com/atomly [CELL|(888)522.3830] | [CELL|(701)729.1631] | [HOME|(651)748.8676] --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 4 lines Other great things that you're going to start seeing pop up in these

> Other great things that you're going to start seeing pop up in these > machines (and their ensuing software upgrades!) are feature that are > typically 'computer' style dsp effects, like bit-reduction and shaper > distortion.

It's already there on the Nord Modulars and the Kyma. To me a Kyma + Nord Modular all under control of a computer running some nice seq software (depending on what you like(Ie: Max, logic, performer, whatever you prefer)) would be the ultimate combination. I wouldn't need anything else. I already have the MicroModular... the rest is dreaming for now... -Andy. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

--- atomly <atomly@atomly.com> wrote:

quoted 4 lines I wish that audio software would begin to branch out more on its own

> I wish that audio software would begin to branch out more on its own > instead of simply attempting to emulate what I can already buy > hardware to > do.

Have you ever messed around with any Granular Synthesis programs or MetaSynth type programs? These are pretty much computer exclusive processes (with the only hardware exception being the Kyma). There are a lot of other computer exclusive effects (like 500 band vocoding, etc...), but these are the main ones. There are new synthesis techniques being explored in software, you just have to look around for them. -Andy. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

On Wed, 8 Mar 2000, a.Puls wrote:

quoted 7 lines Have you ever messed around with any Granular Synthesis programs or

> Have you ever messed around with any Granular Synthesis programs or > MetaSynth type programs? These are pretty much computer exclusive > processes (with the only hardware exception being the Kyma). There are > a lot of other computer exclusive effects (like 500 band vocoding, > etc...), but these are the main ones. There are new synthesis > techniques being explored in software, you just have to look around for > them.

Yea, it's definitely happening, I was just complaining about how much wasted effort there is on emulation of hardware. Just make programs like Generator and let dumb people hammer out their own silly emulations. :) I have never played with MetaSynth, but I've done a lot of stuff with GranuLab and I absolutely love it. I was having a great time making noises just with the sine stuff, but loading up a breaking mashing it up in that program is absolutely AMAZING! -- :: atomly :: atomly@atomly.com | atomly@atdot.org | atomly@cyrus.net http://www.atomly.com | http://www.mp3.com/atomly [CELL|(888)522.3830] | [CELL|(701)729.1631] | [HOME|(651)748.8676] --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

What I'd really like to find are some really drastic Direct X Plugins for Soundforge/Acid. I mean things that will really tie a sound in knots. All I have is the typical reverb/phaser/delay/compressor package that doesn't really do much to it. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 14 lines It really depends on your computer. The Apple G4 processor has dedicated

> It really depends on your computer. The Apple G4 processor has dedicated > 'Alti-umph' processing unit that overcomes previous umph limitations. > Older G3 computers need a library from Apple called "UmphLib" installed > in at least MacOS 8.6 . On the Wintel side, Pentium IIIs process "umph" > code much faster than the Pentium IIs, but certain "MMXumph" enhanced > chips arent too shabby. It really depends on your box. > > Its really the "Wowee!" that you miss out on the Mac right now. Sure its > been out on the PC for months, but supposedly there will be a Mac version > soon that isnt a beta. > > hope that helps, > ernie >

the cool thing about the new "Wowee!" feature is that it will be carbon compliant and tweakable within DARWIN / OS X. i've seen the beta version of this ("Wowee!.x") and they're so close to releasing a "Wowee!!" update. (notice the extra !... up to 2 1/2 faster than the single !) Apple Developer Connection as for PCs, they're not even up to carbon yet. i think they're still messing around with hydrogen. however, i'm sure some future OS (probably the newest version of BeOS) will be utilizing the concept of compounds by introducing zinc, tantalum (high on the periodic scale btw...), and even polonium from what i hear. I - Iridium D - Dysprosium M - Mendelevium Meta_ArrayedCollection geom grow Meta_Color new green Meta_EnvGen ar gate Meta_EnvGen kr gate Meta_EnvGen ar1 gate Meta_EnvGen kr1 gate Meta_EnvGen2 ar gate Meta_EnvGen2 kr gate Meta_EnvGen2 ar1 gate Meta_EnvGen2 kr1 gate Meta_GrainTap ar grainDur Meta_GrainTap ar1 grainDur Meta_PanB ar gain Meta_PanB ar1 gain Meta_Pgeom new grow Meta_SequenceableCollection geom grow RadioButtonView group_ groupnum SequenceableCollection clump groupSize SequenceableCollection clumps groupSizeList slurp, christian.adam.hresko. -- " kid for a day. " --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org