The Sound Board

Quite a substantial update here, free to existing owners and V5 and V6 Collection owners.

Synclavier V2

Synclavier V has been updated to version 2, and we have incorporated the optional add-ons of the original hardware into our software recreation. This lets you perform using samples, and create totally new sounds from those samples through the new resynthesis engine. We've also loaded it up with 160 brand new presets and a cool sample library for you to explore.

Resynthesis

By analyzing an audio sample, Synclavier V 2 can now extract key spectral information and sonic parameters at key points, creating a synth patch that mimics the sample. This patch can then be processed and modified just as you would with a normal synth sound, opening up huge potential for adventurous musicians and sound designers.

Sampling

Synclavier V 2 makes performing with samples as easy as “drag and drop”. Play back pitched samples with the authentic grain of vintage digital hardware. Great for creating huge, texture-filled pads and making full retro instruments from just one sound sample.

Enhancements

The latest update also brings dozens of improvements that make Synclavier V feel like a whole new instrument, just waiting to be discovered and explored.

I think I'd need to spend a good week to really get a grasp of how to properly use all this, mind.

oh my - another must buy for me!

Like most FM synths, I don't really like the inherent sound of it, but that's not to say it can't produce terrific sounds in skilled hands. FM has always confused the hell out of me, and I don't see that changing with this update. With some help from the manual I can do the very basics (btw - there is no init patch by default, load Simple Sine instead). But it's all wild stabs in the dark, and mostly horribly unpleasant ones at that. I think I'd persevere much more if I was making noises I didn't consistently hate. I have little doubt, Bill, that your far deeper knowledge of synthesis will get you a helluva lot further than me!

But I've little doubt all of this would apply equally to the real thing - its clearly a very impressive emulation. By the way, they sell this with the Phased Gong sound which is supposedly the preset at the start of Michael Jackons's Beat it, but it sounds awfully weedy next to the real thing. Was the original more than this preset or is it some deficiency in the emulation? I suspect the former... just seems strange to feature it so prominently when it doesn't sound nearly as good.

According to the article below, the intro to "Beat It" is a recording of a vinyl demo of the stock sound; so it's probably less harsh due to being several (analog) generations removed from the original patch:

The Opening of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” is an Exact Replay of a Synth Demo Record

I also wouldn't be surprised if Bruce Swedien tweaked the sound further while engineering the record. In fact, I expect that he would.

Best,

Geoff

Ha, thank you what a fabulous story! And here it is in all of its demo vinyl glory. I've linked this to the right time for the patch BEFORE Beat It, just for some cute context.



Now here's the thing - that sounds MASSIVELY better than the Synclavier patch you can hear at the start of the video in the OP - chalk and digital cheese. So either that isn't the exact patch on the demo record, or the Arturia isn't cutting it, despite it being a bit-for-bit recreation

This is all I can contribute to this thread.