The Sound Board

Synthx V captures the multitimbral magnificence and dual-layer architecture of the fabled Elka Synthex in unprecedented detail. Elevated with advanced drag-and-drop modulation, effects and expressive keyboard controls - discover the ultimate tool for rich, symphonic analog sounds.

https://www.arturia.com/products/softwa ... v/overview

Discounts when logged in for owners of other Arturia products, and there's V Collection X upgrades with Synthx thrown in.

I have been criticising Arturia's emulation offers for their – in my opinion – lifeless and plastic'y sound, but with SynthX I must confess they have nailed it. It's hands down my preferred Synthex emulation now. Having a bunch of other Arturia products, I got it for 99€. For 199€ I've been wary. Download the demo and judge for yourself!

I think their quality really started improving a few years ago now. That said, I frittered away a few bucks on a Jean Michel Jarre soundbank and some of the patches sound pretty damn good using stuff like their old (and much criticised) ARP 2600. But a close side-by-side does reveal a fair bit of warmth is missing.

My real "problem" now (it's not really a problem) is that I just have too many synths. Do I need a Synthex emulation in my life on top of all the others? Of course not. But the demos sound lovely, and I just know that if they do one of their crazy stupid Black Friday upgrade deals I'll cave. The perils of being a synth-head.

Downloaded the demo - this has to be one of their better efforts, if you'll excuse me, I think it sounds exactly I think it should, kind of an optimized version. It has the "oomph" that is missing in many others. Like Guy, I'm eagerly awaiting their holiday sale.

And like Guy I have just too many synth plugins. I finally got around to comparing different developers models, later today I will build a new list of plugins that includes only my favorites, only one 2600? Only one SEM? Is this even possible?

Do you guys write a lot of synth based music?

Lawrence wrote: ↑Oct 12, 2024 3:14 pm Do you guys write a lot of synth based music?

Me do! Of all shapes and sizes too.

I was watching a bit of a Big Cat nature documentary the other day, scored by Bleeding Fingers. There was some orchestral stuff there, but it was notable that may of the big epic moments were synths. Maybe even 5 years ago that would have been orchestral.

My love of 70s/80s synths and synthpop is undiminished. And those are primary colours in today's pop too. I heard Blinding Lights by The Weeknd today, okay a few years old now but that could have been released in 1983.

But here's the thing. Despite all that, if all my synths vanished overnight except Omnisphere I'd be fine (well, apart from breaking all my old projects). While it's great fun to play around with Arturia's stuff which mimics the old hardware, it does feel a little like indulgence in my case.

Guy Rowland wrote: ↑Oct 12, 2024 3:50 pm

Lawrence wrote: ↑Oct 12, 2024 3:14 pm Do you guys write a lot of synth based music?

Me do! Of all shapes and sizes too.

I was watching a bit of a Big Cat nature documentary the other day, scored by Bleeding Fingers. There was some orchestral stuff there, but it was notable that may of the big epic moments were synths. Maybe even 5 years ago that would have been orchestral.

My love of 70s/80s synths and synthpop is undiminished. And those are primary colours in today's pop too. I heard Blinding Lights by The Weeknd today, okay a few years old now but that could have been released in 1983.

But here's the thing. Despite all that, if all my synths vanished overnight except Omnisphere I'd be fine (well, apart from breaking all my old projects). While it's great fun to play around with Arturia's stuff which mimics the old hardware, it does feel a little like indulgence in my case.

I agree that there’s a lot of synth in scoring and pop (and in radio pop less and less guitar, sadly.)

I bought RePro and Zebra to bolster Omni and Komplete and I find I rarely use them, but I will say when I needed a synth line for an 80s pop piece, the FIRST patch I brought up with Zebra (which had the Diva filter engaged) was PERFECT, so.

And…indulgence is what we do. I recently bought the Modern D!

Arturia PolyBrute 12 I desire, not a virtual analog.

I'm a fan of a lot of those old dogs, I still have an ARP 2600, an ARP Avatar, and a Korg MS-20 from way back when.

And yet I turn to software synths quite often. Do I write a lot of synth music? Not really, but I enjoy doodling around with it, and who knows, some day it might even earn a buck or two. Even if it doesn't, I just flat out enjoy it.

Omnisphere is remarkable, no question, and Arturia line covers a lot of bases. But so too do Cherry Audio and GForce Software. I just spent some time comparing different versions of the 2600 and other ARP gear, the SEM, various other OB synths, and of course the MiniMoog. I was able to whittle it down to two (in a couple cases three) plugins for each, and I am still working towards on each. For the 2600 it's pretty easy, the Cherry Audio is good, but the Wayoutware is better. The rest? All different, all sound good, just not sure what direction I wish to travel.

Full disclosure - I haven't written a synth piece that I kept in a very long time. Perhaps my tastes have matured, or my requirements have become elevated, but I just don't seem to have the touch anymore, or at the moment anyway. And yet I still enjoy it - something for my shrink to chew on?