VSTi: Virtual Synths...Who would have thought it? - Discuss Current State of VSTi

[echoclerk]

I think back to 1999 when all this Virtual Synthesizer Action started there were just a few I was aware of Neon, Ni-B4, NI Pro-5, Koblo, Rebirth303 etc..

There seemed to be endless debates on whether the recreations sounded as good as the real thing. it went on and on and on.. Where are things now; 10 years later.

Does anyone use these old Virtual Synths anymore: What have you stuck by as 'the' XXXX emulation?

Are todays synths actually sounding more 'real'?

What are the Virtual Synths peopel are raving over these days? Emulations / New Concetpts? How much more can you do with Subtractive Synthesis

[Electrocrisis]

A good amount of the sounds I hear in modern hip hop and dance music are virtual. As for using the NEON and such, I do sometimes. Their thin sound has a place in the mix, here and there.

Virtual Instruments are here to stay. There are some great sounding modules available. The ability of microprocessors and developments in DSP have made some great VSTi's in the past 5 years.

Native Instruments makes some great sounding synths. To name one company.

I like some of the Cakewalk/Roland VSTi's too.

Fact is, you can almost ditch using hardware if you have enough different sounding VSTi's. Although that would kill the slut in me.... It is defiantly cheaper to keep your sound modern using VSTi's than going out and buying a new piece of hardware every time you need it.

It is also a lot cleaner to use VSTi’s in the recording process. Even though you may be recording a DI with a keyboard, you can still have a bit of noise and you’re subject to the ability of the AD/DA converter to capture your sound. With a VSTi, you’ve got the instrument built into your DAW. Bouncing to disk is a very clean process, just a conversion really.

Most people who are dancing in the club or rolling around to their favorite track can’t tell the difference between VSTi and hardware anyway.

[echoclerk]

Even after years fo VSTi use I still find there are certain things I don't do much on them - which is just play along and fidle around, like you do on a real Synth.

I guess the Korg Ms20 etc hardware controller would make that more managable. but that Software MS-20 sounds nothing like a real MS-20. All the dirt and grit and chaos of a real MS-20 seems to be lost.

Currently I only really use Arturia MiniMoog V - but i'm still not that happy with the sound. I recently saw that G-Media have a similar Emulation i sit better / worse?

[Electrocrisis]

Emulation of old analog synths is another story altogether. There will always be people who want to fiddle with real controls and don’t like the sounds of VSTi recreations. The internal electronics and aging of particular analog instruments cannot be replicated in the digital realm, IMHO. They will only come close, or very close. If you’re looking for the warmth and the large sound of analog, I would purchase the synth you’re looking for.

Or, route a decent VSTi through an analog filter or tube/solid state amp stage. That may warm things up a bit. It may come closer to the sound you're looking for or you may find a wicked cool sound you didn't expect.

As for the G-Media solution, I don’t have experience with it.