Arturia Prophet 5 / Prophet VS Software

[Dave Peck]

The fact that it includes the VS makes it a bit more interesting than some virtual softsynths because the VS is a bit rare, but the Prophet V is not a very rare or unusual synth (although it does sound nice). There are already plenty of softsynth versions of simple synths like the Prophet V and Minimoog.

Why not emulate something really rare and valuable, or something more complex and versatile? Like the Oberheim Matrix-12 or Oberheim SEM 8-voice, the Emu Audity, the Arp 2500, the Arp/Rhodes Chroma, the original Waldorf Wave, the Korg PS 3300, the Roland System 700, etc.?

The softsynth version of the Yamaha CS-80 was a step in the right direction because it's a fairly complex and great sounding synth, and very few folks would be in a position to own the hardware version. It's quite rare, expensive, fragile, and a maintenance nightmare, so a good softsynth version of it is a worthwhile product. Let's see some MORE interesting and unusual virtual synths!

Dave Peck

[max cooper]

Here's a link to the Vector Sector too.

http://www.generalvibe.com/index.html

[biggator6]

The VS may be rare.. but a Wavestation or WS A/D isn't... and it's essentially the same thing minus the analog filtering.

Apparently the guys from the VS dev team went over to Korg when Sequential died - and created the Wavestation from what they were working on...

I had an A/D for years... what a great box.
"-)

[TinderArts]

Dave Smith did move over to work on the Wavestation. His new Evolver series is great stuff. For more background on Dave, go to see Dave Bryce's forum , he does work with Mr. Smith and knows a great deal about his background.

[Shan]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

Why not emulate something really rare and valuable, or something more complex and versatile? Like the Oberheim Matrix-12 or Oberheim SEM 8-voice...

Dave Peck

I hope they do both.


Shane

[sparker]

I don't think you'll see emulations of either Oberheim synth as Gibson isn't keen..

Cheers

Steve

[synth_head]

Interesting that they seem to have purchased IP for the Prophet 5 logo..
I would be more excited if Gforce were releasing it, Arturia stuff sounds a bit timid to me.

[Bryce]

Originally Posted by Aeonian

Interesting that they seem to have purchased IP for the Prophet 5 logo..

I believe that Yamaha owns IP on Sequential...so since they're the distributor, I'm guessing that Arturia didn't have to purchase anything.

Dave Smith does not endorse this product, nor did he have anything to do with developing it. Last I heard, Dave hasn't even listened to it...

dB
DSI

[Magnus]

The Waldorf Wave is such a cool synth! Love it!

I hope someone does an emulation.

/Magnus

[sonicexplorer]

Here it is the OBERHEIM!!!!!!

http://www.sonicprojects.ch/

[Dave Peck]

Originally Posted by sonicexplorer

Here it is the OBERHEIM!!!!!!

http://www.sonicprojects.ch/

This looks like quite a faithful emulation and the sound samples are impressive (nice work!) But the OB-X has almost the exact same simple voice architecture as the Prophet V, Jupiter 8, Memorymoog, etc. Again, why not emulate some of the more rare and unusual and versatile synths?

DP

[coldmachine]

Magnus I own and use a Wave, the closest is Bowens Quantum Wave for Scope. The CW modular has Waldorf WT oscillators so you can build a superior wave.

[robot gigante]

I think that emulating a Matrix 12 at least would be a fairly daunting task.

I mean, the Matrix 12 is so bloody complex that after owning and using one for years I still had problems getting my head around everything in that synth. On top of that, programming even some simple patches would have weird and random results with that thing. I'm not sure how you would model that, especially considering that it seems like people are having a difficult time emulating something as 'theoretically' simple as a lowpass filter.

Would love to have a good emulation of the Matrix 12's filter section though! Love those phase filters!

[Dave Peck]

Originally Posted by robot gigante

I think that emulating a Matrix 12 at least would be a fairly daunting task.

I mean, the Matrix 12 is so bloody complex that after owning and using one for years I still had problems getting my head around everything in that synth. On top of that, programming even some simple patches would have weird and random results with that thing. I'm not sure how you would model that, especially considering that it seems like people are having a difficult time emulating something as 'theoretically' simple as a lowpass filter.

Would love to have a good emulation of the Matrix 12's filter section though! Love those phase filters!

The complexity of the voice architecture is not the hard part. A lot of people who use things like the Nord G2 or the Arturia Moog Modular often make patches that are more complex than the Matrix-12 voice. I've been using the Nords for several years and I often make patches with five or more filters per voice. See attached screen shot - four oscs per voice with variable polyphonic analog drift behavior, and dual stereo multimode filters with variable saturation and variable parallel/serial routing, and stereo frequency spectrum tilt filters. The trick with emulating a specific hardware synth that has identifyable sonic characteristics is emulating the quirks so it doesn't sound like a stock Nord filter and perfect digital oscs.

I've done some work using the Nord Modular and G2 to emulate a Chroma, an Arp Odyssey, and a Moog Prodigy, and the results have been really rewarding. I've learned a lot of tricks to coax analog tone and behavior out of the DSP, so I know it can be done, but the Nord is probably not the best platform for this type of work. And of course these patches can only be played on a Nord. They are of no use to anyone who doesn't already own this particular synth, so they are not the same as a commercially available softsynth.

But my point is that it CAN be done. If someone can accurately emulate the sound of an Oberheim analog filter and oscillator in DSP, they can emulate a Matrix-12 almost as easily as emulating an OB-X. It's really just more of the same. And I believe there would definitely be a market for good software emulations of these synths that are more complex and rare.

DP

[ArcCirDude]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

Again, why not emulate some of the more rare and unusual and versatile synths?

DP

Because! I like being one of the few who own a rare synth (Chroma). But, on the other hand, it is nice not having to deal with maintenance issues. Although they'll never (I think) be able to model the keyboard response of the Chroma. Midi is too coarse. By the way Dave, thanks for your tip on Chroma repair!

[robot gigante]

I agree, the complexity of the voice architecture may not be the hardest part... but the... I don't want to say randomness, but the way that everything interacts with the Matrix 12 seems a lot more interdependent and yes, quirky then one expects, which is why programming it is such a mind-bender.

I imagine that the ability to make very complex patches would be a piece of cake to emulate, but having those patches react the same way that they would with a Matrix 12 would not be any easier than emulating the 'quirkiness' if you want to put it that way of its oscillators and filters.

I hope that makes sense.