Sample Based Synths vs Soft Synths

[tluke]

I was recently comparing Spectrasonics Trilogy's electric bass sounds with those on my Yamaha Motif... and wow... the Trilogy's basses seem much more present, full, ear catching.

For synth bass i think it's less of an issue, because lower resolution or quality isn't so evident? Or perhaps we just like it.

But for sampled acoustic sounds, and for overall richness:

If disc space is less of an issue these days, why don't sample based synths start offering a keyboard product that has a huge amount of rom memory? Is that still impractical?

I don't mean adding a sample option and maxing out the memory... because i think that even with that you have less potential memory than a soft synth like the one i mention above. Plus you're into sub menu hell, and you can only have one sample at a time and it's gone when you power off.

I'm asking, why not have such large, rich samples on a rompler?

Will they ever compete in this way, or will they just be better for things like live work, and usable for pads, leads and other stuff for which size and resolution don't seem to be so critical?

Thank you,


T Luke

[keyboardman]

Mainly because it would still be too expensive.

Plus, the management of a much larger WaveROM becomes an issue. If you have a GB ROM, how many patches should it have onboard? Current "top of the line" synths have, what, around 150 - 200 MB ROMS and around 1000 patches. Wouldn't the user expect an increase in patches commeasurate with the increase in ROM size?

Maybe not the hardcore synth dude but the manufacturers aren't making synths for that guy.

I think the ROMpler market is totally different from the big memory specific soundset one. ROMplers are good for playing live and convenient songwriting. Big memory specific soundset stuff like Trilogy, GPO, et al are good for imitative stuff and sound design.

ROMpler sounds (to me) are caricatures. Certain "features" of real sounds are overemphasized as if to say "look, we _really_ listened to the instrument and want you to hear this one really cool realistic thing!" I think that's fine. It doesn't sound real, but it gives enough of the real flavor to play a gig or have a serendipitous songwriting excercise.

Not to mention the R&D costs associated with filling the sample ROM. Its not just done be software and robots. Real people record, chose, trim, SRC, loop, create patches, etc. Its not _all _recycled from model to model.

Its about the bottom line.

[Mario-C.]

from the lil info i've read on the subject the sound ROM and the display are the most expensive parts of the ROMpler design process