Single most crucial part of a synth

Post by **shaft9000** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 10:19 pm

Musicality

if the bird can't sing - who wants to hear it

any noise can be useful but there is also such a thing as a better noise, eh? otherwise we wouldn't drain our savings accounts over all this electro-caca.

i cheeet'd. ooops

OK - thee most important part is you, the player.

CTB · Post by **CTB** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 11:47 pm

Damn, Shaft beat me to it! I was going to be a smart-a*s and say "the person playing it." But it's true - I can watch anything Keybdwzrd plays on his Youtube videos because the guy's got chops, but I can't watch most of these 5-minute wanks some dude makes with a superlative synth because the noise sucks.

MrFrodo · Post by **MrFrodo** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:06 am

All the same, if Wendy Carlos was playing a 2-part invention on a Memorymoog, would you like the Moog better intact, or if the filters weren't functioning and the oscillators did nothing but sound?

Soundwave · Post by **Soundwave** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:11 am

CTB wrote:Damn, Shaft beat me to it! I was going to be a smart-a*s and say "the person playing it." But it's true - I can watch anything Keybdwzrd plays on his Youtube videos because the guy's got chops, but I can't watch most of these 5-minute wanks some dude makes with a superlative synth because the noise sucks.

Not everyone 'plays' synthesizers, some people use them as tools for sound design too but like you say at the end of the day you can't buff shite!

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:01 am

Probably the filter when it comes to an analogue synth. And maybe the effects too in some cases like the Juno.

i_watch_stars · Post by **i_watch_stars** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:39 am

The filter.

pop · Post by **pop** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:36 am

I'd say the player or the music wich is been performed on the synth. A boring patch can turn impressive if it's been played by a good keyboardist or someone who writes awesome music.

Catchy riffs, interesting sequences... are sometimes more important than the sound.

West_Berliner · Post by **West_Berliner** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:09 am

id say, for me at least, the interface and layout. then the sound.

Automatic Gainsay · Post by **Automatic Gainsay** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:35 am

For those of you who believe it is the filter, I would encourage you to purchase Moogerfoogers, and then it won't matter what the rest of the synthesizer is like.

piRoN · Post by **piRoN** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:44 am

Why? No one is saying it's the only relevant factor. Might want to re-read the thread title, chief.

(And why would we want to get stuck with only the transistor-ladder sound, anyway?)

Post by **Stab Frenzy** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:30 am

You're not really expecting to hear anything worthwhile from someone who says:

Automatic Gainsay wrote:Let's remember what the term "synthesis" means.
In that spirit, I have to say sound... or interface.

...are you though?

Let's remember what the term "full of hot air" means.
In that spirit, I have to say... synthesiser.

mirt · Post by **mirt** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 9:29 am

IMO the conection between VCO & VCF is most important thing, i'm not talking about mixer. VCF standing alone will be only phaser/wahwah or something like that.

23 · Post by 23 » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:06 pm

O.K., so in looking over everyones answers, this seems to be the boiled down list of nominees so far:

1. Tonal Source/Oscillator workings
2. EGs (granted it was Filter EGs mentioned in specific)
3. User interface (in regard to sound design paramaters)
4. Playing controls (boiled down from keyboard)
5. Filter
6. Mod Matrix (boiled down from Depth/Flexibility of Modulation Routings)
7. Cosmetic Look

keep em coming

Post by **Stab Frenzy** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:15 pm

23 wrote:O.K., so in looking over everyones answers, this seems to be the boiled down list of nominees so far:

1. Tonal Source/Oscillator workings
2. EGs (granted it was Filter EGs mentioned in specific)
3. User interface (in regard to sound design paramaters)
4. Playing controls (boiled down from keyboard)
5. Filter
6. Mod Matrix (boiled down from Depth/Flexibility of Modulation Routings)
7. Cosmetic Look

keep em coming

You left out two of the most popular choices, that being audio output and power supply. And AGs suggestion of sound + interface, ie everything.

Post by **Psy_Free** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:23 pm

Here's one from out of left field : Reliability.

A bit abstract I know, but especially crucial for all you gigging types.

I don't gig, but the (lack of) reliability in certain synths has been a major factor in me not purchasing them, despite all the other good things about them mentioned above.