What synth do you think has the 'best' string sounds?

[shinysign]

I am looking for a keyboard with great string sounds. I realize 'best' is relative, but what synths or keyboards in your opinion has the best string sounds?

Though I like completely synthesized string sounds, I am looking for a keyboard with strings that are partially sampled, at least with the wave form, and the most realistic and emotive strings, real sounding and warm sounding - just because they sound realistic doesn't mean they sound emotive or musical. So what do you think are the best keyboards (or preferably modules) for warm string sounds like this?

[braincandy]

I liked the strings on the Kurzweil K2VXs the most. That's one of the main reasons I miss it. They were sampled strings and still very lush.

[maindeglorie]

You're not going to really beat Kurzweil on that.
Unless you get a soft synth with a killer sample library.

[shinysign]

So far I agree with you two - I wasn't going to mention it but I thought Kurzweil always had nice string samples. Too bad Kurzweil tends to be expensive.

I would say that Korg doesn't have bad string samples, the Yamaha Motif isn't bad either. Strings are one of the hardest to synthesize I think, I know of keyboards with fantastic piano samples that have no good strings.

One thing about early string programming with PCM's and just in general is they would always have this constant vibrato or chorus on them to simulate many instruments playing at the same time, but it ended up sounding like the strings were out of tune a bit. Then when turning the effect off, they sounded thin. Strings tend to flucuate the most pitchwise in synths I think, aside from perhaps, a drawbar organ or a fat synth. Is it just me, or do sometimes highly sampled strings almost sound 'too real'? I can't explain it, that shouldn't be possible, but it is like, they are so high quality that they lack warmth or soul. Not all of them, just some I've heard recently.

So perhaps there will be some change over time on string samples. Any other suggestions for synths with good string samples would be appreciated.

[Johnny Lenin]

I think some -- though not all -- of the Fantom X strings are quite good. There are some very nice agressive pizzicato patches and some wonderfully aggressive bowed strings. To be honest, from what I've heard, most of the current generation of pro-level ROMpler workstations actually do a pretty good job. They can do strings, but their combo organs stink.

And would it be too much to ask for a reasonable accordion? Geez.

[braincandy]

Shinysign,

Kurzweil K2000's aren't that expensive (you can nearly always different versions of them on eBay or elsewhere). Depending on what options they might already have, I've seen them go from $350-$500. I'm not talking about the 2500 or 2600 series--just the K2000. The K2VXs I had came with the sampling option and both the Orchestral and Contemporary ROMs, so you have a lot to work with right out of the box. Then there are tons of sounds & samples you can either buy or are downloadable for free.

The K2VXs was my main synth in my last band. I only sold it to pay rent after I relocated.

[shinysign]

And I suppose the modern alternative are as you said, some killer sample cd's with a sampler. Anyone know of any great string sample CD's? There are quite a few out there, all at leat $100. I am looking for classical. I wish there was a store to try out sample CD's the same way one could go to a store and play a Korg piano - I can hear demo's but it can be hard to tell if they fit when playing your own music.

[hfinn]

Nord Wave.

[Christopher Winkels]

If you do eventually decide to synthesize your own strings from scratch, three things I would recommend you look for in any synth you're considering:

1. PWM. A given.
2. Keyboard control over LFO speed. This is not as common as one might think. A slow LFO modulating the PWM is great in the low end, but LFO sounds better if it speeds up as one goes up the keyboard.
3. A good chorus, either integral or external. Failing that, a phaser.

I agree with JL that Roland's Fantom series had some good strings, though I do find them unduly harsh in the top end. They're much nicer in the mid and low range.

[Gianni]

Nord Wave.

If you want Mellotron strings definitely.


JD-800 is not expensive and can also do some awesome strings.

[braincandy]

Since we're discussing string sounds--Gianni, I have a JD-990 and you can hear the aliasing in the "real string" patches, and I don't particularly like it. Is the Strings waveform card worth getting?

[Gianni]

Since we're discussing string sounds--Gianni, I have a JD-990 and you can hear the aliasing in the "real string" patches, and I don't particularly like it. Is the Strings waveform card worth getting?

Well, if you want "real strings", then yes. The Strings card is usually the hardest to find. I never got one when I had the JD, because they went for at least 4x times more than the rest of cards and I was more interested in making more synthesized sounding strings than real strings. Although I've heard really good demos of the card.


But for a more real/synth strings hybrid like the first post said, I think the JD800 by itself can do the trick.

[Rangoon]

1. PWM. A given.
2. Keyboard control over LFO speed. This is not as common as one might think. A slow LFO modulating the PWM is great in the low end, but LFO sounds better if it speeds up as one goes up the keyboard.

Well spoken point. The reason it's not so common (at least on the older vintage analogs) is that it would require a dedicated LFO for each voice. One thing I always felt that could have been easily provided (but wasn't) is keyboard control over PWM depth. The Voyetra 8 had this and it did superb PWM pads...

[Christopher Winkels]

The keyboard-modulated LFO thing is a great trick. Using it to generate good strings is one of the first things I programmed when I bought my Prophet-08. The joy of software LFOs!