› Home › Blogs › Arp's blog ›

Synth shopping part I: what I'm looking for

Submitted by Arp on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 15:59
in

Having used cracks in my previous incarnation, my choice of synths was vast.  I was on synth crack and if there was something new available, I had to have it, even though I didn't use them all.  The ones I did use frequently were Albino, Imposcar and Vanguard.  At least those are the 3 that easily come to mind.  I've let go long enough to have it all be a hazy memory.

I do think this was to my musical detriment.  I didn't explore a synth as much as do a cursory once over to adjust patches a bit.  I feel a bit sad about this as I'd like to be able to dream up a sound and create it.  Beyond messing with portamento & envelope times, I'm a bit lost.  I dunno the difference in sound between a sine and a sawtooth wave.  (OK - I might have known that 2 years ago...)

Things will be different this time.  I'm going to start off with one workhorse synth and figure it out through and through.  I'm going to have one workhorse and 2-3 synths that are too cheap to pass up (I just like my toys ).  I will learn them through and through, figuring out crap methodically.  The long term goal is to roll my own, starting with the version of Synthmaker included with FL Studio and maybe moving on to Reaktor if needed.  I have to say, one thing I like about Synthmaker is the ability to create my own VST (this requires buying a full version of Synthmaker).  I love the idea of sharing & selling a synth I've made.  Like licensing music, earnign money for something after the work is complete is a good thing.

I have the usual laundry list of what I'm looking for in a synth:

  • deep, fat bass (mas importante)
  • lush pads & textures
  • mellow, sinewy analog sounds a la Selected Ambient Works Volume II
  • tinkly, FM-ish or electric piano-y sounds
  • a little acidy screaming quality wouldn't hurt
  • warm (could be done with VST fx)
  • fat & warm filter (ditto)

All of the 3 synths I used the most before can handle all of these, especially Imposcar.  I've always REALLY loved Imposcar, and of the 3 it will be the only one in contention to be bought.  As much as I like Albino & Vanguard, I'd like to move on from them.  Tomorrow I'll list the rest of the contenders.

  • Arp's blog