PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

faxinadu wrote:

hifiboom wrote:I`m really interested if they have Analog circuit modeled filters in them , like Minimax or Prodyssey....

but I`m sure its more or less the standard CW ones from how it looks like...

i am intrested to know as well... always wondered how much of the synths is just patching of things we (mostly) have in modular, or unique synthesis ideas.

CW call their high-end stuff in their manuals as analog circuit modelling, claiming that the synths sound the same as their analog counterparts when setting the knobs/faders at the same setting.
I think this only applies to Prodyssey (awsome filter), Minimax and maybe the Pro-12 ( i don`t know )
On the fx side its Vinco Compressor. They all sound impressivly good.

all the other devices from what I know were not constructed with this background... although they sound good too.

I`m not sure but these three devices do not look like exact 1:1 copys of real stuff...
I`m sure they have the same architecture, but maybe not an 1:1 sound of the original synth...

Although I think the Nord emulation will sound relative close to the real thing as the nord modular atoms have a similar sound to the creamware stuff.

The advantage with the CW stuff is that all the modules are of very high quality, so even mod patches and self constructed synth without special engineering sound very good, too.

hifiboom wrote:...Although I think the Nord emulation will sound relative close to the real thing as the nord modular atoms have a similar sound to the creamware stuff...

afaik Nord is Motorola 56K based - and that sounds completely different to my ears, a lot more 'presence' opposed to the AD's 'broad' low mids (to describe the fundamental difference -imho)

cheers, Tom

That's right, Nord have been using 56k chips for years. Don't know about their latest synths though. They've also been using clusters of dsps, which is one thing that might contribute to their sound, but most of all I've heard that they've been calculating certain lets say 'things' in their keyboards at low bit depths, which is definately gonna be a contributing factor in the dirty & harsh sound they often spew out. I quite like that aspect of Nords' sound though.

astroman wrote:

hifiboom wrote:...Although I think the Nord emulation will sound relative close to the real thing as the nord modular atoms have a similar sound to the creamware stuff...

afaik Nord is Motorola 56K based - and that sounds completely different to my ears, a lot more 'presence' opposed to the AD's 'broad' low mids (to describe the fundamental difference -imho)

cheers, Tom

Astro, I think the differnce in sound comes from the higher internal sampling rate (96khz) of the nord stuff. I think the chip is less important for the sound.
You are right it also seems to have less bass.
so yes the sound is a bit different,
the Nord is a bit thinner in sound, but cleaner in the top range... very audible on pads and that stuff...

but I meant in general the CW filters are not that far away from the nord stuff...

Only the Nord's audio signals are 24-bit 96kHz (even then I'd suggest that perhaps doesn't apply to 'all' internal audio signal processing). All other signals (supposedly) run at 24-bit 24kHz (a quarter of the audio signal bandwidth).

hifiboom wrote:...Astro, I think the differnce in sound comes from the higher internal sampling rate (96khz) of the nord stuff. I think the chip is less important for the sound...

well, I had one of those Motorola chips on an old Midiman Lagoon soundcard - and there were 2 VA synths in the bundle that used the DSP, so I've heard them at 44.1k...

it's a crisp and cutting sound, that can also make good bottoms - but it's just different from the Sharcs. I agree with Shroomz that when you want that sound, the Nord (or any M56K) is the (natural) way to go.
I found the difference really stunning, as probably both systems use the same (or at least similiar) calculation methods, but with different results.

Audio ranges from 20 to 20k khz - there's room for a lot of contributors on the stage...

I have a quartett of original SIDs as well as my Pulsar's Sharcs or those noisy converters from the DX7 or some strange Casiotones - and wouldn't hesitate to buy a Micro modular for a reasonable price ...

cheers, Tom

Nice to know about this Motorola chip... A friend of mine comes around every now and then, bringing along his Nord Modular G2, and it sounds so different from my cws, or other hardware I have around, but I wouldn't know why. I agree on the cleaner highs and high mids, the Nord immediately finds its place on the mix, and generally adds a new colour to the music... I always found its sound really nice to listen to, and yes, I also think that CWs are a bit bottom heavy, I end up having to eq a little bit to fit more than a couple of sounds into the soundscape...

Anybody can tell of any other synths that are also M56K based?

Much peace,

T

The Virus A - C used a single 56k dsp just like what's to be found on the chameleon, so I'd maybe check out a few chameleon synths if looking for a 'that' sound as astro puts it, although a chameleon is not so easy to find now, being out of production.

Well my Novation SN II sounds nothing like the Virus or any Nord. It's all in the programming anything else is surely just DAC specific.

apologies, you're right, all clavia stuff use Motorala DSP, from the Nord lead to the last Modular G2 : x ...

about the NL2 filter : I've owned one some years ago, but it's the fact that I never been abble to make the LP filter of CW sound like it...it's was what I regret from my NL2...

Don't discount architecture, it definately adds its flavor. But algorithms are definately going to make up the bulk of the 'color' or sound or flavor or whatever u choose to call it.

I heard the Nord Modular back in '99 and thought it sounded good, but digital compared to Scope. I doubt I would have retired my Oberheims for it.

Seems to me that Scope did it just right. I prefer having to buy more cards to get the sound of analog. The digital flavor i.e. Waldorf Wave, PPG, were a great compliment to analog. Funny how everything I use now is digital emulating analog. As long as they sound FAT, and as long as John Bowen makes them, it could be artificial intelligence for all I care.

I finally feel like I have got the analog flavor happening w/o lugging around my Oberheim museum. They ruled with dignity and honor for 19 years. Let's hope CW / SonicCore can achieve that, as my battle w/ sound quality is over.

I have to run high polyphony i.e. Prowave 12 voices, Solaris 8, and QWave 6. But shit, that's using 6 x 15DSP cards !! John Bowens Unison set @ 2 on all synths gets me the sound, and that gets mixed w/ a real mono analog hardware, and don't forget the FAT BASTARD mixer, and Tube emu's from www.spacef-devices.com , and RIP. That combination get's it on very well live, and in the studio.

Strength Through Superior DSP Programmers,

f **k 6 dsp cards jimmy! Wait till you here my Solaris sounds that I'm working on at the moment