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Breaking the Synth Mold
Curious... I'm not at all familiar with "classic" synthesizers. Most of the iOS versions that get the most hype on this forum seem to be faithful emulations of "classic" synths many here used or pined for in the past.
Which of the iOS synthesizers are the most impressive for breaking completely new ground and approach sound synthesis not from a nostalgic emulation perspective, but from outside the legacy box with brand new state-of-the-art inovation?
Comments
I'd say Animoog
Animoog is an emulation. Moebius Lab would be a good bet.
TC-11 I guess would be the answer.
Btw...have you loaded this up lately? Wow. Think I forgot after the last update. It's pretty amazing
That is a very good question. My suggestion would be to avoid the 'analogue' emulations altogether. Look for something that can choose the source from not just a handful of basic waveforms (sine square tri saw) but waves that have almost any harmonic content available. Also, look for something that can alter that harmonic content across the duration of a note that is controllable in some meaningful way. Also, look for something that can offer performance controls that impact or impinge upon the harmonic content dynamics in musically useful ways.
What is Animoog in emulation of?
Maybe you're thinking of model 15 or iMini
+1 on Moebius, TC 11
Nave, Addictive Pro, (Virsyn stuff in general, ports of their innovative vsti), PPG stuff (WaveGenerator, Wavemapper, Phonem) Scythe, Mersenne, LaPlace, TF7, Phase84, Phasemaker, there's more but I'm not in front of the iPad...
Animoog
I think Twin 2. Definitely not aiming vintage with the interface choices, being more close to the way N.I Massive does its thing. No fixed number of envelopes and modulators and very flexible routing for them. Warning: resource hog.
Good question. Beyond the ones mentioned I'd also take a look at Mitosynth, Grain Science, and Wavemapper. There's also Thor and Cyclop, which are desktop ports, but still not really throwbacks per se.
+1 these, and Twin 2 and - got back in front of iPad - zMors, SoundScaper, Photophore, and if you dig the amazing Moebius Lab: iDensity, iPulsaret, Stria. For modular, zMors Modular, Audulus 3. Enjoy!
Edit: ZedSynth...
Alchemy (R.I.P.)
Not an emulation of any particular device, but I consider it an emulation since it uses the original Moog waveforms and recreates the Moog sound, generally.
I get what you mean, the tones are in there. For some other flavors of Animoog, check out banks made by our friend @RustiK face-melting, gorgeous, non-emulatory stuff:
https://www.animoog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RUSTiK-RePrison_Animoog-Presets.zip
https://www.animoog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rustik.zip
These are hosted by a site full of Animoog love and resources...https://www.animoog.org
Funny. I thought you were going to say it was a recreation of the Prophet VS, PPG Wave or the Wavestation.
In that light, think it might be worth noting that innovative synthesis features, or sound generally, can come from well trodden synthesis technology. Nothing sounds like Animoog but it's basically a combination of known tech (wavetable synthesis with a moog ladder filter).
Animoog reveals its strengths through pure experimentation. You gotta draw crazy paths, fill the modulation slots, tweak everything multiple times
True that, and true also I think for many all the lovelies listed above. Some like Animoog are particularly amazing for the combinations of old tech as expressed in touch interface innovations. That's what really blew my mind the first time I jammed on Animoog, it did things that couldn't be done with hardware knobs and keys (unless you had 4+ hands)
Nothing against Animoog. It's probably my favorite synth. Guess it just depends on how you want to define "mold breaking".
Impaktor, Samvada...
Solid. And solid in combination. Samvada rewards patience.
TC-11 is actually quite basic in its sound synthesis. Nothing majorly new there. It's interface for triggering and controlling the synthesis that feels new and a perfect fit for iOS touch devices.
My vote would be Mitosynth.
I'd say the sound of your own voice, bam!
Is this where I say SunVox?
Bingbingbingbing
Thanks for the replies. Didn't expect this many actually. I thought Animoog was emulating some classic synth, basically since it's "Moog". I didn't know it was it's own unique beast.
I've got most of the other's mentioned other than the PPG stuff. A bit intimidated based on other's confusion posted here regarding frustration trying to figure them out. If you were going to get only one PPG synth, which would it be? Seems like Wavemapper is the one most frequently referenced.
Bought Photophore during the recent sale and love that one. Been a fan of TC-11 for awhile. I figured Mitosynth and Grain Science were good representations of non-emulated classic synths.
I've got all the Moebius Lab: iDensity, iPulsaret, Stria options and they're among my favorites too.
Also have ZedSynth
I've got Twin 2 in Auria Pro I think, but haven't played with it that much. Enough to know that it sounds very good.
Alchemy was before my time, but I think I've got all of it within Logic Pro X. I'd like to send the generative midi from the OSX Dahlang MG app to individual Logic Pro tracks, but haven't quite figured that out yet. Got close, but haven't been able to send separate channels to individual tracks with different software instruments. Need to watch some videos on that I guess.
And of course there's the beloved SunVox
I was thinking of getting iWavestation, but haven't convinced myself that I need/want it. Reading so much about how faithfully it emulates the original 90's hardware version, made me wonder which apps were non-emulated synths that are written to be outside legacy convention. That's why I asked the question.
Animoog is a great synth with a very good interface approach, but not that 'moogish'.
The flavour of the filter is there, but rather weak.
(compared to the supposedly 99% Mini emulation of Creamware's Minimax)
Animoog often sounds great with duo- or quadphone detuned oscillators which is not Moog-typical at all. But nice to have... so I rather consider it a synth with his own character.
It was a very early appearance in IOS and they got the virtual touch keyboard 100% right.
The XY pad interface features a highly supportive graphic, something that didn't exist before.
Similiar features make the PPG synths 'new individuals', too.
W. Palm exploits new graphic possibilities, but first of all the new math precision changes the original sound to something completely new.
PPG synths had steppy envelopes and harsh, grainy oscillators. Smoothed by analog filter(s) they delivered a strangely appealing sound, though.
Nothing of that is found in any of the current PPG apps, imho a deliberate decision by Palm.
The filter implementation is one of the best in IOS. Wavetables never sounded that smooth.
From videos I couldn't decide yet for myself if the new iWavestation 'faithfully' emulates it's predecessor.
It probably has the most improved user interface and by that will deliver tons of entirely new sounds, too. Because it was hard to programm such stuff on a couple of LCD lines.
A close to 100% Minimoog emulation is something to have, an original may set you back for about 3k.
A rack Wavestation SR (full waveforms) is 1/10th of that amount, very affordable if you're after exactly 'that' sound.
@Telefunky
Agree completely regarding the PPG apps. Still among my favourite iOS apps. I'm quite surprised they are not more popular around here. They really are pretty easy to program and have more envelopes than you can shake a donkey at
I'm almost loath to post this because it is so good and I should keep it to myself, but one of my favourite non-traditional synths is BitWiz by Jonatan Liljedahl.
You write C style code to generate raw audio.
Before you run away screaming, alternatively you can swipe your fingers over the interface to generate another algorithm. The sounds it produces vary from soothing to nerve wracking momentarily stopping at terrifying and mind blowing. Sometimes it generates no sound, other times it produces interactive sounds that you can vary with an XY pad at the bottom of the screen.
An inspiring and unique app. I'm already regretting letting you in on this secret
The thing about the wavestation is interesting. It is a truly wonderful synth. I very nearly bought one in the 90s. When I say very nearly, I actually had carried it in the box in the shop all the way up to the counter to pay for it, and as it was resting on my foot, I had a sudden change of mind (which was fortunate as I unaware that I was about to face a financial smack in the face, and to have spent that then would have made things worse). I really really wanted it though, but already had a Yamaha SY77 so remained content with that until I had to sell it.
It is only now that I can put into a more overviewing perspective the whole evolution of synthesisers over the past many decades. The wavestation is one of the important ones. So is the Korg AI line (the M1, O1/W up to current models, etc). Similarly the Yamaha AWM-base line.
The way I see the history is this: (I'm afraid I overwrote the following, it says 'body is 5684 characters too long, so I've wrapped it up as a google doc, and here's the link): https://docs.google.com/document/d/10h8JPI_C-HnmCrjI-5lvEhl36boASYL47IVIKqFb8s8
(Too long, nobody will read it, sorry).
Looks interesting, the noises remind me of Hexaglyphics a bit which is another weird thing.
Worth a punt for 79p.
I have wasted many an hour with the following process in BitWiz
Swipe
Try XY pad (optional)
Laugh maniacally
Repeat