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Synth Creation
Hi everyone! Long time reader, but finally signed up for the forum, and this is my first post. Not exactly sure where to post this, so here goes. I’m studying app development at university and have an idea for an original type of synthesizer as my first app that I’d like to start work on during my winter break. It will be a long-term project, but before I get too far into it, I’d like to know what sort of features and sounds would be the community be interested in? Also if anyone can recommend reading or resources towards this kind of project it would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much for any thoughts or resources you can provide, and also thank you for taking the time to read this.
Comments
One of the best things in all iOS synths imo (aside from sound) is ApeSoft,amazing noises apps' ability to modulate everything. Long press on control for modulation options.
Also really like zeeons oscilloscope.
Not sure if by original type you mean very unorthodox which is cool too. Maybe those things don't apply.
What type of ui are you imagining?
Note: As cool as tc-11 is, the more traditional synth setup apps are the ones that get most use from me and I think from others as well.
@ryanjanik Hey Ryan
Make something like Roland’s vsynth...something that takes sampling to new and interesting places! We don’t need more subtractive and wavetable synthesizers or old synth emulators
+1
Or a cronky squonky drum synth that lets you create a whole new sound palette.
Thanks for asking and good luck with it!
@thesoundtestroom hi Doug! Happy to see a familiar face!
Yes, this!
Hi thanks for the feedback! I’m thinking is more traditional with a proper keyboard layout yes. I agree TC-11 is awesome but not the direction I’d like to go. I really love the Minimoog style of layout so something like that. Oh yeah an oscilloscope would be awesome great suggestion. I think AuV3, IAA and Audiobus are absolute musts at this point as well. Nothing set in stone yet, but the concept is one that plays with multiple concurrent delays. Each osc would have an independent delay that can run at a different rate (or synced) than the others, and each osc would have its own mini-sequencer. That is the base concept, and I’m open to suggestions.
Great suggestion, I’ve been thinking about a sample-centric drum machine as well
I always liked those really simple drum patterns built into old cheap keyboards and it would be fun to do something as a twist on manipulating those sounds
Massive for iOS. A modern synth in terms of modulation(first of all), sound sources(wave tables) and innovating filters. Here in iOS we have plenty of excellent virtual analog clones but imo what we are really missing are modern routing and modulation destinations. On iOS we will be able to get almost-y there with layering apps but it is not just the same(loads of cpu for multiple process’s, huge peaks when switching screens, kind of limited amount of plugins available at the same time and so on)
I agree! I’m pretty full up on emulations of classics myself, even though they are awesome
Oh god Massive for IOS yes. More modern Modulation and sound source options seem to be running themes here so I’ll keep that in the front of my mind. Great feedback!
I think the original poster has an idea for the synthesizer, he's just asking what features iOS'ers like to see? As far as features for a synth, most people here would be only be interested in a synth that can be connected to other audio apps, Audiobus 3 is many of our favorite way. IAA is widely used as well.
Ableton Link is a great way to pass tempo information between apps, but IAA has its own way of doing tempo that works well. Midi clock is the messiest, but is very handy to people with outboard midi gear, or sequencers, or a computer.
One could sidestep all of this by making the synth an AU plugin, then it is up to the host to do everything. Some talented developers believe this is the future.
People with midi controllers would like to be able to play the synth with a midi keyboard, at a bare minimum. It is nice to be able to hide the onscreen keyboard, when you have the midi keyboard, for more real estate. Good iOS synths have midi learn, for the knobs, the best communicate their knob positions back to the midi controller (Animoog, Model 15). If not MIDI learn, at least a static CC# for each knob, and a dedicated fan of the app could knuckle down and create a template for their midi controller.
Just a personal opinion, there may be plenty of people here that would disagree with the design philosophy, but after a couple years of diving into iOS music making, I enjoy the clever, but simpler concept apps the most, the music toys, because terribly deep apps take an investment of patience that often doesn't happen, especially when you already have a bunch of very good, complicated synthesizer apps. Like, why would I learn a new complicated synth, when I haven't figured out the PPG wavetable synths? Something that makes an interesting, new flavor in a way that is easy to grasp are my favorite. A good example is Laplace, it is a single page for the synth, almost everything visible about the sound on that page, and it sounds different, and interesting. The simpler apps that each do something different lend themselves well to a collection. The synths that are pages and pages of endless, exhaustive possibilities not so much, because you have to strap on your thinking cap, unless you use it regularly, or semi-exclusively.
Firstly thank you so much for the well-thought out thorough feedback. Yes I do have the basic idea for the synth, but I’m open to new ideas. I’m totally with you on the simplicity front. Menu diving is awful and the reason I don’t use some of my more costly synth apps as much. I’ll be polite and not name any specifically. Workflow is my very first concern with this app, and key to its function. AuV3, IAA, and Audiobus 3 are absolutely necessary. I agree that Audio Units are the future, and developers ignoring that are going to be marginalized. Not also including a standalone option is a mistake. Bank import and export as well. A hidable keyboard is a fantastic suggestion thanks for that one, and the ribbon control that Animoog uses I also love. Midi CC mapping of course! Great advice!
@ryanjanik
I would try to make sure to give something new to the app market. There are plenty of synths already, some of them very very powerful.
Your app will naturally be compared to other available apps, so there should be something about it that makes people want to use it over others.
It's funny that multiple guys have brought the Roland V-Synth up, I instantly thought exactly the same when I read your headline.
Check the new Propellerhead Reason devices "Grain" and "Europa" for example.
If you are able to combine these two into a usable AU and IAA synth, you'll both have a killer synth and, if done right, the first V-Synth (or should I say VP9000?) alternative.
And check Propellerheads' own "thor" on iPad for imho one of the best synth user interfaces with an extremely efficient yet great-sounding synthesis engine.
Yes of course something new, there are too many “me too!” synth apps on the store it’s kind of boring to make another one without truly unique features. I’m really going to have to look into Vsynth, I’m unfamiliar but everyone keeps talking about it lol. Really great advice and I’ll go check out the Reason devices too.
Everything i can think of wanting from an ios synth has already been made. But ill just say that AU is a must nowadays for too many people for it to be ignored. No au is almost an instant autofail, unless you are korg.
Completely agree I usually won’t consider non-AU apps anymore
I would like to see a modern take on the D50 theme: Take the separate OSCs you were thinking of, but make them segmented, so one for the attack segment and one for the sustain and release segments. Now make all aspects of these modulate by a great array of multi point and loopable envelopes and complex LFO units - the modern take bit. I’m not talking basic LFOs either, I’m talking MATHs style multi use units. Think of something new and extensive for the modulation matrix.
D50 meets Matrix 12
Free advice: spend the holiday break researching, coming up and sketching out a solid idea/vision that feels right in your mind. Something that you yourself would really like to own. You should be able to sum up its essence (or its differentiating quality) in a just few words.
Don’t start your project as a design by committee, so get the solid fundaments down first, before using this helpful community to give you further insights. Otherwise it will be very difficult to give focus to your project.
Good luck.. making music software is lots of fun!
The essence of the D50 is the combination of classic analog synthesis with sample-based oscillators. You can do this today by using any VA synth plus bs-16i, or use the synth plus Cubasis Minisampler, or use mapped samples with an IAA or AU synth in BeatMaker 3, or use Music Studio's sampler... A lot of ways to do it already, but yes, an IAA+AU synth that can do this plus the above mentioned features, all in a nice and usable package, would be fantastic.
I did say a modern take on the D50. Their synthesis has pretty much travelled the same lines anyway up until the new component modelling lines. Look at the structure of their Jupiter 80 synths. While not segmented as to have to keep ROM use down due to cost, they still use a multiple segmented OSC unit design. This can be seen by many of the patches using those to still make separate attack sounds and main body sounds for presets. The limiting factor with these synths is the modulation possibilities.
Yeah, so while the D50 idea is basically short waves (samples) in ROM to make the attack segment and synthesis to make the body of the sound, Roland did supply some long samples hence certain well known presets.
A good physical modelling synth.
Everything else is covered or you have to do an outstanding workflow.
Even more i would prefer some good creative FX which is still the biggest gap in iOS.
A big weak area only catered for with a few potential solutions is that of speech or singing or voice synthesis. It isn’t true to say there are no apps doing this, but those that are are either too simplistic, not realistic, too complex to understand, or ultimately not as useful as first thought. The mechanics of getting some text that has been typed in, to come out as voice (speech or sung) has more problems to solve than people would think.
Expression for me is very important so being able to bend notes with left and right slides on the keyboard and intriduce modulation with up and down slides would be great.
Something which will be able competite with Access Virus TI :-) Still no synth available in appstore with features and sound quality of Virus TI ..
Subtractive synthesis seems to make many people happy. This also means that there's absolutely loads of them. I don't know how high bar you want to set for yourself for your first synth but the combo of subtractive and sampled waves ivcs3 style might be an interesting challenge.
Good luck
Also, inclusion of some simple arpeggiator might be nice but not sure if you want to get into sequencing as well
Arps are great for auditioning sounds too.
The unholy Frankenstein lovechild offspring of AniMoog and Alchemy has my vote and money.
Morph, morph, morph! XY pads aplenty. XY pads with recordable patterns. Anything with wavetables, FM including filter FM, ring mod, sync, and waveshaping gets my attention. Serum's waveshaping options are very useful. User sample import would be great. A synth app with a basic drum sequencer like Avenger, to have a beat going without changing apps. The built-in keyboard of AniMoog, with all the modulation possibilities is top-notch.
But in one word: waveshaping.
Yes! Envelopes seem to be an afterthought, the neglected stepchild sometimes. Loopable and tempo sync-able envelopes (at the very least) add another dimension of pulsing, evolving sounds. The envelopes on the Sub 37 are incredible. I haven't figured out MATHs yet, but it is great. Gotta like modules that are smarter than you, and surprise you with the combination of modulations.
Also, at least bi-timbral. Need at least two layers imho. A bassline and a pad or lead, etc. And maybe an option to filter them separately or together.
Not asking alot... Ya know, just come out with Zebra 3 before Urs does! On iPad. For $9