synth graphical interfaces

BARTOLOMÉ BARRERO

SYNTH GRAPHICAL INTERFACES

SUMMARY

① Presentation.② General overview.③ ARP Odyssey.④ Sequential Circuits Prophet 5.⑤ Propellerheads Reason Subtractor.⑥ Native Instruments Massive.⑦ Final considerations.

SOMETHING ABOUT ME.

1. Presentation

1. Presentation

Hi,

My name is Bartolomé Barrero and I’m a 38-years-old internet professional from Madrid (Spain). I’m studying “Introduction to Musical Production” to improve my professional background as well as a personal interest (hobby).

You can follow me on twitter at @bbarrero

SOMETHING ABOUT ME.

2. General overview

2. General overview

In this document the graphical interface of four different synthesizers will be presented.

Two of them are classic hardware synthesizers (the ARP Odyssey and the Sequential Circuits Instruments Prophet 5) and two recent modern software synths (the Propellerheads Reason Subtractor and the Native Instruments Massive). Please pay attention to the configuration of oscillators, the amplifier, the low frequency oscillator and the envelope. All these sections are structured in a different form in all four synths.

A CLASSIC FROM THE 70 ’S.

3. ARP Odyssey

3. ARP Odyssey

SpecificationsPolyphony: Monophonic / Duo-phonicOscillators: 2 VCO's: saw, square, pulse, pwm (can be modulated by: sine LFO or ADSR envelope), white/pink noise; oscillator-sync modulated by: ADSR, square/saw LFO, sample-and-holdLFO: Sine / Square; sample-and-holdFilter: Model 4023 (Early models): 2-pole bi-quad design with low pass output.VCA: EG 1: AR; EG 2: ADSRKeyboard: 37 keysArpeg/Seq: NoneControl: CV/GATE (models 2810 - 2823)Memory: None

3. ARP Odyssey

VCO1

VCO2

LFO VCA ENVELOPE

HPF

MIXER

* VCO1: Voltage Controlled Oscillator 1, VCO2: Voltage Controlled Oscillator 2, LFO: Low Frequency Oscillator, HPF: High Pass Filter, VCA: Voltage Controlled Amplifier.

A CLASSIC FROM THE 80 ’S.

4. SCI Prophet 5

4. Sequential Circuits Prophet 5

SpecificationsPolyphony: 5 VoicesOscillators: 2 OSC. per voice (square / pulse / tri / saw)LFO: modulates pulse width or pitchFilter: 24db Lowpass filter with resonanceVCA: ADSRKeyboard: 61 keysMemory: 40 to 120 patchesControl: CV / GateDate Produced: 1978-84

4. Sequential Circuits Prophet 5

OSCILLATOR A

OSCILLATOR B

PRESET SELECTOR

LFO AMPLIFIER

ENVELOPE

MIXER

A ‘REASON’ TO HAVE A SYNTH.

5. Propellerheads Subtractor

5. Propellerheads Subtractor

LFO1 LFO2 FILTER ENVELOPE

OSCILLATORS 1+2

AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE

A MASSIVE ‘SYNTH’ FROM TODAY.

6. NI Massive

6. Native Instruments Massive

SpecificationsPolyphony: 16 VoicesOscillators: 3 Oscillators, 1 Modulation Osc, 1 Noise gen (12 types)LFO: Up to 4 LFO'sFilter: 2 Multimode Filters (Lowpass2, Lowpass4, Hipass2, Hipass4, Allpass, Double Notch, Bandpass, Bandreject, Scream, Daft, Comb, Acid)Envelope: 4 customizable envelopesEffects: 2 Master FX, 2 Insert FX. 17 effects: Reverb, Phaser, Flanger, Delay, Chorus, Ensemble, etc.Sequencer: Four 16-step Sequencers Arpeggiator: NoneKeyboard: NoneMemory: 600 Preset sounds. Unlimited User memory.

6. Native Instruments Massive

OSCILLATORS

1+2+3

AMPLIFIERLFO+FILTER2

ENVELOPE

PERSONAL COMMENTS.

7. Final considerations

7. Final considerations

Currently there are tons of soft synths. Just try some demo versions to fin the right software synthesizers that fits better for your music.

Soft synths are much more flexible than hardware synths, especially in a portable studio, but some classic old gear (like the ARPs, for example) has this analogue warmth that is very difficult to reproduce in digital equipment.

If you like analogue synths but are not able to buy one (or don’t want to), you may still try some VST-plugin renditions. There are lots of them for ARP 2600, SCI Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-X, Roland Jupiter 8 and many more.

HOPE THIS HELPED A BIT.

THANK YOU