mr_bigmouth_502
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24 Feb 2016, 4:02 am
I've been posting a bit in the analog synths thread lately, and while it's an awesome topic, I've noticed that there's also been a fair amount of discussion about digital synthesizers (which I am partly to blame for 
). Anyway, in order to keep things from going too off-topic there, I've decided to make a thread about digital synthesizers. 
Now, I know that analog synthesizers are a lot "cooler" with all their dials and sliders and patch cords, but the role of the digital synthesizer in music is one that is vastly overlooked, other than in the chiptune scene.
What are your favorite digital synths? What do you own or play? What are some good songs that feature them prominently? Myself, I'm a fan of vintage Yamaha FM synths, like the Soundblaster 16's OPL3, the Adlib's YM3812, and the YM2612 found in the Sega Genesis/Megadrive. I also like the sound of the Commodore 64's famous SID chip, though it's a little bit questionable if it counts since it's technically an analog/digital hybrid. Whatever the case, it was an incredibly powerful synth chip for its time, and working SID chips are quite sought after nowadays.
I should also give props to the Prophet VS vector synthesizer, the only digital synth to ever be produced by Prophet before they closed down. Trent Reznor used a water-damaged Prophet VS quite extensively on Pretty Hate Machine, and IIRC he still owns it to this day. Apparently due to the damage it incurred, its sound has become more and more unique as time has gone on.
24 Feb 2016, 2:37 pm
For me, I do not care about "Analog Vs Digital" debate, I think it is useless, because I like both.
Instead I am thinking about "Hardware Vs Software" and in that case I am Pro-Hardware.
I never use any software synthesizers, but I do have tons of hardware synthesizers.
For Digital, I like all kinds of synthesis: PCM, FM, PD, VA, Granular, Sample, etc.
From the Digital Synthesizers that I have, my 5 favorites are:
Roland V-Synth XT, it is 4 Synthesizers in one body: Virtual Analog, Linear Arithmetic Synthesis (D-50 replica), Variphrase/Granular Synthesis (Elastic Audio), Vocal Processor (Vocoder, Talkbox, Autotune)
Yamaha SY-22 / TG-33, it is FM+PCM+Vector Synthesis, invented by Dave Smith when he worked at Yamaha
Yamaha SY-77 / TG-77, improved DX7II FM engine+PCM+Workstation, used by Vangelis, Skinny Puppy, etc..
I just bought this, and will get it tomorrow, I can't wait
Yamaha AN1x, it is Virtual Analog modelling synth, but of course totally Digital, and sounds better than JP-8000 
Korg DW-8000, it is Hybrid synth, Digital waveforms & Analog filters, with Arpeggiator and Delay effects, its great
24 Feb 2016, 9:30 pm
Since this is the Digital Synth thread, I shall post this in here... The PPG Wave 2.3 and Waldorf WAVE are posted in the other thread...
The PPG Wave 2.3 and Waldorf WAVE
Well, this Digital Synth I do not have yet, but I used it often and really like it.. It is continuation of Wavetable Synthesis from the old PPG Wave 2, but this is a new hybrid, Virtual Analog and Digital Wavetable synthesizer, Waldorf BLOFELD... I did not buy it immediately, because the early versions had many software bugs, but now they are mostly fixed, so I want to get it next, because it sounds really good! 
Last edited by MannyBoo on 24 Feb 2016, 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
24 Feb 2016, 9:48 pm
). Anyway, in order to keep things from going too off-topic there, I've decided to make a thread about digital synthesizers. Now, I know that analog synthesizers are a lot "cooler" with all their dials and sliders and patch cords, but the role of the digital synthesizer in music is one that is vastly overlooked, other than in the chiptune scene.What are your favorite digital synths? What do you own or play? What are some good songs that feature them prominently? Myself, I'm a fan of vintage Yamaha FM synths, like the Soundblaster 16's OPL3, the Adlib's YM3812, and the YM2612 found in the Sega Genesis/Megadrive.
I also like the sound of the Commodore 64's famous SID chip, though it's a little bit questionable if it counts since it's technically an analog/digital hybrid. Whatever the case, it was an incredibly powerful synth chip for its time, and working SID chips are quite sought after nowadays.I should also give props to the Prophet VS vector synthesizer, the only digital synth to ever be produced by Prophet before they closed down. Trent Reznor used a water-damaged Prophet VS quite extensively on Pretty Hate Machine, and IIRC he still owns it to this day. Apparently due to the damage it incurred, its sound has become more and more unique as time has gone on.
Oh, yay! YM2612 with the PSG chip combo from Sega Genesis is my favorite. I make lots of chiptunes with that using Deflemask and VGM Music Maker.
Here's a couple of my tracks:
https://soundcloud.com/marcb0t/lunar-light-zone-past-v1
And yes, SID should be considered a digital synth. It is pretty legendary. Did you know they originally planned to have 32 channels on it, but they settled for 3, because they were short on production deadlines for Commodore 64?
So do you make chiptunes as well, mr_bigmouth_502?
mr_bigmouth_502
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25 Feb 2016, 4:49 am
25 Feb 2016, 5:23 am
