Synth Strings

[Jords]

::: plugs ears ::::

La la la I am not listeninggggg...

Listen to this instead (and on topic too!)

Polymoog Keyboard through an mxr flanger pedal


Apologies for the excessive reverb

[museslave]

Thanks for all of the info, Nick!

I sort of think a different scenerio happened. People heard the late 70s heard the more expensive Yamahas, Oberheims and Sequentials and those met both the sonic and performance standards people expected when they lusted after a polysynth.

Certainly, most string synths are crap, and the Yamaha/Oberheim/Sequential polyphonics are much more powerful, and definitely more expressive. As the string synths were much more prevalent than the quality divide-down synths, I could see how a prejudice could form.
However, comparing a RS-101 to a... I don't know... CS-80 or even Omni (shudders) isn't exactly fair as a demonstration of the capabilities of Divide-down implemented the way it should have been. It is not the process of divide-down that limits expressiveness, but rather the fact that usually companies used divide-down to save a buck. If divide down had more-often been implemented in a Korg PS series sort of way than a Moog Opus 3 sort of way, I think opinons would have been different.
Admittedly, when I got a CS-50, I was drawn to the EASE of creating great sounds as compared to using my PS-3100. But, when the novelty wore off, the PS-3100 is capable of a GREAT deal more control and unique sound. I would never part with either.

FWIW Korg's divide down synths came out years before the Mono/poly. It's kind of interesting that it and the Polysix were released at the same time. So it was like the Monopoly was a new twist on quasi-polyphony (note the tentative "mono" in the name) and the Polysix was their stripped down Prophet 5 answer.

Yes, the PS-3100 came out in 1977... which is unfortunate. There is nothing particularly technological about its design... none of its components required the developments that occurred in 1977. Korg just didn't get on it until the market was moving towards CV. The playing field might have been different if they had come out with the PS series at the same time as the Polymoog... as the PS is far FAR more stable and powerful than the Polymoog. (of course it doesn't have presets... which appealed to the lazy rock musicians... lol) Also, the price was quite high... being as that each key acted as its own synthesizer... a VCF, ENV and VCA per key.
Despite never actually having heard one (but basing my opinion on the fact that it is comprised of PS-3100s, which I hear nearly every day), its my opinion that the PS-3300 is the most perfect analog polyphonic ever built. Three layers of oscillators , semi modular, and everything that's great about the PS-3100... times three. Monstrously wonderful... and, of course, prohibitively expensive and rare.
I also have a Korg Mono/Poly, which came out in 1981. It just seemed like such a weird throwback compared to the Prophet trend. I'm glad they did it, though. If only they had put 24 dB/ oct filters in the PS series!!!

[museslave]

Listen to this instead (and on topic too!)

Polymoog Keyboard through an mxr flanger pedal


Apologies for the excessive reverb

You know, that is a GREAT analog string sound!
You're not helping me escape my reckless desire for a Polymoog. : )

[ecallender]

I purchased both an ARP Omni-2 and a Crumar Peformer at roughly the same time. I must say that the Omni is well worth the money if you can find one with its capacitors replaced. While I've tried many ARP Omni samples, none of them seemed to capture the sound of the original. Roland Jupiter 8's, Oberheim OB-8's or any other early 80's polysynth will do a tremendous job, but may cost too much money. This is where the late 80's DCO synths come in. Try looking for a Korg EX-8000, Oberheim Matrix 1000 or even the Roland JX3P or JX10/MKS50. To bring things to life always use effects pedals like vintage or reissue MXRs or BOSS's.

[museslave]

I have had two different Roland Jx-3ps, both with the PG-200 controller. It is a HUGELY underrated synthesizer. It really does have a great sound, and is capable of a great deal of diversity. It also features the convenience of presets (that can be altered with the PG-200), if you're playing live.
I wouldn't readily lump it in as a "DCO" synth... as the oscillators are actually analog oscillators with a digital aspect constantly keeping them in tune. They are DCOs in the truest sense of the acronym... many later DCOs were actually just DOs... digital oscillators.
If you want one of the last few stabs at analog sound before digital and MIDI (although the Jx-3p was Roland's first MIDI keyboard), grab one of these while they're still relatively cheap!
And don't worry if you don't have the PG-200... it's still programmable... just not as fun to program. : )

[TPL]

Why don't yall stop arguing and learn to play strings, then you could get to gether and form an orchestra. Then you whould have no need for sting synths and you could just chill. (P.S. I like string synthesizers)
Pokemon!

[museslave]

I never use string synths for strings! I'd love to play actual strings. Can you imagine how many Moogs you could buy with the amount you would pay for one string recording session? ; )
I always have to settle for string samples, but I always score and record them instrument by instrument for authenticity. A lame sort of authenticity, but certainly more authentic than saw waves. : )
That being said, I love string synths because they're very sweet and downtrodden. ; )

[ecallender]

String synths are not supposed to be strings. Wake up.

[endmusik]

I guess I should tell you that the sound I am going for is the sound that can be heard on Joy Division tracks like "Love will tear us apart" and "Atmosphere". I will be using the string synth as a companion to my Mono, which is an Octave CAT (couldn't afford a prodigy).

Ezzo - if you're looking for the sound from LWTUA and Atmosphere, definitely pick up an Arp Omni 2 - http://members.aol.com/lwtua/eqpt.htm

I just took delivery of my Omni 2 two days ago, and it's phenomenal! Definitely is the sound, though I have yet to run it through an amp, and I imagine running it through my EH Small Clone and Small Stone into an amp will nail the sound.

As far as string synths overall - I now have the Omni 2, a Roland RS09, and a Crumar Orchestrator. By far the omni is the best of the 3, but the Roland chorus is AMAZING and it has hardwired stereo outs which sound absolutely luscious. The RS09 also has an external input, which lets you run other gear through the chorus effect - the board is worth picking up simply for that! If the RS ever breaks I'll probably try and fit the chorus circuit into a standalone module

Michael

[dylan]

Has anyone else tried this combination. with a little external effects and the ensemble effect you can really get some good thick creamy string synth sounds. there are diagrams in the roland catalogs of the time on how to connect. of course it will work with other synths and string machines as well as long as one has an external gate jack. Roland however clearly intended it as an early polysynth approximation. I use mine with a Moog phaser, Systech Flanger and MAM RS-3 Resonator for all sorts of modulation.

[museslave]

String synths are not supposed to be strings. Wake up.

I'm not sure this claim even merits response, but I'll bite.
String synths were intended to simulate strings... um.. hence the name?
I utterly despise analog synthesizers being used to simulate acoustic instruments, but string synths were very much designed to be low-cost alternative to actual strings previous to the introduction of samplers and digital synthesizers.

If you're unaware of the desire for string simulation in the entirety of the 1970s resulting in a big market for string-simulating synthesizers... um, maybe it's not everyone ELSE in this thread who should "wake up." ; )

[Ezzo]

I guess I should tell you that the sound I am going for is the sound that can be heard on Joy Division tracks like "Love will tear us apart" and "Atmosphere". I will be using the string synth as a companion to my Mono, which is an Octave CAT (couldn't afford a prodigy).

Ezzo - if you're looking for the sound from LWTUA and Atmosphere, definitely pick up an Arp Omni 2 - http://members.aol.com/lwtua/eqpt.htm

I just took delivery of my Omni 2 two days ago, and it's phenomenal! Definitely is the sound, though I have yet to run it through an amp, and I imagine running it through my EH Small Clone and Small Stone into an amp will nail the sound.

As far as string synths overall - I now have the Omni 2, a Roland RS09, and a Crumar Orchestrator. By far the omni is the best of the 3, but the Roland chorus is AMAZING and it has hardwired stereo outs which sound absolutely luscious. The RS09 also has an external input, which lets you run other gear through the chorus effect - the board is worth picking up simply for that! If the RS ever breaks I'll probably try and fit the chorus circuit into a standalone module

Michael

Got me an Omni 2 also and I have to say I F-ing LOVE it! It does that string sound so well. My fave is the cello, it just sounds so sad and depressing I feel like I should be scoring a funeral scene in a movie with it. The only issues mine has is that the key contacts are little dirty but I'm going to have them cleaned as soon as I find someone I trust enough to touch it.

Have you managed to come up with any good patches for the synth section yet? I made a pretty good brass sound but a decent electric piano or keyboard sound still eludes me. I'm not too fusses though because the strings are what I wanted it for and they do not disappoint!

The only thing I'm concerned about is that does have all the original power supply stuff and I heard these go south on Omnis pretty often. Its working fine now, I'm just going to hope it stays that way.

[brokeneck]

I have a ARP quartet that I'm looking to get rid of. It has nice string sound. I originally bought it for the organ but have since given up on my dreams. It also has brass and piano which makes it a QUARTET!! yay!

I'm in the Bay area, CA


lemmie know
brent@brokeneck.com

[sundaeclubber]

We love our Quartet for its near-Solina weedy Italianate sound!

It has become a Sundae Staple Sound along with the 'Tron!

What are Quartets fetching these days then?

SCx

[endmusik]

I guess I should tell you that the sound I am going for is the sound that can be heard on Joy Division tracks like "Love will tear us apart" and "Atmosphere". I will be using the string synth as a companion to my Mono, which is an Octave CAT (couldn't afford a prodigy).

Ezzo - if you're looking for the sound from LWTUA and Atmosphere, definitely pick up an Arp Omni 2 - http://members.aol.com/lwtua/eqpt.htm

I just took delivery of my Omni 2 two days ago, and it's phenomenal! Definitely is the sound, though I have yet to run it through an amp, and I imagine running it through my EH Small Clone and Small Stone into an amp will nail the sound.

As far as string synths overall - I now have the Omni 2, a Roland RS09, and a Crumar Orchestrator. By far the omni is the best of the 3, but the Roland chorus is AMAZING and it has hardwired stereo outs which sound absolutely luscious. The RS09 also has an external input, which lets you run other gear through the chorus effect - the board is worth picking up simply for that! If the RS ever breaks I'll probably try and fit the chorus circuit into a standalone module

Michael

Got me an Omni 2 also and I have to say I F-ing LOVE it! It does that string sound so well. My fave is the cello, it just sounds so sad and depressing I feel like I should be scoring a funeral scene in a movie with it. The only issues mine has is that the key contacts are little dirty but I'm going to have them cleaned as soon as I find someone I trust enough to touch it.

Have you managed to come up with any good patches for the synth section yet? I made a pretty good brass sound but a decent electric piano or keyboard sound still eludes me. I'm not too fusses though because the strings are what I wanted it for and they do not disappoint!

The only thing I'm concerned about is that does have all the original power supply stuff and I heard these go south on Omnis pretty often. Its working fine now, I'm just going to hope it stays that way.

I haven't really toyed with the synth section all that much - just adding it under the strings for some wider sounds

My keys feel good - no real issues with them. There's some serious grime in the sliders that I need to clean up, in the next few months I'll either clean it myself time permitting or hunt down a tech to work it over.

It's funny - this is really the only synth I've bought strictly because a band I loved used it - I love Closer more than any other album in so many ways, and the haunting sounds from the Omni really bring me there. It's such a sad sound, but rejuvanating in that strange way that keeps you smiling when you play it

Also - I've been running it through a Small Stone and Small Clone, and through a spring reverb: wow! That really takes it to a whole new dimension. I'm going to be trying it out through a Fender Twin reverb this weekend for a bit too... should be gorgeous!

/michael