From the original SynthMaker forum (2004–2014), with its members’ names and dates.
tor ·
I NEED YOU!
It is really hard to come up with an idea that would be interesting to VST users and within my skills. It is just so many good things out there, both free and commercial.
Im thinking of a synth/ instrument... but what have not already been done?
trogluddite ·
tor wrote: It is really hard to come up with an idea that would be interesting to VST users
Not so many stand-alone exe's around the forum... 😉
Warmonger ·
The things I've been looking for but failed:
- Elliptic filter - Microtonal tuner / converter / instrument (one suggested solution involves pitchbend automation) - Good vocoder (or I have no idea how vocoder is supposed to work) - Good and free smooth pitch-shifter (for automation) - Air synth for trance / ambient pads - Any synth that generates specific sound (water, bird sound, whatever) will be always nice.
I'd say they're all conceptually hard, but, well, you have a challenge :P
trogluddite ·
Warmonger wrote: specific sound
Yes, that's a great suggestion - try to do one thing exceptionally well, instead of a 'jack of all trades'. IMHO, there are too many general purpose synths out there with too many options. I often forget what the hell the tune was that I wanted to play by the time I have found a patch I like! Also you do not have to do it all - for example, like Loopey and his graphics speciality - you don't have to make complete plugins, could just be some small modules useful to other SM users.
Also, remember - if you try to chase inspiration, you will frighten it, and it will run away. When your mind is clear, maybe even after a short break from SM, inspiration will jump out and surprise you when you least expect it.... ...usually when you are on the lavatory! 😉
Tzarls ·
Where are you from? Check the list of your local folkloric instruments, chances are there are some that don´t exist in the VSTi world. Maybe some simple percussion instruments to start with - first one sample per key, then multisample. Of course you´ll need to get the instrument and a basic recording setup (interface, mic).
tor ·
Thanks for many good ideas lads 🙂
Would be fantastic to have a sampled version of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardanger_fiddle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc-WGo4N8h8
But I could never afford it and do not know anyone that owns one 🙁
But old instruments can be a great inspiration for synthesis 😉
MichaelBenjamin ·
hardest way: imagine new music, understand how it will be made, develop the tools to make it intermediate way: listen to music, understand how it is made, mutate existing tools easy way: do what people say you should do while they dont bother doing it themselves, and create useless tools
ChrisHooker ·
Warmonger wrote: The things I've been looking for but failed:
- Elliptic filter...
Here was my attempt. (I didn't set it up for automation / preset handling.)
ChrisHooker ·
BTW, any comments, criticisms, modifications (reposted) are welcome.
martinvicanek ·
Chris, your schematic seems to do something else than what I would have expected of an elliptic filter according to this description. 😮 Am I missing something?
ChrisHooker ·
Haha. Indeed. Very similar name to 2 very different things. What I posted is also called an Elliptical Equalizer. Originally used for mastering to vinyl, it sums the left and right channels to mono below a certain frequency, to prevent large excursions of the needle in both/opposite directions so that it has less likelyhood of skipping the groove.
For digital recording, it can slightly increase headroom: Low frequencies need more volume to be heard as equally loud by our ears, and hence, take up valuable headroom. But since extreme lows are more difficult to localize, you can take a signal that, for example, might exist on one channel, and sum it to mono, requiring only half the original volume, but now from both channels, to provide the same apparent volume without a perceived change in panning. In this way, using the elliptical equalizer can give you a little extra headroom to improve resolution, and also help you compete in the loudness wars... (whether that's a good thing or not).
tester ·
Something capable of playing harmonious/pleasant soundflow in which you just add a direction to it. But it's tricky. If you have only 10 differently sounding options, then you have no more - even if you can wander between them. So a combination of harmonic and progressive chord patterns, algorithmic composition, sequencing, mood and dynamics based movements... and more. Visual synth so to speak, in which you do not need to know how to play music, but you can intuitively guide the direction of the soundflow. 😉
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