From the original SynthMaker forum (2004–2014), with its members’ names and dates.
Dell ·
I began mastering “in the box” for the past 10 years using Wavelab. From a DAW standpoint it offered everything I needed with the exception of multi-track mastering which Samplitude is superb.
The plug-ins always sounded too sterile for my taste in which I would need to double to quadruple the same plug-in hoping to attain the sound I desire. It is precisely the reason I route my DAW through hardware devices to attain the tone I am looking for. Years of scrounging through KVR, to find a developer to design something that fit my needs offered poor results.
Upon cleaning out all of the plug-ins, I noticed the free Synthmaker in addition to the Synthedit plug-ins were the only ones I kept. I did however keep my URS 12-band Equaliser the N Series Equaliser.
So, I decided to try my hand in making my own plug-ins using Synthmaker. I highly doubt I will ever buy another plug-in again. 🙂
Disco_Steve ·
I too master stuff, with my most famous master being for Sam issac.
I was pissed off with the lack of dynamics on records.
So the first thing I did was the hardest thing I could have done!
I made an automatic expander that takes any input and expands it.
I was really struggling to get it to work, because it's darn hard to make a good expander but also because it was my first proper thing I made in synth maker. During testing I realised that a limiter is the easiest thing to see if it is working or not, if the level goes over it isn't working! So I turned my expander upside down and the result was an amazing limiter!!
I then played with a vast array of different attack hold and release times and shapes until I created the best limiter on the planet.
I then met with a friend at uni, and we have started our own outboard company, and I'm currently transferring my SM algos to c and assembler where needed to run in realtime on a DSP chip.
We will start selling in a year once we have finished uni. You can check us out at
http://Www.EarSoft.co.uk/
In the meantime I'm at QinetiQ working on digital active noise reduction technology for pilots.
So SM can really make you go far!
trogluddite ·
For me it's a mostly continuation of the DIY ethic I picked up playing in punk bands years ago. I just like the idea of being as self-sufficient as I can be - even now that I'm in a reasonably paid job, I just can't bear to part with cash for something that I could make myself. be it plugins or furniture or whatever.
Despite the technical nature of SM, I also feel there can be a lot of creativity and artistry in making plugins - getting a new plugin workng gives me the same buzz as finishing a painting or finally getting a photo of a landscape in just the right light.
I've no intention of ever going commercial - I've made the mistake of trying to turn a hobby into a profession before; it can really suck the enjoyment out of something that you used to love doing.
RunBeerRun2 ·
For better quality(intensity).
Everything was subtractive synths w/Moog gui's, or amp sims that sound like a dull Aerosmith album w/ of course, a clone Marshall amp gui.
aliasant ·
Mostly a DIY guy.
My end goal is to make music with my own custom made synths and effects.
My estimated time for this to actually happen is 2050 may/june or there about 🙂
infuzion ·
I came to SM since Buzz was so unstable on my old computer. Not sure why I stayed when SM was just as unstable... I guess I was hoping that I could build synths to sell along with my music, but programming is eating my music-making time, so really the only thing that will get me programming again is either being payed to do it or to solve a problem that freeware or the software I already own can't solve. With NI about to release a free Reaktor player, that gap is becoming very very small.
Disco_Steve wrote: I too master stuff, with my most famous master being for Sam issac.
I then met with a friend at uni, and we have started our own outboard company, and I'm currently transferring my SM algos to c and assembler where needed to run in realtime on a DSP chip.
I have an approach on how to expand over-compressed MP3s if you're interested... I also might have to hire to to do some electronica mastering.
Jay ·
I came here about five years ago but didn't latch on that time, until i returned with the release of the ComputerMusic Version of SM.I suppose i came here because i was a bit sick of every single virtual analog synth sounding and sometimes looking the same! I hoped to do better! LOL
@Infuzion sorry to be the harbinger of bad news but,
A. The Reaktor Player and only loads the new Reaktor 3.3 Ensembles and is not and never will be backwards compatible.Bah!
B.The various free players are nothing but a demo/lite version for the rest of the new instrument range and
the full versions of the Players will set you back around 350 euro's and will allow you to use the new reaktor stuff if you have the new version of Reaktor (which is a paid update) installed also.
I get 2-3 visits from NI every year as a studio owner and have already been demoed some of this stuff by NI personnel and that was the info they gave us in February of this year
Best Regards
tor ·
I just want to learn more about DSP in general. I went to a one year sound engineer school and got some basic introduction to what is going on under the hood some years ago. When I discovered SM I got an excuse to dig into the subject. I have been idle for a while now due to my two dogs that suddenly turned into six dogs. And I don't get much sleep these days. Hope fully I get some more time soon to continue my EQ project. I left the idea of creating my own EQ from ground up. That is just to complex for me at the moment. My goal is a multi band 8-pole EQ based on the RBJ code in here. Will try to tweak the code to get as little quantization errors and as silky high end as possible. It is a exciting project and i think i will get it the way I want. Testing sounds good. Do not know how to actually measure quantization errors though. But I have an idea of why it appear. My biggest challenge will be to make it as CPU-friendly as possible.
I really love SM and the community in here.
Only thing I miss is as so many others in here say.. better timing in green. If I am going to try to make a synth or something like that I have understood that midi sync is a big issue to. That is a shame for a develop enviroment called SYNTHmaker... It would be cool to have more power over bitrate/clock in blue code as well. Other than the hop function that is limited to the powers of two. I'm not a computer engineer so for what i know that is impossible. But never the less it would be way cool 🙂
SM just made my life more interesting. Thanks to the develop team and all you SM nerds in here 😍
Disco_Steve ·
the best way to measure quantisation error is to play a tone through your filters and see if their are any small harmonics created. look at a signal at say 4 bits and then 8 etc and whatch the FFT harmonics fall in amplitude, you will quickly learn what to look for, then put it thorugh your filter and see if you can see any errors.
asuming that you has designed your filters to be symetric for boosts and cuts, another way is to add gain at one frequency at a given Q and then subtract gain with the same settings, now unless I've just made a fndimental error, I think your output should be the same as your input, so if you compare the difference (subtract them) anything other than zero is your math error.
you will need to sweep the sine wave, as with IIR's, different frquencies will have differnt math problems due to the iterative process.
I would also recomend big boost + big cut as these will have the longest impulse responce and thus the worst potential for math error.
I look forwad to hearing your 8 pole filters. I just got stuck with biquads! and then send days trying to canncel all the problems they cause me, I really should look at some higher order filters shoulnt I. huuum you have got me thinking!
tor ·
Thanks a lot for that nice guide. Think I understand what to look out for. I will try it out when I have the time. 😀
If you want to listen to the plug i have dropped a test VST here:
VST equalizer demo.
Best regards and good luck to you too 🙂
Tor
Dell ·
Disco Steve:
It is interesting you mentioned an Expander. I own a DBX 3 BX and created my own version using Synthmaker. I even went as far as reading the Schematics to determine the turnover points of the bands. Unfortunately, the CPU use is a tad high so I will need to find the root of the problem.
Trogluddite:
I am a DIY person as well! I build Loudspeakers, repair audio electronics, build computers, and will be pursuing to build my own valve equaliser by 2011.
RunBeerRun2:
The sound quality in Synthmaker is superb! I can say I have no issues attaining exactly what I want with Synthmaker.
Aliasant:
It is possible.
There will come a time when you look in your effects chain and see only your plug-ins available. When that day occurs, you’ll know all those hours changing values in Synthmaker were worth it.
Infuzion:
Synthesisers seem to be the stumbling block in Synthmaker. If I were familiar with synthesisers I would definitely try to help for you are one of the most valued members on the board.
Jay:
I really believe plug-ins that sounds the same stems from developers copying from one another. It is very common the effects side as well.
Tor:
I believe you and I are the only blokes who are infatuated with equalisers. Bear in mind, making a perfect equaliser is impossible when you are very demanding. I should have at least 30 hardware equalisers. The only way to remedy CPU issues is to continue to create designs and, save the schematics. Sometimes building a new project will answer the question why your previous design consumes so much energy.
Cheers!
attic ·
I couldn't find certain functions in plugin's that I needed. Some of them obvious things that have left a gap in the market. I figure that overtime I will make what I cannot find.
rl ·
My masterplan is to confuse people by offering a heapload of sound thingies using obscure and freaky synthesis methods, so analog/virtual-analog becomes obsolete and boring, thus making the world a better place.
attic ·
My masterplan is to confuse people by offering a heapload of sound thingies using obscure and freaky synthesis methods, so analog/virtual-analog becomes obsolete and boring, thus making the world a better place.
Lol 😉 I'm with you on that one.
stw ·
rl wrote: My masterplan is to confuse people by offering a heapload of sound thingies using obscure and freaky synthesis methods, so analog/virtual-analog becomes obsolete and boring, thus making the world a better place.
By far one of the best attitudes i ever heard! 😀
Dell ·
attic wrote: I couldn't find certain functions in plugin's that I needed. Some of them obvious things that have left a gap in the market. I figure that overtime I will make what I cannot find.
That is the biggest joy of synthmaker. I need not to settle anymore. 😀
attic wrote: My masterplan is to confuse people by offering a heapload of sound thingies using obscure and freaky synthesis methods, so analog/virtual-analog becomes obsolete and boring, thus making the world a better place.
I leave many bewildered all the time once I get technical. 😉
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