another microtonal softsynth, the best softsynth I ever heard

Hey all,

I just thought I would mention one of the best-sounding softsynths I ever
tried, available for Linux and VST, is ZynAddSubFx.

http://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.net/

It reads .scl files, and does keymapping, etc. And it's *free* software!

I've been using it for a couple of weeks when I can, and I'm bowled over by
its feature set and sound--It has a remarkable sound--using additive
synthesis, and you can draw your own wavetables with a mouse to use them as a
partial instead of sine, as well as use some other complex math functions
(Gaussian curves, etc.)

It also implements a neat idea: bandwidth filtered noise as partials. The
sound is remarkably warm, due to the inherent instability, it has that
lifelike characteristic we love in acoustic sounds.

It's a loaded app for sure, and I don't think I would need any other
traditional type synth at this point. It rivals and *surpasses* any
commercial softsynth you could throw at me, in terms of sound and features.
Including Zta3+ and friends....

My Linux-based software studio from now on (take note, ye doubters Jon and
Carl):
ZynAddSubFx
RTSynth (for that great physicall modelling plucked string sound)
Aeolus (the *fantastic* pipe organ physical model)
Fluidsynth/Timidity/Soundfonts
CSound (for really complicated things and FM synthesis)
Jack/Jackrack
Rosegarden
Audacity
and when I want VST--fst-1.7

This is an impressive bundle of great software that equals any viable
commercial option, and it's *free software*

-Aaron.

Too bad it doesn't work in ableton live in windows. Btw, a future
version of HERCs Abakos will be micro (
http://www.hercsmusicsystems.com ) .

Joe

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Aaron Krister Johnson <aaron@...>
wrote:
>
> Hey all,
>
> I just thought I would mention one of the best-sounding softsynths
I ever
> tried, available for Linux and VST, is ZynAddSubFx.
>
> http://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.net/
>
> It reads .scl files, and does keymapping, etc. And it's *free*
software!
>
> I've been using it for a couple of weeks when I can, and I'm bowled
over by
> its feature set and sound--It has a remarkable sound--using
additive
> synthesis, and you can draw your own wavetables with a mouse to use
them as a
> partial instead of sine, as well as use some other complex math
functions
> (Gaussian curves, etc.)
>
> It also implements a neat idea: bandwidth filtered noise as
partials. The
> sound is remarkably warm, due to the inherent instability, it has
that
> lifelike characteristic we love in acoustic sounds.
>
> It's a loaded app for sure, and I don't think I would need any
other
> traditional type synth at this point. It rivals and *surpasses* any
> commercial softsynth you could throw at me, in terms of sound and
features.
> Including Zta3+ and friends....
>
> My Linux-based software studio from now on (take note, ye doubters
Jon and
> Carl):
> ZynAddSubFx
> RTSynth (for that great physicall modelling plucked string
sound)
> Aeolus (the *fantastic* pipe organ physical model)
> Fluidsynth/Timidity/Soundfonts
> CSound (for really complicated things and FM synthesis)
> Jack/Jackrack
> Rosegarden
> Audacity
> and when I want VST--fst-1.7
>
> This is an impressive bundle of great software that equals any
viable
> commercial option, and it's *free software*
>
> -Aaron.
>

He describes a method for creating his sounds here:

http://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.net/doc/PADsynth/PADsynth.htm

Joe

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Aaron Krister Johnson <aaron@...> wrote:
>
> Hey all,
>
> I just thought I would mention one of the best-sounding softsynths I
ever
> tried, available for Linux and VST, is ZynAddSubFx.
>
> http://zynaddsubfx.sourceforge.net/
>
> It reads .scl files, and does keymapping, etc. And it's *free* software!
>
> I've been using it for a couple of weeks when I can, and I'm bowled
over by
> its feature set and sound--It has a remarkable sound--using additive
> synthesis, and you can draw your own wavetables with a mouse to use
them as a
> partial instead of sine, as well as use some other complex math
functions
> (Gaussian curves, etc.)
>
> It also implements a neat idea: bandwidth filtered noise as
partials. The
> sound is remarkably warm, due to the inherent instability, it has that
> lifelike characteristic we love in acoustic sounds.
>
> It's a loaded app for sure, and I don't think I would need any other
> traditional type synth at this point. It rivals and *surpasses* any
> commercial softsynth you could throw at me, in terms of sound and
features.
> Including Zta3+ and friends....
>
> My Linux-based software studio from now on (take note, ye doubters
Jon and
> Carl):
> ZynAddSubFx
> RTSynth (for that great physicall modelling plucked string sound)
> Aeolus (the *fantastic* pipe organ physical model)
> Fluidsynth/Timidity/Soundfonts
> CSound (for really complicated things and FM synthesis)
> Jack/Jackrack
> Rosegarden
> Audacity
> and when I want VST--fst-1.7
>
> This is an impressive bundle of great software that equals any viable
> commercial option, and it's *free software*
>
> -Aaron.
>