V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

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Dance123
Posts: 76
Joined: 23:52, 31 July 2004

V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by Dance123 »

Hi,

Anybody can explain how many parts multitimbral the V-Synth (GT) is and what about polyphony?

Is the V-Synth (GT) only 1 part multitimbral with 2 tones or how does that work. How is that with the regular V-Synth.. I have never understood this.. why doesn't it say 16-part multitimbral like the Access Virus synths for example?!

Also, how many effects does each part have in performance mode.. if it has performance mode??? Virus TI has like 6 fx's for each of its 16 parts in multi-mode, so how is that with the V-Synth (GT)?!!

How is this on the V-Synth and is this any different on the V-Synth GT?!

Anybody could explain this in simple words please cause I don't understand the specs?! Thanks alot!!
Xenox.AFL
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Location: Germany

Re: V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by Xenox.AFL »

Well, Roland is not saying much about how many Voices the V-Synth Gt is able to do, i guess, only 24 as the first one...! It looks like that the main difference is the new synthesis (AP) and some more things like using Vocal Designer Card at the same time with the intern sounds...!

About the Virus, using so much effects is really stupid in my eyes, i do not know why all people think that they need 6 effects in one Voice, stupid. But on the other hand you 're right the V-Synth GT must be Multimtimbrale or atleast, he should use more than only 1 channel with the new synthesis. Take alook at sonicstate.com, there is the first Video online.

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LivePsy
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Re: V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by LivePsy »

About the Virus, using so much effects is really stupid in my eyes

And you're welcome to your opinion Xenon.AFL, but let others revel in delay, reverb, 3 eq, distortion, analog boost, chorus and phaser. Independent for every part, for as much as we like :)

V-Synth's legacy FX structure right out of 1980-something is inadequate for even a single part. Multi mode is impossible with everything dry except for one common MFX.

Cheers,
B
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SammyJames
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Re: V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by SammyJames »

LivePsy:

I agree with you. Keyboard players have for a long time had to put up with ctappy effects, or none at all on their main axe. I think that it is an utter sham the way that most manufacturers have ignored this. I like what Access did on the Virus, although for me, the whole interface is way too convoluted. Even so, I completely understand what people say when they talk about how cool it is to have six effects per MIDI channel.

Again, for me, things are a bit different. I suffer from a congenital disorder that prevents me from lifting very heavy things, literally and physically. I mean that I'm technically not supposed to even THINK about carrying keyboards around that are 20, 30, and 40 pounds. So, for me, the idea of having a giant synth that is capable of doing only one part at a time makes me cringe.

I did buy the old V-Synth, but I'm going to return it. It is still too heavy and too bulky for my needs. Incidentally, the V-Synths DO have "16-part multitimbral operation." It is a bit of a joke, though. You need to use your MIDI sequencer to access parts not on channel 1. Plus, you have to share the effects among as many parts there are in your sequence or song. This can be kind of tricky -- you need to set send levels for each part. I gave up after having sat there for about an hour just trying to figure out how to get more than one part to play at once. Although I succeeded in this endeavor, it really wasn't worth it to me. The sounds that I could get out of it aren't worth my time either.

I'm planning to get a Muse Research Receptor, and probably an Edirol MIDI controller. AND THEN I'll be cooking with gas.

- SJ

Good night, and good luck.
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orangefunk
Posts: 107
Joined: 08:36, 1 November 2005

Re: V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by orangefunk »

When I first started playing I had to add my own fx units to the synths I had.. I think we've come a long way.

I guess the reason the VSynth isn't multitimbral in the sense of other synths/romplers is that the synth uses a hell of a lot of DSP power and doesn't provide a lot of polyphony anyway. While theres a lot of synths out there that are multitimbral and have a lot of fx busses they generally provide fairly rudimentary fx.

I have an Access Virus, but theres no way I'd compare that to the VSynth... the VSynth is a different universe of sound....

issues of weight, no of fx, multimbralism just sounds a little trite to me coming from a heavyweight setup a'la rhodes, piano, solina, moogs et al..

We have it a lot easier now thats for sure...
tommym
Posts: 16
Joined: 14:58, 21 May 2006

Re: V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by tommym »

The other synths have more efx, because they NEED more. The V-Synth (and surely the V-Synth GT to come,) has a better sound, 24 bit, and Roland has really made the Elastic Synthesis sound amazing - so why cover that all up with efx. As you stated, we come from a tradition where you added the efx AFTER the synth, outside of the box, either with stomp pedals, or with classier outboard gear, on sends from the mixing console.
The V-Synth is unique. It isn't an Access Virus. It isn't a Fantom. It makes a cool sound (2 at a time soon!) (but not 16-get over it...) and the V-Synth gives us great physical control over its sound in many ways - HUMAN FX! - (TimeTrip Pad, D-Beams, Control Knobs, all with Matrix Routing) - Plus it is a great sound processor for any stereo sound you want to input into it.
It's like my last girlfriend - I'm a musician - she wanted a football star. SO GO DATE A FOOTBALL STAR - why was she messin around with me?!
It's like my friend's car - He wanted a Hummer, but he bought a Porsche - and then he complained that it was too lightweight and didn't pull his trailer behind it easily!
it's like the American people. They wanted a President and a Leader, and Look who they 'elected'? !!!! ? (well, at least he SAYS he was elected.)
KNOW WHAT YA WANT, and then if SOMETHING *isn't* that, then GET SOMETHING ELSE that IS.
Elektrobolt
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Re: V-Synth (GT): is it multitimbral? polyphony?

Post by Elektrobolt »

"Multi-timbral" - The "old" V-Synth is already 16-part multi-timbral, and I believe that hasn't changed any with the new GT. (My guess is that the two engines that we hear about means that it can run more advanced features at the same time; since it is already 16-part multi-timbral, I mean.)

As far as comparing to the Virus; well, they are two different machines, with different engines, purpose and features. In the Virus, the 6 effects are an integral part of the synth; not intended to be an extra add-on effects block, but to be used as part of the sound, the patch. Meaning, just like an LFO, filter, unison, wave shaping or other sound modulator.

"Performance mode" - By enabling other MIDI channels on the V-Synth, you can think of the multi-timbral usage as a form of "performance mode".

Again, comparing; the Virus TI has Multi-mode and Sequencer-mode (you can only use one or the other a any one time), both 16-part (just like the V-Synth). I would have to refer back to the previous comparison (above) about the sound details; but as far as the V-Synth, it has 3 post effect blocks; MFX, reverb and delay. The GT is times 2, which probably means that the effects blocks is now 2 MFXs, 2 reverbs and 2 delays; for two simul audio pipelines.

---

"In simple words" - for comparison, I would say that it isn't THAT simple...
LivePsy
Posts: 288
Joined: 23:19, 11 April 2005

So now the Roland FX are 'traditional' ?

Post by LivePsy »

Defending the ancient single MFX, chorus and reverb is just ignorant.

Roland did not bother with FX for the V-Synth, they threw in the same old stuff they always do. FX are not unnecessary add-ons, they are a part of the sound design. Having 3 effects (of which 2 are fixed) is very limiting, and having to share them for all parts is frankly unworkable if you seriously want several parts at once.

You CANNOT compare the V-Synth FX with the Virus effect chain without concluding that the Roland is inferior.

Now I understand why Goldberg was so grumpy...

Not so cheers,
B
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Quinnx.
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they threw in the same old stuff they always do

Post by Quinnx. »

Thats a pattern i have been noticing in the past 4 years
even with there new products (there not)

it may be new hardware(box)
but its the same software with either bits added in or taken away


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