question for OASYS users ... STR-1
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Gargamel314
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- Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:56 am
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question for OASYS users ... STR-1
so i've read some stuff about it, but i never see anyone really talk about it here. how good is it? what applications can you use it for, what kinds of sounds can it make? how does it compare to the guitar/plucked string programs from HD-1? are there any real drawbacks or shortcomings in using it?
Korg Kronos-61, Nautilus-61, 01/Wfd, SONAR Pro
Personally I have many weird and wonderful uses for it. It's very very deep and can be used to make some crazy soundscapes and all manner of strange things when you stretch out the sound and have a long attack. Reminds me at times of a Water Phone. It has that kind of unique sound if you want.
Then there's the plucking type sounds. I have my own private stash and are the core of my “Celtic Synth” type sounds now. I'd be lost without it to be honest. In a basic KARMA Arpeg they are some of my favourite sounds.
When it comes to realistic sounds, it can do basses pretty good, but that's about it really. I don't use it's Guitars over HD-1 as they sound very synthetic, and it's not that realistic anyway for stringed sounds in my opinion.
So all in all it's something that I get tons of use out of, but not emulations of real world sounds. Can't beat HD-1 for real world sounds on the OASYS.
Regards
Sharp.
Then there's the plucking type sounds. I have my own private stash and are the core of my “Celtic Synth” type sounds now. I'd be lost without it to be honest. In a basic KARMA Arpeg they are some of my favourite sounds.
When it comes to realistic sounds, it can do basses pretty good, but that's about it really. I don't use it's Guitars over HD-1 as they sound very synthetic, and it's not that realistic anyway for stringed sounds in my opinion.
So all in all it's something that I get tons of use out of, but not emulations of real world sounds. Can't beat HD-1 for real world sounds on the OASYS.
Regards
Sharp.
Horses for courses, but I do like/use some of the STR-1 sounds - acoustic guitars with pads on combis sounds great.
But like Sharp says, HD-1 is where you're more likely to get to what you want.
But like Sharp says, HD-1 is where you're more likely to get to what you want.
Plugged in: Fantom 8, Jupiter-X, Jupiter 80, System-8, JD-XA, V-Synth GTv2, FA-06, SE-02, JU-06A, TR-09, VT-4, Go:Livecast, Rubix44, Shure SM7b, Push2, Ableton 11 Suite, Sibelius, KRK Rokit 5,
I hope you don't mind me popping a little question on the end here, as its about STR-1 relating to KRONOS and OASYS.
I *think* I saw mentioned in one of the videos somewhere that you can use STR1's excitor to excite the PCM sample itself, rather than just using it to feed into the string model. Is this true? effectively making FIR/impulse response resynthesis?
I *think* I saw mentioned in one of the videos somewhere that you can use STR1's excitor to excite the PCM sample itself, rather than just using it to feed into the string model. Is this true? effectively making FIR/impulse response resynthesis?
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro
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Kevin Nolan
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Hi Jack -
As with essentially all of OASYS's synth engines, STR-1 has been virtually left unexplored or unprogrammed by the community. It's strange to say it, but the OASYS's strength is its synth engines, but it has not attracted programmers, per say, and so STR-1 is an unexplored synth engine.
I've tried to program it and find it exquisite. It is capable of delivering sophisticated instrument sounds across a plethora of types - clavs, harpsichords, acoustic basses (to die for), guitars, electric pianos, harps, dulcimers, kalimba, a range of bell/chime type instruments and so on, and then as Sharp mentioned the full gauntlet of pure synthesizer sounds.
But I hope that through Kronos that STR-1, as with the other synth engines, will find full expression through a multiple number of Kronos users compared to OASYS users and hence many private and commercial third party sound sets arising for it.
But even as it stands, there are several vital aspects to STR-1 that make it notable and worth attention:
- IMO, no sample can ever deliver the playability as can an FM or Virtual Acoustic rendering of an actual instrument. Let me qualify that. Yes, in many instances even in HD-1 and surely in dedicated sample packages you can achieve more realistic versions of acoustic instrument needed for media work. But, if as a keyboard player or synthesist you are looking for true performance instruments for the front of a mix - as in true instruments for leading a piece, I have found that FM (especially on the SY77/99) and Virtual Acoustic instruments are more capable of delivering a fluid response to playing dynamics in a way that no sample ever can. Yes it's truly improving with hybrid technologies merging samples with VA synthesis as in the likes of the Yamaha CP1 and indeed upcoming Kronos SGX piano. But the STR-1 delivers true, seamless, unlayered and totally naturally responding instruments that always sound right, even if they do not always sound like the exact instrument they are meant to emulate, if you get my meaning (and I'm not saying STR-1 can't emulate real instruments - it can to an incredible degree); rather I'm saying it always sounds right, and I am never afraid to use STR-1 up front in a mix, where is can carry a piece of music. Like MOD-7, the SY77/99 and Yamaha VL-1, STR-1 is in that unique category of synthesizer. IMO, MOSS sounds are not as good in this regard and always sound slightly more superficial to my ears and cannot be used, as often, up front in a mix.
So STR-1 is a true and hugely sophisticated Virtual Acoustic synthesizer. But it remains virtually unexplored and unexploited. And I mean by going into deep synthesis to get programs that really 'sing' the note.
I'm very, very happy with many of the sounds I've programmed on STR-1. However, due to restricted time, there are limitations to my programs that I'd like to find more time in the future to rectify. Most of these limitations centre on the issue of the length of the string, so I have beautiful bell like pianos sounds, but which fade poorly in the lower octaves. So they need more exploration on how to make them sound great over a whole 7 octaves. But in the range where these instruments work well, boy do they work. So again, STR-1 has immense capabilities.
The second point is that of course you have at your disposal a fabulous realtime control capability over any STR-1 program through the Kronos's faders, button, knobs, joysticks and ribbon controller, so you can, with ridiculous ease, convert a sitar-type instrument into a nylon stringed guitar with the simple movement of a vector joystick (as just one example) - wonderful!
Finally, you have large polyphony with zero latency for such a sophisticated synth engine, again making it wonderfully flexible, powerful and most importantly - you never, ever worry about computer power resources so you can simply 'let go' and not feel you hit some sort of limit often imposed by very deep synth engines on PC and MAC.
I have to say that Apple Logic's Sculpture is its equal sonically IMO, and while it has a wonderful user interface, is not quite as deep programming wise.
Kevin.
As with essentially all of OASYS's synth engines, STR-1 has been virtually left unexplored or unprogrammed by the community. It's strange to say it, but the OASYS's strength is its synth engines, but it has not attracted programmers, per say, and so STR-1 is an unexplored synth engine.
I've tried to program it and find it exquisite. It is capable of delivering sophisticated instrument sounds across a plethora of types - clavs, harpsichords, acoustic basses (to die for), guitars, electric pianos, harps, dulcimers, kalimba, a range of bell/chime type instruments and so on, and then as Sharp mentioned the full gauntlet of pure synthesizer sounds.
But I hope that through Kronos that STR-1, as with the other synth engines, will find full expression through a multiple number of Kronos users compared to OASYS users and hence many private and commercial third party sound sets arising for it.
But even as it stands, there are several vital aspects to STR-1 that make it notable and worth attention:
- IMO, no sample can ever deliver the playability as can an FM or Virtual Acoustic rendering of an actual instrument. Let me qualify that. Yes, in many instances even in HD-1 and surely in dedicated sample packages you can achieve more realistic versions of acoustic instrument needed for media work. But, if as a keyboard player or synthesist you are looking for true performance instruments for the front of a mix - as in true instruments for leading a piece, I have found that FM (especially on the SY77/99) and Virtual Acoustic instruments are more capable of delivering a fluid response to playing dynamics in a way that no sample ever can. Yes it's truly improving with hybrid technologies merging samples with VA synthesis as in the likes of the Yamaha CP1 and indeed upcoming Kronos SGX piano. But the STR-1 delivers true, seamless, unlayered and totally naturally responding instruments that always sound right, even if they do not always sound like the exact instrument they are meant to emulate, if you get my meaning (and I'm not saying STR-1 can't emulate real instruments - it can to an incredible degree); rather I'm saying it always sounds right, and I am never afraid to use STR-1 up front in a mix, where is can carry a piece of music. Like MOD-7, the SY77/99 and Yamaha VL-1, STR-1 is in that unique category of synthesizer. IMO, MOSS sounds are not as good in this regard and always sound slightly more superficial to my ears and cannot be used, as often, up front in a mix.
So STR-1 is a true and hugely sophisticated Virtual Acoustic synthesizer. But it remains virtually unexplored and unexploited. And I mean by going into deep synthesis to get programs that really 'sing' the note.
I'm very, very happy with many of the sounds I've programmed on STR-1. However, due to restricted time, there are limitations to my programs that I'd like to find more time in the future to rectify. Most of these limitations centre on the issue of the length of the string, so I have beautiful bell like pianos sounds, but which fade poorly in the lower octaves. So they need more exploration on how to make them sound great over a whole 7 octaves. But in the range where these instruments work well, boy do they work. So again, STR-1 has immense capabilities.
The second point is that of course you have at your disposal a fabulous realtime control capability over any STR-1 program through the Kronos's faders, button, knobs, joysticks and ribbon controller, so you can, with ridiculous ease, convert a sitar-type instrument into a nylon stringed guitar with the simple movement of a vector joystick (as just one example) - wonderful!
Finally, you have large polyphony with zero latency for such a sophisticated synth engine, again making it wonderfully flexible, powerful and most importantly - you never, ever worry about computer power resources so you can simply 'let go' and not feel you hit some sort of limit often imposed by very deep synth engines on PC and MAC.
I have to say that Apple Logic's Sculpture is its equal sonically IMO, and while it has a wonderful user interface, is not quite as deep programming wise.
Kevin.
I found an interesting but somewhat old article on STR1 here: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct06/a ... asys11.htm
Hope that it is somewhat of a help to those wanting to play with it.
Kind regards.
Rick
Hope that it is somewhat of a help to those wanting to play with it.
Kind regards.
Rick