Effects processors vs. sound modules (round 1)

[microchip]

Ok...I am looking into some items that will alter my synth sounds.

Please tell me if I am correct about a few things...

An effects processor is used to send regular audio through (like a voice, synth, etc) and then processes the sound into flanger, delay, and all that.

A sound module is something that connects only to a keyboard or synth through MIDI right?

My questions are these...

Do the sound modules produce much better and more true sounding sounds than just the normal 120 or so MIDI sounds that come on the synths?

And, are sounds from sound modules designed for playing as regular notes or more for looping and rythms?

Can anyone suggest a sound module for ambient/drone/spacemusic?

Thanks,
Microchip

 

[mikeh]

You are correct that an effects processor takes the analog signal (sound) and adds reverb or flanging, ec.

You are also correct that a sound module is a unit designed to produce various sounds (some module may have hundreds or even 1,000 plus sounds). Most sound modules do produce better sounds than a GM sound set. In particular if a module is dedicated to specific sounds (such as a module dedicated to piano and organ sounds) also, keep in mind, some modules ( most current modules) have effects processing built-in.

A keyboad is a sound module with black and white keys attached to it, whereas a module has no attached keys, and you connect a MIDI keyboard to access the sounds.

The majority of sounds in modules are designed to play as notes (or combinations of notes - chords), however, many modules have some "phases" which if you hold a key done the phrase will "loop".

Almost any module will have several "pad sounds" for ambient effect. EMU has a couple of modules that focus on techno/hip hop/drums & bass which may have the kind of "loops" you may be looking for.

 

[AlChuck]

The other thing about external synths is that all but the lower-end models have a large number of parameters that you can edit. Things like the source waveforms, having one waveform modulate another, changing the attack-decay-sustain-release envelopes, and many others. So there's a tremendous amount of tweaking you can do to make different sounds, besides just picking a preset and applying some effects to it.

 

[Chriss]

Analogue Sound Modeling synths rule!
These past few weeks, I've created a really tight Ambient track with beautifull pads, harsh tb303 emulation, drums and all that, only by using a Novation Supernova.. If you want flexibility, you want ASM/AM... There are no preset sounds, only 4 waveforms you can shape, bend and modulate to emulate allmost any other sound out there... but it'll cost ya... if you want nice Sound Modules you might wanna look at the latest E-Mu modules (Custom Proteus) and the Yamaha CS1X, CS2X and CS6X modules..