aight.. these modules are better than most of the big names, let's just start there.. Yammi does some ok synth modules too and so does korg, but they don't really compare..
Nord (Clavia), Novation, Access and Waldorf make what you call virtual analogue modeling synths.
Novation first made
the BassStation, one of the first new and most popular analogue monophonic synths to this date. It has been compared in sound with the classic MiniMoog, which says quite a bit of the respect it has owned.
Since then they have made more digital devices but still with an incredible and very unique sound. Very warm and smooth oscillators which with their huge modulation matrixes (perhaps biggest on the market) are capable of being punchy and rough too.
The good thing about the novation modules is that every little part of the devices are totally independant from each other.
Thus the Supernovas,and the Novas provide you with up to 6 oscillators, 3 independant sync oscillators, 2 independant Ring Mods/FM Oscillators and a Noise Generator per voice.. And the Suernova can get up to 44 voices, the Supernova 2 can get 48.. In other words, those are SOME BIG MOTHERFUCKERS!
The sound is incredible. By listening to the presets, you won't be very impressed, you have to venture yourself and mess with the modulation matrix and you'll be taken totally aback.
The Supernova 2 is in a league of its own, it is simply the most wild arse synth you'll ever find. Also notice that stuff other synth manufacturers brag about was already standard with the first Supernova (like polyphonic legato, envelope and lfo delay, independant sync oscillators and Comb Filter) The Supernovas and Novas also have the largest effects engines and most amazing vocoder (on the SN2) of any synth out there.
Clavia released the Nord Lead in 1995 which was the worlds first virtual analogue synth. It quickly became a classic. They make both drum machines, stage pianos and synths.. all digital.
To compare these devices with the other products would be stupid. They are very performance oriented and, compared to the others, very limited in polyphony, modulation and effects. Not to say they are not great products, I just personally wouldn't buy one as long as i could get a novation, waldorf or access product.
This also has to do with the oscillators being very edgy and the fact that, to make ring mods or sync you in some cases have to sacrifice oscillators.. all their products are also only 4 part multitimbral, which is far from enough for me.
Access makes the Virus synth which are great little things. Lots of modulation and cool dual filters.. IMO the best part about the Viruses are the filters. They can be really really mean and nasty. They are also 16 part multitimbral. The reverb is also arguably better on the access products than on any of the other synths.
The brochure will claim that the virus runs 82 effects at one time, but pay notice that this is including Ring Mod and stuff like that, which would bring the Supernovas up to something like 150+ effects.
I'd like a virus cause of the filters, but the oscillators aren't very dynamic and they're loaded with a cranky bass.. sounds like
a Supernova or Waldorf with distortion on it.. kindof annoying after a while. But it's still very cool for stuff like ambient and chillout cause of the filters which can make som really weird and cool sounds. And the reverb will soften the sound up a bit.
But unlike the novations you can't have both reverb and chorus on a part and that's really stupid. Simply too little DSP power.
Waldorf GmbH. Now here we have a monster german synth manufacturer that is the only thing on the planet to really compete with the novation synths. I want the Pulse dammit! And the Wave and Microwaves.. don't even get me started.. allthough the Microwaves only have 10 voices, they are probably the most innovative synths out there.. The waldorf oscillators compete brilliantly with the novation ones, they are simply awesome.
The Qs are real mean fukkers too.. allthough very limited in effects, the Q's stand out in sound. The Q's have dual filters with cool routing options. Like the Novation synths, they also provide you with comb filters that can really create some evil sounds.
It also provide you with 3 lfos and 4 envelopes per part.. quite impressive.
novation is prolly the top line, then waldorf (cause of their general voice and effects limitations)
but in general its a matter of taste and about what you really need. If you really, really need subtractive synthesis, then you have to go for
nord lead 3, 'aight, but you can really make the same sounds on any of the others. Also, as before mentioned, Clavia is more performance oriented then the other brands.
The novation will stand out with it's effects, it's huge sound, immense number of oscillators and innovative dual filters. (they aren't independant from each other, but DAMN they can make some shit happen)
The Waldorf will stand out in filters and oscillators that will blow away everything if you want some powerfull synth leads.
The access.. well it's real value for the money and the filters are great. It's just too undynamic and limited in its own way.
The nord/clavia products are very specialized and you might quickly wanna get an extra synth if you buy one.
now.. don't you peeps ever go say i always talk trash, eh?
