Best way to make softsynths sound warmer

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:47 pm

I'm looking for suggestions on how to make softsynths sound warm - I've got my own methods, but I'm wondering what works for you guys. Is it as simple as inserting a Saturator after a softsynth? Is there a better plugin that you use? How about Voxengo's warming plugs? How about Ohmicide?

Or is it as complicated as taking a softsynth output, routing it through hardware preamps/mixers and recording the output back into the computer? That's essentially creating the same hardware feel as a hardware synth.

Let's discuss.

(but let me put a limit on this by saying a preemptive fuck off to anyone who wants to provide the "hardware is better" argument...put that on another thread, byatch. *hugs*)

90's child · Post by **90's child** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:49 pm

PSP Vintage Warmer

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:52 pm

90's child wrote:PSP Vintage Warmer

My experience with this has been a muddy kind of sound...how best to avoid this?

Also, doesn't this plugin introduce some latency?

LeifonMars · Post by **LeifonMars** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 3:59 pm

I've been using erosion and saturation/vinyldist combinations. For example on sin wave based sounds it works pretty well to add some noise to signal before routing it to a distortion unit.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:01 pm

^ interesting - where can I get those?

mr.adl · Post by **mr.adl** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:02 pm

+1 for Vintage Warmer
The first relase was very muddy, now it really sounds fat and warm

Also try out PSPMixpack 2 from pspsaudioware. The PSPSaturator is very good!

LeifonMars · Post by **LeifonMars** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:03 pm

nebulae wrote:^ interesting - where can I get those?

Sorry man for adding my feeble straw in your thread.

Crash · Post by **Crash** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:04 pm

I don't like the word warm. For me it's another word for dull.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:11 pm

Crash wrote:
I don't like the word warm. For me it's another word for dull.

Then replace it with "phat" - in other words, you know the sound I'm looking for

polyslax · Post by **polyslax** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:20 pm

I thought you'd found warmth nirvana with Sylenth?

Anyhow, if you're limiting us to software I'd say FilterFreak - not sure if this is out for Win yet.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:23 pm

^ Yeah, Sylenth is awesome for sure, but I also have Operator, Sytrus, Z3ta, Microtonic, and ZeroVector...and ultimately, I'm still experimenting with how to make the sounds feel phatter and warmer.

glitchrock-buddha · Post by **glitchrock-buddha** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:24 pm

Just for kicks, go and try out Vogue by Sugar Bytes.

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:25 pm

glitchrock-buddha wrote:Just for kicks, go and try out Vogue by Sugar Bytes.

Yeah, I saw the demo video of that - I thought it was just a channel strip...does it have a saturator in it?

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:26 pm

...send it out... distortion/eq... back in....

nebulae · Post by **nebulae** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:27 pm

3dot... wrote:...send it out... distortion/eq... back in....

Yeah, I'm wondering if that's the trick...