Synth1 Rundown

Style: Panel #111111 and Text #cdcdcd

The VST I tend to use the most is Synth1, which provides the basis for me to create all bit of my music with. As it was included with the default installation of Madtracker II, it also became the first VST synthesiser that I got to grips with and started using 


Despite being a free product and not being updated in well over a year, this belies the absolutely stonking power of this VST. 

Synth1 Features:

• 2 oscillators + 1 sub-oscillator, FM mod, ring mod, sync, mod envelope, phase shift
• 4 types of filters, resonance, saturation
• 2 LFOs (synchronized with host)
• Arpeggiator (synchronized with host)
• Tempo delay (synchronized with host), stereo chorus/flanger, effect unit, EQ, pan
• Poly/mono/legato mode, portamento, unison
• 32 notes polyphony
• 128 presets per bank, bank browser
• Automation, MIDI CC controThorough optimization for light CPU load using SSE instructions, etc.

This is all based on subtractive synthesis, with signal routing going from top to bottom across from the left column. This makes for a very straightforward synth, if a little confusing at first glance. While it's true that the interface is a little basic to say the least, it is not the looks that we are most interested in and skins have been floating around for a while if you really want to change this.

Some excellent reasons why you should get Synth1 right now include:

• Simple layout, easy to read and you can customise the panel colours
• Sound engine based on Clavia synthesisers and the legendary Nord Lead 2X
• Very versatile and capable mono/polyphony
• Detuned Reese basslines, superwaves, strong leads, pads, strings, 303 clones, it's all possible
• Lots of built in stuff (filters, bitcrusher etc) to mess with
• Easy to set up with lots of available patches online to share your sounds
• Able to save and recall your banks and patches quickly
• Relatively low CPU requirements and runs well in multiple instances, even on laptops
• Easy installation
• Free – zero cost. Arigatou, Kenichi san!

For the more advanced user, there are plenty of resources at the following site, including an absolutely brilliant and in-depth user manual.

https://sites.google.com/site/synth1vst/

For Kenichi Tora's website, please check out the following page:

http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/softsynth/

English page to start with is:

http://www.geocities.jp/daichi1969/synmanu/readmeeng.html