Software Synth Users - I need your advice.

[rickynelson]

Hi everyone,

So lately I've been craving a modular synthesizer like you wouldn't believe, except real analog ones are not only too expensive but are also too big and heavy.

So I've decided to purchase a software synth mainly with the purpose of doing treatments on recorded guitar parts.

The trouble I'm having is this, first I dont know jack about modular synths, except roughly what they are how they work and what they do (i figure this part I can just figure out along the way).

And secondly, most of the synths that Im interested in are vsti type synths that work with a midi input. What I need is a synth that will take audio input so as to run my guitar (prerecorded or not) through it to get synth sounds.

Ive been looking at the Arturia Moog Modular which looks great but I cant figure out if itll do what I need it to (there arent a lot of tutorials on these online and I dont wanna read the 300 pages of the manual before I know that it does what I want).

So can anyone suggest some vst synths or tell me if the arturia moog modular can do guitar treatments.

Im prepared to spend up to $500, and maybe a bit more if its worth it.

Thanks in advance!

[Anderton]

The Moog Modular does indeed have an audio input. In fact, I wrote a Power App Alley for EQ magazine on how to use! I've excerpted part of it here...


Objective: Process external signals using the Moog Modular V’s modules.

Background: Arturia’s Moog Modular V isn’t just a fine modular synthesizer, but a signal processing playground for all types of signals. This simple application shows how to use it as an envelope-followed filter, but this only hints at the many possibilities.

1. Select the audio input to be processed. In stand-alone mode, select the audio interface input and output; with a DAW host, insert audio you want to process into the instrument track hosting the Moog Modular.

2. The Envelope Follower doesn’t default to being in the synth. Right-click on the label for an Envelope module (e.g., Envelope 1) and select Env. Follow. 1 from the pop-up menu.

3. With lower-level external ins (e.g., guitar), you’ll need gain. Patch the external audio signal to two mixer module inputs (these should not be linked).

4. Patch one mixer output to a Low Pass Filter audio input. Patch the other mixer output to the Envelope Follower input.

5. Patch the Envelope Follower Cont Out to the Filter Mod In, then click on the mod in jack and drag up to turn up the modulation amount.

6. Patch the Filter Output to a main Envelope input. Set the envelope controls to Attack = 0, and Decay, Sustain, and Release to maximum (full clockwise).

7. Play a key on your MIDI controller, or the Moog Modular’s virtual controller; this will open up the main Envelope, thus opening up the associated VCA and allowing you to hear the audio input. Tweak the filter, mixer, and envelope follower controls as desired.

Tips

_ For the tightest envelope tracking, set the Short/Long control to Short and use the minimum Time Control setting that doesn’t give “ripple” (usually about 15 ms).
_ It’s generally best to turn off keyboard tracking to the filter (choose No instead of K1, K2, K3, or K4).

[rickynelson]

Hey thanks a lot man!

So I downloaded the demo from the arturia website to check the synth out. First thing I tried was the instructions in the excerpt you posted.

Problem is, I cannnot select any inputs from my interface except the ones for midi. When I press keys on the virtual keyboard I get a sound and everything but I cant process my guitar through it.

I have two options on the 'midi in' selection (the two midi ports from my E-MU 1616m I assume), but the 'in' and 'out' sections are both blank, that is, I have no options as far as selecting an audio input for the synth.

Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks so much!

EDIT: Got it! I had to close and reopen the synth once I had set up my card settings and all. Im trying to set up your recommended patch now. Ill ask for more help if i need it (pretty much inevitable haha)

[rickynelson]

OK so as expected I could not get it to work properly. I am now trying to process a track in cubase with the plug-in. (i thought it would be simpler as I could just use a preset and se what happens)

Problem is I get no sound. I added the plugin as an insert to one of my tracks, whenever the plugin is activated it mutes the track, when I turn it off the track plays normally.

Can someone help with whatever it is I'm doing wrong? thanks!

EDit: the virtual keyboard on the interface still works beautifully so I know that the thing can produce sound, haha)