Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[Analog-Umph]

Allrighty.

demo of that string thing please?

http://www.loomer.co.uk/string.htm

That didn't convince me at all. GForce's VSM sounds much better..

Perhaps you wanna expand on that subjective statement?
What sounds better, the base sound quality or the patches?

Actually VSM is one of the worst "string machines" I've ever tried. Counting how much effort went into it and the grandness of the overall concept to begin with.
I have no idea how they managed to royally screw over so many string machines, but they did it somehow, esp the Eminent.
And all the while they were boasting top notch quality while they were making it, 3 or so years ago. Pfft, yeah right.
And the above is coming from a G-Media fanboy.

The chorus unit on it is damn uninspiring. And out of the available samples, about 30% sound like they actually come from the machines they describe. Have you heard the Logan String machine on that? One huge WTF?

Now I've done A/B testing over the past 10 days between all the top string machines on the market atm. and the chorus unit alone from String is in the top 3, ie equal to the other 2.

Tested:

FXPansion Amber
Wok Cromina
G-Media Virtual String Machine
Nu Softing Strings Dream Synthesizer
AlgoMusic StringSynthesizer
Rampelrausch Tips Crazy Diamonds
NI Reaktor 5, Alienmachine's Eminent-V
Elektrostudio eSline
Loomer String

Out of that list, the 2 most expensive ones, Amber & VSM, came out the worst in terms of chorus unit quality.

I'd just like to get a base here, which part of this example sounds better to you: http://www.mediafire.com/?ljmemtyddmz

[GeeJee]

This loomer thing sounds flat and thin in the demo's I heard.

I have owned an original Eminent, and listening to the NAMM demo of VSM, I was instantly convinced it sounded quite pretty.

[Analog-Umph]

Have you played with the demo and actually moved some knobs or did you just listen to the mp3s?

Actually the first time I tried VSM when it came out 3 years ago I thought it sounded quite thin and unlike the original string machines that it purports to sample. On some of the samples it sounds like they sucked the life out of them. While other samples sound fine.

I went on to buy VSM and own it still, but rarely use it, other than for ethereal pads and a string or two. Not the workhorse I was expecting.

[Mr Pitch]

Let's go for a little update

Strings machine: Eminent 310U or ARP Solina string ensemble (To replace my Gmedia String Machine)

There are 3 solid software alternatives right now: Wok Cromina, Loomer String and Eminent-V.

Monophonic analog synth: RSF Kobol

Have you tried XILS polyKobol?

VST : Still waiting for a good emulation for EMS VCS3 / AKS

Have you tried the XILS XILS 3 (VSC3 emulation)?

Hey Analog-Umph,

since my last post I made a test of the XIls PolyKobol (the demo version) and I have to say it is full of promise. I found the sound close to what I heard from an original Kobol

Concerning the XILS 3, I now have it in my computer, awesome, endless and well sounding !!

I now have to test the Loomer String or Eminent-V, anyway I have to admit that VSM is enough for what I make with. By using a real small stone behind, it looks close enough from a JMJ-like pad.

[Analog-Umph]

Concerning the XILS 3, I now have it in my computer, awesome, endless and well sounding !!

Yeah it's endless fun. I just got mine recently. But I've had the other one made by EMS for a couple of years, and on that one I'd already done thousands of sounds. As I'm translating some, it's interesting to compare the differences.

I now have to test the Loomer String or Eminent-V

Both top of the field as far as synthesized strings go. They need a bit of polishing around the edges, but I definitely now prefer them over sampled strings. They sound alive when you play them. The one thing though that helps with sampled strings is running them through low chorus levels. VSM has it's own chorus. But I prefer to use Loomer String's External Effects Plugin to pass the sampled stuff through, the two chorus types on it do an excellent job of bringing samples to life.

[Mr Pitch]

I've had the other one made by EMS for a couple of years, and on that one I'd already done thousands of sounds. As I'm translating some, it's interesting to compare the differences.


Both top of the field as far as synthesized strings go. They need a bit of polishing around the edges, but I definitely now prefer them over sampled strings. They sound alive when you play them. The one thing though that helps with sampled strings is running them through low chorus levels. VSM has it's own chorus. But I prefer to use Loomer String's External Effects Plugin to pass the sampled stuff through, the two chorus types on it do an excellent job of bringing samples to life.

Okay I made a test about the Loomer String yesterday evening. I used the Demo version.

Well, I am really convinced about the sound, silky, precise and obviously more tweakable than a sampled based plug-in like VSM. This one keeps an interest as a "not only Eminent" ROMpler because of many instruments sampled inside, it can be useful sometimes ...

Loomer String's effect unit is also very good, warm and close to a Small Stone (I did not make yet an A / B test with my EH Small Stone, but from my ears, it sounds neat !!)

Conclusion : I will buy it soon

I also downloaded the "Sequent" effect plug-in, very interesting for the tracks I make ...

Regarding the Xils-3, you are very lucky to owned an original AKS !! How sounds the plug-in in case of a similar patch ?

However, I could not test the Eminent-V, I do not have Reaktor from the demos I heard it seems very interesting also but I can not check by myself...

[Beelooo]

However, I could not test the Eminent-V, I do not have Reaktor from the demos I heard it seems very interesting also but I can not check by myself...

You wanna try ?

[Mr Pitch]

Thanks Beeloo

[Analog-Umph]

Well, I am really convinced about the sound, silky, precise and obviously more tweakable than a sampled based plug-in like VSM. This one keeps an interest as a "not only Eminent" ROMpler because of many instruments sampled inside, it can be useful sometimes ...
Conclusion : I will buy it soon

Make sure you get my preset pack, lots of fun presets in there.
There's a lengthy demo of some of the presets: http://www.mediafire.com/?gwdwlzlyqyz

Loomer String's effect unit is also very good, warm and close to a Small Stone (I did not make yet an A / B test with my EH Small Stone, but from my ears, it sounds neat !!)

Yeah it's very useful, does a marvelous job on other string machines and synths.
This is an organ sound through String FX: http://www.mediafire.com/?itzinmjcnjt
I tried to do that cosmic organ pad from Vangelis' early days.

Regarding the Xils-3, you are very lucky to owned an original AKS !! How sounds the plug-in in case of a similar patch ?

I find that I have the same problem as I have with a very good ARP2600 emulation, the Timewarp2600. I have to set different settings on the plugin compared to the hardware unit to get the same sound. But as far as the sound goes, both are about 99%. So software owners aren't missing much.
You only start to notice differences when doing highly complex patches with insane amounts of modulation. For that, one should usually set their plugins at 96kHz, that takes care of a lot of problems.

However, I could not test the Eminent-V, I do not have Reaktor from the demos I heard it seems very interesting also but I can not check by myself...

You'll notice that pretty much the only kink in both these plugins, is the lack of keyboard tracking. That's the last bit of emulation that completes the strings on the Eminent.
Most hardware string synths don't have it, hence the dirty buzzy strings across the octaves.

[D_LeX]

I'm searching for a V-synth GT, to replace my Virus KC

[Equinoxe]

Its been on my wishlist for a while,(probably mentioned somewhere in this thread)
But a recently purchased DSI prophet 08 PE keyboard model should be here anyday soon I've had to wait almost 4 weeks for it to be shipped over to the UK! So I'll be glad when its finally here

[Dr. Who]

Its been on my wishlist for a while,(probably mentioned somewhere in this thread)
But a recently purchased DSI prophet 08 PE keyboard model should be here anyday soon I've had to wait almost 4 weeks for it to be shipped over to the UK! So I'll be glad when its finally here

Is it a pot edition or will it have encoders? Watch the encoders... I don't use mine much but freinds that use them a plenty have had their hands full with jumpy encoders, hence the pot edition. Best of luck!

[Jakob BC]

AFAIK "PE" in the name means "Pot Edition", which means that's the version Equinoxe has ordered

[Dr. Who]

AFAIK "PE" in the name means "Pot Edition", which means that's the version Equinoxe has ordered

Great... so now they are offering the PE as a standard and not an upgrade that loyal customers stuck with enconders have to pay for like myself. Grrrrrr.... DSI! They should have offered that upgrade for free since it was a clear design flaw. Oh well.. off my soapbox. Still a great sounding board. Let us konw what you think. Presets are Andromeda quality (don't show the potential at all) but there a handful that are usable as is. Happy tweaking!

[Equinoxe]

AFAIK "PE" in the name means "Pot Edition", which means that's the version Equinoxe has ordered

Great... so now they are offering the PE as a standard and not an upgrade that loyal customers stuck with enconders have to pay for like myself. Grrrrrr.... DSI! They should have offered that upgrade for free since it was a clear design flaw. Oh well.. off my soapbox. Still a great sounding board. Let us konw what you think. Presets are Andromeda quality (don't show the potential at all) but there a handful that are usable as is. Happy tweaking!

You can still get the Encoder version,the PE is not an upgraded model that has replaced the original,they've just offered a Pot model in favour of customer requests,its one of the reasons i held off buying it originally,As I don't really like Encoders,fine for minimal incrementing,but not from an On the fly playing perspective,much prefer having a Minimum and maximum travel,better to see where your at with tweaking,PE Model costs a little more than the Standard,so your not really being pissed on by DSI

I Can think of Worse companies who have pissed off their Customer base who have outlayed far more cash than a Prophet Costs only to be shit on....(cough*Thanks,korg.....Oasys*)I have nothing but praise for DSI and their Staff,I've had several personal Emails from Joanne McGowan at DSI helping me with the purchase and shipping times,you don't get that kind of personal service from other manufacturers direct

I guess DSI didn't realise the problems those encoders would have until after they had already sold a stack of Prophet units,the issues found probably were not evident in the Quality control stage on those Encoders in tests and perhaps wouldn't have been problematic in the Design stage neither,and suspect Dave Smith thought it was a good idea to use them at the time,good that he actually added them(and actually offered an upgrade for a small fee)rather than leave original customers high and dry after,rather than simply try to shift every bit of stock with no consideration for his Customer/user Feedback,I don't think its bad relations to ask Encoder owners to pay a little extra for the commodity,given the PE Model costs more to buy than an Encoder version,Surely it would be financially risky for DSI to offer every owner the upgrade for free.


I'm Looking forward to getting the Prophet,have always wanted one,(but kind of felt I didn't need it with the Voyager/Phatty and Andromeda in the Studio) and so held off for a while thinking it maybe was a little overkill with the many VAs I own as well,but the more I see the Videos on Youtube etc,the more I grow to liking it.
The Prophet should be here end of the week/Early next week.