Synth1 is a
software synthesizer
A software synthesizer or softsynth is a computer program that generates digital audio, usually for music. Computer software that can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed now allow softsynths to accomplish the sam ...
designed by KVR user Daichi (Real name: Ichiro Toda 戸田一郎 ). It was originally designed as an emulation of the
Nord Lead 2 synthesizer, and has since become a unique
Virtual Studio Technology
Virtual Studio Technology (VST) is an audio plug-in software interface that integrates software synthesizers and effects units into digital audio workstations. VST and similar technologies use digital signal processing to simulate traditional rec ...
instrument and one of the most downloaded VST plug-ins of all time. The software used to be a
DirectX instrument plugin, but became solely VSTi from version 1.08 on. Version 1.13 was the first version to introduce a native 64-bit version of the plugin.
History
Synth1 was first released as a DXi plug-in on October 9, 2002. It was updated to support the VSTi format six days later, on October 15, 2002. Version 1.02 was released on October 27, 2002, and dealt with some of the major bugs that arose from converting the software to VST, such as a
memory leak
In computer science, a memory leak is a type of resource leak that occurs when a computer program incorrectly manages memory allocations in a way that Computer memory, memory which is no longer needed is not released. A memory leak may also happe ...
and the
LFO waveform selector not working. The next three versions dealt primarily with compatibility issues. 1.05a was a major update which added the ability to modulate the
FM parameter, added fine tuning to the
VCOs, added synchronization to the LFOs, and fixed quality issues with the
ADSR envelope ADSR may refer to:
* ADSR envelope (attack decay sustain release), a common type of music envelope
* Accelerator-driven sub-critical reactor, a nuclear reactor using a particle accelerator to generate a fission reaction in a sub-critical assembly ...
.
The next version would not be released until September 20, 2003.
Version 1.06 added a unison mode, an automatic portamento, and new
Voltage-controlled filter
A voltage-controlled filter (VCF) is an electronic filter whose operating characteristics (primarily cutoff frequency) can be set by an input control voltage. Voltage controlled filters are widely used in synthesizers.
A music synthesizer VCF ...
parameters. This was the first version when Synth1 became noticeably different from the
Nord Lead 2, upon which it was based. Version 1.07, released May 3, 2006, added new parameters and effects, primarily the
chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
/
flanger
Flanging is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together, one signal delayed by a small and (usually) gradually changing period, usually smaller than 20 milliseconds. This produces a swept comb filter effect: peaks and not ...
, as well as cleaning up the
GUI
The GUI ( "UI" by itself is still usually pronounced . or ), graphical user interface, is a form of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and audio indicator such as primary notation, inste ...
.
1.07 would be the last version with DXi support, as version 1.08, released on April 23, 2010,
discontinued the DXi version and removed the now unnecessary
installer
Installation (or setup) of a computer program (including device drivers and plugins), is the act of making the program ready for execution. Installation refers to the particular configuration of a software or hardware with a view to making it us ...
. One week later, on the first of May, 2010,
the now solely VSTi program was updated to version 1.09, which added a Phase Control function and expanded the number of voices in the polyphony and unison modes. May 2010 would contain the last of Synth1's updates for Windows, with the bug-fix version 1.10 released on the fourth, version 1.11 on the ninth, and the current version 1.12 on the twenty-third of that month.
Version 1.11 added a sub-oscillator and version 1.12 added the ability to read sound banks from
.zip
ZIP is an archive file format that supports lossless data compression. A ZIP file may contain one or more files or directories that may have been compressed. The ZIP file format permits a number of compression algorithms, though DEFLATE is th ...
files.
The last update, version 1.13 beta, was released October 2, 2011, and allowed Synth1 to function on
Macintosh
The Mac (known as Macintosh until 1999) is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple Inc. Macs are known for their ease of use and minimalist designs, and are popular among students, creative professionals, and ...
operating systems.
Toda announced on October 28, 2012 that he intended to release an
iPhone/
iPad
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...
version of Synth 1 "by the Spring of next year", although there have been no version updates or blog posts since.
Synthesis
Synth1 is a
digital synthesizer
A digital synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to make musical sounds. This in contrast to older analog synthesizers, which produce music using analog electronics, and samplers, which play back digit ...
based on the
Clavia
Clavia Digital Musical Instruments (Clavia DMI AB) is a Swedish manufacturer of virtual analog synthesizers, virtual electromechanical pianos and stage pianos, founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1983 by Hans Nordelius and Mikael Carlsson. Since 1995 ...
Nord Lead 2. Since the Nord Lead 2 is also a digital synthesizer, Synth1 is able to emulate it more closely than digital synthesizers that aim to emulate
analogue synthesis. Synth1 combines the common sound synthesis method of
subtractive synthesis
Subtractive synthesis is a method of sound synthesis in which partials of an audio signal (often one rich in harmonics) are attenuated by a filter to alter the timbre of the sound. While subtractive synthesis can be applied to any source audio si ...
with
FM synthesis
Frequency modulation synthesis (or FM synthesis) is a form of sound synthesis whereby the frequency of a waveform is changed by modulating its frequency with a modulator. The frequency of an oscillator is altered "in accordance with the amplitude ...
, with the first oscillator having a parameter for frequency modulation. Structurally, the software behaves as though it were a
modular analogue synthesizer.
MIDI
MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and re ...
from the host
music sequencer
A music sequencer (or audio sequencer or simply sequencer) is a device or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically CV/Gate, MIDI, or Open Sound Cont ...
goes into the arpeggiator, which then sends the final MIDI information to all active voices, which each consist of the oscillators, filter, and amplifier. The LFOs exist outside of the chain, and can
modulate certain parameters of the oscillators, filter, and amplifier. The information from the voices, after the LFO modulation has been added, is then sent to the
mixer. From the mixer, the sound information is sent through the equalizer, delay, and chorus modules, after which the sound data is output to be turned into audible sound by the
sound card
A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal expansion card that provides input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under the control of computer programs. The term ''sound card'' is also applied to external audio i ...
associated with the host program.
Specifications
* Three oscillators, one with an
FM modulation, one with ring modulation and synchronization, and one sub-oscillator. Osc 1 can operate as detuned supersaw.
* One filter section, with distortion. Four filter types: two high-pass, one low-pass, and a band-pass filter.
* Two assignable LFOs, which can be synchronized to a host tempo.
* An arpeggiator which can be synchronized to a host tempo.
* Several built-in effects, including a tempo delay, distortion, phaser, and chorus/flanger.
* Polyphony, monophony, and legato voices.
* Unison and portamento modes
* 32 notes polyphony
* Automation
* Low CPU usage
Recognition
Synth1 is the all-time most downloaded VST plug-in on KVR Audio, and was ranked number 5 on
MusicRadar's list of "The 27 best free VST plug-ins in the world today".
References
Website
{{cite web, title=Daichi Laboratory Dedicated Website, url=http://daichilab.com, work=Daichi Laboratory, publisher=Daichi Laboratory
Software synthesizers