VSTI/VSTI3 GyL Synths Subway

[Gyl]

Subway

(by GyL Synths - Win 32&64 bit VSTi - maybe cannot run on XP or older versions) 

SOME THOUGHTS:

Subway, a small gift for Christmas...

Inspired by the Moog Sub Phatty Editor GUI (3rd picture), but added some TB-303-like and FM synth features as well.

The sound is surely very far from the original, that has different oscillators, filter, envelopes,... so you will not get a free Sub Phatty here...

As it is software, I could add my ideas, it is now polyphonic, has ring modulation, FM-like phase mod (Osc 2>1, Osc 1>Sub, Osc 2>Sub), can save more presets than the original, added a sequencer with global gate time control, step-based half note length and slide features, the usual effects, resizable GUI with 3 view modes, module-based and global Random / Init, MIDI learn-forget,...

I started to make it almost a year ago, but since then worked on it only several times + during the Autumn had PC hardware problems what finally could solve. Spring-time 2x changed the oscillators, the extra envelope controls are a bit complex, needed to think on it. I could imitate only some of them. For example: tried to create the DAHDSR envelope in DSP (modified an AHDSR...), created a wavetable osc for the envelope looping function, where the shape can be dynamically changed by the Delay-Attack-Hold-Decay values.

Changed the LFO destination controls to additive instead of multiplied, so if you turn an amount knob, it has instant effect, not just when you push the ModWheel. Zero knob values switch-off the LFO. Maybe later I'll cange it, if needed.
The Gate On last time worked well in Flowstone, but now had issue in the exported .dll file.
Free running LFO worked well in the "On The Run" preset, but not as well in 2 others.
Repaired what could, but still there are problems what don't understand and should investigate.
Anyway, "it mostly works" and I could create some enjoyable - for me... - presets last night. Some of them can be good for sound effects - or just modify / delete what don't like and make your own ones... 
(There is a good chance that it cannot run on Win XP, as was made in the newest Flowstone Alpha. I don't know, can FS be made compatible backwardly with older Windows /export-wise/, just Maik, the developer could answer...)
Attached the Sub Phatty Manual - it describes many uncommon features, what are rarely used in other synths, so you can study it.
I hope, it can give you some enjoyable minutes in the holiday season and I would like to wish you and your beloved Merry Christmas!

FURTHER INFO:
The Hold button keeps the last pressed note - good for sound design.
Double click sets the knobs to default value.
Right click on a knob opens the MIDI forget/learn menu.
Added 16 quickly made, function testing presets (in .fxb and .txt soundbanks).

As always: if doesn't work in your system, just delete it - there are much better ones from others...  

Download it here:

  Subway.zip (Size: 12.47 MB / Downloads: 57)

VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, registered in Europe and other countries.

[bluesmoke]

After 20 years using Cubase, I bought Mixbus as soon as it had a Windows version (2.0).
I intended to use it just to mix tracks I recorded in Cubase, but soon found that I enjoyed recording in Mixbus more - and haven't used Cubase since.
I have just (in the last few minutes!) upgraded/cross-graded to MixBus 32C and am about to install it.
This will be the first instrument I play in the new DAW.
I don't know which I'm more excited about!

This looks great - can't wait to hear it.
Thank you, Gyl.

[Gyl]

After 20 years using Cubase, I bought Mixbus as soon as it had a Windows version (2.0).
I intended to use it just to mix tracks I recorded in Cubase, but soon found that I enjoyed recording in Mixbus more - and haven't used Cubase since.
I have just (in the last few minutes!) upgraded/cross-graded to MixBus 32C and am about to install it.
This will be the first instrument I play in the new DAW.
I don't know which I'm more excited about!

This looks great - can't wait to hear it.
Thank you, Gyl.

Just hoping that will not be too disappointing...
During the patch making tried to repair the bugs what found (wanted to upload it for my Facebook group members before Christmas as a gift), but still there can be problems in the exported version.
I used the not final / Alpha 64 bit Flowstone and 2-3 features (free running LFO, Gate On and maybe others) worked well in the developing program, but not or just partly in the dll.
(The free running LFO seems working in the 'On the run' preset, but retriggers in the next one at the sequence end ; the Gate On worked like a sustain pedal in Flowstone, but was muted in the exported dll)
Don't know, it is my error or the FS export, but trying to understand.
Independently of these, I liked the patches, what could make in that short time...
And it is my pleasure if you have confidence to it! 

[Bam]

fantastic Synth, @Kujaschi need to make some Presets

[bluesmoke]

Just hoping that will not be too disappointing...

MixBus 32C sounded exactly how I thought it would: like a Harrison 32C console.
Subway sounded exactly how I hoped it would: like a fat, vintage analogue synth.
No – not at all disappointing!

OK – bad news first.
The 64-bit version would not load in either MixBus or VSTHost (32- or 64-bit).

But the 32-bit version runs without problem in VSTHost (both versions), so I was able to bridge it into MixBus.
(I always wrap my synths in VSTHost anyway – it gives me far better control of my instruments than any DAW's parameter-mapping that I know of.)

The fault may be mine, of course.
I have only had a 64-bit computer for a few months, Windows 10 is taking a lot (!!!!!) of getting used to, and I've had problems with several other plug-ins - so my system probably isn't set up right yet.

My old system (Windows XP) won't load any VST 2.4 plug-ins at all, so this is the first synth made with the new version of FS that I've ever actually played!
 

... worked well in the developing program, but not or just partly in the dll ... Don't know, it is my error or the FS export, but trying to understand.

After using SynthEdit 1.1 for more than 5 years, I've just switched to version 1.4 …

It's very different!

Many techniques I developed in 1.1 no longer work in 1.4.
Some features are only available in the 64-bit version (and some, probably, only in the 32-bit version – I'm not familiar enough with the new program to be sure).
And exported plug-ins behave differently in 32-bit, 64-bit, VST2 and VST3 formats … !

It may be a very long time before I release anything new …

But that's OK.
I've never really thought of SE (or SynthMaker/FS) mainly as a development environment anyway.
It's a modular synth – one which allows me to export my 'patches' (in the original sense of the term) as instruments I can play in a DAW.
(Imagine if you had a big Moog modular and could 'export' as many Model Ds and Sonic 6s as you wanted – and distribute them for free and without royalties!)

I will share some of my creations when I know what I'm doing
 

I liked the patches, what could make in that short time...
And it is my pleasure if you have confidence to it!  

Great set of patches - Armin would be proud of them!
They are very playable, and demonstrate the synth's capabilities really effectively.

There is something about this synth (apart from the obvious!) that reminds me a lot of the MiniMogueVA (and of course the Luxus).
(The ElectroStudio Model Mini is a more accurate emulation – and probably the best for free – though I always preferred the VoltKitchen ones.)

But my feelings about emulations are complicated – and often contradictory.
For example, several of the ElectroStudio synths are my favourite software versions of the instruments they emulate – but often sound almost nothing like the originals.

I think it is similar with hardware.
Last year, Korg made a clone of the ARP 2600 – which by all accounts sounds totally authentic.
But if Korg had made the original 2600, it would have sounded like a Korg, not an ARP.
And today's developers – both hardware and software – would be trying to make totally authentic emulations of it!

Also I should admit (or maybe I shouldn't!) that as a teenager (in the 1970s) I was never much of a fan of the Moogs – I was always much more interested in the instruments produced by ARP, EMS, Oberheim and Yamaha (among others).

I think what it comes down to, for me, is whether a synth makes me feel the way I felt when I first encountered those early instruments.
Even 'straight out of the box', SE and SM/FS have the basic 'sound' of vintage synths.
The 'magic' comes from what a developer does with it.

Subway – like the MiniMogue – is a synth I know I will return to again and again.