2018 the year the String Machines/Vocoders came back...

[LoboLives]

First Behringer's VC304.

and now Waldorf...

http://www.synthanatomy.com/2018/01/namm-rumours-waldorf-presenting-new-string-synthesizer-year.html

[Sacred Synthesis]

I've often wished someone would release one of those old string machines.  I'd like to have something like an Elka Rhapsody or an ARP Omni.  They're quite handy in the craft of electronic orchestration as dedicated instruments.

[megamarkd]

That's sorta annoying...not that I really have anywhere to put another keyboard.

[chysn]

The string machine is a class of instrument that I simply... don't... get. Why would anyone buy any string machine over a Prophet 08? Or... hell, over a Kawai K1, for that matter?

Sure, my experience with them is limited to like one; the store where I used to work had an ARP Quartet fifteen years ago, and that thing sounded just awful. But even if you could reasonably counter that I've never known the beauty of a good string machine, a polyphonic synth just seems so much better.

[Sacred Synthesis]

I agree, the ARP Quartet sounded terrible, especially the organ.  But there have been a few string synthesizers that sounded quite warm and beautiful, such as the ARP Omni.  I had an Elka Rhapsody 490, and even that sounded beautiful when used judiciously.

I think what sets these string synthesizers apart from a Prophet '08 emulation is the paraphony, the built-in chorus, and the ability to combine sometimes three octaves of strings at once.  You just can't do that on a single P'08/Rev2.  But if you could, it still wouldn't be the exact same sound, certainly not regarding those wonderfully dreamy paraphonic attacks and releases.   

There's a very distinct effect these instruments have when they're part of an ensemble.  I admit, alone they don't sound too impressive - kind of buzzy.  But processed or in an ensemble something magical happens.

There's also much to be said for having a dedicated string synthesizer. 

Here are three example of serene string machine music.  I've always liked these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVdSQWGm53I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE6br0Myxvs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq6vVioZEF8

[Razmo]

I hope, that Waldorf did the most important thing: Make the ensemble ANALOG, and exchanged the digital FX section with an analog one, preferably a clone of the SmallStone Phaser...

[LoboLives]

I hope, that Waldorf did the most important thing: Make the ensemble ANALOG, and exchanged the digital FX section with an analog one, preferably a clone of the SmallStone Phaser...

Doubt it sadly.

[LoboLives]

I agree, the ARP Quartet sounded terrible, especially the organ.  But there have been a few string synthesizers that sounded quite warm and beautiful, such as the ARP Omni.  I had an Elka Rhapsody 490, and even that sounded beautiful when used judiciously.

I think what sets these string synthesizers apart from a Prophet '08 emulation is the paraphony, the built-in chorus, and the ability to combine sometimes three octaves of strings at once.  You just can't do that on a single P'08/Rev2.  But if you could, it still wouldn't be the exact same sound, certainly not regarding those wonderfully dreamy paraphonic attacks and releases.   

There's a very distinct effect these instruments have when they're part of an ensemble.  I admit, alone they don't sound too impressive - kind of buzzy.  But processed or in an ensemble something magical happens.

There's also much to be said for having a dedicated string synthesizer. 

Here are three example of serene string machine music.  I've always liked these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVdSQWGm53I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE6br0Myxvs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq6vVioZEF8

Agreed. I think stuff like the Solina or Crumar Orchestrator do have a unique character to them that you really can't get out of analog synths. You can emulate it but it's still not accurate and there's nothing quite like an analog string machine or analog vocoder running through a nice analog reverb or delay or analog phaser.

[LoboLives]

Actually it would be sort of nice to see Moog do a paraphonic string machine. They already have a paraphonic phatty with the Sub 37 but if they could somehow just add two more notes and include an on board 12-stage Moogferfoger Phaser and delay....drools...

[Sacred Synthesis]

I do think the paraphonic envelopes have much to do with the uniqueness of the vintage string machine.  And when you use a long release time, something else happens.  Even after the release has faded, there's still a ringing of notes, almost like a VCA Level is up a tad.  There's the sound, still shimmering softly in the background.  It's probably a flaw in the instrument's design that ends up being attractive, like the over-driven oscillators of a Model D.

I think many of us would find it useful if modern polyphonic synthesizers had the ability to emulate the paraphonic effect.  It seems to be getting popular again, but it would be nice feature added to a "normal" polyphonic instrument.

[Paul Dither]

I hope, that Waldorf did the most important thing: Make the ensemble ANALOG, and exchanged the digital FX section with an analog one, preferably a clone of the SmallStone Phaser...

The Waldorf STVC is based on the Streichfett with an added vocoder.

[Paul Dither]

The official STVC site is online now: https://waldorfmusic.com/en/stvc

[Shaw]

The official STVC site is online now: https://waldorfmusic.com/en/stvc

I was skeptical of the SVTC at first, but the more I hear, the more I like.

[LoboLives]

and now...Solina....

http://www.synthanatomy.com/2018/02/solina-string-ensemble-string-machine-the-next-clone-by-behringer.html

[Sacred Synthesis]

Maybe.  Uli is playing that game of his.

[LoboLives]

Maybe.  Uli is playing that game of his.

Maybe, maybe not. If anything good on him for doing something no other manufacturer is bothering at doing: Analog String Machines and Analog Vocoders.

[Sacred Synthesis]

Maybe, maybe not.

 

[LoboLives]

Maybe, maybe not.

 

Did you see the UBXa video? Where they opened an OBXa and were talking about what makes it's sound and the interior workings of it.

[Paul Dither]

and now...Solina....

I once got one for free on top of a vintage Fender Rhodes MkII. I gave the Solina to a friend who ended up using it as a stage prop for an open air performance, where it eventually said goobye in the rain.

[Sacred Synthesis]

Just as well.  Those old string machines sound terrible with a dry signal.