Best Ambient Synth Shootout #130: ASM Hydrasynth - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the Hydrasynth. It is an 8 voice digital wave morphing synthesizer. It has an advanced wavetable synthesis engine, 3 Oscillators, dual Wave Mutants, and 2 filters that can be configured in series or parallel.

I used for the recording the following FX pedals: Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe, Tasty Chips Electronics Integral, Meris Polymoon and Beetronics Seabee. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated. On the bass track is also a Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, to give it some slight extra brittle.

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)

Check out my Best Ambient Synth Shootout Playlist:"



Use the player controls to skip around.

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #129: Soulsby Atmegatron - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the Atmegatron. It is a monophonic 8-bit synthesizer based on an Atmel 328P processor. The open source concept allows to install alternative firmware versions that increases the sound possibilities. This song used the alternative firmware Strings.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
Atmegatron - Zoom MS-70CDR - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #128: SammichSID - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the SammichSID. It was designed to be a streamlined, compact version of the MIDIbox SID synthesizer DIY kit. Designed around two SID chips, it is two-voice multitimbral with a total of six oscillators.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
SammichSID - Zoom MS-70CDR - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #125: Arturia MicroFreak - Song 3

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third song with the MicroFreak. It's a monophonic/paraphonic synthesizer with a digital oscillator section containing 12 different algorithms and an analog filter.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
MicroFreak - Zoom MS-70CDR - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)"

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #124: Wersi MK1 - Song 3

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third song with the Wersi MK1. It's a 12 voice synthesizer from 1986 using a kind of additiv synthesis based on complex volume and pitch envelopes for up to 32 digitally generated harmonic's. In addition it has a single analog filter (in my version it's an SSM2045 filter chip) for all voices (paraphonic use).

I used for the recording the following FX chain: MK1 - Pigtronix Envelop Phaser - Zoom MS-70CDR - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)

Check out my Best Ambient Synth Shootout Playlist:"

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #123: Wersi MK1 - Song 2

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the second song with the Wersi MK1. It's a 12 voice synthesizer from 1986 using a kind of additiv synthesis based on complex volume and pitch envelopes for up to 32 digitally generated harmonic's. In addition it has a single analog filter (in my version it's an SSM2045 filter chip) for all voices (paraphonic use).

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
MK1 - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)

Check out my Best Ambient Synth Shootout Playlist:"

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #122: Yamaha TX81Z - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the Yamaha TX81Z. It's an 8-notes, 8-part multitimbral FM synthesizer from 1987. In contrast to the DX-7 it use 4-Operators instead of 6 but supports additional waveforms other than just a sine wave.

This song is based on 'My Lord Willoughby's Welcome Home' by John Dowland who lived 1563–1626.

I used for the recording the following FX chain: TX81Z - DigiTech Ventura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)"

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #120: Alesis Fusion 8HD - Song 3

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third song with the Alesis Fusion 8HD. It's a synthesizer workstation (up to 190 voices per engine, 16 parts multitimbral) that offers several different synthesis types: AWM (sample playback), FM (freely configurable 6-operators engine), Virtual Analog (VA) and Physical Modeling (Wind and Reed models). There are three oscillators per voice that can be any of the above mentioned synthesis types and 20 different filter types including low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and a 4-band EQ for every patch.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
Fusion 8HD - Elektron Analog Heat - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #119: Alesis Fusion 8HD - Song 2

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

Song 1 here

"This is the second song with the Alesis Fusion 8HD. It's a synthesizer workstation (up to 190 voices per engine, 16 parts multitimbral) that offers several different synthesis types: AWM (sample playback), FM (freely configurable 6-operators engine), Virtual Analog (VA) and Physical Modeling (Wind and Reed models). There are three oscillators per voice that can be any of the above mentioned synthesis types and 20 different filter types including low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and a 4-band EQ for every patch.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
Fusion 8HD - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #118: Roland V-Synth - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first (minimalist, spherical) song with the V-Synth. The V-Synth was Rolands flagship synthesizer released in 2003. It is 16-part multitimbral with up to 24-voices polyphony, featuring analog modeling and PCM waveforms with user sampling that can independently manipulate pitch, time and formant thanks to Rolands VariPhrase technology.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
V-Synth - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated.

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #117: Casio HT-3000 - Song 3

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third song with the HT-3000. This time only with custom sounds in a minimalist, spherical soundscape of randomness. The HT-3000 is a 8-voice synthesizer based on 'Spectrum Dynamic' SD Synthesis and has a single real analog 4-pole voltage-controlled filter. My HT-3000 has the legoluft filter mod (http://legoluft.de/tech/bending/e-cas...), so that the frequency and resonance can be control in real-time via two separate knobs (on the left side above the pitch bend wheel).

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
HT-3000 - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2.
Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated. In addition, I used in Cubase the coreFX Volume Former on some tracks for a slight pumping effect.

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #116: Arturia MicroFreak - Song 2

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

Song 1 here.

"This is the second (quite minimalistic) song with the MicroFreak. It's a monophonic/paraphonic synthesizer with a digital oscillator section containing 12 different algorithms and an analog filter.

I used for the recording the following FX chain: MicroFreak - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track.

Well, I decided to go back to the basics, but at the same time make something useful for the synth community and do a kind of competition (I like competitions;-). What's my best synth for ambient music :-)"

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #115: Wersi City Rack KF2 - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the City Rack KF2. There are virtually no any information online available about this rack unit. I think it was intended as a sound addition to an organ because that was Wersi's core business. Unlike Dr. Böhm who used Yamaha's FM chips for sound creation, Wersi used PCM sounds combined with reverb and ensemble effects.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
HT-3000 - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated.

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

This is the first post to feature the Wersi City Rack KF2.

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #114: Kasser DAFM Synth - Song 3

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

Christian's Sonic Spaces Kasser DAFM posts

"This is the third (quite dystopian) song with the DAFM Synth. It's an FM synthesizer based on either the YM2612 Yamaha chip (used in SEGA Genesis / Megadrive home consoles and various SEGA arcade game systems, including the Mega-Play, System 18, and System 32) or the cleaner sounding YM3438 chip (as in my DAFM) without the crossover distortion in the output. Both sound chips have six channels with four operators per channel.

I used for the recording the following FX chain: DAFM - KMA Machines CIRRUS - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #113: Casio HT-3000 - Song 2

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the second song with the HT-3000. It's a 8-voice synthesizer based on 'Spectrum Dynamic' SD Synthesis and has a single real analog 4-pole voltage-controlled filter. My HT-3000 has the legoluft filter mod (http://legoluft.de/tech/bending/e-cas...), so that the frequency and resonance can be control in real-time via two separate knobs (on the left side above the pitch bend wheel).

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
HT-3000 - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated. In addition, I used in Cubase the coreFX Volume Former on some tracks for a slight pumping effect.

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #112: Alesis Fusion 8HD - Song 1

video upload by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the Alesis Fusion 8HD. It's a synthesizer workstation (up to 190 voices per engine, 16 parts multitimbral) that offers several different synthesis types: AWM (sample playback), FM (freely configurable 6-operators engine), Virtual Analog (VA) and Physical Modeling (Wind and Reed models). There are three oscillators per voice that can be any of the above mentioned synthesis types and 20 different filter types including low-pass, band-pass, high-pass and a 4-band EQ for every patch.

I used for the recording the following FX chain:
Fusion 8HD - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #111​: Bastl Instruments XOR - Song 3

video by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third song with the Bastl Instruments XOR. It's a monotimbral, 6 voice polyphonic, wavetable-based synthesizer using bit operations to add harmonics to the sound. The resulting dirty digital modulation artefacts makes it unique sounding.

I used it for the recording in the following FX pedal chain:
XOR - Elektron Analog Heat - Pladask Elektrisk Fabrikat - Pladask Elektrisk Draume - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #110​: Casio HT-3000 - Song 1

video by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the first song with the HT-3000. It's a 8-voice synthesizer based on 'Spectrum Dynamic' SD Synthesis and has a single real analog 4-pole voltage-controlled filter. My HT-3000 has the legoluft filter mod (http://legoluft.de/tech/bending/e-cas...​), so that the frequency and resonance can be control in real-time via two separate knobs (on the left side above the pitch bend wheel).

I used for the recording the following FX chain: HT-3000 - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #109​: Casio CZ-1 - Song 3

video by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the third song with the CZ-1. It's a 16 voice Phase Distortion synthesizer from the mid 80s. The only Casio Synth from the CZ series that featured velocity and aftertouch sensitivity.

I used for the recording the following FX chain: CZ-1 - Digitech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC via USB for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."

Best Ambient Synth Shootout posts

Best Ambient Synth Shootout #108​: Bastl Instruments XOR - Song 2

video by Christian's Sonic Spaces

"This is the second song with the Bastl Instruments XOR. It's a monotimbral, 6 voice polyphonic, wavetable-based synthesizer using bit operations to add harmonics to the sound. The resulting dirty digital modulation artefacts makes it unique sounding.

I used it for the recording in the following FX pedal chain:

XOR - Elektron Analog Heat - DigiTech Obscura - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2. Depending on the recorded track some FX are deactivated

The signal went through a Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 into the PC for recording. To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with a bit EQ and compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track."