I wanted to ask you that question even before the discussion in the other thread went wild.
I would like to know what are your favorite engines per category, and why. Possible benefits:
Reducing the number of enabled engines for faster decisions
Finding hidden gems that work good with zynthian
Improve the usability of the best engines with more customized controls and descriptions in the database
Helpful to tailor the factory engine database
Even better if your favorite is currently not enabled by default, so that we find some hidden treasures here.
Some guildelines:
Great sounding without artefacts
Well suitable for zynthian use
Appropriate amount of controls
Important controls accessable from UI
Complementing functionality
Of course it is about effects and instruments alike. You may stick to the given categories or chose a more specific one (mono synth, string synth, modulated delay or whatever)
I’ll start:
My 3 favorite delay engines:
1. Regrader:
Usable as an all purpose delay, features all needed controls without being overly complex. Supports host tempo divisions. No audio artefacts or noises on controller changes. Has effects in the feedback path (modulated bit- and samplerate, filter, flanger)
2. Tal-Dub-3:
Usable as an all purpose delay, features all needed controls without being overly complex. Supports host tempo divisions. No audio artefacts or noises on controller changes. Has a resonant filter on the wet signal. Different sound to #1
3. PitchedDelay: (Disabled by default)
Actually really complex with a bit to much controls, but it’s a multiple tap delay with adjustable pitch, which is very funny.
Closing note:
I haven’t really searched or found a “really simple but good” all purpose delay. If you got one, please tell me.
This is a suprise! It has loads of strange controls in groups like “Gravel” and “Horror”. I dismissed this when looking for a simple general purpose delay because the quantity of parameters and interestingly named groups confused / scared me!
I don’t have suggestions at this point, besides the one that is obvious and which everyone pretty much knows already: for FM, Dexed is pretty much golden and the only thing you need.
But I am really dying to know if we’ve got a similar “gold standard” as far as rich, Moog-like monosynths. I have heard lots of good sounds so I know we’re capable, but there is probably an optimal stack of synth engine & high quality filters/processors that gets one closest.
As far as orchestral or imitative sounds, I believe that the soundfonts have probably got that all covered with a minimum of mental effort, for anyone who understands the basic concepts here.
In fact when I did the ttl for this plugin I named the groups according to the actual effect it did (phaser, filter and so on). But jofe dismissed these because he thought we should gratify the developers intention. These things are basically 4 fx in the feedback loop which is outstanding.
Normally we try to stick to the names and grouping used in the native GUI. Developer’s intention is important, but using the same names and groups for the controls in the Zynthian UI and the native GUI is important too.
Anyway, we can do an exception to the rule if more users ask for it.
MDA delay Is a good simple delay that does the job for me.
I’m still trying compressors and other stuff like EQ. The LSP package seems to be great in this regard, I like them better than the Calf plugins, though the later is quicker - less controls.
