Without getting too off topic… I’d be interested in hearing more of your thoughts on the JU-06a if you’ve posted them anywhere? I LOVE the sound of the Juno 60 and haven’t had chance to hear much of the 06a clone yet.
I like this quote too, but generally it works better when thinking of synths with a real character. What’s the one sound the A4 can make that no other synth can? I’m interested in people’s thoughts… but I suspect that instead of a real recognisable signature character, it’ll just be more repeated chatter about how it can do modulation or ‘fit better in a mix’ as that’s the pretty standard theme.
I personally don’t think anyone is going to be chasing or copying the ‘analog four sound’ in the future, because it doesn’t have much of a desirable sound. Rather, it has some desirable tricks in the programming. IMO, if Elektron were to make something with as much potential for complexity, but with hefty, characterful analog VCOs and VCF… oh, and without the horrendous workflow… Now that really could be a future classic!
The Dalek quote is interesting, although I’d still suggest is pretty rare. I’d also suggest they might be employing other synths / subs underneath to bolster the sound (which many many people do - hell, I stacked Sub Phatty and a Peak the other day, and you could swim in the sound it had so much depth - it’s just worth bearing in mind). I think the point was and is, that it really isn’t regarded as a go-to bass synth. You can always find one or two exceptions, but the point still bears some truth.
For sure, you can make a bass sound with a load of stuff, I don’t think anyone is suggesting the A4 doesn’t play the low notes! Just that it really isn’t suited to it, because of its inherent sound and character (or lack of it). It’s a weird thing, how so many people often agree the A4 isn’t good at something (bass stuff being a good example) whilst also getting really defensive about it, determined to proclaim “but it can!”.
As a further aside, I’m involved in a shit-ton of gigs (over 1300 per year when COVID isn’t keeping us all locked up) and work with hundreds and hundreds of other musicians… and I don’t ever see or hear anyone rolling with an A4 for bass. But it’s apparently really hard to accept that here!
I think there’s potentially quite a lot of ‘proving my purchase to be a good decision’ in these A4 threads (and in general on Elektronauts, as someone suggested recently before the thread was shut down, I’m not sure why). And that comes with frequent implications that anyone who dislikes the A4 can be written off as someone who “doesn’t put the time in” or is somehow a lesser mortal for preferring “instant gratification synths” (not you in this post @Burn_Cycle, but your use of the term reminded me!) whilst in reality, the conversation is often steered by people speaking as if they’re a great authority on the subject, when they might have little experience with synths, performing, or music production in general (again, I’m not suggesting anyone in particular, it’s just a general observation).
great patches