Bowed string sounds with syntheses

What I want to do is make a bowed strings sort of sound.

I had a Sidrax that I loved as it was pressure sensitive. You pushed down and it built up the sound, and then you let go and it made it sound like you had a bow and pulled back on the notes. Like a Reverse of the amp envelope. I hated the tuning of it though and it had a bit of a mind of its own playing notes when you were nowhere near it. Also didn’t care for the stereo spread - push down - it plays to the left, let go - it plays to the right.

I only really have a Moog Matriarch that could possible get there. Looping the envelop doesn’t work how I want it to - though I’ve only tried the filter envelop so far. I think I want to loop the envelope but make it run in reverse on second time round.

Probably not explaining this very well, but it’s late, been a long day and I’ve had a few gins. And some beer. Maybe a wine also.

Sorry for the random drunkard ramblings…

This section of SOS’s massive synth explainer series will certainly keep you busy!

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/synthesizing-strings-string-machines

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/synthesizing-strings-pwm-string-sounds

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/synthesizing-bowed-strings-violin-family

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/practical-bowed-string-synthesis

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/practical-bowed-string-synthesis-continued

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/articulation-bowed-string-synthesis

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If you have an iPhone or iPad, Thumbjam is just amazing for this. I have used it for bowed strings, trumpets, and harmonica.

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The Korg Z1 is incredible for synth string sounds.

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I found the Typhon FX excellent to approach an orchestral sound.

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Thanks everyone! Lots of reading to do - Cheers @craig

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I went through a real phase with this shit a few weeks ago.
The secret sauce is having two or more reverbs going on and harmonics a plenty for them to smear up.

I think my best results came from two oscillators, one saw, one triangle, little bit of FM and ring mod for pitch vibrato and some extra harmonics respectively. Two filters, play with resonance to get the right harmonics out of them and them blammo, bowed strings.

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Karplus or modal synthesis does it pretty well

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