Hardware synths that have a plugin equivalent; the aim is to be able to work on sound design on the computer, then transfer these to a hardware synth for playing/hands on control.
I’ve got an Arturia Minifreak that does it; What else is out there that can operate like this?
bit of a grey area, but:
Access Virus/OSTirus (tbh I haven’t had much luck transferring patches between the two, although apparently it’s possible. )
Roland Zen
I think some Waldorf.
DX7
Almost all synths from the Arturia Collection are emulations of HW synths (some vintage).
Is anyone doing this via Roland Zencore? Or Korg synths?
Yep, I don’t mean this though… I mean where you can directly transfer your presets into the hardware.
So, the equivalent of this would be the Arturia Astrolab; that would do it (I think) but that’s way bigger than I’d want to use personally.
The Korg Opsix can do this I believe
This is what I was going to say. Bloody incredible having the full Virus experience in software. I haven’t tried sharing patches yet.
This works with the Ti2 as well then? You can create patches/presets in OSTirus and transfer them to the Virus hardware?
Modal Cobalt8 and Argon8 come with software, though not sure if they have VSTs too if that’s important. Tried to check out their website but it seems hijacked. Not getting great vibes there…
I even got someone to explain it to me and still couldn’t really get it to work (going from OSTirus to Virus anyway, the other way is simple)
supposedly (pretty sure it’s user error that I couldn’t get it to work, plus they are still improving it I think so may get simpler…)
btw, there are quirks with Zenology – no guarantee that a preset on actual device will sound the same as in software synth, sometimes the sound differ noticeably.
but in general – yes.
Roland System 8
if you have roland cloud installed you could also include all the boutique’s in the list too.
and system 1 , plugouts …tr-08 etc , and i think some of the recent roland synths that run off zencore.
effectively the plugins make the sound and the hardware turn into controllers.
much of this already covered in other responses…
Volca FM, kind of.
Can make patches and banks on Dexed and they transfer straight over.
They sound more correct with the Pajen firmware, iirc.
Had a argon 8. It’s a VST besides being a standalone app, but does not produce sound on it’s own. You need the hardware connected for it to work (you send midi and then get the sound via usb audio). Nice way to tweak the presets, and of course enables DAW automation.
As for the hijacked site. Another reason I’m glad I let mine go a few weeks ago.
Alpha Juno + TAL-Pha
If the synth has a VST plugin is not a synth, it’s a VST inside a midi controller.
@CCMP ! I had the same question a while ago !
And people like to be all smug about it, but it is a very valid question - especially these days with al the DSP and even analog emulations (see Arturia Minifreak’s filter).
On Gear Space:
Funny, I work the other way (Sound design on the hardware > Music making ITB).
To answer your question:
To me, it seems Arturia Minifreak is the winner in this category.
Maybe the Korg OP6 / Wavestate / Modwave too.
A list should be made 