Does Platform Matter Anymore? (Multiplatform Synth Jam)

Does it matter what platform that you use to get your synth on anymore?

Analog, digital and virtual analog synths all have their strengths & weaknesses. And hardware, software and mobile synths each offer different ways of making music.

This live synth jam, Subvertic‘s Dark Hum, makes the case for making the most of each platform’s strengths, combining Korg EMX, Access Virus Snow, Sunrizer on the iPad and the Future Retro Revolution.

26 thoughts on “Does Platform Matter Anymore? (Multiplatform Synth Jam)”

  2. Seems like people are always judging synths by their platform or technology, rather than their capabilities and sound…..

  4. In fairness, platform does make a big difference in terms of accessability, affordability, ease of use, maintenance, etc.

    Something can sound good, but if it's expensive and impractical for what it offers, I don't think it can truly be considered 'great'. On the flipside, there is definitely a snobbery/dismissiveness that exists towards things that ARE inexpensive and practical, regardless of how it sounds – which just seems backwards.

  7. If that's the case, I think that tells us more about the artist and to a lesser degree about this particular collection of synths. Some synths sound radically different despite being based on the same technology (e.g. analog modular or DSP code running as a native plugin). In the end the sound is not the most important part as there are many great sounding instruments out there. The platform makes a big difference in useability however. For example, an analog modular system is more useable for some purposes than a plugin synth and vice versa.

  8. price, ease of use/user experience, sound quality, features, build quality, integration… doesn't matter what the platform is… these are the qualifiers that most people judge their instruments on.

    If an iPad app does these things well for someone… then that iPad app is officially a viable instrument (for that person).

    I like the Virus TI. Does what I need. Same with my old (and cheap) electribe er-1. To some people, they suck. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Who really cares tho, so long as people are making great music?

  9. platform matters if you think it matters. I'll say this about old hardware though, limitations are a boon to creativity.

  20. if that's what you think. platforms either enable you or not. so benefit more or not. specs and functions are always a factor. it's not what you think but how you think.

  22. if you want to be a master of retro blips and bloops. these types of "musicians" are a dime a dozen now a days on ipads. bleep, blop, stutter, bleep, bloop, glitch, bleep bloop, chop, bleep bloop, slice.

  24. When I minimize the browser window and just listen, I like it. That's enough for me. He could be playing this on a rusty chain and a bale of hay and I wouldn't care.

  25. This is all fine and dandy, but there *still* isn't a true MIDI-OUT SEQUENCER iOS APP where we can load our own midi files, with the ability to mute or solo channels. I ain't talkin' 'bout the apps that control some cheeseball built-in GM soundset, either. I want to use my iPad as a portable hardware sequencer without carting around my laptop! (yes I posted this elsewhere, but it's gotta be said)

  26. Hi mate, been doing some beta testing on a iPad app called genome, it will sequence multiple midi channels and allow saving and loading of midi files, it also supports clock sync Should be out fairly soon (maybe August)

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