Dave Smith Instruments SYNTHESIZERS

Sorry I don't have any sound samples, but:

On Mon, Oct 06, 2003 at 05:44:46AM -0000, needle201 wrote:
> Well, i like those sounds, but i wonder if the Evolver is also 
> capable of producing some usual stuff like Strings, Pads, basses 
> etc...

Yes, most definitely; the presets are not so good for showing this this, but
it can do some lovely growly squelchy lead type sounds, and surprisingly
great pad sounds for a monophonic synth (Evolving pads being a natural of
course!).

I've seen some people post that they don't like the E's basic tone, but I
think it's very nice: the analogue(ish) oscs are appropriately warm (though
not so rich sounding in isolation), the digital oscs are crystalline and
pure, the filter is also warm and smooth, and seems well matched with the
oscs.

I've done some experiments making the same sound on both the evolver and VA
synths, and while I can often get both to sound very very similar, the
evolver just always sounds a little better, there's an extra snap and sparkle
to the sound (one possible reason: the E seems to have great envelope/lfo
curves; it's a bit hard to define but there's a definite sense that
modulations sound better on the E).

> I consider buying the tiny little box, but i wanna be sure its not 
> completely "niche".

Not at all.  It's _not_ a minimoog, and might sound a bit generic compared to
some of the better monosynths out there doing what they do best, but it's
quite respectable as a basic monophonic analogue(ish) synth.  And when you
start to explore outside the basics, it just _oozes_ personality.

I'd say that if there's some monosynth out there who's tone you really like,
buy that, but if your not really sure, the Evolver is a good all-rounder
(and among its other virtues the Evolver is cheap and _small_; if you
eventually decide you love some other synth's tone, you probably can just
keep the Evolver and have both).

All IMHO, of course.

-Miles
-- 
I'd rather be consing.