Virtual instrument

A Virtual Instrument, differently called: softsynth or Virtual Instrument is a Computer program for the musical creation computer-assisted. It functions like a Synthétiseur, but is entirely carried out in the form of computer program. A Virtual Instrument answers all the messages MIDDAY with the image of a true synthetizer. and software Reason of the editor Propellerhead contributed to the popularization of the concept of the Virtual Instruments.

The computing power of the processors of last generation (since 2000) to thus contributing license the creation of digital models perfomants has a numerical synthesis of quality of the acoustic or numerical sounds, thus allowing the imitation of the real instruments.

In the studios of recordings, for example, the sounds of a heavy and cumbersome synthetizer of beginning of the year 80, can be thus integrated in a program of virtual synthesis, thus releasing from physical space in the studio.

The software of virtual synthesis coupled to powerful sequencers installed on laptops of last generation brought a certain form of nomadism for much of musicians.

Types of Virtual Instruments

The Virtual Instruments can function in autonomous mode or as a Plugin ( Insérable in French), i.e. being able to function with other computer programs (Host Applications), for example of the sequencers: (Cubase - - Logic Pro -).

There are various Virtual Instruments in the form of “Insertable”:

  • Audio Units Only for MAC

  • VST Any Platforms
  • DXI (DirectX Instrument), Standard Microsoft Only under Windows
  • DSSI based one LADSPA Linux only
  • MESS based on sequencer MUSE, but unlimited on the level functionalities, Platform Linux
  • , Functions with Pro Tools, Mac and Windows
  • TDM
  • , Fonctionne with DIGITAL Performer, Mac and Windows
  • for Audacity or in mode “Programs Autonomous”, Any Platforms
  • audio Windows components Only under Windows

The Virtual instruments most popular

  • Produced developed by the German company

  • Albino
  • Automat
  • Blue
  • Click MusicalKEYS free Virtual Synthetizer
  • Hook
  • FM7 (Yamaha DX7 emulator of the famous Synthetizer of the firm Yamaha)
  • GURU
  • Hydra
  • impOSCar (OSC Oscar emulator)
  • Jamstix (Virtual Battery)
  • Jellyfilter VSTi
  • Logic Pro
  • Lounge Lizard - Piano Electric (based on Synthesis by physical modeling)
  • lmms
  • Max/MSP (modular synthetizer)
  • µTonic
  • M-Tron (Mellotron emulator)
  • Moog Modular V (Moog modular emulator)
  • MUSE
  • M42 Nebula-M51 Galaxy
  • Nyquist (composition and sound synthesis by interpreter in LISP)
  • Octopus
  • Oddity (ARP Instruments Odyssey emulator)
  • OpenCubicPlayer - Open Cubic Player * Orion Platinum (Software of MAO with virtual effects and instruments)
  • * Pure Went back (modular, free synthetizer - Open source)
  • Ravity
  • Reaktor Multi-application to synthesis sound
  • Reason Complete Virtual Studio
  • ReBirth (Roland TR-808/TR-909/TB-303 emulator)
  • Roland/Microsoft GS Wavetable Softsynth Included in Windows XP
  • RolloSONIC (freeform-modular, foam-controlled synthesis)
  • SawStudio
  • Scanned Synth VST
  • String Theory
  • SuperCollider (programming language for building own synths)
  • SynFactory
  • Synful
  • Synth1 (free - modelled after Clavia Nordlead 2 synthesizer)
  • SynthEdit (shareware - modular synthesiser and much more for Windows)
  • Syntheway Magnus Choir
  • Sytrus
  • Tassman - Sound Synthesis Studio (based one Physical modelling)
  • TiMidity++
  • Toxic 2 - FM Synth
  • Vanguard
  • WHITE CROW
  • Yamaha S-YG/S-YXG Disappeared 2~3 years before from Yamaha site.
  • Zero Vector
  • z3ta+
  • Streaked 2
  • Zoyd
  • ZynAddSubFX

See also

External bonds

  • Infos on the Virtual Synthetizers (English)
  • Introduction to the Virtual Instruments on the Sweetwater.com site (English)
  • Application for software physical modelling - project " Sound Synthesis" , Novosibirsk state university Study on Sound Modeling (English)

Category: Musical data processing

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