is it me or does each hardware synth have its own kind of character?

i have some synths in my studio and i like them all.. however i start to dislike the harsh sound of roland fantom

the roland fantom has some kind of unpleasant sound on all patches that is harder to put into the mix of a song.. i know i can correct this with eq.. but it sounds a bit unnatural

do you also feel the same about hardware? that some synths sound worse?

 

Of course they all have unique character. Especially with analog. Different components can drastically change a filter, envelope etc.

 

Fantom harshness? Pro-DS. Done

 

You could blindfold me, play any synth I have and I could tell you which one it is. Digital or analog or some hybrid therein, doesn't matter. The point of having them was because they did something unique from another... and the blinky lights, mostly the blinky lights.

It doesn't really matter if it's analog or digital... a poorly designed synth can and will sound like shit regardless. The tendency generally swings towards harshness with digitals and muddy on analogs, though not always. You can get a curtis filter to make your ears bleed just as easily as taking canyon size steps with a crappy digital lpf. Of course you can also probably make that same curtis filter make sweet nostalgic love. Although the venn diagram of people who think curtis filters in sequentials are brassy/harsh but think the 80's/90's oberhiems are lush and warm has considerable overlap... so... maybe it's just all down to who marketed better.

Of course, 'ear bleeding harshness' can be a feature too .. ala Akai ax60 or MFB Dominion 1 when set to 'angry mode'.

 

im talking about almost wanting to sell the synth because it sounds a bit harsh

 

since i first heard the d-50 in the store through all the various roland keyboards i have tried, i have felt they are generally flat and in need of a lot of fx. they are always smooth and needing help, not aggressive or harsh or anything of the sort. Non-offensive.
Great for rnb, gospel. Church music. Maybe you just got a defective one, since no-one ever has made this claim before...

 

First, you should make sure the device is working properly. Perhaps you've accidentally adjusted a knob or used the wrong effect. Try listening to several other presets. Sometimes some presets are poorly designed or faulty. It could also be that your hearing is deteriorating, and what used to sound great suddenly sounds bad due to age.

A hearing test with an ear doctor will provide clarity. You could also try changing your sample rate or replacing the cables. How old is the device? It's generally a good idea to have it overhauled by a specialist workshop.

 

That is the perfect descriptor for the LA synthesis boards.