EMS VCS 3 (modelled)

Discussion in 'Working with Sound' started by Haliax, Jul 4, 2020.

  1. Haliax

    Haliax Guest

    I'm trying to find a VST that faithfully models the VCS 3, but every review seems to find a lot of fault in anything out there. Has anyone found anything that comes close to the original?

    I'm experimenting with some parts of DSOTM, and I know Richard Wright used a VCS on that album.
     
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  3. fiction

    fiction Audiosexual

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    Funnily, the best one I know is available on the iOS platform (iPad): iVCS3. Quite fun to play with and just as awkward as the original.
     
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  4. The Pirate

    The Pirate Audiosexual

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    Good luck in your quest. We are talking about a rare piece of hardware costing $20,000 and up. Every time that a VST that emulates an expensive and rare hardware counterpart, I have to wonder how many of the reviewers actually have used, and become familiar with the hardware. My advice will be for you to use the VSTs that are available, and choose the one you like its sound most and fits your workflow best. In the alternative, wait for Behringer to clone it, and mass produce it to be sold for $200.
     
  5. rudolph

    rudolph Audiosexual

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  6. Haliax

    Haliax Guest

    I have a week off work soon, maybe I should devote some of it to trying a bunch of them. Hopefully someone here will have already tried it.

    Behringer would be cool
     
  7. Haliax

    Haliax Guest

    Sadly I moved back to droid again
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 4, 2020
  8. Kluster

    Kluster Audiosexual

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    I owned a Synthi AKS over 40 years ago, same thing except in a briefcase and a flat plastic keyboard/sequencer.
    Every AKS or VCS3 sounded different from each other, just like the original Minimoogs.
    Temperature and humidity also changed things (especially tuning :().
    Today's analog synths don't react with the same hostility to environmental variances.
    I remember recording a 2:30 piece of music with 2 tracks of Arp 2600 in 1981.
    At the beginning the synths were in tune.
    By the end they were gloriously detuned: rich and sooooo fat :)
     
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  9. Haliax

    Haliax Guest

    Do you wish you still had that piece of musical history?
     
  10. The-RoBoT

    The-RoBoT Rock Star

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    Mine is still in a roadcase, and still a tempomental little thing :winker:
    They are tricky to emulate.
     
  11. mrpsanter

    mrpsanter Audiosexual

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    @Haliax
    As already mentioned, your best bet is currently the Xils or you can wait for Arturia to create their own rendition one of these days (if at all).
    The Xils is currently the only game in town unless I missed some freeware (kvr?).
     
  12. Trurl

    Trurl Audiosexual

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    The melodic stuff on DSotM was just about all MiniMoog, at least afaik (it certainly sounds like it). The VCS was all the On The Run type sequencer and sound fx. I don't think you really need a faithfull adaptation; a little programming with, say, an ARP 2600 or something more modular in design should get those effects.
     
  13. jennyblack

    jennyblack Audiosexual

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    This one is free, inspired by/based on the vcs3 structure:

    https://www.kvraudio.com/product/kx-synth-x16-by-kx77free

    "KX-Synth-X16 is a virtual analog modular synth plug-in based on the EMS VCS3 structure, but with some additional features.

    Common features with the VCS3:

    • Three variable shape oscillators, tweaked to simulate the color and bandwidth of VCS3's oscillators.
    • 16*16 pin matrix with feedback connections.
    • LP filter, 18 db per octave with self oscillation.
    • Noise generator with EQ.
    • Ring modulation.
    • Two external inputs.
    • XY joystick."
     
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  14. Haliax

    Haliax Guest

    On the nail, DS does have a lot of minimoog on there too. I have that covered by Arturia. I'll play around with a 2600.

    I'm sure I can hear a VCS in time and brain damage aswell as on the run
     
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