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why would anyone buy this....

Tom Oberheim SEM pro

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SEMpro/

"Compact Desktop Analog Synthesizer Module with Two Oscillators, One LFO, One Filter, Two Envelopes, MIDI-CV Module, and Two External Audio Inputs..."

for $300 more than the Radias?

Seems like the Radias has so much more....

ok one more external audio input?

what am I missing here?

The $300 extra is for analog circuits, whereas the radias is a virtual analog synth.

The Radias is still a far better buy even if they were the same price. the whole analog vs virtual analog argument is ridiculous. i've compared the radias to kids with mophos, tetras, vintage roland SH models and a voyager. We usually patch into my PA and the radias always sounds cleaner and louder.

CharlesFerraro wrote:The $300 extra is for analog circuits, whereas the radias is a virtual analog synth.

The Radias is still a far better buy even if they were the same price. the whole analog vs virtual analog argument is ridiculous. i've compared the radias to kids with mophos, tetras, vintage roland SH models and a voyager. We usually patch into my PA and the radias always sounds cleaner and louder.

I guarantee my Analog synth would pulverize any Radias in any PA...., true, the radias would be cleaner and loud, but my Analog, aside from the analog hiss, will make your PA grunt its balls off...

haha "grunt its balls off"
What synth do you use Slammah?

Keep in mind the master gain is analog on the radias and the D/A converter is pretty crisp. I can also boost the gain in the amp section and even use a 'clean' kind of gain called 'level boost' which dramatically raises the signal level. I just experimented and threw on a limiter for good measure while squeezing what I could from the eq gain. The signal is smoking hot without distortion but anything beyond a two note chord will raise the volume and cause audible distortion. Still better than monophonic and loud as F***

CharlesFerraro wrote:haha "grunt its balls off"
What synth do you use Slammah?

Keep in mind the master gain is analog on the radias and the D/A converter is pretty crisp. I can also boost the gain in the amp section and even use a 'clean' kind of gain called 'level boost' which dramatically raises the signal level. I just experimented and threw on a limiter for good measure while squeezing what I could from the eq gain. The signal is smoking hot without distortion but anything beyond a two note chord will raise the volume and cause audible distortion. Still better than monophonic and loud as F***

the Yamaha CS80 is a polysynth, and has several analog amps, there is the filter section and sine wave amps, env gen amp and the velocity / aftertouch amps which are all additive... velocity or pressure with Eg at 10 goes further than the envelope "maximum"... the 48 volt circuitry really supports the audio output....

I like to think the real power behind these digital synths is in the variety of sound you can get out of it.
Particularly the Radias with its very clean and almost scientific nature. You can decide precisely how gritty or sparkly or cold or warm to get the sound.

I do get absolutely massive and dirty and growly and gritty sounds out of the Radias - when I want to.


I don't have anything against analog either, I've owned or used a couple of different things in this area... Can be very professional, inspirational, or just plain fun to use. I just wouldn't justify the price / feature value in most instances.

@slammah

don't know why i didn't just look at your gear list. See you have the RADIAS too. If you patch both into your mixer and perform the necessary gain adjustments on each synth, which one comes out louder? Same settings on their channel strips with the RADIAS' waveshape level boost around 50% with a limiter insert and the eq slightly boosted, and the CS80's osc mixer and amp enevelope aftertouch mod all the way up. It'll be strange because you can drive the CS80 a lot more I bet because you'll get nice analog distortion instead of harsh digital clipping. How do they compare in terms of volume and clarity? Can the CS80 reach RADIAS volume with clarity? Is the CS80 distortion tolerable at high levels?

ps. isn't the CS80 like 200lbs?

CharlesFerraro wrote:@slammah

don't know why i didn't just look at your gear list. See you have the RADIAS too. If you patch both into your mixer and perform the necessary gain adjustments on each synth, which one comes out louder? Same settings on their channel strips with the RADIAS' waveshape level boost around 50% with a limiter insert and the eq slightly boosted, and the CS80's osc mixer and amp enevelope aftertouch mod all the way up. It'll be strange because you can drive the CS80 a lot more I bet because you'll get nice analog distortion instead of harsh digital clipping. How do they compare in terms of volume and clarity? Can the CS80 reach RADIAS volume with clarity? Is the CS80 distortion tolerable at high levels?

ps. isn't the CS80 like 200lbs?

Yes the CS80 is close to 200 pounds...
The cs80 is from 1978, so, there are internal circuitry noises like amplifier floor level hiss, which if I processed with eq and limiter like the radias is alloted, would raise that noise floor, so for optimal, I run the master volume at 12 oclock to keep the oscillator/ floor noise ratio at the biggest difference..no eq. then I would use the velocity or poly pressure to increase above that 12 oclock, hiding the floor noise behind the oscillators... given that, my gain would not want to be limited as that defeats the amplifier boost, i would set the gain lower than what would be set for the processed radias, and still be able to keep full dynamics and expression, and low floor noise for quieter notes and selectively pass the radias levels with out clipping the mixer input with the aftertouch... the radias has no floor noise, so this doesnt apply, but it also lacks in dynamic headroom, so you do need to control it with the internal limiters so you dont internally clip... a CS80 will only internally distort if you really jam it into its internal chorus circuit......that is the one drawback of the cs80 chorus...

Just pulled the pin. Bought the Radias R. Not disappointed. Very deep synth.

seanL wrote:Just pulled the pin. Bought the Radias R. Not disappointed. Very deep synth.

Congratulations! I've had mine (keyboard version) for awhile now, and am just finding the time to really get into some serious programming. This synth is amazing... I really like the fact it offers so many ways to add motion to sounds.

Yup, I'm getting lost with this thing (which is a good thing). I love a challenge and after a hard days work, I come home, crack open a bottle of wine and have some fun.

@seanl lol bottle of wine will definitely inspire you, I prefer Jack n Coke Anyway enjoy the Radias you made a good choice, this synth will be a legend in due time.

49erkid