Synth: AFG vs SH-2 vs Massive.
October 3rd, 2008 by Hexfix93
Sh2 pulse, saw, and sine with sub osc. Afg pulse, saw, and sine with sub osc. I used the rs 60 env, i plugged the afg into the polivoks, set the polivoks and the sh2 with the same env settings to the filter etc. Runs through the doepfer vca a131. on both the sh2, and afg, i left the filter wide open. I think they both sound good, but i prefer the sh2, it has this fatter sound i think. more smooth. What do you think? I recorded these through my mackie onyx mixer, and into my rme fireface 800 into logic 8.
http://www.velvetacidchrist.com/synth/sh2vsafgvsmassive.zip
it’s 22 mb, uncompressed 24bit wavs. Listen for your self. You make the call. I don’t think the AFG sounds vintage. and oh yeah, dig the doom music!!!! The AFG does sound good though! For shits and giggles, I used a VA soft synth too. Here are the massive samples. Massive is a native instruments VA that supposedly has no aliasing on the wavs and is the best out on the market. I am not impressed. You be the judge.
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38 Comments »
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
After listening to the samples a couple of times, i could see the differences… I like the SH-2′s better.
I didn’t like using massive for my stuff, it sounded like static no matter what i tried
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I hope you can see why i prefer analog, and even that, vintage analog. I notice the difference the most in the saws, the sh2 saws are just so rubbery and nice sounding. It really kicks butt.
I did this test with the sub osc on, because the afg has a sub osc as well. A kick ass feature i wish the other modular oscillators had.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Oh and keep in mind, everyone raves about massive, saying its even better than the virus. That is why i used it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Yeah, i can see why. I’m getting an sh-2 soon, i was really impressed by your demos, and my old sh-09.
By the way, is massive going to be used on your next LP?
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
No, i don’t like VAs, they cannot sit in the mix with my analogs and hold their own. Vas tend to do well with other VAs.
Sh09 and sh2 are similar in the osc sound. But the filters are totally different. I miss my old sh09. That liquidly resonance :)
October 4th, 2008 at 12:25 am
hey loved that review.it was great the way u through in massive.i loved that.u should try doing that with more of your reviews.instead of just reviewing some new synth throwing in different va’s or soft synths.kudos for picking a good soft synth.id love to see like the virus vs some other va u like.which would just be the jp 8080 right.or r there any other va’s u like?
October 4th, 2008 at 2:04 am
Hopefully i’ll be able to get the SH-09 again, or possibly an arp odyssey, but i know the SH-2 will fill the void :)
October 4th, 2008 at 4:13 am
fuck the massive I didn’t like it I think the afg is better than massive but I think the sh-2 sounds best
October 4th, 2008 at 5:04 am
The AFG does well against the Sh2 but I’d have to agree, the SH2 does sound warmer and more vintage. I listened closely through both my A7′s and my DT770 closed ref monitors. The SH2 sounds slightly rounder/fatter against the slightly more cutting sound of the AFG. The pulse and saw coming from massive sound like a joke, and does only slightly better at the sine wave, but still worlds away from the analogues. The discreet components in the Roland really stand out for me. I don’t know why Roland do not build more on this older technology, even if it’s a line of high-end, exclusive synths. Vintage gear has got more and more expensive in the last two years.
October 4th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
“fuck the massive”…ahh the intellectual speaks. hahaha
quite frankly Im not all that impressed with the sh-2.for a synth produced in the 70′s it’s ok.but get with the times man.
anyone here who has opinions of there own?or u all just agree with whatever Hexfix says?hey how is the new lp coming? or r u still to sad to release it?
seriously Im not trying to be a jerk.Im just going off of what u yourself have said.I think your totally a hypocrite if you dont release it.
just because you wont make any coin off it?!I understand not doing the tour because of the economy.but not the lp.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
What? I’m releasing my new lp when it’s done.
To each their own. If you like the others better. Cool. I like the AFG too. Massive however. not my thing when it comes to analog waveforms.
But let me tell you this, some of the additive osc, and wav table stuff it does is cool. To bad the filters kind of suck.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
VA Filters aren’t impressive to me. Honestly, the only impressive software synth I’ve ran into is Reaktor.
Also….um….ekim, is it. Before you critisize someone’s grammar, look at your own. Also, seriously. No need to do the whole “Are you too sad to release the LP”. It’s never as simple as that. For one, writing music isn’t as easy as one would think. Emotions interfere. I, for one, can’t write music WITHOUT being somewhat negative or under the influence most of the time.
Seriously, as much as people don’t want to notice it, Artisans, Models, and us Musicians, are just people spreading a message, not some kind of deific being. The new LP will come out when it meets Bryan’s standards. Stop being spiteful.
~messiah
October 4th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
really thats great about the new lp.and whatever happened to twilight garden?
i was kinda just being a jerk because it seems like when im nice some of my questions go unanswered.lol
October 5th, 2008 at 4:36 am
I’d rather an artist take whatever time necessary to release an LP, as opposed to rushing it and releasing something substandard. It’s good that there are still some musicians out there like Hex, that care intensely about sound quality and production. Anyone with fine hearing can tell the difference, and I think that matters!
October 5th, 2008 at 7:04 am
yeah thats great magentica.accept that its been almost 3 years since lust 4 blood.I think Hexfix has taken enough time for this next one.he’d probably have it done it already if he quit playing so many bloody video games.but whatever gets u through the day.also nice use of the “!”maybe u should relax though its just a blog.no need to get your panties in a bunch.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Ekim, music is about emotion and feeling and inspiration. If you want typical crap music with no emotion, well, sorry, i wont put stuff like that out. if i dont feel it, i dont do it. i have been working, but a lot of things pan out or dont.
lfb and the single plus the toxic coma lp i did, was like 3 fucking lps in one year. it burnt me out a little. so. don’t get on my fucking case.
October 5th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Oh yeah, and writing this blog too, so you can come and complain and be rude.. yeah, if i cut anything out of my life, it wont be games. it will be this site.
October 5th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Ekim, shut up! I’ll exclaim wherever I wanna express myself. Artists can take a decade between albums if that’s what it takes for a decent piece of work. The real fans aren’t phased. There’s a whole back catalogue of work to listen to if you’re suffering. If all you’ve got to bring to a discussion is pointless insults, negativity and attitude, then take it elsewhere.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:31 am
i just wondered whether you phase-synced the massive oscillators and put it in monophonic mode. if you didn’t do that, you’re comparing apples and oranges really.
as far as i know, the subosc on the sh2 isn’t a separate oscillator, but it’s achieved by a frequency divider circuit. that’s why the sub has the same phase as the oscillator. and the phase relationship has huge influence on the sound.
apart from that, massive has 2 saw oscillators. which one did you use?
October 5th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
It took a long time for the releases of lust for blood and hex angel. Last i remember, there were three year gaps too. (Hexangel 2003, Lust for Blood (2006). I like them alot more than Fun with knives and ttg. Was it worth the wait? of course! he actually puts effort and thought into what he does..
October 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
ekim, you missed my point entirely. You CAN NOT get on someone’s case because they are not releasing an album when YOU want. Nobody writes music for -you-. This is not that mainstream corporate bullshit. I write music for myself and people who understand it. Mainly for myself. I’m sure Bryan’s not any different in that regard. His music’s not supposed to be appealing, it’s for V.A.C. fans. You might find some real fucking morons in there, what with the prominence of Terrorbanana EBM and whatnot attracting people to it,(though V.A.C. is certainly not one of those projects) but at the end of the day someone’s music is only for them, and their fans.
My point? The fans will wait for the album, and the selfish parasites who think they know music will sit there and fucking bitch. Get over yourself.
~messiah
October 5th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
don’t tell me to shut up. what r u a kid?did I hurt your widdle feewings.what am I supposed to agree with everything you say or im wrong.first of all you are the one who insulted me by telling me to shut up.secondly what would you know about anything? you sound like you are still in high school.I just stated a fact.apparently the truth hurts cuz it got a rise out of you two.I honestly didnt mean to.I thought u had thicker skin.sorry about that.
hey do what you want Hex I’ll always love your music.if you never made another song I think you would have made more than enough beautiful melodies to be remembered.as for u magentica why dont you grow up ok.I used to guard air force one.what have u ever done in your life?I bet you have never even moved out of your parents basement.heres the part where u say big deal.I know it was a big deal.peace out
October 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
also thats why I get a little rude sometimes.I just asked about twilight garden and you totally ignored that.just like youve ignored a bunch of my other questions.whatever though have fun on your site.magentica all u ever do is agree with Hexfix.dont u have opinions of your own?you self righteous know it all.
October 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I tried both type, i used the pwm kind for both. not the sync, but i did try the syncd and it did not make much diff. i could not get massive to sound better.
its the lack of tone i dont like about massive, its so steril. oh i do like the sine wav better on massive for sure..
October 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Twilight Garden? who knows dude. Todd kind of fell off the face of the earth. I have no idea what is going on with it. Sorry. I usually don’t talk about something, if i don’t know what’s going on with it.
October 5th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Ekim, you dont have to agree with everything hex says, you just have to stop being such an ass face.
October 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
You are hopeless. Whatever. Waste your life while I continue to improve mine.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Oh and for the record, I don’t expect my opinions to be the best or the ones that everyone should follow.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Ekim, again…shut up! I’m 32 years of age, and I live in London UK….a bit fair away from my parents basement! So, again your opinion on me is about as distorted as your opinions on this blog. I use an Sh2, I’m familiar with it’s tone, so I think I have something worthwhile to bring to this discussion. No one here agrees with you so maybe you should take the collective opinion as a major hint, and walk. The new VAC LP will be ready when it’s ready and the fans are good with that. VAC is worth the wait.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
for the record i didn’t read your long boring post magentica.as it was starting to put me to sleep.so y dont u go away and do whatever british people do.which apparently isn’t brushing your teeth on a regular basis.
nphoria who gave u permission to speak?crawl back into your hole and butt out douche.
kryonik the only way u could improve your life is with a personality transplant.since thats not possible just accept your pitiful existence.
Hexfix thanks for answering my question about twilight i didn’t know.i don’t mean to be arguing with people on here but for the record they kinda started it.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:55 am
oh and by the way where were all u die hard VAC fans when Hexfix was putting his gear up for auction? gfy
October 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Ekim, I would respond, but ‘you american’s’ don’t understand sarcasm or irony. So, i’ll just be off now to brush my teeth. I’d listen to the snot in my hankie before I’d listen anymore to you. kiss kiss
October 9th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
…..That’s rich. Where was I? I was buying his Korg MicroX. Shows how much you know, eh? :)
You don’t have any room to criticize me or anyone else on personality, buddy. Like I said, continue to waste your life while I improve mine. I’m trying to get morons like you out of the scene. If anything, i’m just disappointed that someone as laughably ignorant as you can even claim to be a fan of V.A.C.
I spend every day of my life getting better at creating the music I love. So what if some random loser on the internet dislikes my personality? This is industrial, my friend, meaning? I am doing my job. Hopefully I can be abrasive enough that it reflects in my music and gets rid of all the poseurs like you. Because, let’s face it, you have no business listening to this genre, and I doubt anyone would give a shit less to lose you as a fan. “Oh no! I’m a rebel! I disagree with everything anyone says, can’t spell, and guarded a president that should be assassinated anyhow to show these fucking morons what a crisis REALLY is! I’m hardcore! :)”
Overall, people like you can’t compare, and will all be put down some day as it stands. Good luck improving yourself, as the best part of you, as in your common sense, seems to have ran down your father’s leg.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
wow a micro x oooh that mush have set u back.have to crack open the piggy bank on that one huh.
i didnt read your post kryonik.just the first couple of sentences.your boring and uninteresting.
December 28th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
once again the analog sh2 wins. man the massive synth really chokes with the saw waves eh?
June 21st, 2009 at 4:02 am
Interesting!
I prefer the SH-2.
The Massive is ridiculous in the high freq (last part of your sample).
The software is cold and lifeless, without depth and dynamics, but it is less expensive, more accecible.
I think the good Arturia Jupiter 8 V (for software).
It would be nice comparison between the model Hardware and Software.
(or juste have your opinion)
April 9th, 2011 at 10:19 am
hi, I know this is an old post but I hope you read it. Massive sounds bad, starting from oscillators. I think you might try u-he ACE, you can find it here, there is a demo:
http://www.acesynth.com/
Presets are not so good, but if you spend some hours trying it I think you’ll like it.
April 9th, 2011 at 10:19 am
hi, I know this is an old post but I hope you read it. Massive sounds bad, starting from oscillators. I think you might try u-he ACE, you can find it here, there is a demo:
http://www.acesynth.com/
Presets are not so good, but if you spend some hours trying it I think you’ll like it.
(ps: excuse me for my bad english :) )