If you're going to do a synth comparison, you ought to use the same effects for the two synths. The Polymoog has a darkened echo, whereas the Alesis has a dry echo, and the Moog's chorus is much wider in the stereo field.
Having owned several Polymoogs AND the Alesis Fusion and Andromeda, the Andromeda is the closest sound to the original Polymoog Vox Humana you can get. Plus doing it with real analog synthesis - not samples - you get beating and grinding of the oscillators like the original.
This comparison is somewhat deceptive because the Polymoog sound is in stereo and the Fusion sound is in mono. The easiest way to correct this is to sum the Polymoog sound to mono.
Indeed a fine "Replica" you have in the fusion but as you can plainly hear the oscillator drift, phase shift, etc. there's nothing quite like the genuine article, guess that's why I never gave up the 2 Polymoog Synthesizers I have heavy & touchy as they are, I still luvs them.
The second one sounds harsher and more nasal and forced and the vibrato is less. The first has a more rounded tone. If this was singing, the first one would be opening up at the back of the throat more. The polymoog is the Maria Callas of synths, with a unique haunting voice but fragile, heavy and expensive! Viva la diva!
Throwing my 2 coins in here I hope you don't mind I posted a comparative video with the actual Polymoog sampled here, and my setting on the VSM string Machine (an Arp Omni setting was used for the Humana). I personally think the Alesis is exceptionally close. The VSM can really approximate it quite well to ablbeit with more phase. I'm thinking on an Alesis myself!
they both sound cool but I am 41 so prefer the moog sound, you can hear the peaks and troughs of the sawtooth osc on the fusion(or at least a digital representation of it anyway)
You can tell that the filter is a little more fizzy than the polymoog. It does not sound as warm, but still sounds good! A polymoog is great for studio use, but the Alesis would make a great stage unit.
I've just been building a Vox Humana fixed filter circuit copied out of the Polymoog Keyboard service manual. The reason the Polymoog isn't so bright on the Vox Humana preset is that there's a 1.94kHz 6dB/oct low pass filter on the output of the circuit.
Anyway, it's a superb imitation...If just this patch came out for a PC I would pay very good money for it...Was it downloaded for free from HollowSun?
Yeah, it was downloaded free from the hollow sun webiste.
As for Vox Humana for the PC, such a thing does actually exist, Zero-Gs VST Nostalgia. The Vox Humana patch is included, just turn off the filters to get that 'classic' Numan sound.
I know because I sampled the beast and created the patch for all fusioneers. The raw wave files sound exactly the same as they were recorded directly from the aux in 24 bit format.
as voxxxxxy (shaun) says it needs some EQ tuning especially in low registers. It's true that then alesis filter makes it a little more digital sounding. I'm thinking of creating a VH vsti but with more possibilities, extra filters, lfo's, effects,...
Thanks for your reply! There's also some American student who's pretty advanced with a VSTI on Shaun's website...As I've said, I'd pay good money for a decent VSTI...I'm tempted to save for a Fusion just on the strength of what you've done...GREAT WORK!!
To me, the Fusion sounds a little more "brittle" and very slightly more "fizzy" than the original, but heck I'm listening on $20 Logitech PC speakers AND my ears are pretty fucked after too many drunken "late-night -full-blast-cd's-with-the-cans-on", lol.........
That's very interesting. I've never heard the two side-by-side like that. I take it the first clip is my Polymoog recording? I wonder if a bit of added bottom end EQ would help with the Fusion samples. All said and done, it's great that people have access to THAT sound again. Even if it isn't quite the real deal, a giggable Vox Human is a good thing indeed.
Damn, for some reason, the recording is slightly distorted (especially the Alesis) when uploaded. The original recording is perfect but unwanted distortion has definitely crept into the streaming version. Still, I hope it gives you an idea of the sonic subtleties between the two synths.
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@dexfx69 Dude, the Alesis is playing original Vox Humana samples. Nothing to do with VA.
Ni5ei 1 week ago
Hi,just made a vst of the polymoog at my channel :)
SPFXsynthesisers 5 months ago
i actually prefer the fusion in this instance
emjay946 11 months ago
If you're going to do a synth comparison, you ought to use the same effects for the two synths. The Polymoog has a darkened echo, whereas the Alesis has a dry echo, and the Moog's chorus is much wider in the stereo field.
Envergure 1 year ago
Good programming - but the stinging VA sound hurts my ears compared to the gentle caress of the Polymoog.
dexfx69 1 year ago
Having owned several Polymoogs AND the Alesis Fusion and Andromeda, the Andromeda is the closest sound to the original Polymoog Vox Humana you can get. Plus doing it with real analog synthesis - not samples - you get beating and grinding of the oscillators like the original.
OFR 1 year ago
@OFR Hi OFR, i have an andromeda, would love to know how to program the vox humana sound. Any chance of your help?
Thanks
cprostudio 1 year ago
@cprostudio send me your email address and I can send you a Sysex file to load in.
OFR 1 year ago
if you add a little bit of those fat chorus effect on the alesis, it would even sound more like the polymoog, just a tip! (be subtle with it!)
zjenas 1 year ago
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if youd like to see the polymoog more check out this video just released by electric disorder called clive sinclair
audiowonder80s 1 year ago
The Alesis sounds slightly brighter but apart from that there is little difference, no person could tell the difference in the context of a song.
maccagrabme 1 year ago
This comparison is somewhat deceptive because the Polymoog sound is in stereo and the Fusion sound is in mono. The easiest way to correct this is to sum the Polymoog sound to mono.
poserp 2 years ago
Errr both are actually in 'stereo'.
VoxNumana 2 years ago 4
Indeed a fine "Replica" you have in the fusion but as you can plainly hear the oscillator drift, phase shift, etc. there's nothing quite like the genuine article, guess that's why I never gave up the 2 Polymoog Synthesizers I have heavy & touchy as they are, I still luvs them.
paulsquared1 2 years ago
The second one sounds harsher and more nasal and forced and the vibrato is less. The first has a more rounded tone. If this was singing, the first one would be opening up at the back of the throat more. The polymoog is the Maria Callas of synths, with a unique haunting voice but fragile, heavy and expensive! Viva la diva!
Laura041974 2 years ago
Throwing my 2 coins in here I hope you don't mind I posted a comparative video with the actual Polymoog sampled here, and my setting on the VSM string Machine (an Arp Omni setting was used for the Humana). I personally think the Alesis is exceptionally close. The VSM can really approximate it quite well to ablbeit with more phase. I'm thinking on an Alesis myself!
NickDrake101 2 years ago
they both sound cool but I am 41 so prefer the moog sound, you can hear the peaks and troughs of the sawtooth osc on the fusion(or at least a digital representation of it anyway)
gray3287 2 years ago
On Alesis Fusion:
- Tweak the main filter a bit
- take a second oscillator with a small offset
- drift the oscillators panorama to left and right
Have fun!
DerHammer68 2 years ago 3
You can tell that the filter is a little more fizzy than the polymoog. It does not sound as warm, but still sounds good! A polymoog is great for studio use, but the Alesis would make a great stage unit.
Thanks for posting.
synthpro 2 years ago
I've just been building a Vox Humana fixed filter circuit copied out of the Polymoog Keyboard service manual. The reason the Polymoog isn't so bright on the Vox Humana preset is that there's a 1.94kHz 6dB/oct low pass filter on the output of the circuit.
rga24yt 2 years ago
Anyway, it's a superb imitation...If just this patch came out for a PC I would pay very good money for it...Was it downloaded for free from HollowSun?
GNeuman 2 years ago
Yeah, it was downloaded free from the hollow sun webiste.
As for Vox Humana for the PC, such a thing does actually exist, Zero-Gs VST Nostalgia. The Vox Humana patch is included, just turn off the filters to get that 'classic' Numan sound.
VoxNumana 2 years ago
This is not an imitation but real samples.
I know because I sampled the beast and created the patch for all fusioneers. The raw wave files sound exactly the same as they were recorded directly from the aux in 24 bit format.
as voxxxxxy (shaun) says it needs some EQ tuning especially in low registers. It's true that then alesis filter makes it a little more digital sounding. I'm thinking of creating a VH vsti but with more possibilities, extra filters, lfo's, effects,...
jd800lover 2 years ago
Enthusiasts (such as myself), infatuated with that classic Polymoog Keyboard Vox Humana preset, will be forever in your debt!
VoxNumana 2 years ago
Thanks for your reply! There's also some American student who's pretty advanced with a VSTI on Shaun's website...As I've said, I'd pay good money for a decent VSTI...I'm tempted to save for a Fusion just on the strength of what you've done...GREAT WORK!!
GNeuman 2 years ago
Thanks for the side by side...!
To me, the Fusion sounds a little more "brittle" and very slightly more "fizzy" than the original, but heck I'm listening on $20 Logitech PC speakers AND my ears are pretty fucked after too many drunken "late-night -full-blast-cd's-with-the-cans-on", lol.........
GNeuman 2 years ago
Well, I can't have a Polymoog but the Fusion's sounds very good to me.
Enjoy your Polymoog...and your Fusion.
bilgueits 2 years ago
That's very interesting. I've never heard the two side-by-side like that. I take it the first clip is my Polymoog recording? I wonder if a bit of added bottom end EQ would help with the Fusion samples. All said and done, it's great that people have access to THAT sound again. Even if it isn't quite the real deal, a giggable Vox Human is a good thing indeed.
Shaun
voxxxxxy 2 years ago
Yup, it is indeed your rendition of the replicas intro, you lucky so and so who owns a fine specimen of a Polymoog.
VoxNumana 2 years ago
Damn, for some reason, the recording is slightly distorted (especially the Alesis) when uploaded. The original recording is perfect but unwanted distortion has definitely crept into the streaming version. Still, I hope it gives you an idea of the sonic subtleties between the two synths.
VoxNumana 2 years ago