Miniverse Modular vs Laboratory SM Voice

[macready]

How do they compare with each other soundwise? Sadly I can't compare them myself because I already trialed them. Mark Barton worked on the modular Miniverse as well so is there even a difference between the two?

[utdgrant]

The Semi-Modular Voice is a big module built up from individual module elements within the MRB Laboratory Collection. It's only available as a monophonic module (whereas MRB's Tiny Voice also has a poly variant).

As MRB himself says: "The Laboratory line gets its name from the design philosophy of ultra-cleanliness. No attempt has been made to imitate a hardware design."

The Laboratory VCF in particular is quite different in nature from the simulation of the patent Moog Transistor Ladder Filter in Miniverse.

In addition, the Miniverse oscillators have the quirky 'sharktooth' waveform available. The Miniverse Envelopes / Contours also recreate the 'cumulative peak' behaviour, so beloved of Sound on Sound Magazine's Gordon Reid. However, the Miniverse envelopes do lack a velocity input (unless you patch it together yourself, perhaps with the Poly Simple Amplifier).

MM-Cumulative.JPG (25.85 KiB) Viewed 1031 times

From a personal point of view, I decided not to buy the Miniverse standalone instrument, as I already owned Arturia's Mini V2 and V3 at the time of its release. However, when the Miniverse Module Bundle was released, I thought it was a great addition to my VM library, especially with the bonus polyphonic variants. So it was pretty much a no-brainer for me.

[Jean d'Oran]

And, last not least, Miniverse voltage modular collection is on sale (october surprise) until november the 4th!

[macready]

The Semi-Modular Voice is a big module built up from individual module elements within the MRB Laboratory Collection. It's only available as a monophonic module (whereas MRB's Tiny Voice also has a poly variant).

As MRB himself says: "The Laboratory line gets its name from the design philosophy of ultra-cleanliness. No attempt has been made to imitate a hardware design."

The Laboratory VCF in particular is quite different in nature from the simulation of the patent Moog Transistor Ladder Filter in Miniverse.

In addition, the Miniverse oscillators have the quirky 'sharktooth' waveform available. The Miniverse Envelopes / Contours also recreate the 'cumulative peak' behaviour, so beloved of Sound on Sound Magazine's Gordon Reid. However, the Miniverse envelopes do lack a velocity input (unless you patch it together yourself, perhaps with the Poly Simple Amplifier).

MM-Cumulative.JPG

From a personal point of view, I decided not to buy the Miniverse standalone instrument, as I already owned Arturia's Mini V2 and V3 at the time of its release. However, when the Miniverse Module Bundle was released, I thought it was a great addition to my VM library, especially with the bonus polyphonic variants. So it was pretty much a no-brainer for me.

Hey utdgrant, thank you for the very detailed answer. I didn't know about the design philosophy of the Laboratory synth line and I also didn't notice that it's missing one if the sharktooth waveforms. Very important information. You helped me a lot!

[macready]

And, last not least, Miniverse voltage modular collection is on sale (october surprise) until november the 4th!

Yes, very tempting

[utdgrant]

Hey utdgrant, thank you for the very detailed answer. I didn't know about the design philosophy of the Laboratory synth line and I also didn't notice that it's missing one if the sharktooth waveforms.

Actually, I made a boo-boo on the 'sharktooth' wave. It does exist in both the Laboratory Voice and Semi-Modular modules, labelled "SAWTRI" (at the 12 o'clock position).

SawTriWave.jpg (21.51 KiB) Viewed 974 times

The waveforms aren't identical to look at, but they sound very similar.

SawTriAndSharktooth.jpg (153.41 KiB) Viewed 974 times

[MRBarton]

The SemiModular Voice is a design early in my journey with Cherry. The oscillators and filter are unlike anything I have done since. One day I should be obliged to revisit the code in those early Laboratory modules. If nothing else, I can make them more CPU efficient. I promise I won't change the way they sound. I think my best work in the VM world is Tiny Voice and the Luxury Filter Bundle.

--mb

[Waverley Instruments]

The SemiModular Voice is a design early in my journey with Cherry.

Hi Mark, sorry to hijack the thread, but would love to know if you used the regular / "consumer" version of VMD when you developed these modules for VM?

Big fan of your work! -Rob @ WI

[MRBarton]

Is there another?

[Waverley Instruments]

Is there another?

Truly amazing what can be done with VMD, the SDK and Java. Kudos and thanks to CA.

I'm just finishing up on a module and I know other devs would have laughed if I'd said I was writing it in Java.

Fun fact. A very young me was working for IBM when Java was unveiled. Our team ended up using it to front-end and test some voice recognition stuff. This was my intro to DSP. Nearly 30 years later and I'm making reverb plugins in Java!

-Rob @ WI