Cherry Audio Dreamsynth DS-1. Free Patches, Review and Resources.
Rather than being a digital recreation of a vintage/realworld/hardware product, Cherry Audio's Dreamsynth DS-1 is an original digital plug-in instrument creation.
Here, we'll take a closer look at Dreamsynth DS-1, offer up some programming tips, and give you 64 free Dreamsynth patches that I developed while I was going through it.
Dreamsynth is a virtual digital/analog hybrid synth that combines digital/wavetable oscillators/waveform generators with with an analog sounding filter and an analog 'organ' style string 'synth' section.
It has three oscillators, each capable of generating and mixing two waveforms each. So you've got a pretty powerful oscillator section capable of some rich and thick tones. I reckon, in total, you have 435 waveforms to choose from and, unlike some wavetable synths, they are divided into 14 descriptive groups to give you some idea of how they sound. I guess my first encounter with a software wavetable synth was Synapse Audio's DUNE and, great though it is, descriptive names for the waveforms would have helped rather than just a visual depiction of each one.
So with all those waveforms, and three oscillators with two waveform generators per oscillator, there are almost infinite combinations and sonic possibilities.
A single filter is provided with fully variable mode control between LPF and HPF as well as a fixed BPF mode. Despite having only a single filter, oscillators 2 and 3 rather cunningly allow you to bypass it so you can combine darker filtered tones with bright sparkly ones that go around the filter section.
Dreamsynth DS-1. Waveform Groups and Characteristics.
To offer a flavour of what Dreamsynth is capable of it might be useful to pick out some of the waveform groups and take a look at their characteristics.
Analog. The first group is a collection of virtual 'analog' waveforms. Saw, ramp, sine, tri, and pulse are provided alongside white and pink noise. Each oscillator has a pulse width control. This group of waveforms, alongside the fact that you can have up to six of them going at a time, means that Dreamsynth is great for thick, warm, analog synth type sounds. Fat synth basses, warm analog pads, I got some great synth lead sounds from it, and some big CS-80 style polysynth/comp type sounds.
Percussion. The percussion group provides some excellent tunes bells and marimba waveforms which are great for combining with the other waveform groups to provide patches with interesting 'attack' portions. Great for 80s Roland D-Series/LA Synthesis recreations.
Wind. Similarly, the wind group provides those 'bottle' and flute type 'attack partials'
Synthwave. The 'Synthwave' group supplies a mix of general 'pads' some hybrid ana/FM sine waveforms which are great for 'spikey' synth clav type sounds.
Voice. 10 vox/choral waveforms great for vocal pads or combining with analog or string waveforms for hybrid pads.
Wind. 7 wind type waveforms including 'classic' Roland D Series/LA 'shaku' and 'bottle' type sampled waveforms.
One Shot. A selection of around 100 'attack partials' and 'one shot' sampled waveforms including classic drum machine sounds, fx samples, and 'hits'.
String Synth Section.
In addition to the three synth waveform generators/oscillators, Dreamsynth also offers an 'analog' string synth generator which has a basic envelope generator and mix level.
Dreamsynth DS1: Effects Section.
On top of it's powerful synthesizer engine, Dreamsynth also offers a comprehensive effects suite. Far more powerful and wide rangint than anything that was possible with the hybrid/wavetable hardware synths of the eighties.
Reverb, delay, chorus, flange and 'tube drive' sections are available with all the basic parameter editing and they can all be synched to your DAW master tempo where applicable.
Dreamsynth Programming Tips:
As with all synths, try and have an idea of the sort of sound or sounds you want to create, rather than just noodle around with the parameters and hope something magical happens.
Wavetable synthesizers usually have lots of waveforms. Start with a single oscillator, with the filter fully open and go through all of the individual waveforms and check out their tonal characteristics. Maybe write down a list of them with some notes on how each of them sound. Note down some that might work for the sort of sounds you want to create.
Use template programming. Work backwards from the envelope generators. For example, if you're looking to develop a slowly evolving synth pad with a long tail after key release, set the envelope generator with long attack and release times. Set the filter for a darker or a brighter tone, and maybe setup the filter envelope if you want the sound to have an 'evolving' tone. Then work back to the oscillators and try some of the different waveforms and combinations, knowing that your envelope and filter setting are generally set for pad type patches. You may come up with lots of combinations that you like.
Dreamsynth Sound Characteristics.
Cherry Audio characterize Dreamsynth as being influenced by wavetable and hybrid synths of the 80s such as Ensoniq ESQ1/SQ80/VFX Series, Korg DW Series, and I also think, since you have an 'attack' waveform group alongside an 'analog' waveform group you could also include Roland D Series/LA Synthesis products. So, as you might guess, it's capable of great 80s sounding bell/fantasy pads, big 'analog' style comps, I also got some great solo/lead sounds, and some interesting 'wind synth' type sounds. I wasn't particularly impressed with the bass waveform section, so I didn't manage to create any great 'synth bass' type patches, but that might just be me.
Free Dreamsynth Patches. Download Link.
Download 64 free Dreamsynth sounds using the link below.
Download the folder to your hard drive and then move it or copy it to the the 'data' folder that was installed when you downloaded your copy of Dreamsynth or the Dreamsynth demo.
Other Dreamsynth Resources/Links.