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ZeeByeZon
Published on 09/24/08 at 01:28
The SIEL Opera 6 is a polyphonic analog synth.
Polyphony is 6 votes, with 2 oscillators, a filter, a VCA and envelope per voice.
The oscillators are COD. Waveforms (sawtooth and square) can be combined. Each oscillator has an octave setting to 3 positions. The second has two settings in addition to the disagreement over the first (coarse, fine).
The filter is an SSM, and the envelope (which is analog, and excellent).
There is also a noise generator.
There are 3 LFO. The LFO 1 and 2 are respectively dedicated to the modulation of COD 1 and 2. Their settings are not independent, they still work at the same speed (approximately) and with the same amplitude but are out of sync. The three LFO can modulate the PWM to be one or two oscillators or the filter, or both, and has three waveforms (triangle, square, triangle + square).
The three LFO is analog.
Keyboard 61 keys with velocity, which to my knowledge is unique in a synthetic analogue old. The touch is very light and fast.
Velocity is used to control the amplitude of the envelope (which itself can be used on the VCF, VCA, or both), or the attack time of the envelope, or both. It is not very precise, but usable.
There are a pitch wheel and a modulation. The pitch wheel has a setting for the assignment DCO1 the DCO2 or both. The Modulation wheel can act either on the LFO 1 and 2 or 3 on the LFO, or both.
Connectors to the pedals controls are present, one for the VCA and one for the VCF.
MIDI in, out and through. There is also a cassette interface.
95 slots are available for the sounds, which are all editable. There is also a manual mode, which here is called "free".
UTILIZATION
Configuration is very simple, one button = one function.
The manual is only useful for advanced rules (Noon. ..) that can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
SOUNDS
I play funk and this synth is great for that style. The quality of the filter especially in the treble can sound with a big sin, and the velocity of the VCF is great for sounds in the style clavinet.
The two oscillators and envelope allow good quality tablecloths too.
Like many analog synths, each will use in its own way, and this synth is particularly adaptable to very different styles.
The sound is rich in harmonics. If we compare, for example, a Korg Poly6, the Korg seems muffled in the high when the filter is opened.
The resonance of the filter can be pushed to self-oscillation. When you push the resonance, the sound is rather thin, not too fat compared to one or poly6 SH101.
The factory preset sounds pretty amazing offer, ultimately not as unrealistic as one might expect on some records. But overall, it's an analog synth, and still very poorly mimics acoustic instruments in general.
OVERALL OPINION
I use it less than a year. I also have a poly6 and SH101 and each has a sound very different. It's nice to have additional sounds.
This one is more incisive than the poly6, sharper. And it has two oscillators or the korg there are 1, which opens up different possibilities. The poly6 is much warmer, darker, too.
For its price, it is inevitable because it has unique characteristics (velocity, MIDI ...).
It is very rare compared to Roland and Korg.
Polyphony is 6 votes, with 2 oscillators, a filter, a VCA and envelope per voice.
The oscillators are COD. Waveforms (sawtooth and square) can be combined. Each oscillator has an octave setting to 3 positions. The second has two settings in addition to the disagreement over the first (coarse, fine).
The filter is an SSM, and the envelope (which is analog, and excellent).
There is also a noise generator.
There are 3 LFO. The LFO 1 and 2 are respectively dedicated to the modulation of COD 1 and 2. Their settings are not independent, they still work at the same speed (approximately) and with the same amplitude but are out of sync. The three LFO can modulate the PWM to be one or two oscillators or the filter, or both, and has three waveforms (triangle, square, triangle + square).
The three LFO is analog.
Keyboard 61 keys with velocity, which to my knowledge is unique in a synthetic analogue old. The touch is very light and fast.
Velocity is used to control the amplitude of the envelope (which itself can be used on the VCF, VCA, or both), or the attack time of the envelope, or both. It is not very precise, but usable.
There are a pitch wheel and a modulation. The pitch wheel has a setting for the assignment DCO1 the DCO2 or both. The Modulation wheel can act either on the LFO 1 and 2 or 3 on the LFO, or both.
Connectors to the pedals controls are present, one for the VCA and one for the VCF.
MIDI in, out and through. There is also a cassette interface.
95 slots are available for the sounds, which are all editable. There is also a manual mode, which here is called "free".
UTILIZATION
Configuration is very simple, one button = one function.
The manual is only useful for advanced rules (Noon. ..) that can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
SOUNDS
I play funk and this synth is great for that style. The quality of the filter especially in the treble can sound with a big sin, and the velocity of the VCF is great for sounds in the style clavinet.
The two oscillators and envelope allow good quality tablecloths too.
Like many analog synths, each will use in its own way, and this synth is particularly adaptable to very different styles.
The sound is rich in harmonics. If we compare, for example, a Korg Poly6, the Korg seems muffled in the high when the filter is opened.
The resonance of the filter can be pushed to self-oscillation. When you push the resonance, the sound is rather thin, not too fat compared to one or poly6 SH101.
The factory preset sounds pretty amazing offer, ultimately not as unrealistic as one might expect on some records. But overall, it's an analog synth, and still very poorly mimics acoustic instruments in general.
OVERALL OPINION
I use it less than a year. I also have a poly6 and SH101 and each has a sound very different. It's nice to have additional sounds.
This one is more incisive than the poly6, sharper. And it has two oscillators or the korg there are 1, which opens up different possibilities. The poly6 is much warmer, darker, too.
For its price, it is inevitable because it has unique characteristics (velocity, MIDI ...).
It is very rare compared to Roland and Korg.