GLX Balsam synth

Plugins & Modules
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Anyone have ideas how to recreate this synth? GLX Balsam

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it is a fine design, thanks for the link.

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Hmm, I’m very selective with doing hardware emulations in VCV. I only make something if:

  1. It interests me
  2. I already know a way to do it!

This synth only meets one of those criteria, it sounds nice but it’s just regular subtractive analogue synthesis with 8 VCOs and independent pitch control. Shouldn’t be difficult to patch something with the same features?

Use 8 discrete VCOs or polyphony. There are polyphonic slew modules that would do the glide between individual notes, for example Bogaudio Rise. For the tuning bank you could use multiple Quantum quantisers with different notes programmed in, and a switch to select.

I’m not sure why it’s called modal, to me ‘modal synthesis’ is a type of physical modelling which basically pings tuned filter banks (like the default mode of Rings for example). This seems to be an analogue polysynth with an unusual tuning/control system.

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Cool synth.

I’m not sure exactly what goes on under the hood for Balsam, but I think you could get close to the effect with my Weave module and a polyphonic slew after it. Weave generates 6-note chords and allows you to interchange the notes, and with a slow slew after it you can get some of these types of effects. Never heard of Balsam, but I have heard of Alice Coltrane and this module is designed to get that kind of effect after all.

I suggest the Venom Slew, it gives you a lot of control over the slew rate, potentially opening up synth stuff that even Balsam cannot do.

Then of course you’ll need the other basic synth stuff: a couple of ADSRs, a mixer, and something to map your MIDI keyboard to individual buttons. There are lots of options for these.

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I saw this earlier today and… am I wrong here? To feel saddened about the state of boutique synths these days? It’s surely nice, including the Buchla look, and it’s made by, what? three people, probably operating out of someone’s spare room, but… at the end of the day, it’s a digital synth with buttons for eight notes. For $2250,-. That’s a Moog Matriarch, almost an Easel Command, half of a full Buchla Easel system, etc.

Anyways. It did make me think about (obvious) ways to improve pitch slews and I might have a go at piecing together its sequencer (pretending we didn’t have Venom’s Rhythm Explorer).

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In its defense, this is the feature list:

  • 8-VOICE VIRTUAL-ANALOG POLYPHONY (DIGITAL)
  • STEREO ANALOG STATE VARIABLE TONE FILTER
  • STEREO ANALOG VCA
  • EXPERIMENTAL SLIDER INTERFACE
  • 8-CHANNEL POLYRHYTHM SEQUENCER
  • LFO + MOD MATRIX + MOD ENVELOPES
  • SLIDERTRACKED / KEYTRACKED MODULATION SECTION
  • SLIDERTRACKED STEREO PANNING
  • GLIDE + VISCOSITY W/ INDIVIDUAL OSCILLATOR ARTICULATION
  • MIDI POLYPHONIC EXPRESSION OUTPUT
  • USB-C MIDI IN / OUT
  • 5-PIN MIDI IN / OUT
  • 3.5MM ANALOG CLOCK SYNC IN / OUT
  • EXPRESSION PEDAL INPUT
  • EXTERNAL AUDIO INPUT
  • L/R LINE OUTS + HEADPHONE OUT
  • JUST AND EQUAL INTONATION MODES
  • BROWSER-BASED TUNING / SETTINGS / FIRMWARE UPDATER

It looks to be a beautiful, ergonomic, hand crafted, good sounding synth in small production. Definately for people who wants hands-on and something new/different. It’s not cheap for sure but for the appearent quality and small production, maybe not outrageous? Hard to say…

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