When it comes down to choosing the VSTs it can be so exciting and time consuming at the same time. This itself is one of the fun part of being a producer. Today, you will learn more about the fantastic emulator of Synthi AKS that is Cynthia VST.
What is exactly VST?
VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology which is used in music production via any DAW (Digital Audio Production) like Ableton, Fl studio, Cubase etc. These are also called Plug-ins since you drag and drop them in the folder of your choice and let the DAW know their whereabouts via the file path. Once done, either you will have to manually re-scan the folder or the DAW will auto scan upon start up for you and you are good to go!
What is Cynthia VST?
Cynthia VST is one of the VSTs that iare developed by NineCloud. What is so exciting about this VST is that, this VST is an emulation of the legendary EMS Synthi A and AKS as well. NineCloud did not include the AKS, since AKS is just the keyboard and sequencer added to the Synthi A. For an emulation like this, there is no point of adding a visual keyboard since you can already play it via your midi keyboard or computer keyboard.
Cynthia is not a polyphonic synthesiser. It is a monophonic VSTi. There are 3 monophonic oscillators with knobs to shape and level the waveforms, sync, phase-shift. This one was released arounnd 2011 and extremely old-school yet does a neat job and perfect to learn how EMS synhi A works on a fundamental level.
Cynthia VST is free software.
Cynthia VST vs the original synthesiser
EMS Synthi can produce general sounds like lead, pad to incredibly unpredictable FX sound that will send you to the space and back. With all of these in mind, NineCows developed Cynthia as an emulator for EMS Synthi A.
All the prime functionality and components are still the same with slight variants in the interface. This is due to fit the whole features in one rather than making it huge and scrollable for users. Best things is, it perfectly matches the need of those features without making a UX/UI mess.
The top section of the original Synthi A is filled with rows of sockets for various signal input smartly using this space to fit the sequencer knobs. Talk about brainstorming! They put an 8-step sequencer there with the speed rate and sequencer on/off switch right next to it.
On the left and right of the sequencer resides the scope monitor where you can keep track of your signal level.
More on the design of Cynthia VST
Right below the top sequencer section, we have our tuner, portamento, low pass filter with a level, envelope shaper. Note Synthi’s envelope shaper is different than a typical substractive synthesiser ADSR.
In the middle of Cynthia, resides a huge pin matrix board. This is where you will spend some good amount of times experimenting with your sound. Feel free to get experimental with this. Try keep an eye on the scope monitor and keep the indicator out the red zone, otherwise it may crush. I do not know if it is anything Cynthia specific, DAW or general workings of the signal.
If you are not sure how this matrix board works, go ahead and search for Arturia Synthi V or EMS Synthi A manual. Read through them or watch few videos on how this matrix board working and soon with some study, you will be able to get good hold of the Cynthia. Just know how the general routing is working behind Synthi in general. Although, some of you may not need to do everything manually but you will know over time what I meant by that.