Analog modeling synthesizer

An Analog Modeling Synthesizer is a synthesizer that generates the sounds of traditional analog synthesizers using DSP components and software algorithms to simulate the behaviour of the original electric and electronic circuitry, in order to obtain the sound in a more precise manner from the simulated inner working of the circuitry, instead of attempting to recreate the sound directly. This method of synthesis is also referred to as Virtual Analog or VA. There is a vague consensus that while VAs can be useful and expressive instruments in their own right, they are not always a full replacement for real analog synthesizers; on the other hand, they exceed many analog instruments in reliability, lack of tuning and heating issues, limited polyphony, and they offer patch storage capabilities and MIDI support not found on all ancient (pre-1983) analog instruments.

Examples of VA synthesizers include:

• Access Virus line of VA synths
• Alesis Ion, Micron and Fusion
• Clavia Nord Lead and Nord Modular series
• Korg Z1, Prophecy, MS-2000, microKORG, RADIAS, R3
• Kurzweil PC3X
• Novation Supernova, Supernova II, Nova, A-Station, K-Station, X-Station, XioSynth, Ultranova
• Oberheim OB12
• Roland JP-8000, JP-8080, V-Synth, SH-201
• Waldorf Q, Q+ and MicroQ
• Yamaha AN1x