It's all in the pwm. To recreate some awesome lush sounding strings/pads, either use an lfo to create a pwm like sound or use a synth that can create pwm waves. I read this somewhere on an SOS article.

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Originally posted by Jason_R I'am sure I read some time ago that analog synths are very good at creating quite realstic string patches. Only thing is I carn't rember where it was I read this so what I'am really loking for is some type of guide / tutorial to get me going ( google didn't come up with much ) Aslo is there a vst dedicated to synth strings as well? Many thanks

Analogue synths are terrible at recreating string sounds. As in real orchestral string sounds and solo string sounds. They are really really hard to model with any type of synthesis and you dont get an tactile/contact sound from the bowing action. If you listen to a real Cello you can hear the bowing action. That type of thing is really hard to model.

Analogue synths can make really nice (but blatantly fake) string sounds though. Oberheim are famous for those synth brass sounds and synth strings but they sound nothing like real strings.

The basis of synthesising a string sound is 2x rectified saw waves detuned apart, pitch of each saw wave modulated at medium speed in opposite directions (to simulate vibrato). The result is unison/chorus to thicken it up and make it sound like there are more of them.

You can use PWM square waves too but you have to get the right amount of PWM or it sounds fucked up. Too little and you will get what sounds more like a flute.

The solution? Edirol Orchestral ftw

Yeah, you'll need samples or physical modelling for that.
Not that impressed with edirol stuff tho, heard it once. I'm satisfied with kontakt.

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