VA signature sound

What really gives different VA's (Subtractive) their own signature characteristics tonally. Is it the Oscillator, the filters? Theoretically all subtractive synths should do the same task, why is there such a demand for having so many different VA synth.

Most oscillators produce the usual waves, square triangle saw white noise pink noise etc..and filters have the same functions BP LP HP etc...

What makes an emulation of a moog filter a "moog filter" and an Oberheim filter an "OB" filter?

I'll take the easy one

Moog filter is a 24dB/octave slope while the OB filter is 12dB/octave. These are called 4-pole and 2-pole lowpass filters, respectively. The primary difference in sound is the 24dB/oct LP filter has a steeper slope, so you end up with less of the higher frequencies remaining.

Marketing?

it's the type of technology used in each filter and oscilator .. along with the circuits themselves, the designs differ from synth to synth. i'm sure if someone felt like it they could record the same output from an oscilator through several filters and show you visable the difference in the output sound.

VAs sound different for the same reason digital workstations sound different or analog synths sound different. Because they are, well, different.

Different design = different sound.

I'll take the easy one Moog filter is a 24dB/octave slope while the OB filter is 12dB/octave. These are called 4-pole and 2-pole lowpass filters, respectively. The primary difference in sound is the 24dB/oct LP filter has a steeper slope, so you end up with less of the higher frequencies remaining.

Hmm i didnt know that,

I know that in Rapture there exists a 12 and 24db filter and alot more different options. I just wonder when someone says "nord-ish" bass or "JP" leads, whether that has to do more with programming skills or just the technology within the synth. I would love to know how much overlap there really exists in owning several very capable flagship synths, since marketing really makes you feel like youre getting a unique machine.

Sometimes having multiple boards (VAs or otherwise) isn't just about having access to different ranges of sounds ...

For live/real-time performance, having extra control surfaces handy is a terrific luxury ... While a certain VA might be multitimbral with loads of polyphony, in a solo ensemble situation, only one or two of those sounds might be readily accessible (especially if it's two or three octaves) ... hence, more boards = more realtime options ...

just another aspect to think about ...

Both of these statements reflect reality. I'd add to the first post that the quality of the components, tolerances and various unpredictabilities can bring differences even in two units of the same analog synthesizer, which is not the case with dsp codes, where the used algorithms and the overall architecture make the difference. Differences can be found regarding oscillators, filters, envelope generators, shapers, not only because of limitations within a system but also as a variety of options within the same software development, because the developers know how. Obviously some dsp processors have better structures and allow for better codes than others, some dedicated chips have a superior efficiency and are optimized for audio tasks more than all purpose cpu's. In fact a lot of VA's sound much better than any cpu native plugin, being digital as well.

Anyway, what gives a synth most of his character is probably the filter, but the oscillators are also very important because the slightest variation in a ramp shape means a change in the structure of the basic harmonic components and you have a different instrument already. The speed of the envelopes can be irrelevant in slow pads, but you'll never get a punchy sound with a sloppy envelope, so that adds a lot too. You won't be able to appreciate a lot of a great filter if you don't have a good quality in the signals that have to modulate it's cutoff, especially the envelope....it's the whole thing to be considered i.m.o.

+1 - I love my softsynths, but I feel my Z1 sounds better for many things. I dont know what it is either - because technically both are running on software. Perhaps we like the subtleties the signal chain imparts to the sound (DA->analog cable->preamp->AD). Once I tried routing a softsynth out and back into my interface and thought it sounded better too - go figure.