Favorite Software Synth's?
Favorite Software Synth's? Posted on: 06.04.2012 by Larraine Hannum Just want to get some opinions on everyone's favorite Software synth's. I'm looking into getting a Virus TI desktop but they aren't cheap so while I save up for one it's all about the software.Personally I've used Absynth, Zorg Legacy collection, Sylenth and ZebraII. ZebraII is hands down my favorite of the synths I've used so far. Sylenth is a great starter synth, it's very simple to use and the layout is straightforward plus it has tons of presets so you don't have to program your own patches. But ZebraII sounds so amazing compaired to Sylenth it's not even close, also ZebraII can replicate virtually any type of synth you can believe of. ZebraII just takes alot of time because you basically build your own custom patches from the ground up, but it's worth it in the end when you get that fat almost analogish sound. I've heard great things about Massive, Z3ta (Windows only), Omnisphere, FM8 and Rob Papen's synths but haven't tested any out for myself. What's your favorite soft synth? | |
| Georgina Schatzman 29.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
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| Yukiko Beauvil 28.04.2012 | I really like FL studio' 3xosc. Really simple yet powerful tool. |
| Dorie Scelzo 27.04.2012 | I've gotten to enjoy the free TAL stuff…the price is right and they sound okay. I like the one that's based on an SH-101…TAL-Bassline or something. Following T's suggestion, I tried Synplant. Really cool idea. It's going to be in my next track (I should probably get around to buying it…still just using the demo…or at least record what I've done with it…no idea when the demo's going to run out). And I still like Synapse Dune…sounds great…with one big caveat. Unfortunately, it's parameters are named such stupid things that it's impossible to use with Maschine's controls…I'd imagine AutoMap and whatever the M-Audio keyboards do would be similar unless you can rename things in software, which Maschine can't do. Unfortunately, Dune working this way means that I'll never register the Demo and I'm looking for a replacement. Also…mapping things like that does work……as long as your controller has scribble strips and the parameters are named something useful. Makes soft synths usable, at least. |
| Larraine Hannum 27.04.2012 | This thread kinda got sidetracked, yes of course we all would love to have Moog Voyagers, or Nord Leads or Viruses but not everyone is daddy warbucks here. This is supposed to be a discussion about everyone's favorite software synths, not software vs hardware. For the record, I am saving up currently for a Virus TI myself. But in the mean time, I'm having a blast playing with the software I have available. |
| Sylvia Greener 24.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
+Your room looks more like a nice studio with some gear around there +Much easier to sell if you want to get rid of it. +Reasonable amount of knobs (that physically exist) instead of these loads of knobs in softwares for which your midicontroller's knobs won't suffice +Probably will still be usable in 20 years when software types, host softwares, operating systems and computer connectors will have changed. |
| Georgina Schatzman 11.04.2012 | Also, they are a lot smaller in person. |
| Georgina Schatzman 11.04.2012 | They have shipped, had a chance to use one in the shop, but they are only being shipped out for pre-orders at the moment like Mostapha said. |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.04.2012 | I don't believe they're in stores yet. If they've shipped, they're still filling preorders. The Moog Taurus was responsible for a LOT of awesome bass sounds, and the Minitaur is supposed to be EXTREMELY close except a desktop unit with MIDI and CV in and out. It pre-sold like hot cakes laced with crack and will probably be hard to get for a whole after it's ship date. It's on my list. But it's also explicitly a bass synth |
| Ervin Calvery 10.04.2012 | Jason - where can one get a new Minituar? They don't seem to be in stock anywhere. |
| Georgina Schatzman 10.04.2012 | To be honest, never looked at the Virus software. That is bloody insane how much they pack in there, I don't blame you for not wanting to map out that hog! As for a good bass synth, get a Moog Minitaur. Exact same thing as the Moog Taurus except half the price and minus the foot pedals. But I still believe you should have a go at the modular scene. With the prices coming down the barrier to get into it is getting smaller everyday. Plus you'll have a completely unique and original sound that's all your own. And you can always keep adding to it at minimal cost vs having to buy a whole new synth when you get the itch to splurge |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.04.2012 | Yeah…I disagree. Dune, for example, has like 50 controls that I'd like mapped to knobs before even looking at the modulation matrix or the arpeggiator. So, that's 2 pages of a BCR2000, which makes it hard to map. The virus C has 32 knobs that are physical knobs and some of them do other things as well. The Virus Editor, a plugin that allows you to control it from a computer, looks like this: That's a lot of knobs. Unless I'm really missing something, mapping a controller isn't practical if you want physical labels. I've seriously considered it, but unless I can find a good deal on a used BCR2000 to try, I don't believe it's all that convenient. I've mapped my lpd8 to control synths before, and despite having 32 knobs available (with it's 4 available programs, or basically pages) it's so incredibly hard to remember what's on each knob without labels…and labels basically aren't possible…that it's not worth worrying about. I'm going to have to very seriously consider whether it's worth not being able to carry my entire production rig (minus monitors, of course) in my back pack like I do now (with just a MBP and a Maschine) before I actually start buying hardware……but the times I've played with hard synths (Virus C, TI, TI2; Nord Lead 2x; Nord Stage 2; Minimoog Voyager Electric Blue; and a few others) good sounds just come out of them. It's not a technical limitation…it's just something about having the physical knobs sitting there that makes sense to me. I honestly enjoy using Maschine's Sampler device with waveforms more than Dune…despite the fact that it's only a single oscillator and very limited in terms of modulation and routing. Don't get me wrong, I like Dune for what it is. And I keep believeing about trying Razor despite not liking NI's software in general (seriously considering switching to an MPC-1000 at some point). But unless I actually figure out a better way to map controls for synths, it's just not worth the money. I've seriously considered a Remote Zero SLmk2 just to see how well automap works and whether that would fix some of my issues. And this is with having Maschine and it's auto-mapping available and working. Maybe I should get around to actually naming Dune's controls logically in Maschine……but that just seems like a lot of work for something else I'm not going to like. A good bass synth (the Moog Taurus stands out) and some other poly VA (Nord Rack 2 is winning at this point, but I wouldn't say no to a Virus or a Prophet if I could find one I can afford) and I'd be happy. I don't mind recording things to audio (in fact, I kind of prefer it) so not having enough voices to run an entire song (multiple patches) off one hard synth isn't a problem……as long as it has enough voices to play one part, that's good enough. Now, if you were talking about things like most of the DSI synths (other than the Prophet) that don't have enough knobs, it'd be a different issue. And I agree with you about sound quality. I'm not an analog purist by any stretch of the imagination. You don't even really need good converters to work all ITB…you just need one decent pair out for monitoring, which is really cheap to get at this point. Hardware is a lot more expensive, and you have to know more about what you're doing to even have a chance of getting it right. But I don't believe that's a huge problem either. I just really hate mice. I hate tweaking synths with Mice…I hate programming with a mouse…I prefer Maschine's grid/step sequencer to any piano roll I've used, despite it's obvious shortcomings. If you don't have that problem. If you don't go out of your way to not have to use a mouse to browse the web…if you don't use Terminal more than any other program on your laptop…if you don't have a preference for which shell you use…if you don't seriously prefer vim or emacs to TextEdit or Notepad……go software. It's more cost effective and can sound at least as good and will sound less noisy. If you're on a budget, soft synths are the only way to go. But I still believe they all suck. |
| Georgina Schatzman 10.04.2012 | Well in this case it really is comparable as far as sound quality. And how is it not anymore convenient? It's pretty straight forward. Mapping out a midi controller isn't that hard, and once you do have your mapping you just save it to your template and be done with it. Assuming you have a solid interface and the rest of your signal chain isn't lacking, the sound is so spot on when comparing the two it's a mute point to argue that anymore. And then people go on about how they hate using a mouse, just scoop up some midi controllers like said. It's not as "sexy" but it's efficient (only time this wouldn't be practical would be with synths where you have to run patch cables ala a Moog Modular or Arp2600 just to name a few but even then the benefits of having the soft version should still be obvious). Plus you can do a lot more unique stuff that really isn't practical with just a single analog synth. You can have multiple instances of it running on a single channel, all playing the same notes but with different ADSR settings on the amp and filter for each one to create truly unique and original sounds. And this is just ONE example that I came up with. Now, don't get me wrong, I wish I could afford a Moog Voyager with multiple Slim Phatty's synced up to it so I could have a poly Moog, but I'm perfectly content on using the Minimonsta from G-Force. And these are just the soft analog emulators. There's a lot of cool "original" digital synths out there as well like Massive and Razor from NI, or the Rob Papen line. They don't have to make any compromises if you will when designing a synth because they aren't trying to copy any analog synth at all. And yes, I do agree with that you do get what you paid for, but in this instance you're paying for some "prestige" of saying you own the actual analog synth. That's it, nothing more. |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.04.2012 | I just don't understand how that's the least bit convenient compared to just having the hardware. Cheaper, yes, but how many times do people have to say "you get what you pay for" before anyone takes heed. |
| Georgina Schatzman 10.04.2012 | For multiple instances you would just have them mapped out on different global channels. So all the controls would be the same, you would just be flipping through global channels to get from one instance to the next |
| Dorie Scelzo 11.04.2012 | If you can explain your mappings, I'll believe about it…but the last time I looked, there just weren't enough controls on the BCR or UC33e. And how does it deal with multiple instances of the same plugin? |
| Georgina Schatzman 11.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
Takes a minute to setup, but once you do you'll be set and ready to go. |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.04.2012 | The TI and TI2 come with plugins that handle audio routing and preset recall at least. I don't know if you can edit patches from the plugins, but if want to do that, you'd be stupid to buy hardware. And analog gear can be finicky. But hardware gear doesn't have fucking mice, and that makes it better. I don't even use a mouse with my web browser anymore (thanks to vimperator), and I'd ditch the computer in a heartbeat if I could afford it. |
| Georgina Schatzman 10.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
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| Georgina Schatzman 10.04.2012 | And analog gear isn't finicky? |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by JasonBay
Originally Posted by JasonBay
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| Kandra Fagler 10.04.2012 | my weapons of choice: NI Massive Lennardigital Sylenth1 Camel Audio Alchemy (extremely cpu heavy though) also: Ableton's operator Logic's ES2 i also like the sausage fattener distortion unit (also good on drums) the new synth "ANA" by sonic academy is really really easy to use as well |
| Larraine Hannum 09.04.2012 | Yea, I haven't delved too deeply into Massive beyond the basic presets so far. However, there are alot of big name producers cranking out tune after tune with Massive, so there must be something to it. Time to start You Tubeing how-to videos on Massive. |
| Brock Ricapito 09.04.2012 | I use Massive to create a HUGE variety of sounds, from hardcore kicks to string-like synths. I highly, highly recommend it. it's immensely flexible, so I recommend it because if you DO buy it, you will feel the need to learn it inside and out and it iwll be well worth it. it is better to know a single synth very well than it is to know many different ones only at a basic level. My other experience is with Alchemy, which has some remarkable presets and is really cool for its ability to warp the sound between settings within the patches/presets. sort of like controlling all of the macros in massive at once. I have a couple other free synthesizers VSTs that are meant for more specialized sounds, and are not very flexible. I often use this if the track needs something a bit out of the ordinary. |
| Elma Kersting 09.04.2012 | Massive and Sylenth are two I use a lot, Massive is easier to use and more flexible, but Sylenth just sounds epic. I also use all kinds of weird stuff like Fruity Granulizer, Synplant, and even 3xOSC. |
| Larraine Hannum 09.04.2012 | I just picked up Native Instruments Massive and FM8 this weekend to add to my arsenal. From the little time I got to spend with each one, I really like FM8 alot. Massive seems perfect for Brostep or Techno type sounds (Probably won't get as much use from me). Can't wait to spend some more time learning each synth more, damn u spring break, y u only 7 days long! |
| Cortney Draus 08.04.2012 | I use sylenth and massive here, just because I was taught some stuff on them. Hugely versatile for what I do. |
| Georgina Schatzman 08.04.2012 | From what I was told they are both based off the same engine because a Virus is a virtual analog synth, no? If what I'm being told is true then yeah, you have a mental handicap and only "believe" you're getting a better sound as you should be able to do the same with Dune |
| Dorie Scelzo 08.04.2012 | I heard that Dune was supposed to be kinda like a software Virus. That's why I got it. I like it okay, but I can still get better sounds out of a real virus in GC (or almost any other hard synth with knobs, for that matter) than I can get out of Dune at home. I believe I just have a mental block against mice. |
| Georgina Schatzman 08.04.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
Anyways, my favourite synth that I've recently is the Minimonsta by G Force. It's a fucking MiniMoog on roids! Won't be disappointed in scooping it. But the best bang for the buck Softsynth wise is the V Collection. All their VSTs are spot on of the originals (for better or worse depending on how you look at it). My big thing when working with VSTs is the interface. If there's multiple screens you have to navigate and click through to do stuff I'm most likely not going to use it, just not conducive to an efficient and creative work flow. |
| Dorie Scelzo 07.04.2012 | Synapse dune is pretty cool. |
| Ervin Calvery 06.04.2012 | Massive is my favourite. |
| Monserrate Rupnow 06.04.2012 | Omnisphere and Synplant are pretty much all I use these days. |
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