[DIGITAL SCREAMS]

Tommer, what processor and what speed do you have?

I tried running CS80v and Minimoog V (Just for fun...I hate computer based synthesis!) and it was consistently using 40%+ on my system. I use a P4 1.8ghz 512 meg machine. In a strange way its kinda reasurring that new softsynths are pushing cpu's hard.......it kinda means that they are becoming better.

In my experience, the Arturia softsynths are the most cpu hungry on the market. They are amongst the best sounding softies available....so I guess that has something to do with it. I should imagine in 5-10 years time we will begin to see some truly exceptional pc based softsynths.

However, will it ever replace my analogs mono's.......nope. But will it provide a great source of polyphonic sounds........a definite yes.

Thats the way I think things will go for me. Ill always use true analog mono's for bass and leads, blips and bleeps. But, as far as polyphonic sounds go.....I can quite easily see myself using ever more power software emulations (But I hope they wont all be computer based. I prefer hardware 'softies' such as the Virus or Nord).

Incidently, I had a go on the new Kurzweil VA1 the other day. My immediate reaction was that VA has finally made a leap forward. I kinda felt that VA's have stayed a little stagnent since their inception around '95, '97. The VA1 (Priced very highly btw...as is all Kurzweil gear!), definitely sounds very very cool. Im still not satisfied with the bass response.....but the poly sounds are really becomming something special imho. Amazing pad sounds.....just amazing.

So...I'd say things are looking up for VA actually. Its funny....but alot of u guys have probably always felt like this about VA. For me, its been an incredibly eventful transition from old analog.

DS