[Derek]

Originally Posted by Smag

But, pray tell, what software synths are the really good ones - the new generation that people are talking about. I was going to get the Hartmann Neuron software and controller until I read a Future Music review that gave it 3/10.

Which software synths are worth getting if you're comparing it to hardware?

Well obviously the Korg Legacy Collection is great. But that assumes you're looking for soft versions of classic synths. If so I would suggest the Pro-53 (Prophet 5 emulation) and the B4 both by Native Instruments (NI).
I purchased the Komplete 2 bundle. This bundles eleven separate software packages into one massive package.
NI KOMPLETE 2 comes with ABSYNTH 3, REAKTOR 4 and 5, B4 Organ, FM7, PRO-53, KONTAKT 2, KOMPAKT, INTAKT, BATTERY 2, VOKATOR and NI-SPEKTRAL DELAY and you get the gigantic sample libraries of KONTAKT 1 and 2, INTAKT, KOMPAKT and BATTERY 2.

In short more sounds than any one human could hope for. That sounds like a lot of stuff, but you don?t know the half of it. It?s even more than you think. Reaktor for example includes literally hundreds of synths.
It can be a little overwhelming, but it?s OK because you don?t have to learn it all at once. You can take your time and learn and explore each synth and each package at your own leisure. But the possibilities are hugh.

I agree that softsynths are great nowdays and they can do 98% of what their hardware counterpart can do BUT they still drain the CPU and that's why I tend to prefer hardware

I?m not sure what you mean. I know the TI will be a great sound creation tool, but compared to Reaktor it pales in raw capability. While the TI will let you shape and sculpt your sound by comparison, Reaktor will allow you the ultimate flexibility, by allowing you to build your own synths from the ground up? Not just shape sounds. What hardware synths let you do that?
From what I can tell, software is so far ahead of hardware at this point that it just getting silly. Yes you need the CPU power to get the most out of it, but fast computers are cheap these days. I run two PCs one exclusively for softsynths, the other for VST and Cubase SX3, so its really not a problem.

for teh most part i'm really getting tired of using a mouse in general

ME TOO. That?s why I recommend you get lots of controllers. I have three controllers and more knobs and sliders than you can shake a stick at. I never have to use a mouse to control my softsynths. If you know you?ll hate using a mouse buy lots of controllers and you won?t need to use the mouse. In essence it will be a lot like using the TI with it?s VST interface.
Another positive when using the VST version of softsynths is they have sample accurate timing, something no existing hardware synth can claim. And yes I know the TI supposedly will also, but right now it?s really just vaporware so it doesn?t count does it.