Softsynth recommendations

[MBTC]

Alchemy is on my wish list as we speak, I liked the demo. At the time I was eyeballing Omnisphere, Alchemy had just come out, and they were at a similar price point, but Omnisphere seemed more established. In retrospect I would have probably gotten more use out of Alchemy.

Although part of it is that I'm not using Omnisphere to it's fullest. Even beyond the sample library, it's a pretty full featured synth. The sample library makes it tempting to go to them first, but depending on what kind of sounds you like the synth aspects might be its underrated feature. When I say I'm not using it to its fullest, I saw a demo of the integration with Stylus RMX and that was pretty impressive.

As for Kore, I need to catch up on that one too but have never used it, I just got the impression it was sort of a "one stop shop" type of plugin (which is also how I view Omnisphere), and I tend not to be as big a fan of those as I am the instruments which feel like they represent a single hardware synth, instead of trying to be a studio in a single instance.

[TheHobbit]

You got me thinking about Gladiator although I am starting to wonder about Alchemy. There is a buy1 get 1 free which ends this week on Gladiator2 :

http://www.soundsonline.com/home.php...16f3177abc35a1

Alchemy seems to be more spoken of on forums whether that's due to it's more recent release and promotion from CamelAudio or if Gladiator doesno have the same marketing span from Tone2.

Will have to read more I guess...

[feedingear]

I just find Alchemy so bloody easy to use. And it's fun just throwing anything and everything into the sampler and seeing what comes out - for example, wanted an eerie pad for a dnb track, so I loaded an entire song of mine and took a simple granular position stretched to 0 percent.. Great texture and tone that was unique, in about 30 seconds.

[MBTC]

I like Gladiator but there are a couple of things I wish were better. First, the HCM synthesis is very different than anything else out there. Samples drive the harmonics, but you've got a gazillion ways you can morph the harmonics into something else. Only thing is, are you good with subtractive synthesis? FM? Maybe additive? None of that will really help you toward achieving a particular sound design goal here, everything you do will be very experimental, although sometimes with really nice results. It doesn't mean its hard to program, it's dead easy.. its just it's more a synth I reach for when it has a sound that's mostly what I want and I want to tweak.. only thing is, taking the existing patch in the direction I want doesn't seem easy? More like a dice roll.. hehe.

On the plus side, I think the filters are very good with plenty of varieties, and the fact that it gives you a visual of what the filter looks like is extremely helpful (if not making you a better synth programmer at the same time).

Odd thing, I bought the dance expansion, which has some great sounds.. but it had a new effect called trancegate I was looking forward to.. Unfortunately it seems to have trancegate presets! (ugh).. Don't get me wrong it has a step LFO, so you have other options for volume or filter gating, I just noticed that some of the really good trance sounds are based on the trancegate fx so I was looking forward to that (the one in Vanguard is what every synth should have, IMO).

[FSTZ]

I'd like to put in a good word for the Ultra Analogue VA-1

It sounds really big!

http://www.applied-acoustics.com/ultraanalog/overview/

[TheHobbit]

Agreed VA-1 is very good got that for $15 about 6 months back on a audio-midi no-brainer deal, recently purchase Zebra (which is not in native x64 beta and works lovely), Sylenth1 and a load of compressors, eq's, filters and effects.

I love music technology...almost as much as pron :•)

oops wives coming *delete* :O)

[mitchiemasha]

sylenth 1. I love it...

[FSTZ]

Originally Posted by TheHobbit

Agreed VA-1 is very good got that for $15 about 6 months back on a audio-midi no-brainer deal, recently purchase Zebra (which is not in native x64 beta and works lovely), Sylenth1 and a load of compressors, eq's, filters and effects.

I love music technology...almost as much as pron :•)

oops wives coming *delete* :O)

yeah!

I got it on that deal as well...

I sat on it for a while and didn't use it, then one day I freaked a little wobbly bassline on it and it has been in almost every tune I have made since

[TheHobbit]

I've had a spending spree over the last month and stocked up on some deals and items been after a while :

ScannedSynthPro, it's a pay what you think it's worth donation affair so good value.

Get some grungy, organic sounds that are quite distinctive if used sensibly. The GUI is a little off putting but fon't let that deter you, under the hood it's doing some wonders.

z3Ta+ currently $20/£15 bought it cause its great value, lots of patches available and again compliments the Virus.

Synth1 freeware has just had an update. Great emu of a nord lead and will load the nords patches...really nice plugin with 1000's of presets out there.

Zebra is actually x64beta and I am loving this synth, a lot to learn.

Slyenth1 the trance master which compliments the Virus very well.

De La Manchas queen B to really drive your bass end (got a De La Mancha bundle for £21 quid some nice vintage effects.

FabFfilter Pro-Q to shape you sounds.mixes and got Pro-C which is great for sidechaining.

Another two compressors that are my goto for every channel strip : The Rocket (Stillwell) and The Glue...great value for money.

Sonalksis Studio One (another No Cracks deal), excellent effects and compression just waiting for their x64 and VST3 update (hopefully if they keep their word).

And for Mastering (aside fromthe Sonalksis kit) Voxengos Polysquasher and Elephant. Voxengo have a good deal at the moment worth checking out.

On my to buy list and appreciate any comments/feedback :

Monitor Speakers (probably KRK6s or8s)
NI Machine or considering Akasi MPC2500 with jjOS.

[MBTC]

I'm liking this Ultra Analogue VA-1, but not to the tune of $200... how do I get the killer deal on it? Just wait and hope for luck?