which Soft Synth ?!

julienb · Post by **julienb** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:27 am

Hello

those who already read me here may believe i'm crazy.
I'm. but I'm just looking for my best config, my virtual studio.

I'm making my Live configuration step by step.
1/I decided to use live as sequencer and 1 rack for the drums.
2/I want to use synthesis for all other sounds. not sampling or audio loop.
I'm hesitating with a lot of things (vst or not, rewire or not etc)
I'm looking for synth powerful as FM8 (Native Inst) or something like that... a lot of parameters which permit to find sound of bass, pad, soundscapes, percussions in one box (NI VSTi are SO powerful, but not enough stable)
I would like to use OSC,LFO,Filter,RingModulator etc

I have some criterias (all aren't a must, but ...):
- STABLE !
- big soundbanks (synthethis... not samples) => in order to test basics sounds to find mine by altering them
- VST if possible (because I only have one controller BCR2000, and control them by assigning in live would be great (only thing I can do)
- CC for automatize preset/patch change

Reason could be great but:
- no way for assigning both live + reason
- no preset change automatize

does anyone could advise me about some synth soft?
I heard about vanguard, zebra2, Virus etc
any experiences?
I know that it exists a lot of them... but does anyone give me a way to test one I didn't know?

Many thanks to read me and bye bye!

D DAS · Post by **D DAS** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:18 am

no NI huh?

well, I am trying the metasynth demo now and i love it,also the Korg Legacy collection is sweet sounding

but other than that i use NI.

good luck

try out lots of demos before you buy, most soft makers offer free demos

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:23 am

the AAS stuff is amongst my faves, lounge lizard, string studio, ultra analog and of course tassman. i recommend checking their demos out.

julienb · Post by **julienb** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:29 am

thanks a lot for these answers!
I'll try the demo

D DAS,
I used Absynth, FM8, MAssive, Battery.
GREAT! POWERFUL !
but none of them is stable as VST plugin ( you can read thathere )
I like them so much.
I'd dream to use them in live performance too !!
they can automatize program change (with a program list mode very useful)
etc
but
database rebuild etc
empty database sometimes etc
I don't really know
The magic & genius ewistrand will understand all that cases... I'm sure!

Pasha · Post by **Pasha** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:34 am

Hi,

I recently had the occasion to ear puremagnetik's Juice for Operator and I have to say that I have rediscovered that synth.
I could not believe my ears. Warm sounds coming from Operator? No way!
I was wrong.
Now that I have a better understanding of Operator+Live Effects I'm happy with that. Racks extend operator capabilities even more. Even if Operator is a 4 Operators 10 Structures Synth, imagine the almost endless capabilities by mixing one or more Operators into racks.... I was putting Operator aside and now I already made 4 songs with it, with original sounds.

- My 2 cent
- Best
- Pasha

julienb · Post by **julienb** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:43 am

HEllo Pasha
I understand what you mean.
perhaps, my path would drive me there: at the beginning ; by using operator.
of course, it would be the most easy thing!
- all control would be possible (using rack with macro control already assignated to the same knob of my controller... for playing live)
- not really CPU consumer
- stability max!

but ...
I have to say that I don't really want to spend 1h to find my sound.
I know FM synthesis. filter etc
but I need to begin with a sound already build to change, alter, add or substract things you know...
NI VSTi sounds SO great for that, Reason too...

SubFunk,
AAS seem to be great.
I have some questions about that.
- can we change program/preset via program change?
- can we change easily program for a live performance for example?
- is there a "database" structure as in NI VSTi ?

See U!

laurence · Post by **laurence** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:19 am

z3ta+ and z3ta+_fx anyday

SubFunk · Post by **SubFunk** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:28 am

julienb wrote:HEllo Pasha
I understand what you mean.
perhaps, my path would drive me there: at the beginning ; by using operator.
of course, it would be the most easy thing!
- all control would be possible (using rack with macro control already assignated to the same knob of my controller... for playing live)
- not really CPU consumer
- stability max!

but ...
I have to say that I don't really want to spend 1h to find my sound.
I know FM synthesis. filter etc
but I need to begin with a sound already build to change, alter, add or substract things you know...
NI VSTi sounds SO great for that, Reason too...

SubFunk,
AAS seem to be great.
I have some questions about that.
- can we change program/preset via program change?
- can we change easily program for a live performance for example?
- is there a "database" structure as in NI VSTi ?

See U!

the first point i don't know, because i never use any form of program changes [automated or via midi] in any case.

the other two: yes.

just try the demos, really.

SonnyBonnier · Post by **SonnyBonnier** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:58 am

ImpOSCar is great for everything except soundscapes.

Ron Bender · Post by **Ron Bender** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:31 pm

The u-he Zebra2 is one of my favorites, I also prefer Reaktor5 for great sounds
Try out the demos and you'll see

Josh Von · Post by **Josh Von** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:50 pm

laurence wrote:z3ta+ and z3ta+_fx anyday

+1

.

julienb · Post by **julienb** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:28 pm

Ok
Many thanks!

I make my test list:
- Zebra2
- z3ta+
- ImpOSCar
- AAS stuff (Ultra Analog, Tassman... anyone use tassman in live performance context?)

I'll test all of that in demo
I just hope stability, power, and easiness for changing preset in live context!

if anyone have other ideas, I'm interested!

Pasha · Post by **Pasha** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:46 pm

julienb wrote:Ok
Many thanks!

I make my test list:
- Zebra2
- z3ta+
- ImpOSCar
- AAS stuff (Ultra Analog, Tassman... anyone use tassman in live performance context?)

I'll test all of that in demo
I just hope stability, power, and easiness for changing preset in live context!

if anyone have other ideas, I'm interested!

You can change presets in operator when in arrangement also using the hot swap feature. Of course this will clutter a little bit your track because changing a preset with Operator means that all possible parameter will change, it's not like a Program Change, it's more like a parameter massive change that is written as automation. I think this could also produce some gaps in sound (like Program Changes do sometimes).
Just for completeness of information.

- Best
- Pasha

serotoninsteve · Post by **serotoninsteve** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:58 pm

Also check surge:

http://vemberaudio.se/surge.php

My choice would be surge or zebra2,
2 of the versatilest beasts I know.[/url]

julienb · Post by **julienb** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:22 pm

Thanks for your so precious experiences!

Pasha,

You can change presets in operator when in arrangement also using the hot swap feature. Of course this will clutter a little bit your track because changing a preset with Operator means that all possible parameter will change, it's not like a Program Change, it's more like a parameter massive change that is written as automation. I think this could also produce some gaps in sound (like Program Changes do sometimes).
Just for completeness of information.

In that case, this is not a problem for me if I used operator.
Indeed, I have two groups of tracks (when I would finish this f..g configuration, I'll post all!)
These tracks are:
1 drums
7 synth + sampler
what I'm looking for now is synth.

I use crossfader for making transition between tracks (indeed, I have time to change by dragging/droppin, I have no problem about gaps etc etc...)
But operator isn't very inspirative (for me...)

I'll check Surge, serotoninsteve!
thanks!

(I just tested Ultra Analog demo ........... WOWOWOWOWO!
the management of brwser, and almost THE SOUND!
sounds great for me