Ableton Forum

I really hate to say it, but I'm quite disappointed with Analog

I already have Pro-53 and I really dont want anything from Analog

I might have wanted it if it was just an oscilator and we could have the filters and envelopes from Simpler, but as it is it's no where near intuitive enough for a 'virtual analog' synth

forge wrote:I really hate to say it, but I'm quite disappointed with Analog

I already have Pro-53 and I really dont want anything from Analog

I might have wanted it if it was just an oscilator and we could have the filters and envelopes from Simpler, but as it is it's no where near intuitive enough for a 'virtual analog' synth

what are u missing from it?

ive been using it all over my tracks lately for edgier tones i cant get elsewhere...

It's OK.

Nothing really special, given that I own Zebra 2, Massive and Analog Factory, all 3 of which are amazing synths. If you don't rack it up too much, I find it lighter on CPU load than those 3, especially Analog factory and Massive (but that has an eco mode which helps).

I have used it on a couple of tracks to good effect, it still has a newness about it and I don't think AAS's original synth was as popular as Zebra, Analog Factory or Massive, because I hear a lot of music where I can tell it was a Zebra patch or a Massive patch etc, so that works in Analog's favour.

I have to say though, that for my needs, Tension and Electric are much more valuable to me.

sweetjesus wrote:

forge wrote:I really hate to say it, but I'm quite disappointed with Analog

I already have Pro-53 and I really dont want anything from Analog

I might have wanted it if it was just an oscilator and we could have the filters and envelopes from Simpler, but as it is it's no where near intuitive enough for a 'virtual analog' synth

what are u missing from it?

ive been using it all over my tracks lately for edgier tones i cant get elsewhere...

well, owning Pro-53 doesnt leave me with a feeling of lack for VA synths, and as a simple example just writing one note in a MIDI clip then hotswapping through the presets then just replacing it with Pro-53 and doing the same it is immediately apparent

I just will grab Pro-53 more

I'll buy Analog from you.

Pretty nice sounds. Unremarkable features. Weak modulation options (but hey, at least the mod wheel does SOMETHING, which is a step up from Operator...). Bad interface (as with all of the more complex ableton plugins).

forge wrote: I might have wanted it if it was just an oscilator and we could have the filters and envelopes from Simpler, but as it is it's no where near intuitive enough for a 'virtual analog' synth

I get what you're saying, and agree to some extent. But I like the sounds I can get from Analog.

I realized the "virtual analogness" is not in the manipulation of the pieces of it, it is the way the inputs to various sub-components can be altered. I would say it is not well behaved like the other ableton instruments: it's very easy to get unruly unusable and levels from it even if you've made a sound you like, and so maybe best used in a rack.

It's OKayish.
the sound quality is good, but the limited functionality puts it in competition with a million other VA synths out there and I have had ample time to pick one up.

Where sound quality should win, most often I am looking for something a little more than just "moog bass" from my synths. That means weird routings, odd modulation options, etc etc. Something that will stand out from the crowd rather than say "me too".
the interface is cramped and confusing too.

So I don't really use analog.

^ I'LL BUY ANALOG FROM YOU!

i like the tone of it, but i find myself sampling it a lot because the pitch envelopes are so basic.

MUCH happier with tension...

I'm with you forge. If I could sell analog, I would in a heart beat. It's the only instrument or device in my collection that I would not miss at all if it disappeared.

That being said, it isn't terrible or anything. It just has no special character that gives it a niche in my synths. I've got a lot of synths and it's my least favorite sounding. The oscillators are ok, the filters are not great and the layout is not good.

Can you make good tracks with it? Sure. In my opinion I can get a better result using many other things though, no matter what sound I'm after.

I'm definitely glad to have tension and electric though.

Why can't you sell it?

I think it sounds pretty good, and I find myself using it more and more these days, even though I have Zebra2 on hand (which is awesome). It's pretty simple, but more complex than I think people give it credit for. Obviously not going to compete with Z2 on that front, but still more than useable for a wide range of sounds. I do dislike the interface though, way too small and cluttered IMO. I wish Ableton would drop the concept of the central "TV" window for their more complex synths, they take ages to program that way. I wish their synths had arrows you could click to expand into a larger interface, similar to Spectrum or Sampler's keymapping views. Here's a review I did of Analog for ALDJ:

http://www.abletonlivedj.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=87

nebulae wrote:Why can't you sell it?

part of the bundle

yes, Analog would benefit from more screen space and a little more complex routing.
I think I am partly dissuaded from using it by the thought of dealing with that the non-intuitive gui all crammed into that tiny space.