OS X users: What do you use for synthesis?

al3x · Post by **al3x** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:47 am

So, Live is only useful if you've got sounds and loops to dump into it, and I'm kinda low on those. I've been looking into options for synthesis, but pickings on OS X are really slim right now. What I really want is Reaktor 4, but it's not out until April. Complex, hard-to-use, creativity-stifling programs like Max/MSP and Puredata aren't an option for me.

I want to be able to make complex, airy, ethereal sounds. Is there a softsynth on OS X that works TODAY that'll do this, or am I screwed until Reaktor is out?

mrfett · Post by **mrfett** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:58 am

check out rumblence:

http://www.u-he.com/

Novacosmic · Post by **Novacosmic** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:47 pm

Why not Reason?

Novacosmic · Post by **Novacosmic** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 4:53 pm

mrfett wrote:check out rumblence:

http://www.u-he.com/

I just downloaded Rumblence:Zoyd, which says it is an Audio Unit. Live does not support A.U.s yet, so I am not sure how one gets it to sync up, since the website makes no mention of running in standalone mode nor whether or not it can run in Rewire slave mode.

beaker · Post by **beaker** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 5:30 pm

al3x wrote:So, Live is only useful if you've got sounds and loops to dump into it, and I'm kinda low on those.

Yes, I think that is the idea of making music. As the musician, you are supposed to do something called "making the sound happen". Sometimes I like to call this "playing an instrument or other sound producing device". Very often before you go to make a song, you will have one or more of these "instrument or sound producing devices" in mind that you have played around with before, and presumably have some idea about what sounds you would like to make and an idea about how to make them.

The problem of being a musician cannot be solved with a new software program.

b

al3x · Post by **al3x** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:01 pm

Well fuck you too, Beaker

I know exactly what sounds I want and how to make them, from a synthesis approach. I simply don't have the money to go out and buy a hardware synth, so I'm asking what software synths people like on OS X (because I also don't have the time to reformat my iBook and put OS 9/Classic on it). I'm not looking for the software to do the musicianship for me, I'm just looking for software that works on my platform so my musical ideas can get done. I'll do the "sound producing" myself. You can take your sarcasm and shove it.

beaker · Post by **beaker** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 6:32 pm

al3x wrote:Well fuck you too, Beaker .

beaker apologizes 4 his sarcazm +
presumtuous criticism of your doubtless
excellent synthesizer software musicianship.

b

the8bitdeity · Post by **the8bitdeity** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:15 pm

Rax is a pretty cool AU host. You might be able to use that in conjunction with Live. Not sure. I'm waiting for Logic 6 with Rewire 2 support. I'm hoping I can then take AU synths, record them, then send them to Live to glitch up.

Salt · Post by **Salt** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:54 pm

Virsyn TERA for OSX was recently released. I've never used it, but it has had good reviews. try http://www.dreamtek.tv. The idea is that it is competition for REAKTOR. It costs GBP£162, my copy of MacUser says.

Orion Edgar
Salt DJs

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 9:57 pm

Sorry, dreamtek ain't what you want, it's a UK mac dealer. try http://www.virsyn.com/English/EHome/ehome.html.

Orion Edgar
Salt DJs

Novacosmic · Post by **Novacosmic** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 11:55 pm

al3x wrote:I want to be able to make complex, airy, ethereal sounds. Is there a softsynth on OS X that works TODAY that'll do this, or am I screwed until Reaktor is out?

Should I assume that you don't regard Reason's Malstrom as a full-featured soft synth?

jer_mcclain · Post by **jer_mcclain** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 12:07 am

Try the Tassman, the new version is OS X compatible. Kinda like Reaktor though not as complex. Has a pretty good sound to it. It does run a bit sluggish on my TiBook 400 though

www.applied-acoustics.com

tjwett is never logged in · Post by **tjwett is never logged in** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 1:44 am

right now i'd say your best bet would be Reason, until things get rolling for OS X.

mrfett · Post by **mrfett** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 3:47 am

i suggested Rumblance because i use Logic. you're totally right that there's nothing for a strictly Live user. Live doesn't do VSTi, so even the synths that are out (PPG Wave 2.v) don't work in it. the only thing I can suggest is Reason, but that means laying out some cash. sorry i couldn't be of more help

Live definitely needs some AU _and_ VSTi support. that would be heaven.

al3x · Post by **al3x** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 5:31 am

Well, I've played with Rumblence and it's nice for such an early project, but it doesn't really have all the detail and features I want (granular synthesis, particularly). Tassman looks like a nice product, but they have no demo and I never buy music apps on faith alone. As for Reason, well, it's more than I'm looking for and not quite the workflow I like, but thanks for the suggestion.

I guess, barring a demo of Tassman becoming available, I'll get Reaktor 3, do a software restore on my iBook and keep OS 9 this time, and suffer periodic reboots into 9 until April when Reaktor 4 for OS X comes out. I wouldn't want VSTi support in Live, but it would be nice if a Rax-like really simple VST host existed for X. Oh well, thanks for the suggestions everyone!

OS X users: What do you use for synthesis?

OS X users: What do you use for synthesis?

Re: OS X users: What do you use for synthesis?

Zoyd

OSX soft synths

Re: OS X users: What do you use for synthesis?