looking for new soft syth...

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
guntop
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by guntop » Wed May 04, 2011 10:21 pm

ok with just the little research ive done, and considering the cash i got...why not just go with komplete and get a bunch a stuff at once? seems like three that were mentioned massive, absynth, and reaktor are included no?...what about that and zebra?

lunabass
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by lunabass » Wed May 04, 2011 11:35 pm

guntop wrote:ok with just the little research ive done, and considering the cash i got...why not just go with komplete and get a bunch a stuff at once? seems like three that were mentioned massive, absynth, and reaktor are included no?...what about that and zebra?
+1. just go komplete...so many options
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mholloway
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by mholloway » Wed May 04, 2011 11:39 pm

guntop wrote:ok with just the little research ive done, and considering the cash i got...why not just go with komplete and get a bunch a stuff at once? seems like three that were mentioned massive, absynth, and reaktor are included no?...what about that and zebra?

Komplete is a great idea -- just prepare to be totally fucking overwhelmed. Absynth is not a beginner synth by any means, and functions programmatically quite different than your typical softsynth. Massive, though, is easier to approach. FM8 is the best FM synth on the market. AND you get Kontakt -- fucking awesome sampler with tons of multi-sampled instruments like pianos, guitars, etc -- plus the totally insane and mind-boggling Reaktor, which you could use that and nothing else and write a whole album.

Honestly, if you go the Komplete route, you shouldn't bother picking up Zebra for a while, you'll already have way too much stuff to get to grips with and it's not like Zebra, sound wise, is providing anything radically different from what is available in the Komplete package.

-M
my industrial music made with Ableton Live (as DEAD WHEN I FOUND HER): https://deadwhenifoundher.bandcamp.com/
my dark jazz / noir music made with Ableton Live: https://michaelarthurholloway.bandcamp. ... guilt-noir

guntop
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by guntop » Wed May 04, 2011 11:50 pm

mholloway wrote:
guntop wrote:ok with just the little research ive done, and considering the cash i got...why not just go with komplete and get a bunch a stuff at once? seems like three that were mentioned massive, absynth, and reaktor are included no?...what about that and zebra?

Komplete is a great idea -- just prepare to be totally fucking overwhelmed. Absynth is not a beginner synth by any means, and functions programmatically quite different than your typical softsynth. Massive, though, is easier to approach. FM8 is the best FM synth on the market. AND you get Kontakt -- fucking awesome sampler with tons of multi-sampled instruments like pianos, guitars, etc -- plus the totally insane and mind-boggling Reaktor, which you could use that and nothing else and write a whole album.

Honestly, if you go the Komplete route, you shouldn't bother picking up Zebra for a while, you'll already have way too much stuff to get to grips with and it's not like Zebra, sound wise, is providing anything radically different from what is available in the Komplete package.

-M
for real? ok, cause i got the mons and i like getting lots of the stuff, my setup is way to basic. is it wiser to start off with komplete or zebra?

Tarekith
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by Tarekith » Thu May 05, 2011 12:41 am

There's so much stuff in Komplete, it's going to take you months just to start exploring it all. Zebra will take you months just to learn how to use fully. Pick one, no need to do both at the same time, they'll both still be available at a later date.

mholloway
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by mholloway » Thu May 05, 2011 2:29 am

guntop wrote:
for real? ok, cause i got the mons and i like getting lots of the stuff, my setup is way to basic. is it wiser to start off with komplete or zebra?

komplete will give you much more to work with and dive into. Zebra is a great synth, but I think you're going to feel like your home studio just got launched into the big-time after installing Komplete. Zebra, you'll just have one new synth, it's deep and sounds great but, really, Komplete gives you so much more. People love Native Instruments for a reason -- it's quality stuff.

-M
my industrial music made with Ableton Live (as DEAD WHEN I FOUND HER): https://deadwhenifoundher.bandcamp.com/
my dark jazz / noir music made with Ableton Live: https://michaelarthurholloway.bandcamp. ... guilt-noir

razorblade
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by razorblade » Thu May 05, 2011 3:05 am

I've got Komplete, Zebra and Omnisphere...If I had to start with one ( which I did) I'd jump in with Komplete. Just too many good tools in that toolbox.
No...I am 3phase!

guntop
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by guntop » Thu May 05, 2011 4:15 am

its great to hear these last few comments, cause i was so impatient i got komplete before i even got any responses...

now im impatient to get it...

Rationalizer
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by Rationalizer » Thu May 05, 2011 5:56 am

razorblade wrote:I've got Komplete, Zebra and Omnisphere...If I had to start with one ( which I did) I'd jump in with Komplete. Just too many good tools in that toolbox.
+1 I have Komplete 6 which I bought about 2 years ago and I still haven't gone through everything it holds. No need to buy Zebra or other synths, tbh.
WIN8.1 x64 | Suite 9.5 x64 | RME FF400 | UAD-2 | Maschine 2 | SparkLE | Mopho | Blodeld | Komplete 9 | Ebony A2 | Adam A7 | Launchpad | Waves Diamond V9 | Many VSTs

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Greeg
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by Greeg » Thu May 05, 2011 6:59 am

guntop wrote:to answer the question, the sound i'm going for is a type of electro/progressive house/glitch sound...i guess. ive tried to get help genrezing it, but no ones sure. i'm also looking for that huge dubstep sound though, but not necessarily that style. this is why i want something super versatile as i'm still working hard on finding my own sound. best i can say are my favs and inspirations: justice, prefuse 73, deadmau5, edIT, telefon tel aviv, noisia, skrillex, elliot lipp. if that gives a more specific idea of sounds im after.
Fxpansion Strobe is perfect for all of these electro/progressive house basslines and overall basslines.

For Skrillex screaming basslines NI Massive is your friend.

For synth/lead sounds most synths are capable of creating warm plucks or other sounds. I know that some producers use old Z3ta+ (i'm not fan of it's ... GUI - hate it to be honest ;) ), latest Synapse Dune and to be honest tons of other synths. It's rather a question whether you are a preset whore ;) or you like to create presets from scratch.

If you're preset whore, I would pick a synth which has plenty of third party libraries covering your genre.

To be honest any synth will do. For example this comes from Toxic Biohazard, a synth which has a factory soundbank filled with atmospheres, ambient sounds :)
http://www.getdropbox.com/u/756231/mp3_ ... eads-1.mp3
http://www.getdropbox.com/u/756231/mp3_ ... _world.mp3

or very old V-Station
http://www.getdropbox.com/u/756231/mp3_ ... -demo1.mp3

I would recommend Toxic Biohazard, pretty unknown synth - it has 6 oscillators, it can load custom waveforms, it has nice, easy to use FM Matrix, it has EQ, nice Lo-Fi effects, Delay, Reverb etc. It's capable of creating modern sounds good for electronic music. If you want something more popular then probably Synapse Dune would be a good choice.

Or buy some third party libraries for Ableton Operator. Just pick one synth and master it.
VST Cafe - music production blog, ableton, vst
Novation V-Station, Toxic Biohazard, Cakewalk Z3ta+ - modern electronic, EDM, pop soundbanks | Tone2 Gladiator Space Station - soundbank

Rationalizer
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by Rationalizer » Thu May 05, 2011 8:35 am

Greeg wrote:
guntop wrote:to answer the question, the sound i'm going for is a type of electro/progressive house/glitch sound...i guess. ive tried to get help genrezing it, but no ones sure. i'm also looking for that huge dubstep sound though, but not necessarily that style. this is why i want something super versatile as i'm still working hard on finding my own sound. best i can say are my favs and inspirations: justice, prefuse 73, deadmau5, edIT, telefon tel aviv, noisia, skrillex, elliot lipp. if that gives a more specific idea of sounds im after.
Fxpansion Strobe is perfect for all of these electro/progressive house basslines and overall basslines.

For Skrillex screaming basslines NI Massive is your friend.

For synth/lead sounds most synths are capable of creating warm plucks or other sounds. I know that some producers use old Z3ta+ (i'm not fan of it's ... GUI - hate it to be honest ;) ), latest Synapse Dune and to be honest tons of other synths. It's rather a question whether you are a preset whore ;) or you like to create presets from scratch.

If you're preset whore, I would pick a synth which has plenty of third party libraries covering your genre.

To be honest any synth will do. For example this comes from Toxic Biohazard, a synth which has a factory soundbank filled with atmospheres, ambient sounds :)
http://www.getdropbox.com/u/756231/mp3_ ... eads-1.mp3
http://www.getdropbox.com/u/756231/mp3_ ... _world.mp3

or very old V-Station
http://www.getdropbox.com/u/756231/mp3_ ... -demo1.mp3

I would recommend Toxic Biohazard, pretty unknown synth - it has 6 oscillators, it can load custom waveforms, it has nice, easy to use FM Matrix, it has EQ, nice Lo-Fi effects, Delay, Reverb etc. It's capable of creating modern sounds good for electronic music. If you want something more popular then probably Synapse Dune would be a good choice.

Or buy some third party libraries for Ableton Operator. Just pick one synth and master it.
You may want to read the first post again. Didn't sound like a "preset whore" to me.
WIN8.1 x64 | Suite 9.5 x64 | RME FF400 | UAD-2 | Maschine 2 | SparkLE | Mopho | Blodeld | Komplete 9 | Ebony A2 | Adam A7 | Launchpad | Waves Diamond V9 | Many VSTs

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Greeg
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by Greeg » Thu May 05, 2011 9:21 am

Rationalizer wrote: You may want to read the first post again. Didn't sound like a "preset whore" to me.
Indeed you're right :) Then I would just pick Strobe, NI Massive, Synapse Dune...
VST Cafe - music production blog, ableton, vst
Novation V-Station, Toxic Biohazard, Cakewalk Z3ta+ - modern electronic, EDM, pop soundbanks | Tone2 Gladiator Space Station - soundbank

kev herb
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by kev herb » Thu May 05, 2011 10:08 am

go komplete for sure there is so much there it will keep you busy for years. the synths are great and reaktor is deeper than you will ever have to go but what is important about reaktor is that it doesn't have to be like that if your not up for that kind of stuff like me then what it is is an ever growing list of quality plug-ins that you can download for free. its like having GAS without spending anymore money :D
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia- Fear of long words

TRS80
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by TRS80 » Thu May 05, 2011 7:54 pm

I like Sylenth 1.

First of all, the simplicity of it allows me to learn. Nothing is more than a single click away.

Second, it sounds good.

Third, it's been around for a while and there are many presets out there.

Fourth, it seems to have a low CPU footprint and doesn't bog down my CPU.

Fifth, it's intuitive and easy to control.

I'm interested in Omnisphere, but am not going there because I'm on a laptop. I think Omnisphere might hog my resources and ultimately slow my process down.

I guess the rest in this thread are over Sylenth, but I like it a lot.
Ableton Suite 8.2.2 suite; OS 10.6.7

mholloway
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Re: looking for new soft syth...

Post by mholloway » Thu May 05, 2011 8:07 pm

@TSR80 Sylenth is definitely an impressive synth, mostly due to it's ultra-smooth unison stacking abilities and that ridiculous smooth/rich sound it has. BUT, for synth programmers it's not exactly an ideal instrument if you're looking for something to go really deep with. Pretty basic modulation setup, decent FX, no PWM, clearly it can make a huge range of sounds but for someone with the OP's needs something like Alchemy / Zebra2 would provide the programming depth he'll likely want. Sylenth is a worthy tool and I'm glad I own it, but its' hardly a hard-core programmer's wet dream. It just sounds damn good (and seriously, what other softsynth can do Unison stacking like that?? just crazy).

-M
my industrial music made with Ableton Live (as DEAD WHEN I FOUND HER): https://deadwhenifoundher.bandcamp.com/
my dark jazz / noir music made with Ableton Live: https://michaelarthurholloway.bandcamp. ... guilt-noir

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