Advice with software instruments

JamieS · Post by **JamieS** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:01 pm

My Story (which can be skipped): For my entire music production career I've always used hardware to generate the bleeps, boops and noise for my productions. I primarily just liked the sound better of my Korg Triton's and Roland Grooveboxes. Forgive me, but I used to use these devices sequence. A few years ago I discovered Live 4 and instantly fell in love with it. It was a new way to think about music sequencing and I've been hooked every since. Well I've since grown tired of linking my 4 external devices together and into my computer using a big Tascam FW-1884. What's the point? I'm spending 80% of my time in live anyway. So it's time to sell my gear and invest in software instruments. Also, I spent the last weekend actually listening to software synths and being blown away by them. I hope that someday I can just produce and perform using my laptop (without any additional hardware), although my desktop is a powerful dual-core PC.

So I'm looking for some advice on software instruments so I can once and for all remove hardware from my equation (with the exception of a nice MIDI/USB controller):

1) What software synths to recommend that play well with Live? I've demoed Abysnth and Reaktor and both seem to be good choices. I'm not much of a sound designer, so I prefer large preset libraries. What do people think about Operator?

2) What about software drums? Is Simpler enough? Again I don't like making or sampling drum noises; I'd like to have a large pool to choose from.

3) Native Instruments Kore: I've read some Pro's and Lot's of Cons, but it seems like it might be a big help. If only to wrap all my instruments into a single controller, a good NI preset library browser and an OK hardware controller (despite the fact that it's a dongle). Any thoughts on using Kore for my use? I wouldn't need the audio interface.

Your advice is much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:38 pm

What kind of music are you trying to make and what kinds of sounds do you need? There are lots and lots of choices in software.

My impression from various forums is that Kore is still pretty buggy. With Native Instruments it usually makes sense to wait for a few updates before buying something new from them.

Also, a lot of people dump all their hardware for software and later regret it since the experience of having something you can physically touch and play really is different. I'd hang on to your hardware until you've been all-software for a while and you're sure you like it. Some people do, others don't.

JamieS · Post by **JamieS** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:41 pm

kuniklo wrote:What kind of music are you trying to make and what kinds of sounds do you need?

Thanks for an answer. I create IDM-style electronica. Any thoughts for instruments for that?

I agree with you on keeping the hardware a bit. I'm also hoping that a good USB/MIDI controller (with keys) and maybe (MAYBE) Kore would be a good way to control my software instruments.

kuniklo · Post by **kuniklo** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 8:49 pm

Reaktor and Absynth are both good choices for IDM. Reaktor can be a real CPU hog, but is also a great source of sounds. If I were starting from scratch today, I'd buy Reaktor, Kontakt, Zebra 2 (http://u-he.com/Zebra2), Microtonic, FabFilter Twin, and some effects plugins to round out what's already available in Live. That should be more than enough to do just about anything. There's lot of other good choices for software synths - those are just my favorites. Vember Audio's Surge (http://vemberaudio.se) is also great but currently pc-only.

I'd also recommend hanging on to at least one hardware synth, but that's my bias.

There are also lots of good options for midi controllers. I'd probably go for an M-Audio Axiom or a Novation Remote SL, but you can find a lot of threads on the forum here about this if you search. I'd read up on Kore on the Native Instrumens forums before buying. It's a nice concept, but it doesn't sound to me that it's working very well for a lot of people. Ideally you don't want to begin your transition to a software studio with a lot of frustrating bugs and crashes.

djastroboy · Post by **djastroboy** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:24 pm

synth1
lazysnake
ConcreteFX Rock
rgc:audio Triangle I & II

MathematiK I · Post by **MathematiK I** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 4:45 am

This is what I use ...
seq: LIVE!!!
Drums: microtoniq ( realy nice sounding drum synth ).stylusRMX. impulse
Bass : trilogy, pro53, absynth.
leads: pro53, operator,crystal .
pads:cameleon5000, absynth, crystal.
fx: glitch , livecut , pro53 has a nice sounding filter.
sampler: wusikstation
basically you can just use live plugs, operator is a good sounding synth ,also there are a lot of nice free plugs... check KVR.
anyway the plugs mentioned before are the ones I was willing to purchase.. (crystal is free!)
Reaktor is an awesome software... basically you can build anything you want...

Nav · Post by **Nav** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:30 am

I've heard NI electrinic instruments 2 http://www.native-instruments.com/index ... 71&flash=8 was good for idm and pretty cheap, theres an article on this plug and idm in one of my old mags ill hook it out for you if you pm me after I move and unpack this week.

Jaberwookie · Post by **Jaberwookie** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:42 pm

I'd go for NI Pro-53 (awesome virtual analogue - great for bass and leads), NI Absynth (Complex but unique, and there are loads of great presets), NI Kontakt (the best sampler ever IMHO), CamelAudio Chameleon 5000 (additive synthesis made simple - great interface, distinctive electronic sounds and great acoustic modelling) and Rob Papen Blue (my current favourite - massive scope for weird sounds, but very intuitive and. if you prefer pre-rolled sounds, it has some great presets).

It is worth remembering that you can make great music using only free plugins - as the man said, check www.kvr-vst.com.

Reaktor is more of a life-style choice than a synth. There's really no point in buying it unless you are serious about synthesis.

hoffman2k · Post by **hoffman2k** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 3:51 pm

www.audiorealism.se because everybody needs a 303 (real or not

)

ABL Pro, Automat and operator for other sounds.
Simpler and impulse for samples.
Max for general mayhem...

friend_kami · Post by **friend_kami** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:27 am

the NI electronic instruments ships with Limelite.
a drummachine (which imo isnt all that exciting), but it can also be used as an fx, and boy what an fx it is. crystal rocks also.