Ableton Forum

Right now i'm using reason when i need more than simpler. I really don't enjoy going back and forth, and i'm tired of workarounds for recording automation and everything that goes along with it.

Will an Ableton inst make life better? or still 128 parameter limit so it doesn't matter...

Also, please answer based on versatility and CPU, because i don't have much to work with now it need something that can accomplish alot, vs one that SOUNDS GREAT for one type of thing.

I enjoyed the Analog and Operator presets, but i can't seem to make anything cool sounding with them. In reason it seems like you can just click around for awhile and make cool stuff happen. I've done more research on the Reason instruments though...

Thanks for any advice that's out there.

keep saving for a real synth.... the ableton instruments are weak

Marx wrote:keep saving for a real synth.... the ableton instruments are weak

operator is NOT weak sir

i like zebra2

its a great synth very versatile and it has internal 4 xy controllers that can be assigned to any of its parameters so you can get around the 128 limitation.

it has great presets and i find programing it a breeze

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

bosonHavoc wrote:i like zebra2

its a great synth very versatile and it has internal 4 xy controllers that can be assigned to any of its parameters so you can get around the 128 limitation.

it has great presets and i find programing it a breeze

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

+ 1
awesome synth. does pretty much everything you need it to

Jekblad wrote:Also, please answer based on versatility and CPU, because i don't have much to work with now it need something that can accomplish alot, vs one that SOUNDS GREAT for one type of thing.

Check out Predator - http://www.robpapen.com/predator.html
. Great balance of presets (there are tons), versatility (Analog, FM, Waveforms including additive, spectral), built-in FX (Delay, Reverb, Vocoder, lo-fi...), Tweakability (great one page interface), Built-in arpeggiator, bank manager, midi-learn, smart randomization of patch parameters, patch morphing. At $149 EU/ $179 US it's a lot of bang for the buck.

I forgot to mention that while I'd go for Predator now, you may want consider Operator down the road. While it might be tough for you to program, there are tons of really cool third-party presets for it out there.

Geezus wrote:

bosonHavoc wrote:i like zebra2

its a great synth very versatile and it has internal 4 xy controllers that can be assigned to any of its parameters so you can get around the 128 limitation.

it has great presets and i find programing it a breeze

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

+ 1
awesome synth. does pretty much everything you need it to

+2

Zebra is the one synth I can think of besides Massive that has enough power to be your only synth, and still not sound like you only own one synth. Massive is a total CPU pig though, while Zebra isn't bad at all. Operator is over rated here, personally I found no use for it. Really, compared to Zebra, Operator is like a synth edit synth. If I was to buy an Ableton plug in, it definitely would be Sampler. The main advantage IMO of embedded plug ins is that they're included in "collect all and save" as far as your audio files for your sample based plug ins go.

Even the top fanboy says go with Zebra2. You won't be disappointed.

as stated before... abe instruments are not weak, they're just not drenched in reverb... you the user can add as needed.

Also as mentioned... zebra is a great choice.

For another option... if you haven't checked out Synplant, from soniccharge.com, then make sure you do, because this IMO is by far the most innovative synth in a very long time. (this is also only $89, so you get to pocket the other $111 for some cool FX or something).

elxicano wrote:
For another option... if you haven't checked out Synplant, from soniccharge.com, then make sure you do, because this IMO is by far the most innovative synth in a very long time. (this is also only $89, so you get to pocket the other $111 for some cool FX or something).

co-sign on Synplant. Get it and spend the rest on a bread and butter synth like Twin, and download a quality freebie like Kore Player and call it a year.

elxicano wrote:as stated before... abe instruments are not weak, they're just not drenched in reverb... you the user can add as needed.

Sorry man, I love Live as a sequencer etc. but Abes synths are weak. Operator doesn't hold a candle to FM8, and that's without reverb etc. Besides Operator and Sampler, the other synths are cut down to 128 parameters to fit with Live's limitations verions of AAS synths.

You can argue that simplicity and GUI make them more useful to your workflow etc. but to argue that they are in the same ballpark as Zebra or FM8 is basically lying.

I might fanboy about their sequencer, but I've always been deeply disappointed in their instrument plug ins.

get operator. you can built instrument racks with operator that blow away anything. And then it's light on cpu. Also there are sooooo many fine presets, for free or for purchase that you won't ever run out of sounds, without even starting to tweak yourself.

With the money you saved get an Osculator licence and a wiimote. Then you can control your instrument racks remotely without cables.

Another + 1 for Zebra.. It Rocks!
Synplant also looks very nice. (just downloaded the demo) So I haven't had time on it yet.. But even from the first impression I have to say WOW!
Also not yet available is Alchemy from Camelaudio.. This looks to be very nice!

Even though I own the Suite the truth is out of all on offer I only get reasonably decent usage out of Operator and Sampler...

Try the demos!

Hd

Links...
Zebra...... http://www.u-he.com/zebra/
Synplant.... http://www.soniccharge.com/synplant
Alchemy.... http://www.camelaudio.com/Alchemy.php

Reaktor 5! http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... ht=reaktor

and here http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/vie ... ht=reaktor

Reaktor is like a bottomless bag of goodies, even if you never try building anything yourself. Synths, FX, samplers, rhythm machines.....

Some more KVR Reaktor marketplace threads here http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/search.php?mode=results