Hi Guys!
What is the best synth for Ambient music,with good drone/space/fx sounds.
Help me please.
Thank's

Commercial I know Absynth will do the trick

On the free side: Cosmogirl, cosmossynth, Crystal, Motion 2.6

And virtually all the synths are able to do some crazy things when you tweak long enough

RHINO.

You won´t find any cheaper for what you are trying to do!

neonix wrote:

Hi Guys! What is the best synth for Ambient music,with good drone/space/fx sounds. Help me please. Thank's

well...Absynth is great as well as the free ones mentioned.Crystal in Particular and Motion. Cameleon 5000 from Camel Audio also is a super spacer as well as Rhino from Big Tick.In the higher price cat. is spectrosonics Atmosphere.

However, a small plug for our new synth called M42 Nebula. It's meant for just what you want. http://www.algomusic.nl. See also the long thread on this forum.

EDIT: again, the best thing to do is to download the demo's and try them out. Listen to the MP3 sound demo's as well. You can really make any synth out there do space stuff, so it's a matter of taste and choice, and EARS!

TC

Thanks Guys!

tconrardy wrote:

neonix wrote: Hi Guys! What is the best synth for Ambient music,with good drone/space/fx sounds. Help me please. Thank's well...Absynth is great as well as the free ones mentioned.Crystal in Particular and Motion. Cameleon 5000 from Camel Audio also is a super spacer as well as Rhino from Big Tick.In the higher price cat. is spectrosonics Atmosphere. However, a small plug for our new synth called M42 Nebula. It's meant for just what you want. http://www.algomusic.nl. See also the long thread on this forum. EDIT: again, the best thing to do is to download the demo's and try them out. Listen to the MP3 sound demo's as well. You can really make any synth out there do space stuff, so it's a matter of taste and choice, and EARS! TC

*yawn*

Atmosphere is the best for drones and pads for sure IMHO...no demo though. You would not be sorry with the purchase.

dano

Try FM Spira. Where can you get it? Who knows?


There should be a site at www.?????.com with a complete listing of all currently available VST generators and effects. All the developers pay 1-2$ a month to have the site maintain the listings - just basic information - no flashy ads needed. Those that don't pay the 2$ a month get their great work listed under the cheap SOB category.

Now VST developers like ODO, and Krakli and the FM Spira guy and a host of others would get their great work listed and indexed and described.

Everytime a topic like this comes up just say go to www.?????.com.

Unless I am mistaken there is not a site that does a good job tracking and describing the 1500 or so generators and effects. It should just be one long web page with site link, creators name, vst description, price, download link - alphabetical order. No reviews needed. Really simple. Then go from there.

Just ONE simple links and description page. Maybe somebody can write a web crawler that would work 24 hours a day to get a list going.

Expensive but top - Reaktor.

Free but good - Sun Ra (by Elogoxa).

But you should also think about effects - a good effect like say Spektral delay can make ambient sounds from the most basic starting point.

Those are dead links Tregetour































j/k

Tregetour wrote:

Try FM Spira. Where can you get it? Who knows? There should be a site at www.?????.com with a complete listing of all currently available VST generators and effects.

gee, where could I find info like this??

And the funny thing is I had not heard of it and may have seen it once before, but I think I could put this one to good and non-sync use. Will try this out soon.

Thanks Gary

bluedad wrote:

Tregetour wrote: Try FM Spira. Where can you get it? Who knows? There should be a site at www.?????.com with a complete listing of all currently available VST generators and effects. gee, where could I find info like this??

i thought he was being ironic

vurt wrote:

bluedad wrote: Tregetour wrote: Try FM Spira. Where can you get it? Who knows? There should be a site at www.?????.com with a complete listing of all currently available VST generators and effects. gee, where could I find info like this?? i thought he was being ironic

more like sarcastic

although, on another thought, ironic as well.
can I be both?

mhc space synthesizer

updated GUI
double the presets

comes along with its fx pack

the fx work esp. well with Motion

definitely worth it to download the deom

I'm just wondering, why is it that whenever someone asks for the best synth for 'x', at least one person always answers Crystal? I mean, its a pretty decent synth, especially for a freebie, but is it really the BEST for ambient, fat bass, strings, glitch, analogue drums, TB303 emulation, trance, and polka?

I'll throw my 2 cents toward Reaktor, Spektral Delay, and Absynth. And if you are already a NI user, then the freebie Metaphysical Function is the worlds easiest way to "compose" ambient. Not to say that Native Instruments is the ambient center of the universe, but those would be my picks...

Of course, almost any synth could room in an ambient work...
Always, the most important VST will be your ears and your head...

Thinks like Galactix and Synth1... or some hardware pieces can help a lot...

e-modic wrote:

tconrardy wrote: neonix wrote: Hi Guys! What is the best synth for Ambient music,with good drone/space/fx sounds. Help me please. Thank's well...Absynth is great as well as the free ones mentioned.Crystal in Particular and Motion. Cameleon 5000 from Camel Audio also is a super spacer as well as Rhino from Big Tick.In the higher price cat. is spectrosonics Atmosphere. However, a small plug for our new synth called M42 Nebula. It's meant for just what you want. http://www.algomusic.nl. See also the long thread on this forum. EDIT: again, the best thing to do is to download the demo's and try them out. Listen to the MP3 sound demo's as well. You can really make any synth out there do space stuff, so it's a matter of taste and choice, and EARS! TC *yawn*

haven't heard of that one - where can I download the demo?

deastman wrote:

I'm just wondering, why is it that whenever someone asks for the best synth for 'x', at least one person always answers Crystal? I mean, its a pretty decent synth, especially for a freebie, but is it really the BEST for ambient, fat bass, strings, glitch, analogue drums, TB303 emulation, trance, and polka? I'll throw my 2 cents toward Reaktor, Spektral Delay, and Absynth. And if you are already a NI user, then the freebie Metaphysical Function is the worlds easiest way to "compose" ambient. Not to say that Native Instruments is the ambient center of the universe, but those would be my picks...

wouldnt say crystal is the synth for any style but for ambient yes,as the free option,alongside motion and a few fx some nice ambient soundscapes without much else

Ok. Some other good tools for ambient... CA5000, Cube or Vertigo for morphing additive waves (run that though some delays and verb).

Alright, here comes a shameless plug (really? Squids? Never! ). Sonik Synth 2 is really good for ambient synth sounds. The combination of sample elements and it's 32 built-in mangling DSP tools with layering can produce some really hypnotic results and something DIFFERENT than you get from the usual plug-ins mentioned for Ambient music, even if they are also great.

This is a total plug, but White Noise Additive is great for ambient. The vast majority of it's presets are pads which I would say are crucial for most ambient songs. It also supports image->sound which is great for twinkly sounds.

Regards,

Actually, I would venture to say that the most important tool for ambient is a great big reverb with no dry signal. Choose your poison

clueless wrote:

e-modic wrote: tconrardy wrote: neonix wrote: Hi Guys! What is the best synth for Ambient music,with good drone/space/fx sounds. Help me please. Thank's well...Absynth is great as well as the free ones mentioned.Crystal in Particular and Motion. Cameleon 5000 from Camel Audio also is a super spacer as well as Rhino from Big Tick.In the higher price cat. is spectrosonics Atmosphere. However, a small plug for our new synth called M42 Nebula. It's meant for just what you want. http://www.algomusic.nl. See also the long thread on this forum. EDIT: again, the best thing to do is to download the demo's and try them out. Listen to the MP3 sound demo's as well. You can really make any synth out there do space stuff, so it's a matter of taste and choice, and EARS! TC *yawn* haven't heard of that one - where can I download the demo?

If you are refering to M42 Nebula: http://www.algomusic.nl./downloads.html

TC

My suggestions:

Check out Tweakbench plugins. There is one called "field", which you might find handy.

the ambient presets on the z3ta+ virus mod are unbeliveable.

and speaking of Metaphysical Function, the NI proggy, strictly speaking you don't *need* to be an NI user to download it (if it is still available on their site).

i registered a user account by downloading the FM7 demo, and once the account was activated i was able to download Metaphysical Function- thanks NI!

i also found a freebie called "apad4" or some such similar name, someone here could point it out for you. Motion26 and Texture are also good freebies.

No links sorry, i'm supposed to be studying for a Digital Audio Theory exam in 4 hours

I'll add my voice to the chorus of plugs. It's not a plugin, but together with a convolution reverb plugin (there are free ones available), my IR collection called Spectral Relativity really is very well suited for ambient music.

http://www.spiritcanyonaudio.com

I'll also add my vote for Reaktor, which is all that and a bag of chips for ambient or experimental/abstract music. Reaktor Session can be had for less than $200 and it really offers almost everything you'd ever need in a synth. You can even create new ensembles out of different combinations of instruments. The only thing you can't do is make new instruments from scratch, but with a user library as large as NI has, I don't think that will ever limit me...

tconrardy wrote:

clueless wrote: e-modic wrote: tconrardy wrote: neonix wrote: Hi Guys! What is the best synth for Ambient music,with good drone/space/fx sounds. Help me please. Thank's well...Absynth is great as well as the free ones mentioned.Crystal in Particular and Motion. Cameleon 5000 from Camel Audio also is a super spacer as well as Rhino from Big Tick.In the higher price cat. is spectrosonics Atmosphere. However, a small plug for our new synth called M42 Nebula. It's meant for just what you want. http://www.algomusic.nl. See also the long thread on this forum. EDIT: again, the best thing to do is to download the demo's and try them out. Listen to the MP3 sound demo's as well. You can really make any synth out there do space stuff, so it's a matter of taste and choice, and EARS! TC *yawn* haven't heard of that one - where can I download the demo? If you are refering to M42 Nebula: http://www.algomusic.nl./downloads.html TC

i think he was making fun of emodic's "yawn" i.e. haven't heard of "yawn" before lol

which brings me to the question emodic..what the hell was that sarcastic "yawn" all about anyway?

Why does everybody assume that Ambient music is composed of Synthetic textures? In my experience, the best Ambient music is composed of a combination of Real instruments (or samples), human voice (either recorded or singing). Everybody is confusing Ambient music with electronic music which is not the same. In any case, the Korg WaveStation is pretty dam good for Pads.

Access Virus and/or a TB303 clone..

I have been making noise/ambient drones using every sound I came across. I recorded my toilet, washing machine, watertap, switching on the light. breaking a beer bottle using the most primitive recording equipment.

Then I went playing with my sounds & my processing/effect tools untill it sounded the way I wanted and was no longer recognizable as the orignal sounds. Reverb, equalizer & delay/pitchshifter will get you a long way. and if you do your best you can make melodies in aswell. just experiment.

But if you want to make synth-based ambient I highly recommend:

Linplug - Albino
Linplug - Delta III

they have very deep and awesome sounds in their pre-sets. and you have some good wasy of editing and thus make your own sounds.

ps. Crystal does sound nice

you should really check out the z3ta 1.4, it`s one of the synths with wich you simply can do most of all sounds ... very flexible, endless possibilities ...
if you want to hear even a very little part of what this synth can do, listen to my demosong...
it`s only a little part of what goes, even the drums are from the z3ta ...
the song is made with 11 instances of the z3ta.
no additional effects were used exept a peakstop limiter to prevent overshoots.

reg,

I get a 404 error on your link, brok

vurt wrote:

try this gary

thanks vurt!

bluedad wrote:

I get a 404 error on your link, brok

thanx vurt !
yeah, something went wrong in the url ...
seems to work on vurts link ...
if not, go to my site (in the signature),
click on "references" and click the link ...
hope this helps,

reg,

sorry should have said how i fixed
you have a / after.mp3

vurt wrote:

sorry should have said how i fixed you have a / after.mp3

yes, allready got it ... worx correctly now ...

reg,

vurt wrote:

try this gary

that song has some very awesome sounds...some were a bit too sharp / fierce for my ears but well.

if this is made with just one synth than that synth is getting the #1 position on my wantlist.

Hi,

As a couple of other people have mentioned, Cameleon 5000 is really good for ambient pads, and is also great for weird ambiences and so on (see the effects category of the presets). Its also got some cool voice type stuff. Cameleon has recieved great reviews in many magazines, including a glowing 8 page review in Sound on Sound. Its also currently sitting at number 3 in the top commerical instrument ratings here on KVR. http://www.kvr-vst.com/inst-ratings.php?rt=0

You can download a free demo here:
http://www.camelaudio.com/download.htm

Thanks
Ben

Quote:

that song has some very awesome sounds...some were a bit too sharp / fierce for my ears but well.

thanx man, i appreciate this ... but yeah, youre right, some sounds are a little sharp, but since i diddn`t even use any external eqs ...

Quote:

if this is made with just one synth than that synth is getting the #1 position on my wantlist.

it is _only_ the z3ta 1.4 ... nothing else ...
reg,

If you're looking for interesting spacey tranced-out ambient pads, there really are only a few to choose from: Rhino, Cameleon 5000, z3ta, or M42. I own them all (glad I like top ramen noodles) and they all have a place in my music. Dash EVE has some good stuff in the Famous Keys add-on packs as well, it too sees a lot of use.

Download the demos and jam out! You'll find the one that fits your needs pretty quickly that way.

I suspect my idea of ambient differs somewhat from the target of previous suggestionns (I'm thinking along the lines of Phill Niblock/Jonathan Coleclough/Daniel Menche-style drones and the like) but I'd suggest checking out Audiomulch for this kind of stuff (or PD for a more difficult experience).

Also get a good stereo audio editor to really work your audio over.

Cheers,
Steve

I like the new Z3ta 1.4 but then again what really defines "ambient music"? I mean I can take Vanguard and mess with FX and come up with something cool!!! dont be limited by that you think that you dont have an ambient synth..... be creative and do something with what you have.

For ambient pads it's got to be Absynth, or if you'd rather have a free option - Crystal

I read good things in another thread about the M42 too

I would use a combination of the Cameleon5000 additive morphing synth, the SIR convolution processor, and some of the exotic impulse responses from the Spectral Relativity impulse response collection. If you can't create some ambient sounds with that, I just don't know what else to say.

where's white noise additive in all this , for the price it's a steal for ambient noises and pads! granted cameleon and absynth can do these sounds too but they are twice the price!

My ambient tool kit;
The NI plugs mentioned here-Reaktor,Absynth and Spektral Delay
The White Noise synths-Additive and Doppelmangler
CronoX2-wonderful when loaded with the right samples
Xphraze
M42's cool-I've just started playing with the demo,but it's a nice piece of work
Freebies-Motion,Crystal and SunRa
ew

IMHO Spectrasonics Atmosphere is far and away the best synth (ROMpler)for Ambient styles.

Ableton Live is not a synth I know, but I think it's excellent to do Ambient, Drone like sounds with it.
To me it's not only a sequencer, it's also an instrument.

I'd have to vote for Reaktor, as well, purely on the basis of diversity of tone. Though there are a few areas where Reaktor's synth engines are bested by others (esp. analog emulation), there are incredible numbers of atmospheric synths in the premium and online user libraries. I think you'd have a lot of trouble exhausting the supply of tones in that package.

If you act quickly, you can still get Komplete 2 for $499, and get Reaktor and Absynth, another incredible atmospheric synth! I don't work for N.I., but I still can't believe how many people don't know about this offer... and only 2 weeks left to go! I'm happily $500 in debt as a result of this amazing offer.

Lazlo Minimart wrote:

I'd have to vote for Reaktor, as well, purely on the basis of diversity of tone. Though there are a few areas where Reaktor's synth engines are bested by others (esp. analog emulation), there are incredible numbers of atmospheric synths in the premium and online user libraries. I think you'd have a lot of trouble exhausting the supply of tones in that package. If you act quickly, you can still get Komplete 2 for $499, and get Reaktor and Absynth, another incredible atmospheric synth! I don't work for N.I., but I still can't believe how many people don't know about this offer... and only 2 weeks left to go! I'm happily $500 in debt as a result of this amazing offer.

...must...resist...urge...to...use...credit...card...

MHC SpaceSynth + XPhrase + most any additive synth will give you a good start.

IMHO M42 Nebula is one of the very best for gentle ambient space sounds a la Jonn Serrie. Absynth is great for that too, but a little dark a la B.Lustmord.

Stick with the lesser knowns, that way you've more of a chance of finding something that is unique. Most of the major VST players (Steinberg for example) all sound the same and don't really inspire.

I use lots of SynthEdit plugins extensively because of this - those developers are crazy musicians who want psychotic features... bring me more flesh SE devs!!