I have $75 worth of near-valueless Federal Reserve Notes burning a hole in my pocket. I wanna buy another cool VSTi. What do you recommend?

offer it to spaceman for his z3ta+
(really, don't know what you have already)

or get in on that anamark special, and you'll still have cash left over.

for M42 which now comes with a free extra synth

Fabfilter One

this or this or maybe this. But then its actually all done with the same thing.

nuts!

Markus
P.S. just discovering the potential of this vsti myself and I'm amazed constantly at what comes out of it.

get wusikstation for $50 during the current sale, have $25 left to put towards a sample/patch expansion set (like The Second Wave collection), and wavesequence yourself into the new year.

-ugo

Microtonic

One more vote for either M42 or Wusikstation. I don't own either but plan to pick one or both up when my budget recovers from a series of unfortunate events. Not the movie, no...

Meffety Snicket

Anamark and eXT - o.k. - it's maybe 10$ more - but you can't get more vfm

Buy Kubik at the incredible low offer price and have loads left over to spend on Yuletide vices.......

-yeah, Kubik is an incredible bargain as well

or just get energy XT and all the freebies (synths and FX) you can download
and you have a great synth and much much more

and some money left

I like EnergyXT too, like Rsmus7 said. And nearly all the mentioned here (well we all get kind of maniacs after a while here, but in a nice way .

I'd take a look at Linplug's Cronox2 too. So many possibilities, and you can load so many fine own samples into it. Then as already said Pentagon, Kubik, Ethereal.... But if you don't like those, take EnergyXT...
A new nearly-freebie is YAVA2 from KrakliWebster, you might take a look...

Klemperer wrote:

.....

now did you check that Anamark deal?

Microtonic sounds real tempting. I need a good, pro e-drum VSTi. Thanks for all the suggestions. Any more?

geeseaplenty wrote:

...

now did you check that Anamark deal?

b.t.w.: with freebies such as Drumatic, MachineII, KMT, etc. I don't think there's a need for commercial drum-vsti's...

jens wrote:

b.t.w.: with freebies such as Drumatic, MachineII, KMT, etc. I don't think there's a need for commercial drum-vsti's...

Yep, you can't beat them

ooooh, but microtonic is nothing but pure sex

seriously, i love my microtonic and i use it more often than all of my other drumsynths combinded, because it's simply that good

yup, microtonic rocks.

-ugo

jens wrote:

geeseaplenty wrote: ... now did you check that Anamark deal?

btw: i did

I'll second both microTonic and Wusikstation.

- m

luCiPHer wrote:

ooooh, but microtonic is nothing but pure sex seriously, i love my microtonic and i use it more often than all of my other drumsynths combinded, because it's simply that good

Are you trying to tell me I need to buy it?

luCiPHer wrote:

jens wrote: geeseaplenty wrote: ... now did you check that Anamark deal? btw: i did

and?

b.t.w.: the demo has the weirdest restriction ever:
the single notes are detuned to each other - play a chord loud enough and you will manage to kill your neighbours dog.... (good for you if you don't like it but be prepared for the bill)

Markleford wrote:

I'll second both microTonic and Wusikstation. - m

but what do you know?

for that price the features alone made the deal
unfortunately i'm without any online money transaction methods here, so i have to go the long way of a "traditionelle überweisung", will take a few days for my anamark to arrive

but hey, while i wait You can go finally buy microtonic, you just know that you want it, wanted it for ages

jens wrote:

Klemperer wrote: ..... now did you check that Anamark deal?

Well, I have to spend all of my money for fuel , and I just bought a BIG vsti, err...( something with tor) but have to travel and can't test it



But I'm sure I'll regret it...only as another maniac i thought "better not the next...better not the next...you have a lousy guitar better not the next"

(but any advice in the future will be GREATLY appreciated, Jens)

luCiPHer wrote:

for that price the features alone made the deal unfortunately i'm without any online money transaction methods here, so i have to go the long way of a "traditionelle überweisung", will take a few days for my anamark to arrive but hey, while i wait You can go finally buy microtonic, you just know that you want it, wanted it for ages

good for you that you bought Anamark I already it...


hm - I'm not sure about Microtonic - it's definetely cute and has a fantastic sound, but I already have a hard time deciding wether I should use Drumatik, MachineII, Attack or Granite...

I still have a tune lying around somewhere where I use the Microtonic demo and the demo-voice is already part of the song so I actually can't buy it...

jens wrote:

Markleford wrote: I'll second both microTonic and Wusikstation. but what do you know?

I know that I pre-ordered *two* licenses of Wusikstation when it was first announced, without a line of code being written, and I haven't been disappointed one bit! (The two copies are due to one going to my brother, as we will be using WS as our primary synth for our upcoming collaborations.)

I know that I won microTonic in a monthly KvR contest after lusting over the demo for months.

But most importantly, I'm a sampler sort of guy, for the most part, and it takes a very special synth to get my endorsement.

That being said, perhaps one should ignore synth endorsements for sampler junkies in general!

- m

Klemperer wrote:

But I'm sure I'll regret it

me too








now seriously: 40euros still isn't all that much...
(I know too good it is if you're skint but anyway: even if the deal is 40% off it's still only 15euros what you're saving because the original price is already that low )

jens wrote:

good for you that you bought Anamark I already it... hm - I'm not sure about Microtonic - it's definetely cute and has a fantastic sound, but I already have a hard time deciding wether I should use Drumatik, MachineII, Attack or Granite... I still have a tune lying around somewhere where I use the Microtonic demo and the demo-voice is already part of the song so I actually can't buy it...

that demovoice is SO cool, and it's still there in the full version, maybe that trick works in the demo as well, click the about screen and wait a few minutes, then hit record (you'll know what i mean)

about drumatic etc...
i've got a lot of freewaredrumsynths and also waldorf attack, and i don't know what to use, i use microtonic, as simple as that

and: good to hear so many positive reactions on anamark

geeseaplenty wrote:

Microtonic sounds real tempting.

by the way, the new site is up

http://www.soniccharge.com/home



ciao
Francesco

about Anamark; I still can't really believe my ears...

I'm a keyboarder (not quite true - a bass-player actually... ) and for me it is important that a synth gives me a good feel when I play it and the ability/inspiration to compose with it - and hell - if I wasn't too lazy today I already would have started about ten tracks with Anamark

fr4ncesco wrote:

geeseaplenty wrote: Microtonic sounds real tempting. by the way, the new site is up http://www.soniccharge.com/home ciao Francesco

why is the 'buy now' button so big and so cute?

and it is even animated...

must resist must resist must resist


damned, Francesco - I hate you!

jens wrote:

b.t.w.: with freebies such as Drumatic, MachineII, KMT, etc. I don't think there's a need for commercial drum-vsti's...

Err... show me ONE freebie VSTi with such a brilliant auto preview in context and such a good mixture of both excellent sampler and synth modules as DR-008. Just one.

jens wrote:

about Anamark; I still can't really believe my ears... I'm a keyboarder (not quite true - a bass-player actually... ) and for me it is important that a synth gives me a good feel when I play it and the ability/inspiration to compose with it - and hell - if I wasn't too lazy today I already would have started about ten tracks with Anamark

I got the same feeling! its a bargain at the moment, it is just really playable, and high in features, what a wonderful combination! Love the bass on it, and its filters.

jens wrote:

must resist must resist must resist damned, Francesco - I hate you!

ok jens
don't panic, you can do it
but don't listen to the mp3 demo



ciao
Francesco

Sascha Franck wrote:

jens wrote: b.t.w.: with freebies such as Drumatic, MachineII, KMT, etc. I don't think there's a need for commercial drum-vsti's... Err... show me ONE freebie VSTi with such a brilliant auto preview in context and such a good mixture of both excellent sampler and synth modules as DR-008. Just one.

DR-008 is für mich mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen...

(I own it b.t.w. (it came with Sonar2XL))

fr4ncesco wrote:

jens wrote: must resist must resist must resist damned, Francesco - I hate you! ok jens don't panic, you can do it but don't listen to the mp3 demo ciao Francesco

too late....

jens wrote:

DR-008 is für mich mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen...

Dann solltest du vielleicht mal andere Ziele suchen...

Seriously, at the current price, DR-008 is an ultra-bargain. In case you got a reasonably fast connection you also get around 3GB of partially excellent sample content with it.
It's really the only one-size-fits-all drum VSTi.
Velocity layered realistic sounds single samples, electronic sounds and a whole plethora of options to mangle them - just the right deal for any drum gourmet.
And it's one of the most intuitive to deal with things too.

yes, I know I know - I maybe just loathe it for issues which probably have been resolved long ago...

jens wrote:

yes, I know I know - I maybe just loathe it for issues which probably have been resolved long ago...

Not sure, the one coming with Sonar might be slightly stripped down - maybe that's why?
The recent full version doesn't have any but VERY minor issues (practically irrelevant).
IMO it's a very mature product.

I spoke with Magnus this afternoon & he told me that there's a new website JUST for Microtonic presets & lits now..



If you guys ask me real nice, I'll give you the URL..



C'mon..grovel, you filthy pigs you..

hm, i never liked dr-008, the interface is completely unintuitive imo and at kills my inspiration

yeah, mit kanonen auf spatzen schießen is pretty much it...

luCiPHer wrote:

hm, i never liked dr-008, the interface is completely unintuitive imo and at kills my inspiration

Why? Can you give examples why you don't like it and why it's so unintuitive to you?
I'm serious about that for certain reasons.
You could also PM or mail me if you prefer.

Here's a few points making it very easy and convenient to use for me:
- Cells light up even if nothing is loaded. That's just great because I fool around a lot with my MIDI keyboard octave settings (haven't seen that in other drum samplers).
- You doubleclick an empty cell and your sample browser will instantly pop up, along with instant "in context" preview.
- It allows for all sorts of "in context" previews, so you can even mix presets of the onboard synth modules and wave files while previewing.
- Drag and drop from wherever is fully supported. You can drag a complete sliced loop from Phatmatik over to it. You can also drag and drop cells between different instances.
- Copying, moving and exchanging cells is done extremely quickly. I often want two slightly different sounds of the same thing on two keys. So I just copy it and set, say, the pitch of one cell a bit lower.
- The DD modules do a kickass job in case you want some slightly flamming sounds or so. Also there's some nice sequencing modules.
- Slicy and Fillin Drummer are available as plugins straight inside the DR, rather than only inside your host. That way you can setup a drumset AND some sequencing and save that as one single preset.
- Internal synth modules are really great sounding, partially easy to use and VERY low on your CPU.
- Saving of patches from multiple instances is done while saving ONE single instance. Absolutely great when backing up things. You just save the preset of one DR-008 and all the other instances you might have used in your song are saved along with it. Kickass, should you ever plan to move your song to another computer or back it up.
- Exports Cubase drum maps. Sure, only important in case you're using Cubase, but in that case it's just kickass.
- Very nice kits coming with it, at least partially.

As said, I'd really like to know what's so unituitive about it - and no, that's not a rethoric question.

erm - perhaps because it's fugly?

jens wrote:

erm - perhaps because it's fugly?

Well, that's all up to personal taste.
But seriously, you may or may not like the choice of colours and whatever - but does that really affect intuitivity? IMO it doesn't.
Perhaps it'd do good with some skin-ability, but I can just get away with all the grey fine.
And I know that most people do as well - whenever I've been demoing it to some friends and students they were wow-ing and I haven't got a single "that's ugly" comment either.

well, first of all it IS ugly and that IS a major factor, it's THE major factor actually, i've rarely seen an interface that is as ugly (or even more ugly) than dr-008's.

and it's not just ugly, it's VERY hard to use as well, and all the different modules are just parameterlists, no real gui's at all.
the sampler modules are especially painful.
and exactly every single knob/slider etc is TOO SMALL!

i hat all these mini windows popping up everywhere, why can't they have the editors included into the actual interface of dr-008.


and that's more than enough bad points, why should i use something like that?
because of the giant feature set?
maybe, if it was accessable, not in the current state.

rmIV (a bit ugly but VERY usable) and especially battery 2 (looks good, feels good etc, someday later i'll get it, that's for sure) are examples of GOOD gui design.
both of them have less features, still i prefer them, because they are not superugly, because they work in one window, because every parameter makes sense visually, they are not just knobs, they have a purpose that is clearly visible...

and so on, i guess you got it?

b tw, we are way OT by now, right?

luCiPHer wrote:

well, first of all it IS ugly and that IS a major factor, it's THE major factor actually, i've rarely seen an interface that is as ugly (or even more ugly) than dr-008's.

OK, ymmv though.

Quote:

and it's not just ugly, it's VERY hard to use as well, and all the different modules are just parameterlists, no real gui's at all.

Pardon? Did you buy another version than the one I have?
There's a few modules that ARE paremeter lists, yes, such as DrumSynth - for good reasons. Because if all of them had a knob/fader layout you wouldn't be able to use them at all, unless you had some nifty resolution running.

Quote:

the sampler modules are especially painful. and exactly every single knob/slider etc is TOO SMALL!

Quote:

i hat all these mini windows popping up everywhere, why can't they have the editors included into the actual interface of dr-008.

Erm?!?
So, at one point you are saying everthing is too small, but then, in your next sentence you are saying you want editors to be INCLUDED in the actual interface?
How should that work? By using 4 21" monitors?

Quote:

maybe, if it was accessable, not in the current state.

Which parameter is it that you can't access quickly?

Quote:

battery 2 (looks good, feels good etc, someday later i'll get it, that's for sure) are examples of GOOD gui design.

I dunno linplug, but if you ever used Battery, you will just know that it's not even remotely close in terms of user friendliness.

A few points (I don't know RMIV, sorry):
- Yes, Battery offers ANYTHING on the same UI. But: It's a sampler only. DR-008 is a synth module as well - so there HAVE to be more windows. Putting then into the main program window would make it excessively huge. For Battery it's only working because there's just one cell "class".
- Try to see more than one volume/pan slider (THE most important thing when dealing with drumsets) at once in Battery. It's impossible. So, in order to setup a rough mix, you'd need to select EACH cell separately.
- In Battery 1 the load dialog box wasn't even resizeable. A joke, nothing else.
- In Battery, "in kit preview" has to be checked each time you load a sample. Another joke. Let alone they left that feature out yet in B2.

And then, in case you want to edit something in Battery, you will have to select the cell too. In DR-008 you have to click the E button - where's the big difference please? There's none, apart from the cell editor open in a separate window - which is caused by the fact that DR-008 is offering verious modules.

In addition, Battery only has 54 (in V1) or 72 (in V2) cells - how pathetic! DR-008 at least has 96.
Try working with recycled loops in Battery and you'll know how fast that limit is reached! Why not use the MIDI limit of 127 notes (well, that's partially true for the DR as well, but at least it HAS some more cells).

There's 2 advances in Battery though (but those don't seem to be important for you as you didn't mention them at all):
- Waveform display is better.
- Editing of multiple cells is possible.

Quote:

and so on, i guess you got it?

No, sorry, not at all.
All you said seems to me as if you just bought the wrong tool for you.
Personally I can't see any of the mentioned points (apart from the "ugly UI" one, which I can't understand) being really relevant - because it's more than obvious why things are like that.

Quote:

b tw, we are way OT by now, right?

Well, sorta...

geeseaplenty wrote:

I have $75 worth of near-valueless Federal Reserve Notes burning a hole in my pocket. I wanna buy another cool VSTi. What do you recommend?

Lots of good suggestions so far. But if you want to expend *exactly* $75 there is always Exciton. I still don't have it but I've been tempted many times...

i don't need 54 cells, i definately don't need 127 cells, if i want to work with very complex kits or rex files or things like that i simply would not use a drumsampler.
that may be what seperates us.


about the one-window thing:
http://www.linplug.com/Products/RM_IV/RM_IV_HC.jpg
that's rmIV.
on the right part of the gui you have the pads (not 127 at all, yet i don't care) and on the left part you have the controls.
there is no window opening, it's all on the actual gui.
and you can see an intuitive sampler module there as well, it shows everything that is relevant and it's not microscopic in size, it does not have to, it can fill out 50% of the gui...

Sascha Franck wrote:

jens wrote: erm - perhaps because it's fugly? Well, that's all up to personal taste. But seriously, you may or may not like the choice of colours and whatever - but does that really affect intuitivity? IMO it doesn't. Perhaps it'd do good with some skin-ability, but I can just get away with all the grey fine. And I know that most people do as well - whenever I've been demoing it to some friends and students they were wow-ing and I haven't got a single "that's ugly" comment either.

to simply does't appear like an instrument - rather like a laboratory - I find it uninspiring...


edit: damned typos

luCiPHer wrote:

i don't need 54 cells, i definately don't need 127 cells, if i want to work with very complex kits or rex files or things like that i simply would not use a drumsampler. that may be what seperates us.

exactly the same here

luCiPHer wrote:

if i want to work with very complex kits or rex files or things like that i simply would not use a drumsampler. that may be what seperates us.

So, what would you use then?
A "plain" sampler? Does that make handling of things any easier? Especially when working with a lot of cells?

Quote:

about the one-window thing: http://www.linplug.com/Products/RM_IV/RM_IV_HC.jpg that's rmIV.

Admittedly looking really nice.
18 pads might not be enough though for quite some things (sometimes I just have to be GM compatible).

Sascha, I think the the thing is we just have quite differrent approaches - personally I can't see any use in simulating (that means programming) something that pretends to be a real drum-playing... - if I want this then I use sampled beats (drumloops) - they are the real deal if you want authentic drum-playing - if the beats need to be a bit different I can recycle it (cut it and rearrange it) - it will sound like being played by a real drummer because it was played by a real drummer... - why should I spent hours and hours programming something which in the end will still stay what it is: a simulation! ?

(besides I find pure traditional drum-playing boring & anachronistic )

yes, a plain sampler, mine is kontakt, the only "normal" sampler i own and need.
and yes, i can put all the hits of a rex-file into groups and things like that.
of course it's more complex than a drumsampler.
but what ARE drumsamplers anyway than normal samplers with specialised interfaces? (simplified in a lot of areas, but simplified for good)

and 18 pads are enough for me.
so are the 8 synth-modules in microtonic as well by the way (wow, an on topic element )

jens wrote:

Sascha, I think the the thing is we just have quite differrent approaches - personally I can't see any use in simulating (that means programming) something that pretends to be a real drum-playing...

Who said I AM doing so?
And that's EXACTLY why I'm using DR-008 - because I don't need to pretend being a real drummer but have both sampling AND synthesis options.

Quote:

- if I want this then I use sampled beats (drumloops) - they are the real deal if you want authentic drum-playing - if the beats need to be a bit different I can recycle it (cut it and rearrange it) - it will sound like being played by a real drummer because it was played by a real drummer... -

OK, same here - so, how do you playback your recycled beats?
I use DR-008 for it...

Quote:

why should I spent hours and hours programming something which in the end will still stay what it is: a simulation! ?

I'm not doing that either.
In that case I'd use BFD or whatever.

Quote:

(besides I find pure traditional drum-playing boring & anachronistic )

Why?
Do you find singing anachronistic as well?

luCiPHer wrote:

yes, a plain sampler, mine is kontakt, the only "normal" sampler i own and need. and yes, i can put all the hits of a rex-file into groups and things like that.

So, what about exchanging a single hit from that REX file? What about preview in context? Kontakt (which I own as well) doesn't offer that.
What about certain small tweaks, such as lowering the decay of, say, a snare that has got too much reverb on it? Almost impossible in Kontakt as you don't have independet ADSRs per zone. Best thing would b to route it into a group and set some offsets.
There's tons of more things - and it only makes sense using a sampler in opposite to a dedicated drum sampler for any such things in case you just don't have a dedicated drum sampler. Simply because EACH and EVERY manipulation you'd apply to drums (apart from a master filter) would be 10x easier in a dedicated drum sampler.
This goes for recycled loops as well.

Quote:

of course it's more complex than a drumsampler. but what ARE drumsamplers anyway than normal samplers with specialised interfaces? (simplified in a lot of areas, but simplified for good)

Sorry, but that's nonsense.
Drum samplers aren't simplified at all. They are specialized BOTH by interface and functionality but by no means "simpler" from a technical point of view.
Show me how to setup an individual filter on a per zone base in Kontakt and I might buy into that - but you won't be able to manage. That's what drum samplers are for. You just can't do it in a plain sampler and as a result of them, calling a drum sampler "simplified" completely fails. It's just an entirely different thing.

Sascha Franck wrote:

Quote: - if I want this then I use sampled beats (drumloops) - they are the real deal if you want authentic drum-playing - if the beats need to be a bit different I can recycle it (cut it and rearrange it) - it will sound like being played by a real drummer because it was played by a real drummer... - OK, same here - so, how do you playback your recycled beats? I use DR-008 for it...

and I use Tracktion for it

Quote:

Quote: (besides I find pure traditional drum-playing boring & anachronistic ) Why? Do you find singing anachronistic as well?

I wrote 'pure' - as an artist I like to use all the options that the state of the art offers me - I think it's impossible to judge art without taking into account its temporal context

well, if i want to reduce a snaretail or specific things like that...there are still audioeditors, right?
and in kontakt it does not need to be a rexfile, you can slice for yourself (i guess that's not possible in dr008, right?).
well, and filters for individual steps and all that...that's NOT what i use rex files for.
but i KNOW that it#s possible to create very creative and unique things with loops, doing what you are talking about.
but i don't do that, i rather (and usally i do) create my own loops.
i guess stylus rmx might be your perfect loops machine (woah, we are getting away from the 75$ pricetag )

so, here we are, you want flexibility, i want simplicity.
and well, you COULD create 127 filters in kontakt, but i certainly would not...

jens wrote:

and I use Tracktion for it

So - in what way can you modify slices in Tracktion?

Quote:

I wrote 'pure' - as an artist I like to use all the options that the state of the art offers me -

Err... so, that'd make something like DR-008 the perfect tool for you. Just because it OFFERS state of the art techniques not available in any other drum machine.
Apart from that - you don't like "pure" singing then?

luCiPHer wrote:

well, if i want to reduce a snaretail or specific things like that...there are still audioeditors, right?

Pardon??? Who wants to destructively edit a sample unless there's a VERY urgent need to do so? That's really so 90-ish...

Quote:

and in kontakt it does not need to be a rexfile, you can slice for yourself (i guess that's not possible in dr008, right?).

No, you can't in DR-008. But there's something coming along our way I may not talk about yet.
Anyways, as saíd, I find individual sample mangling in Kontakt too clumsy for a whole number of reasons.

Quote:

but i don't do that, i rather (and usally i do) create my own loops.

Same here. But I'm getting inspired by recycling other stuff and partially replacing or mangling stuff.

Quote:

i guess stylus rmx might be your perfect loops machine (woah, we are getting away from the 75$ pricetag )

Not at all.
Just ss said numerous times before, I want to be able to replace things with my own samples.
Stylus doesn't even suck at that, it simply doesn't do it at all.

Quote:

so, here we are, you want flexibility, i want simplicity.

No, I want both. And I got both.

Quote:

and well, you COULD create 127 filters in kontakt, but i certainly would not...

Nobody would. Because it sucks for such things.
In DR-008 (or even Battery 2) it's just done with a flick of a few switches.

sascha wrote:

Pardon??? Who wants to destructively edit a sample unless there's a VERY urgent need to do so? That's really so 90-ish...

in the days of almost infinite harddrives i can create a copy that i can destroy at will, i see no problem in doing so

and hey, we are not really getting anywhere.

a believe that dr-008 is a monster, and i believe you that you like to work with it, but i don't like it, not because it's not capable of things i want and need, but because she's blonde and i prefer redheads, you see?

Sascha Franck wrote:

jens wrote: and I use Tracktion for it So - in what way can you modify slices in Tracktion?

non-destructive: pitch, pan, gain, time-stretch, fade in/out (positive, negative, positive/negative), vst

destructive: reverse (etc.)

(if that wouldn't be enough I could use a dedicated wave-editor of course)

midi-triggering is for live playing

sequencing is for arranging

Recycling is for me part of the arrangement

Sascha Franck wrote:

Apart from that - you don't like "pure" singing then?

da hast Du mich ja schön mißverstanden...

I like microTonic myself but purely for the synthesis. I prefer to trigger it from the piano roll in FLStudio, building up patterns/sections from multiple synth and sample sources with multiple effects channels... pretty much the same way I program things that *aren't* drum tracks.

I'm with SaschaFrank here. DR008 is very intuitive and if you're not after real drums it's the ticket.

Most modules don't look flashy but the main window is very intuitive and functional.

Anyway, I think Drum Nine will eat RMIV alive. Get DR008 now for a ridiculous price and you'll be able to upgrade later.


Kubik is an absolute steal too, especially at the intro price.

Of course I am biased:

The M42 Package
M42 Nebula and the prototype: AlgoN
Two synths for one price.

$49.95 USD/37Euros

info here:

http://www.algomusic.nl

TC