KVR Audio

Theoctavist · Post by **Theoctavist** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 12:13 pm

I love Jim O Rourke, wilco, sonic youth, midlake, john grant, grandaddy, elliott smith, loose fur, tim hecker..

Love unique sounding instruments. I do NOT like the "modern sounding" dubstep, edm etc sounds. I have hardware., but I often write in my apartment , using my laptop. Suggestions are much appreciated! Money is not a factor, but free is good too!

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 12:47 pm

Any of these

ABSynth 5
ACE
ArcSyn
Bazille
Falcon
FM8
Harmor
ImpOSCar 2
Iris 2
Jupiter 8V
KarmaFX Modular
Legend
M1
Modular V
Mono Poly
Mpowersynth
MS 20
MUX Modular
Oberheim SEM
Omnisphere
OP-X Pro II
Poly KB III
Prophet V
Ragnarok
Reaktor 6
Repro-1
Scrooo
Softube Modular
Sonigen Modular
Spectral
Syn'X 2
Synclavier V
Synthmaster
TAL Bassline
TAL Elek7ro II
TAL Noisemaker
TAL U No 62
TCM II
TDM 3
The Mangle
Tyrell N6
VirtualCZ
Wavemapper 2
Wavestation
Wiggle
XILS 4
Zebra 2

Here's some demos to listen to

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... new-sounds

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... for-harmor

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -250-patch

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... for-arcsyn

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... new-sounds

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... ew-patches

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... new-sounds

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... 50-samples

Michael L · Post by **Michael L** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:07 pm

....or you could just buy Modelonia. See the 10/10 Review, and 50% off in the Marketplace!

KBSoundSmith · Post by **KBSoundSmith** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:27 pm

Honestly, just about any of them. Program your own presets, and there you go. EDM synths don't exist -- just EDM presets.

The only thing I'd add is that it is worth having more than one in order to cover a variety of synthesis methods, plus for CPU management (unless you're going to bounce everything). Get something for subtractive, wavetables, FM, etc.

I have four synths that do the vast majority of work: Diva, Zebra, Serum, Spectral. They basically cover all of the parameters I mentioned above -- the only thing not really covered (in depth) is physical modelling of acoustic instruments. You could get any one of those and get a lot of mileage, although I'd recommend Zebra or Serum before the other two.

But again, free is good too. Again, this is more about presets and sound design than it is about a particular synth.

JoeCat · Post by **JoeCat** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:49 pm

Of course, everything on Wags list is awesome, and KB's advice - you could of course take a synth like Zebra, load up some of the more "out there" presets, and use them as templates for creating things not typical of your OTS analog, etc.

If your looking for something that's out-of-the-box inspirational in a weird way, I'll add Aalto:

http://madronalabs.com/products/aalto

It's got an awesome workflow for modular-like goodness + experimentation, and it's (relatively) inexpensive.

Theoctavist · Post by **Theoctavist** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:57 pm

thank yall so much! amazing., excited to dig through this stuff! exactly what I needed and then some! also, @JoeCat im in NC too, near wilmington!

great forum yall got here!

andrewbrewer · Post by **andrewbrewer** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:01 pm

reaktor has the weirdest synths by far (all free in the user library)

Cinebient · Post by **Cinebient** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:05 pm

Modular synths in general and/or some great FX from out of this world like Kaleidoscope maybe.
And things like Prism, Chromaphone etc.
Arcsyn, Phonem....well, the list is long.

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:18 pm

If you want to use new unheard or uncommon sounds you have to program them yourself, you could make them with the most used synths for edm right now: Massive and serum, both are very capable on going further and experimental.

But in case you want something that out of the box sounds weird:

Aalto
Kaivo
Bazille
Padshop Pro
Razor
Prism
Softube Modular

Also it helps composing in not so common scales (avoid C mayor and similar), many times this is what people hear but can't tell what it is in non-pop music that makes it interesting.

Hungarian minor, some of the greek modes, minor pentatonic, japanese scales....those sound different to mainstream music.

AnX · Post by **AnX** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:24 pm

There is no such thing as an 'edm synth'

Cinebient · Post by **Cinebient** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:27 pm

Sculpture is still my favourite "weird" sound design tool.
So which OS and/or DAW do you use?
If money is no factor.....buy them all

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:28 pm

Obscurium
Surge

Spitfire31 · Post by **Spitfire31** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:37 pm

Michael L wrote:....or you could just buy Modelonia. See the 10/10 Review, and 50% off in the Marketplace!

Exactly! "non- edm VST instruments(bizzarre, quirky, cool sounding)..Indie /Minimalist music" – Modelonia is all that (and, ironically, just about the only instrument that Wagtunes managed to omit in his huge listing).

Go for it!

/Joachim

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 4:53 pm

Spitfire31 wrote:
Michael L wrote:....or you could just buy Modelonia. See the 10/10 Review, and 50% off in the Marketplace!
Exactly! "non- edm VST instruments(bizzarre, quirky, cool sounding)..Indie /Minimalist music" – Modelonia is all that (and, ironically, just about the only instrument that Wagtunes managed to omit in his huge listing).

Go for it!

/Joachim

Tried the beta. Didn't remember why I passed on it until I just brought it up again and now I remember. Another GUI that's too small for me to use.

Shame, because it sounds decent. Oh well, maybe someday they'll increase the size and I'll buy it.

Theoctavist · Post by **Theoctavist** » Sat Mar 18, 2017 11:00 pm

yall are amazing thank you!

Suggestions for non- edm VST instruments(bizzarre, quirky, cool sounding)..Indie /Minimalist music