So, I've currently got NI Maschine and I'm quite happy with it, plus the free Komplete Essentials, although it is very limited.

I'm looking at what should be my next purchase, and I am eligible for the Komplete Crossgrade, so I could get that for around $400.

I could also get Spectrasonics Omnisphere, although it's a bit more.

I'm also considering Alchemy.

Basically, I would like a good solid synth to use with Maschine. I'm currently making chill out, ambient, dub music and a little bit of house.

Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Well I can tell you that if you're producing ambient, or chill-out music, Omnisphere OR Komplete will be more than capable of accommodating.


Though in my own opinion I really think they will be overkill.

There are plenty of free synths that can do exactly what you need.

Here is a good resource for quality fre VSTs (Not just instruments though).
http://bedroomproducersblog.com/ their "free studio" section is where you'll find what you're looking for.



Personally I find myself using Adonis, Tyrell N6, Apollo, TAL Noise Maker and TA Genobazz.

They are all very capable and very flexible.

Oh yeah, and they're free.

Worth a shot no?

Omnisphere is in a class of it's own for ambient and chillout, and it probably supplies 75% of the sounds I use in all my ambient tracks. Nothing free or commercial comes close imo, not even Alchemy.

Well if you are gonna pay for a big boy I would say Absynth...but I guess to each his own!

I really appreciate all of your replies. It sounds like Omnisphere is amazing for chill out so that might be the way to go. I will definitely check out the free bedroomproducersblog.com plugins as there might be some real gems there.

Thanks again everyone.

Definitely, there is so much in it, it is ridiculous...From Reaktor to all the samplers, it is your best bet...isn't it $299in US?

Omnisphere has also a $50 transfer...

Go with Komplete for sure. I just did and I already have (and love) Omnisphere. Alchemy is pretty great too, but the deal you get is just too good. Even if you don't use all the products... Absynth continues to be one of my favorite sample manglers. Guitar Rig should be renamed "Effeckt" because it's so much more (and better) at being a general purpose effect processor with some really cool functionality like being able to assign input volume to a parameter. FM8 is a very capable FM synth and Massive is great for massive sounds, though I find I use it sparingly. Kontakt is, IMO the best sampler out there and comes with a fantastic library, as does Battery. Lots of great 3rd party stuff available for them as well. Really the only thing NI's "Komplete" is missing is a good vintage sounding VA, but the vintage machines library that comes with Komplete should tide you over for a bit.

The crossgrade is $399 in USD. But, yes, it does seem like too much to give up. I'll probably end up buying it anyway, regardless of whether I get Omnisphere or not. But, the real question in my mind is whether it's better to get Omnisphere now, and Komplete crossgrade after they update to version 9 this fall, or just get Komplete now...

I think the crossgrade will be the same price, and I'll save the upgrade cost... Hmm... what to do, what to do.

Komplete!

I have omnisphere and komplete..

In the end it is nice to have both, but to only have one, the easy choice is Komplete


dw

Another reason is that with Maschine's latest version, Komplete is more closely integrated, i.e. you can easily access patches from the MAschine Hardware.

Disclaimer : I only have Komplete, not Omnisphere (though I wish I owned it) nor alchemy.

personally id go with komplete, based on reaktor alone, you have a world at your fingertips

although your other choices are great too, but as mentioned above maschine is more closely integrated with komplete.