KVR Audio

Xenos · Post by **Xenos** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:34 pm

With the recent influx of dedicated instrument threads this week by various posters, I thought I'd open up a discussion on Scanned Synth Pro by Humanoid Sound Systems.

Product Page:
http://humanoidsounds.co.uk/products.html

Do you use it? What do you use it for? What are your thoughts on it?

Personally, I've always been massively impressed with it since the very beginning as it's the only softsynth plugin I know of that uses scanned synthesis, plus you can get some really dirty, nasty noises out of it and I love that kind of stuff. There are a few things that could use improvement, but I understand that those things will be taken care of in version 3.0, such as punchier envelopes, an additional oscillator, better GUI, etc.

What really gets me, though, is the PRICE. For the market niche scanned synth pro is aimed it, I thought the original price was indeed fair. Then the developer made it "Pay-Whatever-You-Want" donationware, turning it into a total no-brainer deal.

In it's current state, I use it mainly for making pads (this thing's a real pad machine!), unusual subs that have a little movement underneath, wobble basses and occasionally leads. I tried making dance/trance patches with it, though, and was not impressed with the results, but I understand that version 3 will address the reasons behind that.

Trakstar · Post by **Trakstar** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:49 pm

it is a very niche instrument but for the price and amount of sounds you can make with the least amount of effort with the random features it was worth every penny. A must for anyone with ambient and industrial sound fx and pads. Very nice sound quality, controls and onboard FX , and I also Like the GUI too

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:51 pm

An awesome synth. I'm eagerly awaiting SSP3, with less aliasing (it can alias pretty bad, sometimes I don't want it). It's a dead-on no brainer to get it. Needs to become x64, though.

I love the Fallout game GUI style, too!

GaryG · Post by **GaryG** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:52 pm

One of the staples of my setup.

As you say, great for any kind of strange/noisey pad, the random functionality is very cool allowing you to just randomise the bits you want.

Can't say I've ever got my head around the scanned synthesis concept, quite often I'll flick though the different connections (for instance) and fail to hear a predictable change in the sound. But, hey, great for experimentation, many wonderful sounds to find.

Torchlight · Post by **Torchlight** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:52 pm

This might sound weird but to me a lot of the sounds I've played on this synth (and I've really only used the presets, including your separate set, Xenos) conjure up an image of a cosmic debris field after an epic spaceship battle, with broken hulks of spaceship wreckage twisting and turning in the void.

If you make space/ambient music, it's a must-have.

codec_spurt · Post by **codec_spurt** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:11 pm

When we do our new competition, this is the only thing that has been agreed on so far.

You must use a copy of Scanned Synth Pro.

But it must be registered.
Of course they do a demo.
So play about with that if you must.

This synth can do insane bass lines.
The pads are beautiful.

I was a skinflint and only paid a few dollars for a fully registered copy.

They don't mind.
I think the suggested price is something like $25 - and that is fair enough.
But if you don't have the money, pay what you can.
If they felt hard done by, then they would have changed the price.

I bought a copy for haszari the winner of the XT2 competition.
I bought a copy for kejkz for helping me with the competion.
I even put a few more dollars in the kitty since I started using it seriously.

You have FM synthesis.
You have substractive synthesis.
You have sample and formant synthesis.

This thing will give you original gritty nutty sounds.

But it can be made to sound beautiful.
Sweet. Smooth. Conventional.

Grab a demo.
Grab the new skins:
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249762
And grab the free soundset from Julian Ray:
http://www.julianraymusic.com/sounds/ssp.asp for free.

If you learn how to use this synth well, then, there will be a nice little prize at the end of it for you.

This is the most under-rated, under the radar synth there is on KVR.

You will have a choice to use some other synths too to play about with and make your compositions.

Go on, just buy it for $10, and when you start using it properly, put a bit more in the kitty.

No other synth developer does a deal like this. As long as you buy a registered copy, they will be happy.

This is not donationware. It's not freeware. It's a whole new paradigm in software payment. I would not be surprised if John from Humanoid systems stopped it all tomorrow. This kind of payment system needs to be supported, because it allows practically anyone on a low budget to own a top-notch synth legitimately.

But just grab the demo if you are not convinced:
You can grab it here:
http://www.humanoidsounds.co.uk/products.html

But please at least pay the $25 asking price if you can afford it.

It is worth 10 times that price.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:20 pm

codec_spurt wrote:This is the most under-rated, under the radar synth there is on KVR.

There's another such synth making company to SSP. It's Glass Viper.

debra1rlo · Post by **debra1rlo** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:22 pm

damn, I thought this was about the new version

yes, awesome synth, a must have

Shabdahbriah · Post by **Shabdahbriah** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:41 pm

EvilDragon wrote:
codec_spurt wrote:This is the most under-rated, under the radar synth there is on KVR.
There's another such synth making company to SSP. It's Glass Viper.

+1
Back to SSP. Has anyone-else replaced the existing "samples"? Interesting results.

[2c]

skyscape · Post by **skyscape** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:23 am

It's a great sounding synth, I find it a little difficult to program but it's probably because I haven't spent a whole lot of time with it yet and haven't quite got my head around scanned synthesis. I'm finding it very useful for harsh basses and spacey pads.

GeorgeZ · Post by **GeorgeZ** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:19 am

Yup, it's a pad monster, and really good for making FX and ambiances as well. #secretweapon

bailees7irish · Post by **bailees7irish** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:25 am

I love SSP !

John [Humanoid Sound Sys] · Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:27 am

Thanks for all the kind words about Scanned Synth Pro. I'm currently working hard on the next version which, instead of being called Scanned Synth Pro 3, will be called Enzyme. I'm working on adding loads more modulation possibilities, plus extra effects, multiple oscillators in unison, sample import (so you can play back a sample and add "life" to it using scanned synthesis) and more. So it will be well worth the long wait

bailees7irish · Post by **bailees7irish** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:30 am

John [Humanoid Sound Sys] wrote:Thanks for all the kind words about Scanned Synth Pro. I'm currently working hard on the next version which, instead of being called Scanned Synth Pro 3, will be called Enzyme. I'm working on adding loads more modulation possibilities, plus extra effects, multiple oscillators in unison, sample import (so you can play back a sample and add "life" to it using scanned synthesis) and more. So it will be well worth the long wait

dig the new name, fo sho

core · Post by **core** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:06 am

bailees7irish wrote:
John [Humanoid Sound Sys] wrote:Thanks for all the kind words about Scanned Synth Pro. I'm currently working hard on the next version which, instead of being called Scanned Synth Pro 3, will be called Enzyme. I'm working on adding loads more modulation possibilities, plus extra effects, multiple oscillators in unison, sample import (so you can play back a sample and add "life" to it using scanned synthesis) and more. So it will be well worth the long wait
dig the new name, fo sho

Good news, SSP is a gem. Looking forward to Enzyme