I always hear people say they have every plug in under the sun but seriously how many of those do people actually use on a consistent basis. What ones always seem to find their way into your productions? For me Reason generally finds its way into everything and Sylenth is slowly starting to find its way in many of them too. I also use the IK multimedia stuff a lot as well. I am also starting to get into the Kontakt libraries and some of the ones I have are great and they fill in a lot of holes. I should have jumped on the full version of kontakt when it was on sale but oh well live and learn.

I've accumulated a bunch of synths over the years, but I really only use about 5. I think that's a good number to shoot for. I keep a bunch in a folder called ''don't use" so they don't clutter up my browser. Having more than 5, I think I would spend too much time trying to decide which one to use. I think that back in the day it might have been more important to have more choices, due to the fact that synths had more narrow scopes. But nowadays, I have 3 synths that have both wavetables and FM... that's a lo of sound possibilities right there! But some synths have definite strengths over others. I still think its good to limit yourself.

I agree I have been big into limiting myself until I started buying plug ins and buying everything that kind of caught my interest. I don't dare try to guess how much I have spent on plug ins in 2012 lol

One, Massive. And no I don't make shitstep.

Got way too many (especially after winning every RP synth in a competition) but DCAM, Sylenth, Albino, Harmless, Massive, Kontakt, Geist and Maschine get used all the time. Surprised how many times Synth1 makes it into the final track too. And whole tracks done with just Reaktor are floating me boat these days.

Though they're not synths I use Live's Sampler/drum racks most of the time.
The rest is Massive, Virus TI, Kontakt (ooops another sampler), some exciting Reaktor ensembles like Skanner
Rather rarely I use ACE, FM8, Absynth, Battery, µtonic, chipsounds

I think, having every plug-in under the sun will not broaden your sonic palette but your GUI choices. This can be important too. But after trying out I would really select and go back to the ones I liked most and learn to master these. Otherwise you just get lost.

I have too many. I could get by with less than half. I took the plunge for omni (great but too expensive) and komplete (way too much shit) and then have twin (which I got in the bundle with volcano and timeless, wonderful!)

good one

At some point you transition from listening, to knowing and
utilizing your strengths, and then you budget your life
to enjoy doing what you love.

The number of instruments is less important, than the number of hours
using 'something', in an enjoyable or productive way. Reject partisan arguments,
based on somebody elses mismanaged reality. Some use 50, some 10, some
start from scratch on the one. None are wrong, none should brag.

Ask yourself what you are doing, and what you hope to be doing
in ten years. The wider the gap between the two,
the more you need to change.
Cheers

Session Drummer 3, Dim Pro, Drop Zone & PSYN 2 in Sonar, Xoxos' Steps(sampler/step sequencer), Aquit's H4xx0r(beatslicer), GenesisCM, AlphaCM, NitreousPM, Fearkiller X2 & Godkiller III, Plex & z3ta 2. 13 in all. I've made soundsets for other synths but these here are the ones I use consistently anymore. Orion's Drumrack has replaced Cyclone now that it has proven unstable. I used to use sfz a lot, but not really anymore.

Ichiro Toda Synth1
Arturia Minimoog V Classic
Krakli S3B
Elektrostudio eSline String
Aciddose Xhip
RGC Audio SFZ for samples.

Thats about it for 90% of projects.

Its like Lego. Even when not used in productions, I like toying around with them a lot.
Happy that it's not a job but a hobby, so I have time for toying around with them

ps: hulk smash!

I tend towards a bit of everything here..including my analogue synths when it comes to music making. In general though, I use a fair bit of Omnisphere, Zebra2 and Reaktor ....

Well, now i have a large amount of soft synths. Commercials and freebies.
I could make a list about my 5 - 8 favourites synths, but due i only can choose a first place.

My favourite commercial
Tone2 Firebird + (until i dig deeper into Gladiator bones which is a Firebird on steroids)

My favourite magware
My all times beloved Cakewalk Z3ta +

My favourite freeware
U-he Zebralette.

Low on CPU. Easy to use. Good GUI. Good results, good sound quality output.
So all these are in my first place.

Have a good day