By bajongo
On 8th July 2003
Version: 1.0.1
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VirSyn Cube
CUBE is a synth with it's special sound. If you HATE alaising then this one's for you. It's sound is very versatile from acoustic simulations to typically additive sounds. It is destined to create evolving sounds via the very extensive envelopes. But this is only one of the most obvious sound areas that CUBE covers. It can even make VERY convincing analogue stuff if you are ever in a need of these sounds from the CUBE. ;-) This synth can sound as clear as fresh water or as hot and dangerous as a volcano. This is not a synth that can produce ONLY nice sounds.
The concept of the user interface is DIFFERENT!!! You have to make yourself friends with this new concept as you won't find a cutoff and resonance knob. But when you understood how things are going here you will LOVE the possibilities as you can do a lot more than with a cutoff and a resonance control.
It's a breeze to get new exciting sounds: Press the slot machine and make a few tweaks: Save the new sound.
You want control: Choose one of the provided source presets, add an EG preset and there ya go.
You want it all: It's so cool how fast you can tailor decay times for a few dozen partials with one mouse stroke! change the filter curve, add some breath or movement by mixing in some noise: Sound design is so much fun with this synth.
I was a beta tester of CUBE. |
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By bajongo
On 7th May 2003
Version: 2.1
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e-phonic Drumatic
This drum synth came into my VST folder for to try it out. Long time I didn't use it. But then I just wanted some quick electronic drums and I gave it a try. Surprised, it works as I want to.
This scenario happened several times and last time yesterday so I thought I'll give it a heads up here.
There are some usable drumsets for it which tells me that it sounds really good. I only dial in the presets and it works. Someday maybe I'll do some on my own.
I mainly use it for softer drum sounds and it excels there. Through some bitcrusher and VW and CurveEQ yesterday and it sounded just right. |
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By bajongo
On 26th February 2003
Version: 1.0
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Steinberg D'cota
This is a character synth!
Analog synthesis: Very good sound, excellent filters. Lot's of character in all ranges from lo bass to brilliance.
Spectrum synthesis: Something very cool and extremely good sounding. Fresh and versatile which adds to everything else I own. Unique sounds that no other synth I own can do this way.
Wave synthesis: Interesting but a little unpredictable. But that is beautiful in some way. Sounds good, too.
Lot's of really tasty programmed sounds come with D'Cota.
I tend to call it the little brother of Virsyn TERA as it's created by Virsyn. If you don't own TERA and want to get the fantastic Spectrum osc sounds this could be the synth for you. D'Cota is smaller in interface and features but has enough features to be the one-and-only synth if you want to. It's no problem to play whole arrangements with this synth without the obvious need to use something else. In general I would describe this synths sound as phat and warm.
Soundwise this synth is on a top level like few other synths.
Stable. |
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By bajongo
On 8th December 2002
Version: 1.0
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Cakewalk z3ta+
My favourite synth. Period. Very versatile. Has a GREAT sound.
Do you want it fat? I can hear you.
Do you want it agressive? Oh yes, I can hear you.
You want it smooth as silk/cream? One of the easiest things.
Check out the 400 FANTASTIC presets. World class.
User interface: Well, I don't like the scrollwheel approach too much but I got used to it. Looks nice though.
Sound: Did I already say that this synth sounds absolutely awesome? Wanna replace e.g. your JP8000 with a VSTi? No problem with this one.
Features: Man, it can do a lot. 6 OSCis, 2 Filters with 10 different characteristics that sound great, 6 LFOs, 8 Envelopes, tons of FX, etc., etc.
Documentation. Good and nearly complete.
Presets: Awesome. Usable.
Customer support: One of the best in the whole world.
Value for the money: Compared to the (few) other top notch VSTis this synth is at the lower end of the price range. Worth every cent.
Stability: Didn't crash once. Super stable.
If you think that VSTis are toys: Check out this one and prepare to get shocked. One of the best shocks around. ;-) |
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By bajongo
On 14th October 2002
Version: 1.0
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Steinberg Plex
This is a modern sample based VSTi which is a good thing as this thing allows me to quickly dial up certain standard sounds plus some more.
This is already the real strength of this synth -SIMPLICITY- as it has the right blend of not too many parameters but enough to make some changes to the sounds, easy and predictable. I've got enough super versatile synths for the mega tweaking so this simplicity here is a real strength.
User interface: not good looking to me and the controls don't feel cool when moving so while there aren't too many of them and I don't tweak this thing very much I can tolerate that.
Sound quality: Some sounds are really great. some samples could be better but generally it works for what I want from it.
Features: The one feature I really miss is the ability to use own samples. I'm not sure if that would really do but in some situations it's highly desirable.
Documentation: The manual is OK.
Presets: Some really good ones, a lot OK ones, with own programming much more cool stuff is possible.
Customer support: These guys really want to help and do know a lot.
Value for money: Definitely yes!
Stability: Completely stable. |
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By bajongo
On 28th April 2002
Version: 1.0.2
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Native Instruments (NI) FM8 (was FM7)
WOW!
This synth is a class of it's own. This is the best FM VSTi. For what it does the CPU usage is quite low. This alone is worth it. The sound character is awesome. I would like to give it an 11 for the sound. Everything from cutting through to super washy pads to monster basses to rhythmic ravers. The presets that come with it are very good and usable for me. And it can import DX7 patches. So I can load all these cheesy 80's sounds. And all the good ones, too.
The Easy Edit page is very good and the random thingy does the rest. :-)
The one thing that I have to critisize: THE FILTER IS ONLY IN MONO!!! There are two filters, why not making a stereo mode? That would make this synth even better.
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By bajongo
On 28th April 2002
Version: 1.4a
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Smart Electronix GalactiX
Funny little synth! This thingy has some serious sounds that are instant eighties to me! I used it in one song yet and it works great in the mix in a wonderful way. It's not up in the face but it's very clearly audible. Very nice. No preset selector yet so it's not so cool to make sounds. But as fast as this synth improved over the last few weeks I'm sure that Alex will make it even better.
Thanx a lot, Alex! |
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By bajongo
On 28th April 2002
Version: 1.3
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reFX Junox²
Fat, fast, furious, it has an own character. I like this synth. At 44 kHz it sounds aggressive and at 96kHz it puts on an expensive coat and starts sounding smooooooooth..... I like the filters. Especially the Moog one.
Very nice! Few features but it's a specialized synth and therfor I like the limited feature set though my choices would have been different. Quite versatile for the few sliders.
This thingy can make some serious noise! Sound cuts through some mix. Sounds really good. Yeah.
Heavy on CPU but only a few top notch synths are light on CPU...
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By bajongo
On 13th February 2002
Version: 1.4
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reFX quadraSID
This thing is special! It's not my all-do all-time instrument but it has some sounds I heard nowhere else and I love these sounds. It can sound like a cheap toy and it can sound very expensive, too. I love the unison, gives some serious walls of sound. The oversampling feature is very cool also, it's a sound shaping thingy and with it I can choose also the amount of alaising I want to have OR NOT WANT TO HAVE! Very low on CPU compared to the big sound it has.
Interface: Great! Very stylish since it has it's new look.
Sound: Very good and outstanding, very versatile.
Features: Tons of Modulations options, wow!
Documentation: Very good manual.
Presets: Well there are quite some but I make my own sounds which suits my needs much better in this case.
Customer support: Great company, very responsive.
Value for the money: Top instrument for a slim price.
Stability: Stable, didn't crash.
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By bajongo
On 2nd December 2001
Version: 1.21
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rgc:audio Pentagon I
Update to version 1.21:
New GUI which I like much more. Now it's also a full fledged midi driven VST VOCODER which sounds really good. MultiOSC for extra lush sounds. Even more. Top notch.
This thing rocks, here's why:
- Sound is excellent, from vanilla soft ice to chilly chicken to space cowboy.
- Stability, it doesn't crash.
- Features are cool. Lots of cool stuff inside. Only thing I really miss is the pulsewidth knob for the oscis.
- Tons of good presets, some really blew me away. Very tasteful sound programming.
- Customer Support is great. Just the way it is needed and more.
- Did I say that it sounds very good? Very versatile.
If you ever dreamed of a synth like a Moog or an Oberheim you will like this synth. |
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Last edited : 8th April 2002
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By bajongo
On 21st October 2001
Version: 1
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VirSyn TERA
Virsyn TERA is a Semi-modular synth which gives a huge range of synthesis methods and sounds: Spectrum synthesis with Morphing, Analog, FM, AM, Waveshaping, Physical Modelling, combinations of all these plus more.
It's got a fantastic sound, it does some of the best synthetic drum sounds I've heard which is quite a lot. The Spectrum synthesis is a killer feature! It sounds great and I always wanted a true Morphing synth. Fantastic pads, well just every type of sound.
The Gui is cool and way better than the old one. Now it's really usable and sexy.
GREAT user support, some of the coolest, friendliest people in this business!
Virsyn TERA is a true synth that doesn't have to be ashamed asides of ANY other synth out there (hard or software) as there are only a few that have this big range of sounds on that high level available. It's worth every single cent.
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Last edited : 8th April 2002
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By bajongo
On 9th October 2001
Version: 1
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mda Piano
This Piano blows a lot of commercial piano stuff away. Uses nearly no CPU and it's free! I love it, Thank you, Paul! |
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By bajongo
On 9th October 2001
Version: 1
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Steinberg Model-E
Well, my expectations are high when someone tells me of a Moog clone and even more: The name Model E implements even improvement. Soundwise my dreamsynth is a MemoryMoog so it's quite obvious to those who know both synths that I'm really disappointed with the Model E. The oscillators sound too thin, the filter is a joke when having a Moog in mind and when you forget about the Moog these filters are only average stuff.
Another thing is that I don't understand how somebody can make such poor looking graphics for such a high priced product? Nuff said. |
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By bajongo
On 9th October 2001
Version: 2.0
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Synapse Audio Junglist
This synth sounds expensive! Very huge, massive sound. The name says it all but there are a lot of other sounds possible, too.
VERY GOOD FILTERS!
Some of the best digital ones I've heard until now. It has only 8 voices, why?
I like the design. Straight foward and nice keys. |
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| Latest 14 reviews from a total of 14 |
