By VitaminD
On 27th June 2007
Version: 2
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u-he Zebra
If I for some odd reason was stuck on an island with nothing to do but eat fruit and write music and then ONLY could pick one synth to use.. Zebra2 would be my pick.
That said, I'm obviously not in such a situation yet still tend to use Zebra2 a lot.
The capabilities of this synth are rather incredible to me.. It has a very full sound naturally, but has the ability to sound thin and digital or even harsh if so desired. There are so many features packed into the synth that I'm unsure if I'd ever need any other synth.
Stability has been good in my host of choice (Orion Platinum) and cpu usage is acceptable for me (at this time I'm still on an Athlon XP 2600+)
Zebra2 can be a very complex synth if you want it to be.. at the same time, I've made several stunning sounds through much less complex patches. And the amount of presets that are available for Zebra2 means even if you aren't looking to be a synth sound designer/programmer, you will still have no trouble pulling out tons of fantastic, usable sounds.
In short, Zebra2 one of a very short list of software synthesizers I feel is actually worth it's asking price. You'll want to give the trial and run through for yourself.. I think you'll be pleased. |
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By VitaminD
On 11th May 2004
Version: 2
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Smart Electronix DFX Buffer Override
I'm giving my first '10' in UI to Buffer Override.. I find it has _THE_ best gui I've ever used. Breathtakingly done and easy to use. I especially enjoy the help 'box' at the bottom of the gui. Fabulous!
I must admit that while this is a ~2 year old plugin, I only found out about this recently. It was while surfing for effects plugins to use for the Smart Electronix music competition that I found this gem.
Really useful in glitch/stutter effects - just load it to a track (preferrably that has a drumloop) as an insert and be amazed.
Also a treat to use on vocals.. you can get a looping sound that morphs into more of a glitch effect. amazing!
Has yet to crash on me.. even through some pretty unusual manipulations of buffer override. Don't be afraid to experiment with using different sound sources with this plugin. All in all it seems very stable.
Pros:
* Brilliant GUI
* Easy to use
* Powerful tool
* Wonderful sound
Cons:
* Few presets (however this isnt really a major issue since its so easy to use)
Final Thoughts:
Excellent work, I'm thoroughly impressed. :c) |
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By VitaminD
On 2nd May 2004
Version: 1
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Superwave Superwave Performer
Ben took his sweet time adding this one to the list.. :P anyways...
SuperWave Performer:
Pluses:
* 14 oscillators (all can be enabled/disabled)
* 2 multimode filters (1 per 2 banks of 7 oscillators)
* 2 arpeggiators (1 per 2 banks of 7 oscillaors)
* big, phattt (yes I just used the p word) sound that (imo) is rare in the soft synth realm.
Minuses:
* HUGE gui - all of the parameters on one screen - doesnt all fit at 1024x768 in orion platinum
* Patch recall issue in orion where after a song with SW:performer is used, upon reloading the song, one must cycle back and forth the patch selector to get the wanted sound
* Cpu cycle eater
* Unusual licensing C/R check that wasnt TOO bad but I'm not a fan of C/R
* Metallic sounding Reverb that I detest.
I'll be upfront in that I use this synth 99% of the time for trance.. it can be reminiscent of the big supersaw sounds one can get out of the JP8k from roland.. (let the multipage threads begin...) and is just screaming (well not like a bahssstaaahd) to play trance (bass and leads).
can also do a whole different range of sounds though.. huge pads are also a forte' of SW:Performer. Try switching off the reverb and use a 3rd party instead, you'll thank me later. |
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By VitaminD
On 3rd March 2004
Version: 2.0
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Anwida Soft DX Reverb Light
Anwida DX Reverb lite is a Medium length (1 algorithm included in the lite version) reverb unit.
What I like about this reverb is it's smooth sound. Most other free reverb plugins I've tried have had a very harsh, ringy sound or were too grainy - not DX Reverb lite! Smooth body, lite yet full sound.. refreshing :D
Integrates well into my Orion Platinum-made songs, never has crashed on me, and it is lite on the cpu usage. In short, its a winner.
I'm surprised this reverb (and the full version) aren't discussed more @ kvr. This one is a sleeper hit!!!
Also, The times I've contacted Anwida with my questions, they've replied in a timely manner with accurate (to my questions) and pleasing responses. I couldn't ask for much more. |
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By VitaminD
On 28th July 2003
Version: 7.1
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Synapse Audio Orion
Orion Platinum (OP)
Things I like about OP:
* Sequencing is excellent (very, very easy).. especially if your favorite "midi controller" is your mouse.
* I really dig the Sampler module in OP. It supports Akai S5k/S6k, Kurzweil K2k, Wav, Aiff, Soundfont2, and it's own .OSP format. On top of that, it can break wave files into segments ala recycle (aka Groove Slicing) which it can paint onto the piano roll.. nice!
* Arpeggiator is built into each VSTi or DXi Instrument you use (click the OPT button) and the arps are text editable.
* Drums module is easy to use and comes with a load of drum sets to get you started!
* Event (parameter) editing is easy to use/view.
Things I don't like about OP:
* Built-in FX. Some I think are nice.. but many of them lack critical parameters to really tweak the sound, making them not so useful. Others I find are lacking sonically... Some of this has been corrected as versions have increased; usually not by updating the old plugins, but creating new ones.. resulting in a ton of various built-in effects when a few could do the same thing.
* Sample set, while large, is less than inspiring.
Wavefusion instrument and Ultran instrument(which uses soundfonts) sound a lot alike to me (glassy and buzzy)
* Broken songs. If you make a song with a VST or DX Instrument or effect, and for some reason uninstall it... loading up your songs can be a task.
an example would be..
I had the old dbTempodelay (v1.0 no colorful gui) and saved a song or two with it. Uninstalled it when I got the newer version.. tried to load up the song that made use of dbTempodelay 1.0 and OP begged for me to find this plugin :x if one doesn't find the plugin and clicks 'cancel', then a 'filter delay' plugin will take it's place - regardless of the plugin. I wish it was just a pass-through plugin that didnt alter the sound any.
* Volume/Levels seem a bit unusual to me. Theres some sort of overdrive ability that can sound nice, but at times I wish wasn't there.
All in all:
I really like Orion Platinum.. It has really come a long way since I first reviewed it some 4 years ago.
It is the most easy to use sequencer I've ever seen. Which encourages it's use. Try the demo for yourself and see!
As of writing, there is a 7.5 version in testing.. which will include, among other things, multi-core support and a very nice sounding chorus. 8)
edit: updated my review from 4.086 to 7.1 |
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Last edited : 30th June 2007
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By VitaminD
On 24th June 2003
Version: 3.X
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Camel Audio CamelPhat
I love the UI - easy to get around and to understand..
Presets are fantastic and a great starting point for my own sets as well as inspiration on their own.
I'd have to agree with warbug, this plugin is more than just distortion.
Sound is great both as a distortion unit and as an FX unit overall.. I like to use CamelPhat3 on my kick drums, basses, and leads.. though I typically use it on drums to both thicken and/or dirty them.
It could be in my mind.. but I think the BandPass on the v3 sounds different than the one in v2...
Camel Audio staff is polite and knowledgable... and above all they'll listen to your thoughts/issues on their products. This is a big thing.. if you have a problem or even a comment.. the Camel Audio team are there to resolve your issues with their products. I'd give 6 stars for this if I could.
All sliders and knobs function smoothly and the random preset function can come up with some interesting settings if you're unispiried or simply curious.
I'd be at a very large disadvantage if I didnt have CamelPhat V3 - its in my 'crucial' short list of required plugins!!! |
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Last edited : 18th July 2006
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By VitaminD
On 16th May 2003
Version: 1.1
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Smart Electronix dmiHammer
I use this for the vibraphone and the custom, melodic tine sounds I can get out of it..
Has a very stable feel to it.. Might sound weird to say that, but some VSTi's I've used have felt fragile..
dmiHammer is cpu friendly and stable.. and the sound is nice.
I can only wish the gui was larger.. on a 1024x768 screen, the text and knobs are quite small for this synth. But I am pleased with the simple, well defined layout - Makes programming a breeze. |
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By VitaminD
On 5th February 2003
Version: 1.05a
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Ichiro Toda Synth1
this will sound like a record being replayed from whats already been said but..
synth1 is very clean and rich sounding.. i realized after really exploring this synth that its all in the onboard-fx.
edit: after using synth1 for a year+ now... I can definately tell that it aliases pretty badly in some circumstances. So watch out.. there is a very defined tiney/chimey aliasing noise if you try to push synth1 too hard.
mainly the chorus... it has (1x,2x and) 4x for ultra-silky leads..
one thing though that gets to me is the knobs. When one selects a knob, a bar automatically pops up to show you the amount. however, since the gui is so close-together, this leads to not being able to get to other knobs UNTIL i click something far away from what i really want!!
edit: about the paragraph above, i resolved this by simply clicking the "opt" button and selecting a larger gui!!! (you can resize the synth's gui in percentages, 150% did it for me) as a result im editing the score.
edit: "the color selection is a novel idea, but i would have rather had a locked gui with a more professional design." -- Im changing my opinion.. I like the ugly gui of synth1.. the ability o change colors has kept the look fresh for me.
sonically though, this synth is stunning (and free to boot)
I wish more developers would read this and realize this is what we want.. crystal clear sounding synths with loads of options that are easy to program and use little cpu(even at relatively high polyphony)!
-rgcaudio, bigtick, linplug.. are you reading this!?
In short, (and IMO) Synth1 is the best VA on the VSTi market. |
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Last edited : 24th August 2003
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By VitaminD
On 7th July 2002
Version: 1 ?
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mda Piano
the interface is rather easy to move around, with only a handful of sliders.. i like this- its ugly but functional.
i liked the decay/release and hardness factors you can apply to the sound.. it has enough features to really mold what you want..
however the sound, well it sounds like a piano- but IMO it doesnt really have a lot of character to it.. it sounds very thin and tiny to me.
i normally use, instead.. a small, free soundfont in place of this piano (converted from an impulse tracker multisampled instrument which was sampled from an alesis synth). Nothing is as good as the real thing, but i have free soundfonts that (to me) sound much better than this vsti.
i would say, since its free, no one has anything to lose by trying mda piano, but it just doesnt fit the bill for me..
different strokes for different folks, i guess.. :) |
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Last edited : 7th July 2002
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By VitaminD
On 19th April 2002
Version: 1
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Rumpelrausch Taips ZR-3
I love zr-3.
never tried B4, but I never will..
Im not an organist.. but I do *love* the sound of an organ.. and this synth does it for me, and its free
I like the fact that it can really sound so different.. it has triple drawbars but no tone wheels. however, it sounds pretty good from high to low.. all rich sounding.. though the high bars can sound a bit tiny if you try something really up in the registers.. but I didnt find it a problem in the least really..
The presets (22 included but scroll through AFTER 22 and read the preset names) really show what this synth is capable of doing.. i especially love the 'sine vibra' preset.. has a very austere and mysterious feel to it..
customer support gets a 5 because I never could get email to them as their mail server blocks yahoo accounts.. which is all I really have.
zr-3 makes some very rich, resonant organ sounds.. yum!
for added fun.. click on the 'void warranty' sticker in the top right corner.. hehe
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By VitaminD
On 6th April 2002
Version: 1.11
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Wantech Aska Switch
great synth for bassy sounds..
i think its great especially for basslines in trance, hardhouse.. etc type styles..
gui is very simplistic.. easy to read-but ugly
high end sound is very thin.. but the low end really kicks..
ADSR envelope.. does its job well.. nothing special
filter section has cutoff, res, and env amt knobs.. but is quite thin too.. at least in my opinion its not great, nor horrible..
synth is Free so i cant really complain about anything..
would like to see a much more rich/full sounding filter and detune if a revision is ever coming for this synth.
but good for trancey basslines.. very low on the cpu |
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By VitaminD
On 4th April 2002
Version: 1.4
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Smart Electronix GalactiX
I like this instrument a lot.
Really good sound.. very rich and full.. just hearing the sound, i would have thought it was hardware.. VERY warm.
its really easy to get a wonderful sound out of galactix..
i tend to use it for trance and ambient things..
comes with 11 different oscillator types, a cutoff and res filter, chorus knob, and a simple reverb (size and amount knobs)..
just AR - no DS in the envelope.. but it does come with different envelope types, which can vary the sound significantly.
i counted a max of 16 voices polphony
only big problem i can see is cpu usage (though im not really fond of the colors).. this thing can really hog the cpu.. especially with pads.
playing a simple 3 note chord with the magic strings preset (which btw sounds WONDERFUL) eats about 41% of my 650mhz cpu. ..melaren pad eats 60%..
however this synth is FREE, so i dont really consider it *that* big of an issue.
presets are wonderful, but only a handful to play with.. however the synth is easy to program..
If this synth gets another revision, i'd like to see the cpu utilization a bit better...
btw i gave tech support a 7.. just to be fair.. since i have never had to consult them... there should really be a n/a option on this form. |
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Last edited : 24th April 2002
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| Latest 12 reviews from a total of 12 |
