Unconventional Plug-ins

[Ridan]

There seems to be a high demand for emulation plug-ins. Nothing wrong with that. Makes sense. Hardware synthesizers can be too expensive for a lot of people, but what about the odd, and unconventional plugins? The market doesn't seem to be quite as big for those type of instruments. However, it does appear to be growing slightly.

Take NI Kinetic Metal for example. One of the most unique sounding instruments I've ever heard, and probably one of the most popular in the unconventional category. Don't get me wrong, I know bizarre, and unique sounds can be created with most ordinary vsts, but I'm curious to hear more about plug-ins that are specifically designed for unconventional purposes. Preferably commercial instruments, as a lot of freebies seem to lack in sound quality.

Are these "unusual" plug-ins starting to become more sought out? Are there any that might've gone under the radar?

[ariston]

I'd look at physical modelling synths, because they're good at giving you unusual/otherwordly sounds that are still grounded in the (sometimes vaguely) familiar. Take the AAS offerings (Tassman, String Studio, Chromaphone), Kaivo, and Pianoteq for example. The latter is especially good for making "prepared piano" type sounds.

These aren't specifically designed for unconventional purposes, but they can be easily turned in that direction.

[Nightpolymath]

Axon (AD) and Synplant (Sonic) come to mind for me as slightly different ways to come up with rhythms and patches. I also love BitWiz on iOS, and wish they had a VST version.

[dformd]

I also love BitWiz on iOS, and wish they had a VST version.

http://www.native-instruments.com/en/co ... show/7715/

Which segues nicely to highly recommending Reaktor to the OP.
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... reaktor-5/

Reaktor User Library:
http://www.native-instruments.com/en/co ... r-library/

[dformd]

Also everything by Plogue; brilliant stuff:
www.plogue.com

[Nightpolymath]

That's a great link thanks. I will check it out!

[Ridan]

@ ariston - Thanks for recommending AAS. Never heard of them until now. Will definitely give them a look.

@ Nightpolymath - I'm glad you mentioned Axon! I've been planning to get that for a while now. Surprised I haven't heard much rave about it though.

@ dformd - Plogue instruments are interesting. Downloaded the chipspeech demo a few days ago. Spent several hours just experimenting with it. Good fun.

[jancivil]

Check out GeoSonics by SonicCouture for Kontakt.

[TabSel]

Amaranth Audio Cycle

[jc_vt]

Enzyme and Glass Viper are worth mentioning. Both out of the mainstream and capable of producing exquisite sounds

[VariKusBrainZ]

SwarmSynth and GeoSynth by Anarchy Sound

http://anarchysoundsoftware.co.uk/anarchysoundsoftware/

[Greg Houston]

Steinberg's Dark Planet would likely interest you.

Alchemy would have been a good choice for making more instruments like Kinetic Metal. Take the Water library for example.

Serum doesn't fit your criteria particularly, but I think it's reverb filter is noteworthy. It opens up it's own little world of weird, unique.

https://soundcloud.com/fabled-audio/hyp ... eds-tuning

[VariKusBrainZ]

ScanSynthGL

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=128692

[BBFG#]

+ 1 on the AAS synths mentioned. Could add IL Sakura to that too. And Izotope Iris, 1 or 2.
Since you mentioned Kinetic...
I might also suggest Synth Magic Phobos and HollowSun Pulstar as something a bit out of the ordinary.
And if you don't mind them being 32 bit and PC only, you can pick up some strange beauties from the HG Fortune for free from the 'NFG' (Nearly Forgotten Gems).

[DrewDale]

Two interesting and unconventional vst's both by VST Zone are worth checking out too.

http://www.kvraudio.com/product/eclipsis-by-vst-zone
And -
http://www.kvraudio.com/product/strum-by-vst-zone