Hey all. I'm on a Mac Dual 867 G4. I have a Yamaha Motif which i dont get much work out of , so i am thinking of selling it and having SS2 become my workstation synth.
So please comment on how you all feel about a total softsynth studio. I intend on using it with Logic 6 and Ableton Live. Any issues there ?
Also please comment on SS2's sound quality---especially strings and pianos. Am also waiting for Miroslav Orchestra plug-in to come out in the summer.
Also , do you think my MAC will be powerful enough to handle all this. How long will it go before i need to hit freeze ?
Thanks
Nyne
SonikSynth 2 to replace my hardware--advise.
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harmony gardens harmony gardens https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=12815
- KVRian
- 830 posts since 19 Feb, 2004 from Richland Center, Wisconsin
I'm running SS2 through Sampletank 2 XL in Sonar. The sound quality of SS2 is amazing. The main focus of the sound set is vintage synths, but there are excellent sounds in every catagory of "bread and butter" sounds like pianos, organs, drums orchestral sounds etc., included. The GUI is clean, easy to use, and powerful. It based on a workstation model allowing you the versitility of assigning up to 16 sounds on up to 16 different midi channels, to 8 stereo outputs. You can save these as "combinations" and setting more than one sound to the same channel, allows you to make very complex sounds. It also includes a powerful array of effects and the you can tweek individual sounds, and save them as "child" sounds.
The piano sounds are excellent. Squids is proud of "The One" which is a large sample. There are 14 accoustic piano samples plus "child" samples. It also has an array of electric pianos, organs, and clavs. Everything included is well implimented and very "playable".
It also has a nice collection of orchestral sounds, but that is not it's main focus. The sounds it includes are well done, and will certainly give you what you need for string sweetening and basic orchestral textures. Philharmonik is going to be much more focused in this area. If you are doing a lot of serious orchestral work, you would want more than what SS2 has to offer, but it covers the basics nicely.
Philhamonik has not been released yet, but I've heard great things about it, and I'm drooling.
The SS2 GUI will only load SS2 sounds, but you can integrate all of your sounds into one massive library through the Sampletank 2 XL or L engine. You may want to consider adding that to your lust list. I have it and find it really enhances an already powerful setup. In the synth area, SS2 is like going to a music store and buying every vintage synth and putting it into your hard drive. It also includes a huge assortmant of elements you can use to create your own sounds. I'm very happy with everything I've purchased from eSoundz. Cheers
The piano sounds are excellent. Squids is proud of "The One" which is a large sample. There are 14 accoustic piano samples plus "child" samples. It also has an array of electric pianos, organs, and clavs. Everything included is well implimented and very "playable".
It also has a nice collection of orchestral sounds, but that is not it's main focus. The sounds it includes are well done, and will certainly give you what you need for string sweetening and basic orchestral textures. Philharmonik is going to be much more focused in this area. If you are doing a lot of serious orchestral work, you would want more than what SS2 has to offer, but it covers the basics nicely.
Philhamonik has not been released yet, but I've heard great things about it, and I'm drooling.
The SS2 GUI will only load SS2 sounds, but you can integrate all of your sounds into one massive library through the Sampletank 2 XL or L engine. You may want to consider adding that to your lust list. I have it and find it really enhances an already powerful setup. In the synth area, SS2 is like going to a music store and buying every vintage synth and putting it into your hard drive. It also includes a huge assortmant of elements you can use to create your own sounds. I'm very happy with everything I've purchased from eSoundz. Cheers
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- KVRAF
- 2973 posts since 18 Oct, 2004
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- Skunk Mod
- 21249 posts since 10 Jun, 2004 from Pony Pasture
One thing you'll get along with SS2 -- Squids. :-D In other words, amazingly responsive, personal support.
For those bread and butter sounds, I prefer what's in SampleTank 2 XL, but what comes with Sonik Synth 2 is pretty impressive too.
SS2 focuses heavily on the synth side of things... but not exclusively. Plenty of the acoustic samples in there can either stand on their own or be used as elements for creating thick layers. It can feel very painterly at times. =^_^=
Check out the lists and the demos. I've been churring with delight ever since SS2 arrived during the holidays. Wunnaful stuff there.
Meffy
For those bread and butter sounds, I prefer what's in SampleTank 2 XL, but what comes with Sonik Synth 2 is pretty impressive too.
SS2 focuses heavily on the synth side of things... but not exclusively. Plenty of the acoustic samples in there can either stand on their own or be used as elements for creating thick layers. It can feel very painterly at times. =^_^=
Check out the lists and the demos. I've been churring with delight ever since SS2 arrived during the holidays. Wunnaful stuff there.
Meffy
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- KVRist
- 311 posts since 4 Aug, 2003 from Orlando, FL
I ditched my Motif Rack for Sampletank 2 a while back. I can't say that I don't miss many of the great sounds in the Motif...that is one HELL of a board. There is simply no way to totally "replace" a great board like that. You will miss some of the great acoustic sounds like Sweet Flute, the amazing EPs, and overall clean, shiny sound.
However, Sonik Synth 2 does have a monster of a sound library and it does sound great as well, especially in a mix. The EPs and pianos are excellent, and there is everything else from guitars and bass to drums as well. Not to mention the guts of the thing, which is synth sounds. For the price, SS2 is an excellent value.
I have both Sampletank 2 and Sonik Synth 2, and I plan to get both Philharmonik and Studiophonik. The discounts we as users get is a benefit to this product line. Overall, the ease of use of the software studio greatly outweighs the nags of trying to integrate hardware and software. Music making is now painless and quick. The ST2 engine is easy to use, and is loaded with effects. It has become my bread and butter.
Pete
However, Sonik Synth 2 does have a monster of a sound library and it does sound great as well, especially in a mix. The EPs and pianos are excellent, and there is everything else from guitars and bass to drums as well. Not to mention the guts of the thing, which is synth sounds. For the price, SS2 is an excellent value.
I have both Sampletank 2 and Sonik Synth 2, and I plan to get both Philharmonik and Studiophonik. The discounts we as users get is a benefit to this product line. Overall, the ease of use of the software studio greatly outweighs the nags of trying to integrate hardware and software. Music making is now painless and quick. The ST2 engine is easy to use, and is loaded with effects. It has become my bread and butter.
Pete
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- KVRist
- 55 posts since 11 Nov, 2002 from United States
I agree that the Motif has some unbeatable sounds that SS2 will not fully replace. When viewed from a financial persective however, it's a no-brainer.
$3000 keyboard synth workstation
$300 plugin synth workstation
by this comparison, SS2 would be required to fill 10% of the Motif's sonic shoes to be a comparable value. You'll definitely get WAY more than that out of SS2 (80%? 90%?), so it's a smart move.
Plus with the additional 2 thousand seven hundred dollars or so you'll save, you can purchase a used car, or perhaps a new living room set, or maybe a shiny new Mac G5, or new iPods for every room in your house, or a plasma TV...hmm
$3000 keyboard synth workstation
$300 plugin synth workstation
by this comparison, SS2 would be required to fill 10% of the Motif's sonic shoes to be a comparable value. You'll definitely get WAY more than that out of SS2 (80%? 90%?), so it's a smart move.
Plus with the additional 2 thousand seven hundred dollars or so you'll save, you can purchase a used car, or perhaps a new living room set, or maybe a shiny new Mac G5, or new iPods for every room in your house, or a plasma TV...hmm
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- KVRist
- 311 posts since 4 Aug, 2003 from Orlando, FL
Well, you can get a Motif Rack ES for $1000. That's a great deal right there, but then you are still dealing with hardware. All the hardware folks need to go the route of the Virus TI...shows up in your host as a VST and you can pretend the hardware is not even there.
Pete
Pete
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- KVRer
- 9 posts since 12 Feb, 2005
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Get both! That's what I use.