KVR Audio

smp · Post by **smp** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:45 am

As I slowly start widening my arsenal of sound making devices, I'm curious as to the approach people have to deciding what they want to use (apart from the usual blind gear lust that seems to drive so many people).

Do you lean towards one giant complex synth that can do many different things? With the popularity at KVR for synths like z3ta+ or Rhino, I get the feeling that many of you do move in this direction.

Do you tend to buy smaller, cheaper synths that do only one or two things but do them well?

I'm really interested in the reasons you might have for the paths you take.

Personally, I think I'm starting to lean towards the one or two trick ponies (although what I have bought in the past probably doesn't reflect this). I find that I get lost if I have too many options available to me. I prefer the simplicity of something like Angelina (great for breathy pads and synth choir noises) or even Tau Pro (very capable bass synth or basic lead synth, but not overly complex). In fact, they were the first two plugs I bought. I moved away from that for a while (all the White Noise Audio synths, which I do love but spend too much time just playing around with at the moment and Sonik Synth 2 - which is fun but can be overwhelming with so much choice) but I find I'm getting more productive if I stick with the smaller things. I seem to have a better understanding of what they do and feel more confident in the sound as a result. I find when looking for FX, I'm leaning this way as well.

Anyone care to share their thought processes?

-s

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:54 am

a couple of workhorses and a few essential one trick posies,use what you need.
workhorse synths as there name suggest come in everywhere,but if you want a signature sound here n there you will tend too stick with a couple of fave bits over the top i reckon :shug:

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:19 am

I began with a kind of techno-gear lust, and wanted the most incredible, all purpose amazing cpu beast for a synth. I figured if I needed a uniquie sound I could look at the smaller, experiemental one-trick ponies.

While my knowledge of synthesis grew, and my patch creation ability increased, my composition slowed down. The simpler, one trick ponies sped things up for me, because some of them are much more easily defined: I can use Dr-fusion for perc, ibilit/NeoKiller for bass, etc. Contrary to where I began, I actually use the all-in-one synths (sytrus/crystal} for the distinctive accents and sounds: their depth allows for such possibility.

Nowadays, I use Synth1, my workhorse on everytrack, at least to flesh it out and compose sometimes that can be it!: it's quick and simple. later, I go back and start subsituting synths for different voices. Of course it's never this simple.

Damn, I should have just said I agree with vurt.

ugo · Post by **ugo** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:15 am

i go for whatever sounds inspiring to me, be it an ubersynth, or a one trick.

-ugo

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:18 am

I find that using ubersynths is often counterproductive, as is having an instrument with a gazillion presets. I prefer a small arsenal of simple synths, not necessarily one-trick ponies but instruments that are easy to work with. On that score my primary requirement is that everything is on one screen - multi-paged GUI's will never find a place in my set-up, I may as well just use my Micron and synths with more LFO's and envelopes than you coud ever need are just stoopid. The only exception to that rule would be a sampler, where it makes sense to have a separate GUi for building instruments and one for performance/ patch editing.

the_nihilist · Post by **the_nihilist** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:32 pm

I used to use ubersynths until I decided to give up VA's and subtractive synths, since the only real equivalent thats not a VA is the FM7... and I haven't purchased that yet. Also wanna try some of the Virsyn stuff... but thats another thread.

Anyways, I think ubersynths are a bit overcomplicated for their own good. I find myself using alot of medium-sized synths now... not exactly one trick pony's, but not ubersynths either. Something around the complexity of synth1 is perfect, capable of a very wide range of timbres, but still easy to program.

jens · Post by **jens** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 7:41 pm

I love the Übersynths more even if they indeed can be contraproductive - one-trick-ponies I love to use are TickyClav, LazySnake and Nubi...

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:34 am

I find myself using ubersynths but starting from presets and mangling from there -- which is exactly what I do with the one-trick ponies.

I've kinda mentally categorized my synths and will pick one based on needs. Tera for instance, I mostly use for rhythmic stuff -- load up the "Rhythmic" bank and either cruise presets or just hit the slot machine button until I find something I like. Obviously Tera is capable of a million other things, but that's what I wind up using it for.

Meffy · Post by **Meffy** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:44 am

Some of this, some of that. I've got to admit I haven't yet learned to do more with z3ta+ or Wusikstation than enjoy the presets (some pretty impressive stuff in there) and tweak 'em a bit. But gradually I'm learning, applying what I know about hardware subtractives to these big honking virtuals. :-)

In the one-trick division, I wouldn't want to be without my B4! (Or for that matter any of the soft synths that have found their way into my VST directory, whether general-purpose or specialized.)

DavenH · Post by **DavenH** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:32 am

logically, you'd only need one ubersynth. So if you got good at programming that, you wouldn't need any one-trick ponies - my situation.

ross g · Post by **ross g** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:05 am

i just got reaktor 5 and i don't think i'm going to have much time looking into other stuff, there's enough in there ready to go and to fuss around, i've got some analog and a few digi synths, i've yet to check out any vst (besides EmuX), it's all about finding your voice i suppose, i'm not into that polemic shit or cranking out endless product, i'd rather just have fun and make art/music/noise...and THE ROCK!!!

rg

haydxn · Post by **haydxn** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:12 am

just about the only synth i ever use atm is FilterscapeVA. it can do any type of sound you need, so it's a great workhorse, and for that reason it's my goto synth for laying down melodies and backing things. On top of that tho, it's brilliant for effect-type sounds to lay over the top, and gets heavy use on that count. It's also brilliant at interesting leads, and the morphing eQ on it gives it loads of variety. I just can't stop using it.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:24 am

I fired that thing up the other night for the first time in a while [the demo, that is] and was still a little underwhelmed by it. It looks cool but none of the prests really did anything for me.

Benedict · Post by **Benedict** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:40 am

Synths are like women (and here I'm about to get myself in trouble, so poke yourself in the eye if mysogeny offends you).

Synths are like women: there is no such thing as one woman who is 100% absolutely perfect and everything that you want.

Each one is special and lovely in her own way and we wouldn't want them any other way. Phew good save

Ildon · Post by **Ildon** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:58 am

I find that using one synth that has everything I need is much easier to deal with. It's easier for me to get out tracks faster and everything sounds uniform.

Someone also mentioned that one synth you can program really well is better than a thousand synths you don't know your way around, and I agree with them on that.

Ubersynth vs one trick ponies