VSTis as good as hardware? Similar to Access Virus Quality?

[fgimian]

I've seen a couple mentions of ZeroVector here, but so far, no response from you as to whether or not it'd be a viable option.

Out of all the VSTIs I've tried, I'd say it's the most comparable. I'm not sure why it doesn't get mentioned much, perhaps it's a bit pricey as far as software synths go.

Some really lush sounds can be made out of it. The clone dial for each oscillator, plus the global unison control, can can make for some pretty fat sounding leads and basses.

The included effects aren't exactly top-of-the-class, but they can hold their own. (Well, perhaps not the reverb... but it's still better than Vanguard's reverb! )

hey, sorry mate.

I have tried Zero Vector and do indeed love it ... I just wonder if it's anywhere near as powerful as the stuff found in the Virus ... then again, none of the native VSTis appear to have all the features of a virus ... except maybe Zebra 2 which I am keeping a close eye on.

I'll try out Zerovector again right now also
Fots

[papawillow]

AAS Tassman 4.

[Algorythm]

Clavia's Nords and Access Virus is a marketing success. No, it hasn't got something so special compared to today's vstis (except it's polyphony).Nowadays, any good synth (software or hardware VA), can have a "character" that many people will love.In the software world i would suggest:

All Gmedia's Synths
Korg Legacy Collection
Vaz Modular
AAS Tassman 4
ReFX Vanguard
Fabfilter Twin
U-HE Synths
DiscoDSP Discovery
ASynth

and some other that i can't remember right now...
All of them are top notch!
And don't forget Aciddose's XhipSynth, which is in beta, but it will be one of the most powerful analog sounding software synths of this era. I'm not talking about features here!Don't judge a software synth from it's features..ok, it's important to have the basics plus 1 or 2 features, but the most important is to have good sound!!!For example..the most people get excited when they see a synth with many oscs and filters and maybe with matrices and a great polyphony..they are important too, but the most important thing is the quality of each osc or filter or envelope etc, etc...Think of having a synth with 20 oscs 10 filters and 20 lfos taken from Steinberg's Model-E!!!It would be something stupid as far as you looking something that sounds like a real analog or close..

[3*s]

Firebird has the most virusy sounding filters I've encountered from a native VST.

I agree with one of the observations made in this thread, which is that for some reason synths with very high quality sound tend to be lax on features.

Something like minimonsta or fabfilter with similar features to the virus would be .

[snooky]

Firebird has the most virusy sounding filters I've encountered from a native VST.

[Urs]

I'd vote for zebra2

I know Urs developes it to replace his virus

That's true. But mostly because I got tired of my Virus. I wrote Zebra 1.0 to have something with a similar structur, but with a more organic, less egomanic sound as the Virus

Urs

[fgimian]

I'd vote for zebra2

I know Urs developes it to replace his virus

That's true. But mostly because I got tired of my Virus. I wrote Zebra 1.0 to have something with a similar structur, but with a more organic, less egomanic sound as the Virus

Urs

I must say that I've been trying every beta I can get my hands on because I think Zebra2 may be THE synth for me. I absolutely adore it, it's just so so powerful. Main thing missing appears to be wavetable oscilators but with the fantastic modular structure, I'm sure this can't be hard to add.

The oscs and filters in this synth are superb, and I think the programming abilities are probably a lot higher than the Virus.

In fact, I'm just installed the newest demo now to try it.

I tried xhip and Triangle 2 for a great hard sound, I couldn't get anywhere near it with Triangle, xhip is just way way too hard to use because of the GUI so I didn't quite get this far sorry

ZeroVector is very impressive, all except for the reverb, which is probably the worst reverb I have ever heard (am I doing something wrong ? :S)

Huge thanks to everyone, please keep it going

Just about to try this new beta of Zebra2 and am very excited

Urs, honestly, how do you compare the sound of the Virus that you own with software synths you make, does it sound different ? Is there this particular character to a Virus that I may not be able to achieve in a software VSTi ?

Also, which Virus model are you using, just curious

Cheers
Fots

[olepro]

Take a look at Vaz 2010.

The best analog synth sound for your computer....still !

Of course but after VAZ Modular

Dont know for others but VAZ osc and filters are best i've ever heard. IMO of course

yes you are so right
I have Vaz modular allso but most of the time i use Vaz 2010 because it's so damn fast to program when i need a sound.

[fgimian]

oh wait, what's this ... an oscillator loader in Zebra2 ? :D:D:D:D:D I spoke too soon !!

Graphic bug gone, works in Cubase, seems to have way lower CPU overhead ....

+ + =

Fots

[BONES]

soundpalace that's a very good mix!
I agree about the disto sound, could be "fatter" - have you tried xhip or Triangle II for that?

Huge thanks for the comments, I can't say that I have tried those for the distorted sound, I'll give it a go right now

Hard sync will always kill the bottom end in your sound, its an unavoidable byproduct of the effect.

[Urs]

Hey Fots,

thanks man

Main thing missing appears to be wavetable oscilators

Hehe, check out the "more OSC" tabs at the bottom. There are different modes where you can draw/animate arbitrary waveforms and additive spectra. This should be a bit *beyond* wavetable actually

Urs, honestly, how do you compare the sound of the Virus that you own with software synths you make, does it sound different ? Is there this particular character to a Virus that I may not be able to achieve in a software VSTi ?

Also, which Virus model are you using, just curious

I've got one of the first original Virii that were delivered in Berlin. I kind of loved it, but my musical interests moved away a bit from electronica and aggressive sounds.

I think the synths that come closest to that warmthy-biting character of the Virus are the FabFilter synths. They got that certain sharp emphasize above the filter frequency that is so characteristic for the Virus, too.

(Well, if I ever find out how they do this, I'll certainly add it to Zebra as well)

Cheers,

Urs

[TotcProductions]

Firebird has the most virusy sounding filters I've encountered from a native VST.

+1

[Urs]

oh wait, what's this ... an oscillator loader in Zebra2 ? :D:D:D:D:D I spoke too soon !!

Yes, just not so much for loading .wav files or anything... but as a mean to quickly surf through an upcomming library of waveforms and osc settings...

Graphic bug gone, works in Cubase, seems to have way lower CPU overhead ....

Well, many algorithms have been optimized for SSE/SSE2 recently. Expensive filters are 40% faster, and almost as much faster are oscillators and reverb. Plus, many modules go in standby (no cpu consumption) if they actually have nothing to do (delays getting silence etc.)

Enjoy,

Urs

[Urs]

soundpalace that's a very good mix!
I agree about the disto sound, could be "fatter" - have you tried xhip or Triangle II for that?

Huge thanks for the comments, I can't say that I have tried those for the distorted sound, I'll give it a go right now

Hard sync will always kill the bottom end in your sound, its an unavoidable byproduct of the effect.

True! - I always add a sine oscillator at the fundamental frequency to get the bottoms back... (or double the synth in question with another synth that doesn't take much cpu to produce a sine)

Urs

[Algorythm]

Hey Fots,

thanks man

Main thing missing appears to be wavetable oscilators

Hehe, check out the "more OSC" tabs at the bottom. There are different modes where you can draw/animate arbitrary waveforms and additive spectra. This should be a bit *beyond* wavetable actually

Urs, honestly, how do you compare the sound of the Virus that you own with software synths you make, does it sound different ? Is there this particular character to a Virus that I may not be able to achieve in a software VSTi ?

Also, which Virus model are you using, just curious

I've got one of the first original Virii that were delivered in Berlin. I kind of loved it, but my musical interests moved away a bit from electronica and aggressive sounds.

I think the synths that come closest to that warmthy-biting character of the Virus are the FabFilter synths. They got that certain sharp emphasize above the filter frequency that is so characteristic for the Virus, too.

(Well, if I ever find out how they do this, I'll certainly add it to Zebra as well)

Cheers,

Urs

What an honest man! You are using Fabfilter's name even if it is another competitor company for you. I'm calling all the developers to examine Urs behaviour. It should be something like "copy and paste" for every programmer. You rule man!