HG Fortune STS-26: free version out now!

[Fortune]

my own opinion after playing 1 day with the sts-26....

- I did not like the presets as much (internal bank), compared to previous synths
-seems to be less effects-type sounds in the included waves and more instrument tones. but again they are well choosen and work beautifully with the transition system
- I started programming sounds with it... and loved it... very clear layout, and got what I wanted as sounds and more!
- The lop function is not a full featured implementation.... juste a simple hack... but it works and can be usefull.... what is missing:
-loops are locked to 90bpm ( I sort of hoped for time streching, sliced beats or programmed hits that would follow tempo...)
-the synth voices are triggered when holding a rythm loop (I sure hoped for a split keyboard!)...
-even in this limited implementation it has proved to be usable... you can hold the pitch of your choice (in the lower octaves) and have the rythm you want with semitone transposition of the loop oscillator.
-the rythm loops are very very good, fit with the synth sounds perfectly... again the creator have a strong sense of esthetics (he has good taste!) and like the synth loops they are top notch
-I'll have to get ESC or vienna to work with soundfonts witch is a format I hate... but the possibility of exporting internal waves was essential
(would love to do that with previous synths as well)



...I consider HG Fortune's synths to be where it is happening now in S+S synths... he is continuing on the legacy of the Roland D50... witch I was an early owner... that synth created a revolution in sounds at the time.... his synths expand the concept and are among the best pad synths ever... in a way they are limited (sampled osc, no keyboard scaling of the filter, or crossfading on velocity or key position like a full-featured sampler) but the results are there they can create fantastic sounds.... and for me it is all about those sounds....

... I recommend all his synths, would they cost 300$ a piece ( you know who I am thinking about...) I may not but here is a dev that manages to keep the price right and they are really worth it!!!!

Thanks for this rather long and elaborate statement!

cheers
HG

[The_Cresta]

this is a treasure
one of the best sounding synth around. Too bad that on some patches I still get that annoying clicks/pops

a very good work anyway

that's presumably a latency related thing within the audio system.

and please remember sometimes at high Q settings some type of 'pops' are as of this.

hth
HG

hum..I have a Delta 192, at 44.1Khz I get 2ms latency
the thing that really pi$$ me off is that I get this "pops" with my preferred patches, how unlucky of me
btw, if in certain circumstances, as you stated, they are as of this... well, I feel a bit relieved

[MaxSynths]

Just tried the free version. It's a strange synth with unconventional possibilities. I don't like the presets as much but I understand this thing can do really interesting things. I too have experienced occasional clicks and I'm sure it's not my soundcard or the filter; I think it's something related to the samples.
I like the LOP funcion. I can't yet understand why the sample changes at key changes but I must admit I have to look to the manual yet.
Anyway my thumb is slowly going up

Congratulations!

[cheul]

I'm not familiar with the STS synths, they're mostly used for pads, right ? What's the concept behind STS-26 ?

[blakflag]

I decided to upgrade to the STS-26 synth. I always trust HG Fortune to create a good synth. So Ive gotten almost all of them since original protoplasm and STS. Theres a few things I am dissappointed about tho, that upgraders should be clued in about before automatically pulling the trigger:

1 - no ArtVera skin. It was like a tradition, but maybe all traditions have to be broken someday.

2 - No X-tortion. I think thats why I loved the STS-21 & 24 so much. That gritty sound. I think thats why I dont like the presets as much either. Guess theres always external FX.

3 - The exchange rate from Euro made the upgrade from STS-24 a little more than I thought it was gonna be. Of course thats 100% my fault for not doing the math, but oh well!

In short, while the CG's are cool I think I'm gonna be loading up STS-24 and even the old STS-21 more than this one, just for the presets. Im not so much into programming patches.

Still hoping for Swamp II someday.

[liars&ashes]

2 - No X-tortion. I think thats why I loved the STS-21 & 24 so much. That gritty sound. I think thats why I dont like the presets as much either. Guess theres always external FX.

3 - The exchange rate from Euro made the upgrade from STS-24 a little more than I thought it was gonna be. Of course thats 100% my fault for not doing the math, but oh well!

----2) I knew something was missing, the X-tortion, I do kinda miss that too. But STS-26 has some different transitional stuff, and a flanger, so that's cool that it's a bit different. I haven't used it enough yet (just got it yesterday) to comment on it overall, but it's sounding much like, and every bit as good as the last 2 or 3 synths/upgrades he's done already. Just my opinion. (And I still want a multiFx plug from HG someday, I'm not giving up on that idea ha-ha.)
----3) The exchange rate made it like $19.50-$20.00 or so here (the U.S.), but worth it for the extra .sf2 bank if not the synth itself. I'd like to see the .sf2 banks from all the HG synths available to the registered users of say 2 or more of the synths, so that we could mix and match more. As far as I'm concerned, the upgrade price at $20 was made totally worth it for the extra .sf2 bank and presets, and I'm all for seeing more of that, especially with GH's stuff since it all uses .sf2 sound sets.

Jeff

[blakflag]

Oh you're right, it was $20.43 US dollars. That's not bad.

I commented because I had a previous charge of $26 for something and mistakenly thought that was the charge for STS. my bad.

The flanger is nice, so are the CG's. I am liking a lot of the patches. I think its safe to say that each STS is its own beast, and one doesnt necessarily supercede the other.

[SampleScience]

I tried the free version & I love the sound! The interface is smaller than the other H.G. Fortune synths which is a good thing & the cpu use is very good on my P4 1.6Ghz which is also a good thing (comparing to Enceladus it's really usable). Good work!

[Hyperspace Drifter]

I also have just tried the free version and love the sounds. The ones I've listened to so far anyway. You see, I've gotten stuck at ANN's preset (that is called "Kamikaze" for some reason) and I can't get out!
I don't know if this is the right place to put something like this but I would really like to know what you guys think of this.

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=911509&t=9566

Ms Nolwenn, are you out there? I hope you get a chance to listen to this little tune that your preset inspired! Thank you!

[hao nao]

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=911509&t=9566

nice track!

thank you, HGF and team, really enjoying this!

"butterfly lead" makes a beautiful "opening to the album"

[Bassballjg]

I've been on the Fortune Train since STS-21. Shorter than some folks, but longer than others. This is definitely the best yet.

I had had some questions during the beta about some of the changes between 24 and 26. But it turns out that they are indeed improvements, especially considering that the two instruments can coexist in your VST folder, as I am sure that for many folks they do. It's another smash hit from the Fortune synth factory. Outstanding.

For those concerned as current users, or potentially interested in expanding the synth, the new Dangerous Bear Underground Fortuity 2.0 library was written for STS-24, but is preset compatable with STS-26. There is a little trick to it, which will be revealed when and as asked for. However, there will be an STS-26-friendly version of those presets available shortly after the new year, and all-new production for 26 itself to follow soon thereafter.

[liars&ashes]

the new Dangerous Bear Underground Fortuity 2.0 library was written for STS-24, but is preset compatable with STS-26.

----Any soundfont can be loaded into any of the STS synths can't it ? HG seems to always include either .wav or .sf2 loading, and sometimes both. I tried loading Protoplasm prsets into STS-24/STS-26 and that was a no go. I have no idea how all that works as far as the presets knowing which /sf2 they need to work. I may have to ask you how to save presets made with an externally loaded .sf2 bank sometime. I haven't tried it yet, but something tells me there must be a trick to getting it to work properly.

Jeff

[Bassballjg]

the new Dangerous Bear Underground Fortuity 2.0 library was written for STS-24, but is preset compatable with STS-26.

----Any soundfont can be loaded into any of the STS synths can't it ? HG seems to always include either .wav or .sf2 loading, and sometimes both. I tried loading Protoplasm prsets into STS-24/STS-26 and that was a no go. I have no idea how all that works as far as the presets knowing which /sf2 they need to work. I may have to ask you how to save presets made with an externally loaded .sf2 bank sometime. I haven't tried it yet, but something tells me there must be a trick to getting it to work properly.

Jeff

Jeff,

Yes, you are correct, any sf2 will load, and can be used. It's a lot of fun to load a preset bank and then change the soundfont, which you can, and should, definitely do that with the Fortuity soundset.

STS and ProtoPlasm are two totally different animals, and there never has been any preset compatability between them. The coding and the voice architecture are completely different, which at the user level is why it's good to have both.

Preset saving and loading is as easy as any host-based fxb/fxp save/load with the Fortune synths. There is however a trick in the STS series to loading banks based on external sf2 which is to load the sf2 into all 4 oscillators of patch 1, that is, fxb patch 0. Then there is also a specific issue with the dBu Fortuity banks about the oscillators switching to wav input and not sf2 input when they load. Switch it back, no problem. That's why we're creating "fixed" banks.

But the differences between the 2 synths is not a problem but an opportunity to use the new features, so we're thinking of them as "adapted" banks, and they will exist seperately than the original STS-24 banks. Those will be available asap January 2007. Then, we will be adding sample content and doing all-new presets specifically for STS-26. That project is for first quarter 2007. The price of the library will stay low, but its value will get higher. And to current users, the STS-24 adapted banks will be free, and the new samples and 26-specific presets very inexpensive.

By the way, Fortuity 2.0 is currently on sale for only $20, including ProtoPlasm TSMPro support. Price good through January 1st.

[Fortune]

I also have just tried the free version and love the sounds. The ones I've listened to so far anyway. You see, I've gotten stuck at ANN's preset (that is called "Kamikaze" for some reason) and I can't get out!
I don't know if this is the right place to put something like this but I would really like to know what you guys think of this.

http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=911509&t=9566

Ms Nolwenn, are you out there? I hope you get a chance to listen to this little tune that your preset inspired! Thank you!

thanks for that nice track - I'll let her know in case sghe doesn't read this.

cheers
HG

[Fortune]

the new Dangerous Bear Underground Fortuity 2.0 library was written for STS-24, but is preset compatable with STS-26.

----Any soundfont can be loaded into any of the STS synths can't it ? HG seems to always include either .wav or .sf2 loading, and sometimes both. I tried loading Protoplasm prsets into STS-24/STS-26 and that was a no go. I have no idea how all that works as far as the presets knowing which /sf2 they need to work. I may have to ask you how to save presets made with an externally loaded .sf2 bank sometime. I haven't tried it yet, but something tells me there must be a trick to getting it to work properly.

Jeff

Jeff,

Yes, you are correct, any sf2 will load, and can be used. It's a lot of fun to load a preset bank and then change the soundfont, which you can, and should, definitely do that with the Fortuity soundset.

STS and ProtoPlasm are two totally different animals, and there never has been any preset compatability between them. The coding and the voice architecture are completely different, which at the user level is why it's good to have both.

Preset saving and loading is as easy as any host-based fxb/fxp save/load with the Fortune synths. There is however a trick in the STS series to loading banks based on external sf2 which is to load the sf2 into all 4 oscillators of patch 1, that is, fxb patch 0. Then there is also a specific issue with the dBu Fortuity banks about the oscillators switching to wav input and not sf2 input when they load. Switch it back, no problem. That's why we're creating "fixed" banks.

But the differences between the 2 synths is not a problem but an opportunity to use the new features, so we're thinking of them as "adapted" banks, and they will exist seperately than the original STS-24 banks. Those will be available asap January 2007. Then, we will be adding sample content and doing all-new presets specifically for STS-26. That project is for first quarter 2007. The price of the library will stay low, but its value will get higher. And to current users, the STS-24 adapted banks will be free, and the new samples and 26-specific presets very inexpensive.

By the way, Fortuity 2.0 is currently on sale for only $20, including ProtoPlasm TSMPro support. Price good through January 1st.

In addition to what John wrote I'd like to mention that loading a different soundfont files makes it valid for all patches. But as one can have up to 4 different sf2 files this is offering really interesting possibilties to expand the sonic range much further.

Soon but not before jan/feb 07 the upgrade of the ProtoPlasm should be done being adopted to the same system and with a new waveset too which is already nearly complete by now. So all registered users of STS and ProtoPlasm will have two different banks by default being usable in both programs.

Also according to LOP I found it being very interesting to use certain FX loops or spoken phrases as in Dimitri's track 'Time for Transition'. Maybe the latter as one shot samples only. I'm looking around for good female voices so I can record some samples.

cheers
HG