KVR Audio

DiscoiD · Post by **DiscoiD** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:52 pm

I tried a demo version of Largo last year, and I liked some of what it could do. The thing I couldn't get past though was how ugly looking it was. Whoever decided on the mostly grey interface made a big mistake in my opinion. We see in color, so why relegate us to a visual prison of blah?

Here's what I liked and didn't like:

1) The main presets for the most part are absolute crap. There are, for example, attempts at recreating a 303 which doesn't even come remotely close. Then there is an electronica-based bank which is buried which has some really good presets. They should've been the main presets.
2) The filters sound great when overdriven as they can get really dirty sounding.
3) I liked that some things like the LFO's are animated, or that you can see exactly where the slope point is in a filter.
4) The sub-oscillator can get really low.
5) 16 modulation slots
6) Largo took up my whole 17" CRT monitor. Part of the interface--the part selectors--got cut off.
7) Fairly light CPU load on my old single engine G4 Mac

Expensive for my tastes

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:07 pm

Interesting to hear love for this synth. I tried it once and also often listen to demos. It seems ok, but sounds like your typical 2005ish soft synth like fm7 or something to me. Ie. verstaile but fairly bland.

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:10 pm

I thought a lot of the factory presets were pretty good - although why on earth anyone would even want to try creating 303 patches with something as sophisticated as Largo is bizarre.

Igro · Post by **Igro** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:13 pm

I wish they change the red colour to the light blue.

losan · Post by **losan** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:49 pm

Largo ?

I'll buy it, if...
it becomes x64 and...
is able to import microQ presets and...
is able to import Komplexer presets and...
they offer a discount to Komplexer owners.

Guess this will never happen...

S0lo · Post by **S0lo** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:23 pm

Largo is one of the greatest but seriously underrated synths I've seen. The sound set that comes with is extremely creative and out of the ordinary, which suites me well. May be not for a targeted style composer, but every time I use it puts that smile on my face.

ShamanicRitual · Post by **ShamanicRitual** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:56 pm

S0lo wrote:Largo is one of the greatest but seriously underrated synths I've seen. The sound set that comes with is extremely creative and out of the ordinary, which suites me well. May be not for a targeted style composer, but every time I use it puts that smile on my face.

Indeed. No matter if it sounds analog or digital. No matter if it sounds thin or fat. No matter if it sounds modern or oldschool. In fact, nothing is matter. When something in particular synth in tune with your soul, boost your creativity, give you much fun - grab this synth without thinking. You'll sort details later. As I did.

After some testing, I'm pretty pleased with downgrade from 1.5 to 1.1 version. I didn't experience more crashes, so far so good. Some little bugs here and there, but nothing really important. I'll give Largo time to work in my projects, and will see, if I can recommend it again.

S0lo · Post by **S0lo** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:17 pm

ShamanicRitual wrote:
S0lo wrote:Largo is one of the greatest but seriously underrated synths I've seen. The sound set that comes with is extremely creative and out of the ordinary, which suites me well. May be not for a targeted style composer, but every time I use it puts that smile on my face.
Indeed. No matter if it sounds analog or digital. No matter if it sounds thin or fat. No matter if it sounds modern or oldschool. In fact, nothing is matter. When something in particular synth in tune with your soul, boost your creativity, give you much fun - grab this synth without thinking. You'll sort details later. As I did.

Totally agree

. If it fits the context well, it the one.

ShamanicRitual wrote:After some testing, I'm pretty pleased with downgrade from 1.5 to 1.1 version. I didn't experience more crashes, so far so good. Some little bugs here and there, but nothing really important. I'll give Largo time to work in my projects, and will see, if I can recommend it again.

Never had such problems with 1.5, but I have to admit I don't use many instances of it, I use 1 or 2 largo. It does take allot of memory though, like 500mb per instance!!.

davidka · Post by **davidka** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:22 pm

Yeah, 1.5 was a great step forward! No hiccups, and they clearly listened to the user base. I wonder if they are planning any stuff though. There may be some blofeld features coming... (?)

ShamanicRitual · Post by **ShamanicRitual** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:43 pm

S0lo wrote:
ShamanicRitual wrote:
S0lo wrote:Largo is one of the greatest but seriously underrated synths I've seen. The sound set that comes with is extremely creative and out of the ordinary, which suites me well. May be not for a targeted style composer, but every time I use it puts that smile on my face.
Indeed. No matter if it sounds analog or digital. No matter if it sounds thin or fat. No matter if it sounds modern or oldschool. In fact, nothing is matter. When something in particular synth in tune with your soul, boost your creativity, give you much fun - grab this synth without thinking. You'll sort details later. As I did.
Totally agree . If it fits the context well, it the one.

ShamanicRitual wrote:After some testing, I'm pretty pleased with downgrade from 1.5 to 1.1 version. I didn't experience more crashes, so far so good. Some little bugs here and there, but nothing really important. I'll give Largo time to work in my projects, and will see, if I can recommend it again.
Never had such problems with 1.5, but I have to admit I don't use many instances of it, I use 1 or 2 largo. It does take allot of memory though, like 500mb per instance!!.

There is my little story about 1.5
http://tinyurl.com/85ry4ad
In fact I found only one workaround. Had to use Largo in rewired cockos reaper from logic. 3-6 instances and then mixdown, and close reaper to recover memory

It was really boring, so with time I stoped to use Largo at all.

Now, when Largo takes only 40mb of RAM it's like reborn of this synth for me.

davidka wrote: There may be some blofeld features coming... (?)

I don't think so. Full featured software can hit sells of hardware.

V'ger · Post by **V'ger** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 11:39 pm

DiscoiD wrote:I tried a demo version of Largo last year, and I liked some of what it could do. The thing I couldn't get past though was how ugly looking it was. Whoever decided on the mostly grey interface made a big mistake in my opinion. We see in color, so why relegate us to a visual prison of blah?

Largo again divides opinion as I find opening other synths right after Largo makes them look cheap in comparison, but surely not many can fault the UI itself with different size and shape knobs/dials, clear and logical marked sections etc.

Agree the factory presets could be better and that the price point may be slightly high, but there are no fees when selling on which of course factors in the overall.

Aiynzahev · Post by **Aiynzahev** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 12:03 am

It has polyphonic Unison. Not that many synths actually have that, including Blofeld.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:54 am

Aiyn wrote:It has polyphonic Unison. Not that many synths actually have that, including Blofeld.

The Blofeld could use Unison with polyphonic sounds too if that's what you mean with "polyphonic Unison". Many other synths like e.g. Synthmaster 2.5, Xils Synthix and Synth Squad could do this too. Same with most of the Kontakt synths from Synth Magic.
U-He Diva got voice stacking for this but will have real Unison in the future.

Ingo

ShamanicRitual · Post by **ShamanicRitual** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:46 am

Don't you know, is it possible that Waldorf make this PPG filter emulation as native FX plugin?

Aiynzahev · Post by **Aiynzahev** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 2:09 am

Ingonator wrote:
Aiyn wrote:It has polyphonic Unison. Not that many synths actually have that, including Blofeld.
The Blofeld could use Unison with polyphonic sounds too if that's what you mean with "polyphonic Unison". Many other synths like e.g. Synthmaster 2.5, Xils Synthix and Synth Squad could do this too. Same with most of the Kontakt synths from Synth Magic.
U-He Diva got voice stacking for this but will have real Unison in the future.

Ingo

Well the specs on their site says "Poly, Mono, Dual or Unisono Mode with selectable Voice Count". I emailed them a while and asked them if indeed the blofled has polyphonic unison like Largo and the reply I got lead to me believe that it did not. So I went back to check their reply. Actually it is the stereo spread function that Blofled does not have. Somehow I got them confused. Still, stereo spread on Unison is very important to me. Polyphonic unison with stereo spread is what many synth's lack. I know many synths have it, but many synths do not have it. Also among those that do Largo is exceptional in its sound quality.

Largo is beautiful