KVR Audio

GeorgeZ · Post by **GeorgeZ** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:35 am

zerocrossing wrote:I recently got a Moog Slim Phatty and I swear I'd rather it have not come with a single preset, as man did the ones it came with suck. I know sounds are subjective but... anyway, so I made my own. Hurray for me! I can do it!

I know it's hard to describe, but what was the problem? Were they just bland or too outlandish?

states · Post by **states** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:43 am

Bronto Scorpio wrote:The first thing I do when I get a new synth/FX is deleting all presets, then I make an init preset (it drives me crazy when synths don't come with an init preset and/or a "new sound" button).
There are a few exceptions but that's what I do most of the time.

exactly my MO as well ! all i usually require is a sine init preset as anything more than that is 'imposing'. tat's why i still find my (limited) analogue monosynths around. much more creativity when your starting point is yours alone.

skipscada · Post by **skipscada** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:04 am

Don't most synths have the possibility to restore factory settings? With this ability, it's easy enough to wipe the patches and start creating your own from zero. Then you have the option to save your own to an external device and restore the factory patches if you should ever feel the need to do so.

manducator · Post by **manducator** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:17 am

I don't know why I sould delete the presets. If I don't want to use them, I don't use them. Nothing prevents me to ignore them and start from the init preset.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:55 am

Just sell the Sound Designer Special Edition for a few bucks less.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:04 am

Neon Breath wrote:I'm not a plugin/synth developer, I'm just curious about people's opinions and see what they think about the subject. Chances are quite high that you already heard a song somewhere and at some point you could right away very easily spot the synth/vst'i used and say ''hey, that's *whatever synth* right there!'' cause obviously, the creator behind the track simply clicked and used a preset right away. Happened to me several times, a bunch of presets easily recognizable on a well known synth.

Now, what would actually happen if a major developer releases a really good synth but without ANY presets at all? And let's say on their website there's are alot of info, many solid videos to see and hear what the synth can do, a nice useable demo as well, but... No presets. Would it be a good thing, forcing people to really explore the synth and all its possibilities OR they would literally shoot themselves in the foot?

What do you think?

In both foot. Most real musicians use presets, or adapt presets to their taste or to the track context. Professional composers certainly dont have the time to explore synths this way, their job, and joy, is to make music, not to compensate for the lack of work of developers.

When you develop a synth, ie a musical instument, you should imho always think that you're just here to serve musicians. And I can't see a bad point in trying to offer them the best possible presets ( = musical instruments in the intrument itself )

Then, as some people mentioned it, you don't have to use presets, just ignore them if it makes you feel better

darsho · Post by **darsho** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:41 pm

Everybody has their part in creating and spreading music.

Some people build or program synths.
some make the sounds for them
some compose the music
some sing and play the music
some mix it
some master it
some do the marketing
some do the distribution
some make videos
some play music in a disco as a DJ

and so on...

no need that everybody does everything.

Karmacomposer · Post by **Karmacomposer** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:02 pm

Great topic!!!

As a dev, I can tell you that presets are important, BUT . . .

PRIZM comes with hundreds and hundreds of presets by some incredible preset designers - but, it was organized by designer and not all of them adhered to a single format - the result - a small few were annoyed by the presets. Since PRIZM comes with a 16GB library, and uses the Wusik engine, it is, IMHO, fun to create presets. However, it is my belief that almost anyone COULD create a preset if they simply tried for a moment.

Unfortunately, sales of PRIZM has been lackluster at best. Shame since it is such a good instrument.

Now, look a Monstrous - my best seller - it's inexpensive, has a nice library of sounds and comes with a few presets - not a ton, just a few. However, they are well organized and easy to follow what they sound like - and show off what Monstrous is capable of. Creating presets on Monstrous is harder than using PRIZM IMO, yet more people are using Monstrous than PRIZM.

Now take SuperCore and Klang Drum Machine - similar look and feel, nice libraries, but NO presets. My sales have been ZILCH. Nada. Very few if any.

Obviously, I need to create presets and then re-release one or both of them (although I am probably phasing out SuperCore since Klang DM is similar and way more flexible in the sound department).

So, IMO, presets matter - but only if they are well organized and do a decent job of showing off what the synth can do. It's not the QUANTITY of them, it's most certainly the QUALITY of them.

Mike

trimph1 · Post by **trimph1** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:25 pm

what would actually happen if .... and oops.

I'm more likely to buy something based on what it can do. Really does not matter to me either way...

Bronto Scorpio · Post by **Bronto Scorpio** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:22 pm

Lotuzia wrote:Most real musicians use presets, or adapt presets to their taste or to the track context.

I know many, many "real musicians" (whatever that is) who'd never do that, including some here on KVR.
Are people who use just a modular synth or other analog gear without presets no "real musicians"? That's just nonsense.

About the "why should anyone delete presets" thingy: I'm a bit paranoid about that

I always want to start from a 100% blank state. Does it make sense to delete them? No! But that's how I do it

I'm a bit paranoid about files on my PC in general

Cheers
Dennis

Neon Breath · Post by **Neon Breath** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:26 pm

Lotuzia wrote: Most real musicians use presets, or adapt presets to their taste or to the track context.

Explain more please. I don't understand what you mean. 'Most real musicians'

...what does that mean?

Integratron · Post by **Integratron** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:32 pm

The synth would be dead in the water!

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 3:46 pm

Bronto Scorpio wrote:
Lotuzia wrote:Most real musicians use presets, or adapt presets to their taste or to the track context.
I know many, many "real musicians" (whatever that is) who'd never do that, including some here on KVR.
Are people who use just a modular synth or other analog gear without presets no "real musicians"? That's just nonsense.

About the "why should anyone delete presets" thingy: I'm a bit paranoid about that
I always want to start from a 100% blank state. Does it make sense to delete them? No! But that's how I do it
I'm a bit paranoid about files on my PC in general

Cheers
Dennis

That's why I said "most" real musicians Dennis,

So it might be useless to oppose people that use modular synths etc, they are just on the other side of the "most", and they are not in the majority, as everyone can see, and also probably useless to suspect that I could say nonsensical stuff ( wich might happen but eventually not here ), except if you're looking for polemics just for the fun of it, because I just did not express the idea you want to put in my mouth.

Then some people are heavily into synthesis, and some musical genres also require this kind of approach, where sound design and composition are intimately blended. These people are also on the other sie of the "most"

Then some people are just snubs and are very proud to reinvent the wheel and would never touch a preset because they think its evil or degrading. Then amongst these snubs, some even never do music. ( I'm not speaking for you or anyone particular btw, its just that I met some of these people irl )

So that my opinion remains that when you're developping a synthesizer, as this synthesizer probably aims to be usefull for all musicians, it does make sense to provide presets that well ....... most of its users will find usefull. No more, no less.

Add to that that I have not the singlest problem with you deleting all the presets of a synthesizer. I can see it only under two approaches : Each musician choose its own way, so it's ok. Or : you paid for it, so you have all the freedom to erase all you want, you have the right to do it, and it's equally OK. If you're happy this way, well its another piece of quietness added in this rude world, so its nice.

ianweb123 · Post by **ianweb123** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:05 pm

.. most likely nobody would be interested in the synth, unless it came from a highly recognised developer. FWIW when I have created a plugin I sometimes only realise its true potential after I have received patches for it from those that help me. Patches help define the character of a synth, sad to say.

Kriminal · Post by **Kriminal** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:11 pm

Bronto Scorpio wrote:
Lotuzia wrote:Most real musicians use presets, or adapt presets to their taste or to the track context.
I know many, many "real musicians" (whatever that is) who'd never do that, including some here on KVR.
Are people who use just a modular synth or other analog gear without presets no "real musicians"? That's just nonsense.

they get other ppl to patch sounds for them, its pretty common practice

composers need a sound, someone makes that sound for them, they in turn make a piece of music with that sound

its like job share

What would happen if...