KVR Audio

mcnoone · Post by **mcnoone** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:47 am

Maybe try the ACE demo out.
That does those dub basses great imo.

_leras · Post by **_leras** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:22 am

vurt wrote:id say hold off, the new xils lab synth sounds interesting enough that it would add to your sound canvas (admittedly theres only one preview track)

if youve tried demos and cant decide then id say definitely leave it for now

err... yeah. No description, no release date... no info... nothing. yeah, i'd wait too..... (wtf!)

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:39 am

_leras wrote:
vurt wrote:id say hold off, the new xils lab synth sounds interesting enough that it would add to your sound canvas (admittedly theres only one preview track)

if youve tried demos and cant decide then id say definitely leave it for now
err... yeah. No description, no release date... no info... nothing. yeah, i'd wait too..... (wtf!)

ok, for the idiots here ill quantify the statement a little "hold off for a little until we get more info"
does that help you leras?

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:42 pm

Madrayken wrote:It seems weird NOT buying synths.

This should be your signature.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:57 pm

get some overdrive, saturation, and/or distortion plugins maybe..

billcarroll · Post by **billcarroll** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:02 pm

I own Massive (NI Komplete), Sylenth, fxpansion synth squad, Diva, Zebra, and Alchemy. After using all these in projects, on tracks, I'd really have to narrow it down to Zebra if I could only pick one.

Here is my quick attempt at ordering the list based on my preference at this moment:

1. Zebra
2. Diva
3. Sylenth
4. Alchemy
5. fxpansion Strobe
6. Massive

What's ridiculous is that synths 2 - 6 could be reordered based on the track, day, humidity, or what I had for breakfast. Every one of those synths is almost a must have, and quite frankly they are all kick ass. In a given situation any one of these synths could be the best tool for the job.

However, for some reason Zebra stays on top for me. If I could only have one synth, I would choose Zebra.

_leras · Post by **_leras** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:35 pm

vurt wrote:
_leras wrote:
vurt wrote:id say hold off, the new xils lab synth sounds interesting enough that it would add to your sound canvas (admittedly theres only one preview track)

if youve tried demos and cant decide then id say definitely leave it for now
err... yeah. No description, no release date... no info... nothing. yeah, i'd wait too..... (wtf!)
ok, for the idiots here ill quantify the statement a little "hold off for a little until we get more info"
does that help you leras?

I'd have to recommend that a addition to zebra and alchemy would be Massive.

Not only will it give a big dirty sounds really easily, that would be more work with the other two synths, but as the interface is so clear and easy to use that it can really help give a good understanding of synthesis that you won't get from other synths, but which can carry over to using other synths.

Personally I think there are plenty of great choices already so no need to wait for something that is just an idea currently.

_leras · Post by **_leras** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:38 pm

VitaminD wrote:get some overdrive, saturation, and/or distortion plugins maybe..

This is an excellent recommendation! Can't get too much distortion!!

Phase47 · Post by **Phase47** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:44 pm

Though I don't dabble in dubstep, I will say that Massive compliments Zebra and Alchemy extremely well.

highkoo · Post by **highkoo** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:55 pm

zerocrossing wrote:"I collect tools... it's fun!"

Its funny how quick an explanation/justification can get backed into that corner.
Try and explain to someone who is moderately familiar with any of our synth collections just why we had to have that new one, and why it is so awesome, and even play them an example... and, in about ten seconds you end up back at the above quote trying to explain why you arent crazy.

zerocrossing wrote: So, you're going to get a deluge of "get this synth!" recommendations because we're good at being co-dependent here at KVR, as you've probably already noticed.

Well, yeah.
He might choose poorly.

I agree with ZC in that it sounds like the OP is right at the GAS tipping point.
I was too far gone by the time any Zebra/Massive comparisons/decisions were made, but damn, thats a rough one. OP, if you can get through this one without buying, youre a strong one.

Zebra and Massive are my two most used "working" synths, I think.
I bet thats not uncommon right now?
For me, Zebra can recreate the grit from Massive, but with some work.
Massive just does it.
Zebra tends sweet, Massive tends sour...
I definitely would not give up either of them.

And, Ive been offline at home since Cyclop was released, so dammit.

LeVzi · Post by **LeVzi** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:27 pm

mcnoone wrote:Maybe try the ACE demo out.
That does those dub basses great imo.

It cannot do the dubstep basses too well tbh, needs better filters, they are too clean in it's current state.

With added FX though it does get a nice sound. But the CPU cost is a downside.

Bronto Scorpio · Post by **Bronto Scorpio** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:49 pm

LeVzi wrote:
mcnoone wrote:Maybe try the ACE demo out.
That does those dub basses great imo.
It cannot do the dubstep basses too well tbh, needs better filters, they are too clean in it's current state.

With added FX though it does get a nice sound. But the CPU cost is a downside.

I don't know much about wobble bass thingys but I made this just with ACE some time ago: ACE Wobble

I agree that ACE definitely wouldn't be my first choice for that kind of thing though. Zebra and Massive are better for cold/digital stuff imo.

Cheers
Dennis

Madrayken · Post by **Madrayken** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:12 pm

LeVzi wrote:
Madrayken wrote:This was less of an 'I can't decide'
An example - this is Zebra with no extra effects added at all:

http://soundcloud.com/madrayken/zebstep

I apologise for the crappy nature of the music.
It isn't a typical massive sound at all, in fact it sounds extremely thin and basic.

Ouch. Clearly need more EQ practise here, too.

LeVzi wrote:Massive does a lot more than just the wub wub dubstep wobble, and it sounds thick as fk.

http://cdn.refxstatic.com/mp3/vengeance ... et_v_1.mp3

Holy crap on a bun. That's... quite big and aggressive. Like a bear with a pineapple up its butt. That kind of aggressive. Wow. May need to reconsider my Massive thoughts.

zerocrossing wrote:
Madrayken wrote:It seems weird NOT buying synths.
This should be your signature.

Heh. As I said - 'First world problem, much?'

The comments on effects, incidentally, are quite interesting. I *never* feel bad buying new effects for some reason. It's like 'they don't really count'. Which is ludicrous.

LeVzi · Post by **LeVzi** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:16 pm

Madrayken wrote:
LeVzi wrote:
Madrayken wrote:This was less of an 'I can't decide'
An example - this is Zebra with no extra effects added at all:

http://soundcloud.com/madrayken/zebstep

I apologise for the crappy nature of the music.
It isn't a typical massive sound at all, in fact it sounds extremely thin and basic.
Ouch. Clearly need more EQ practise here, too.

LeVzi wrote:Massive does a lot more than just the wub wub dubstep wobble, and it sounds thick as fk.

http://cdn.refxstatic.com/mp3/vengeance ... et_v_1.mp3
Holy crap on a bun. That's... quite big and aggressive. Like a bear with a pineapple up its butt. That kind of aggressive. Wow. May need to reconsider my Massive thoughts.

zerocrossing wrote:
Madrayken wrote:It seems weird NOT buying synths.
This should be your signature.
Heh. As I said - 'First world problem, much?'

The comments on effects, incidentally, are quite interesting. I *never* feel bad buying new effects for some reason. It's like 'they don't really count'. Which is ludicrous.

Thing is it's not just EQ that drives that kind of sound. And most synths aren't equip with enough internal FX to make the sound that heavy from the off. Massive is one that can though, and it's definately the best imo. Alchemy is another, but one that often gets completely overlooked is KarmaFX modular.

Donner · Post by **Donner** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:27 pm

Madrayken wrote:In fact, is there a patch in any non-sample-based synth that can't be made almost identically in Zebra?

Yes. Morphine (from Image-line) can have a very airy/transparent tone, that I have not been able to duplicate with Zebra (or any other synth, for that matter).

You own Zebra and Alchemy already, so if you really want to expand your sonic palette, then buy some effects instead of a new synth. Try this: Take any synth, pick a sawtooth and let the filter be fully open and then distort and mangle that pedestrian wave beyond recognition with some good effects.
Chorus, flanger, distortion, delay, whatever, put your synths through a lot of effects and see where it takes you.

Zebra/Alchemy vs... the world?