KVR Audio

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:18 pm

Just out of curiosity....If they came out with a new version that allowed sample import, but wanted existing users to pay for the update, would you be -let's say -upset?

alexfalcao · Post by **alexfalcao** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:24 pm

If you love sound design, then I think you should get it since you now can afford. I have upgraded my Omnisphere from Athmmosphere that was already my favorite back then, Spectrasonics is an outstanding developer and very fair on their updates policy. I also own Trilian, Zebra, all NI synths, Alchemy, 6 Arturia synths, Korg, Etc.. But Omnisphere has an amazing and infinite sound texture you can aways use.

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:26 pm

FarleyCZ wrote:
tehlord wrote:I certainly wouldn't buy it as a source of real sounding instruments though, it doesn't shine particularly well there, and isn't intended to. It layers under real instruments beautifully though.

...

I think Omnisphere probably works better as a Rompler than can do synthesis rather than a sound design tool. I think Alchemy (for example) is probably better overall at that task. Especially with the sample import.
Just out of couriosity, what you use for real instruments? (Except that guitar of yours. )

Anyway, that's the point with Alchemy. It takes a while, until you force it to sound good, but it have great possibilites. Omni, though, would allow much quicker "starts", but on the other side I feel I'd get lazy about other synths. Considering it's 500$, may be some EastWest real instrument libraries would make better variety, allowing me to do score music and stuff... Dunno, just dunno.

Omnisphere isn't the correct choice for traditional score type sounds. It's 'real' sounds really aren't it's best feature imo. It's a great all rounder, with a particularly strong experimental sound and pad section. Also, the oldskool analogue synth sounds are often overlooked and almost all very good.

If you want something that's more geared towards orchestral sounds, then Spitfire Albion is unbeatable, and about the same price as Omni.

I'm still not sold on the EWQL stuff, I just hear too many horror stories about performance and stability, and if it doesn't play well on your system you will get zero help from the devs.

For my own stuff the real sounds come from Kontakt and Kirk Hunter libraries I got on that ridiculous group buy last Christmas.

Perhaps Kontakt/Komplete is where your money should go. Then you could build up your libraries over time.

FarleyCZ · Post by **FarleyCZ** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:55 pm

I think the main problem is for me to figure out what type of music to continue with. I love experimental stuff, on the other side, come change wouldn't be bad either.

I thought about Kontakt, but factory library didn't impress me that much and most of 3rd party libraries works in Player version anyway.

Another thing is, that Omni would open me world for some possible collabs, becous just about everyone has it...

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:10 pm

FarleyCZ wrote:I think the main problem is for me to figure out what type of music to continue with. I love experimental stuff, on the other side, come change wouldn't be bad either.

I thought about Kontakt, but factory library didn't impress me that much and most of 3rd party libraries works in Player version anyway.

Another thing is, that Omni would open me world for some possible collabs, becous just about everyone has it...

Well you could actually get Komplete for the same price as Omnisphere, and there's plenty of other stuff in there to be experimental with. The standard library isn't too bad though. Also, there are plenty of very good libraries (8dio, sonokinetic etc) that still require the full retail version of Kontakt.

Guitar Rig alone could keep you busy for months. It isn't just for guitars any more

braj · Post by **braj** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:27 pm

Do I need Omnisphere? Not really. Do I WANT Omnisphere! Oh yeah!

FarleyCZ · Post by **FarleyCZ** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:34 pm

True. Well, got some Fender Ambplitube models for that already. Hmmm, can find Omnisphere 150$ cheaper then Komplete in Czech Republic though.

Arrested Developer · Post by **Arrested Developer** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:36 pm

FarleyCZ wrote: Considering it's 500$, may be some EastWest real instrument libraries would make better variety, allowing me to do score music and stuff... Dunno, just dunno.

I bought the East-West Platinum Orchestra as part of one of their bundles and i have to say that i'm quite ambivalent
about it. On my MBP, i have only 8 GB of Ram, and with the EW-Samples you don't get very far; it's use on RAM is
not reallly a source of joy...
Therefore, it's rather seldom that i use it as an addition to the Vienna Instruments and the LASS-library (that runs in Kontakt), mostly one or two instances; for example the french-horns (as the whole brass section) are really powerful.
The EW-Strings don't offer true legato patches (as the other two) and that's a pity, since the sound itself is great.
(in my opinion, the scores realized with EW mostly have that "Computer-Game-Music"-feeling).
The Vienna Instruments are really great, since they are very efficient on RAM, same as Kontakt.

FarleyCZ wrote: Just can't decide, with Alchemy and Zebra already running, if Omni would make that much of a difference.

I don't own Alchemy, but i think it does. The sampled, more unusual, soundsources in Omni are simply brilliant in their
overall sound quality. That's simply high-end stuff, as usual for spectrasonics. But as mentioned in my first post, you have rather access to the sound quality if you adapt the presets to your needs; changing some LFOs, tweaking the filters; attack times; editing (or bypassing) some of the effects.

FarleyCZ · Post by **FarleyCZ** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:56 pm

I'm SO terrible at making descisions. Always spending like 30 minutes on fastfood menu.

...how the hell am I supposed to decide where to throw 500 bucks at?

Do you think I'll be able to do decent score with Omnisphere and almost no strings and stuff? EastWest are great, but that RAM issues scares me and my 4GB off them.

EDIT: OH! Question: Is there a way in Omni how to set where it will play sample from? For example when you load up some atmospheric craziness and want to use it for "lead" creation, is there way to cut long attack and release from it?

braj · Post by **braj** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 6:13 pm

I have only 4GB and Trillian and I really feel i need much more to get the most from it. Omni probably is much more greedy in RAM too. 4GB is too little IMO. I need a machine with 256 GB

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 6:31 pm

FarleyCZ wrote:I'm SO terrible at making descisions. Always spending like 30 minutes on fastfood menu. ...how the hell am I supposed to decide where to throw 500 bucks at?

Do you think I'll be able to do decent score with Omnisphere and almost no strings and stuff? EastWest are great, but that RAM issues scares me and my 4GB off them.

EDIT: OH! Question: Is there a way in Omni how to set where it will play sample from? For example when you load up some atmospheric craziness and want to use it for "lead" creation, is there way to cut long attack and release from it?

You can't do orchestral score out of Omnsphere, it doesn't have the instrumentation in there to do it. Strings are limited to just pads and brass and woodwind is virtually non existant.

The synth part of Omnisphere is just as powerful as any other, so all the ADSR stuff is in there just like Alchemy etc.

Honestly dude if it's orchestral stuff you want to do, then Kontakt is the way to go.

FarleyCZ · Post by **FarleyCZ** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 6:46 pm

tehlord wrote:Honestly dude if it's orchestral stuff you want to do, then Kontakt is the way to go.

That's really the question. For all trance/ambient/dnb needs I don't need orchestration at all. So Omni all the way. Also when scoring, I'd love to stay in atmospheric waters, but I have no idea at all if orchestration will be needed for some reason at some stage. Then I'll be screwed with Omni.

ghettosynth · Post by **ghettosynth** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:03 pm

tehlord · Post by **tehlord** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:16 pm

ghettosynth wrote:
tehlord wrote: The synth part of Omnisphere is just as powerful as any other, so all the ADSR stuff is in there just like Alchemy etc.
If you think that the bolded text is what synthesizer power is all about, and you are really inspired by the above average, celebrity level, sound library that's included with omnisphere, then, IMNSHO, it is the right synth for you.

On the other hand, if you are not inspired by gigantic, again IMNSHO, overhyped, sounds but are more interested in other, more subtle, characteristics, and, you think that there is more to what makes a synthesizer than the bolded text above, then you might not gain much from omnisphere.

Personally, I think that there is a very dated 90s rompler quality to the library. Listening to the presets and videos remind me of watching some cheezy Roland demo from the 90s where some guy with a berklee background, a true love for fusion, and a ponytail, is trying to convince the audience that if you want to produce all the latest styles, roland has got you covered, cue alesis SR-16 techno beat.

There's a big difference between owning it and using it, and checking out vidoes on Youtube.

It is most certainly more capable than a cheap sounding 90s rompler.

FarleyCZ · Post by **FarleyCZ** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:24 pm

Btw back to that resynthesis question. I didin't mean ADSR, but starting point of sample's playback. If soundsource itself has slow attack, if there is a way for me to make it faster.

Another "Do I need Omnisphere?" topic.