preset free synthesisers

[rob_lee]

I started out being a programming fiend. Loved it! Still enjoy it. But nowdays, programming takes a back seat to writing/recording/releasing music

Well i design presets from scratch (init) i produce/arrange/release no problem at all.. Piece of piss everyone should do it.

Daytime = Sound Design
Night = Producing

Easy life really

[polyslax]

Yes.

I've no need for the oscillators either.

[BDeep]

Thing is, I never use presets, except when demoing a new synth, to see what it's capable of before I have a go at it. Btw, I hate synths without an init patch, but even better are the "new" buttons.
So yeah, I'd love to have the option to have a cheaper version without presets. But to be frank, I don't see it happening, as the developers would probably want a good collection of presets to show off the synths capabilities. And since by that point they're already paid for... I don't think it would make sense to give people the cheaper alternative sans presets.

[rob_lee]

Thing is, I never use presets, except when demoing a new synth

+1

Presets heavy laden with FX are just there for promo purposes.. No way would i use the internal FX of a synth unless they were absolutly top notch.. The first thing i do when staring a new track is INIT/NEW preset and switch off the internal FX..

It's all marketing hype and nothing more

Rob

[Crackbaby]

I never use presets either ... if you want presets you could buy them from the presetproducers and pick the ones you want. You could skip the internal fx also, unless modulateable (diversion, oxium etc). If there's fx, make it an extra vst instead

[BDeep]

Well, there should just be a global "all effects off" button for demoing purposes (hate those larger-than-life-because-it's-drenched-in-effects-but-otherwise-just-flimsy-presets). Because, sometimes effects can be useful if you intend to modulate them with an envelope or LFO, as Crackbaby mentioned.

[snigelx]

I seriously rarely ever met a preset that I could drop into an arrangement and NOT have to change something about it...even my own presets. For me it would not matter one way or the other to be confronted with a synth with/without a bank of presets. I think the first versions of U-he's Bazille modular were like this and I remember thinking that I was left floating in a nice free space to do as I please (forget that..but it was a nice feel vs negative). I don't usually even open that window while demoing UNLESS the synth features some interesting mod matrix routings and I want to browse quickly through some of the more involved presets to see if any of those destinations or sources are being demo'd. They can be a good tool during demo phase, as earlier hinted. Sometimes I take a more involved preset and test CPU hit with that one as well, but lately I built my own voice-laden CPU-intensive monsters during demoing.

Cheers,
Jason

P.S. Yes, it's a great idea to offer a synth at reduced price for lack of incl a "factory" bank.

[olikana]

presets useful for demoing a synth?
Diva Beta was released with no presets and with a fully working 1 month demo....that's how u demo a synth!

[darsho]

Presets are pretty much all I use Software Synths for, tbh.

On a hardware synth I don't really mind to have no patches, though.
But it can help to get a grip of the machine in the beginning.

[jacqueslacouth]

gone

[Crackbaby]

But should those of us who never use presets for whatever reason have to pay for preset designers?

Oh, and i have NOTHING against preset designers! But if i can buy 3 synths instead of 2 for the same amount of money without any presets i would prefer that

[rob_lee]

But should those of us who never use presets for whatever reason have to pay for preset designers?

No you shouldn't have to pay..

A good choice would be.

1. Synth that comes blank and no presets = Cheap
2. Same synth with sounds = £5 more LOOOOOL

Rob

[darsho]

The Roland Gaia SH01 would probably have sold better if they had left the presets off. With Hardware I think it should at least always be an option to overwrite the factory presets. I always find it frustrating that with machines with limited memory, you have no choice but to keep presets that you may not want.

Yeah that is about the only downside of that synth. (if you like the sound)
I wonder why they did that.
I happen to have a Gaia, it's a cool toy for tweaking sounds.

You can however overwrite the 64 user patches and also put a USB Stick in the back with 64 more user presets on them.
I think you can overwrite them directly, but I never save sounds on the Gaia anyway, I commit to Audio very fast these days.

[mcnoone]

I think the OP idea is totally wrong.
I design my own presets too, but I still go through, and investigate what was done to other sounds, to learn how things work with a given synth.
I also buy many other sound designers presets, as it can give me some inspiration to try different things, and possibly even learn something new.
It also helps to support the thing that one loves doing.

I mean should we listen to other peoples music, or just our own?
Same goes for anyone who doesn't like to listen to other peoples sounds, for inspiration, or learning.

Anyone else in this thread who agreed with the OP, can consider me a lost customer. I won't buy your presets, or listen to your music tracks any longer.
Thanks for your non-support of your peers.
I'm sure not one of the you that posted their anti-preset campaign post thought they learned anything from examining the sound design work of other designers...liars. Even if that's true, may I suggest you do so, for the sake of improving your skills, which imo would be a good idea considering the levels of ability at it that I witnessed.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]