KVR Audio

bharris22 · Post by **bharris22** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:51 pm

Now that people have had some time to try Padshop Pro, how does it compare to Alchemy? Does it offer anything that Alchemy doesn't in terms of sound, ease of use or other features? Thanks!

Echoes in the Attic · Post by **Echoes in the Attic** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:37 pm

aMUSEd wrote:Just installed - not seeing a VST version, just AU. It definitely says on the site "Both synths feature full VST and AU support and are ready to be used within your favorite DAW" so why am I not seeing a VST version? (it wasn't an option in the installer either)

Also it's rather annoying where they have placed the browser so it covers a substantial part of the gui when it is open and you can't even more it!

What host are you using? It is only VST3 and AU for Mac, whereas for PC it's VST3 and VST2.

This caught my attention as I was checking specs because Ableton Live doesn't support VST3 yet unfortunately, otherwise I may have gone for it.

Caine123 · Post by **Caine123** » Fri Oct 05, 2012 9:18 pm

bharris22 wrote:Now that people have had some time to try Padshop Pro, how does it compare to Alchemy? Does it offer anything that Alchemy doesn't in terms of sound, ease of use or other features? Thanks!

i demo'ed it but somehow i couldnt get decent results at all

tried to check some youtube vids and read the tutorial pdf but in my opinion the sound is thin, the handlung isnt well either. i love alchemy much more, you get a soundscape ASAP, even if you dont read the manual.

for padshop i hope that someone will some time upload a tutorial vid how to create a nice drone etc.

Neon Breath · Post by **Neon Breath** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 3:51 pm

Caine123 wrote: i demo'ed it but somehow i couldnt get decent results at all
tried to check some youtube vids and read the tutorial pdf but in my opinion the sound is thin, the handlung isnt well either. i love alchemy much more, you get a soundscape ASAP, even if you dont read the manual.

Sorry to contradict here, but saying Padshop sounds 'thin' cleary show you did not catch and did not get all the possibilities this synth can deliver

To me, Padshop's granular engine with its 8 grain streams sounds way more lush and fluid than Alchemy. Of course Alchemy is a way more complete & complex synth in general but in the granular realm, for now I think Padshop is superior in term of pure granular sounds and fluidity. Both have a very different approach and workflow so it's still difficult to compare but Padshop's granular engine sounds very lush and beautiful, and this I have to admit it even if I'm an Alchemy lover!

tlainhart · Post by **tlainhart** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:03 pm

Neon Breath wrote: To me, Padshop's granular engine with its 8 grain streams sounds way more lush and fluid than Alchemy.

A (perhaps naive) question about Padshop's grain streams - is each stream composed of a single grain that's run over the sample?

I'm not sure how to think of the grain stream model. The visual implies that a single stream consists of multiple grains, but perhaps what I'm seeing it the quick birth/death of a single grain over time.

And then there's this bit from the manual:

"At a setting of 2, the two grains are offset by 180 °. Due to this phase offset, the root of the spectrum is canceled out, and the pitch increases by one octave."

I'm not getting why/how the grains are phase-shifted.

Neon Breath · Post by **Neon Breath** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:33 pm

tlainhart wrote:
I'm not sure how to think of the grain stream model. The visual implies that a single stream consists of multiple grains, but perhaps what I'm seeing it the quick birth/death of a single grain over time.

Technically what's going on behind those grain streams, I'm not sure. But like you said it sounds like multiple grains overlapping with each other in one grain stream, not sure tho. No matter what, it definitly sounds smoother and more buttery than Alchemy.

Numanoid · Post by **Numanoid** » Wed May 15, 2013 12:13 pm

-400 new presets with outstanding sounds designed by Yamaha sound designer Dave Polich
-Leads, bass, pads and FX designed on the most famous synth sounds of the '70s, '80s and '90s
-Exlusively available as download
-Windows and Mac installer included

http://www.steinberg.net/en/newsandeven ... -2385.html

But cost almost as much as buying Retrologue

aer72 · Post by **aer72** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:24 pm

I just bought "absolute vst instrument collection" and installed it in the default location choosed by the installer on my Mac.
I am using Logic 9 as my daw. Halion Sonic works as expected, but I can't load any presets for Retrologue or Padshop Pro using the browser at the bottom. Nothing happens

I would be very greatful for a solution.
Thanks in advance!

Sampleconstruct · Post by **Sampleconstruct** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:35 pm

aer72 wrote:I just bought "absolute vst instrument collection" and installed it in the default location choosed by the installer on my Mac.
I am using Logic 9 as my daw. Halion Sonic works as expected, but I can't load any presets for Retrologue or Padshop Pro using the browser at the bottom. Nothing happens
I would be very greatful for a solution.
Thanks in advance!

Have you also installed the AU patch? The initial release was buggy and they later released that patch, they still haven't included it in the installer obviously which is a bit strange to say the least.

https://www.steinberg.net/forum/viewtop ... 68&t=25052

aer72 · Post by **aer72** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:31 pm

No I missed that one. Will try when I get back from work.
Thanks very much for your reply

paterpeter · Post by **paterpeter** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 7:48 am

Is Padshop Pro only available from Steinberg directly or are there online retailers who sell it (download version preferred)? So far, I couldn't find any.

Neon Breath · Post by **Neon Breath** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:14 pm

I love Padshop (Pro) it's really an amazing granular synth especially crafted for soundscapes. The only thing annoying me so far is that it already seems abandoned by Steinberg. We haven't seen an update since more than a year and Steinberg don't reply anymore in their official Padshop forums ( I even asked them about updates, never had a reply from them)

It really seems abandoned already...

BERFAB · Post by **BERFAB** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:41 pm

Neon Breath wrote:I love Padshop (Pro) it's really an amazing granular synth especially crafted for soundscapes. The only thing annoying me so far is that it already seems abandoned by Steinberg. We haven't seen an update since more than a year and Steinberg don't reply anymore in their official Padshop forums ( I even asked them about updates, never had a reply from them)

It really seems abandoned already...

I love PadPro. Sounds great, and I've got some real meaty 'go-to' patches that I just can't live without.

I don't know why anyone would think that a top notch piece of tech like this is 'abandoned' though.

-B

Neon Breath · Post by **Neon Breath** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:56 pm

BERFAB wrote:
I don't know why anyone would think that a top notch piece of tech like this is 'abandoned' though.

-B

Simply because they haven't updated it in more than a year and they are completely silent in their official forums. People have been asking for bug fixes and suggestions to make Padshop even more powerful, and Steinberg never reply nor give any response. That doesn't sound good to me.

Sampleconstruct · Post by **Sampleconstruct** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:13 pm

Look at all these rumours, rumours every day...

Steinberg releases Retrologue and Padshop Pro for VST & AU