omnisphere! criky damn this synth is just no words awesome.

[Uncle E]

So, when I considered adding Omnisphere to my studio several years ago, I wanted to know what was special about the synth engine. What I learned was that if there was anything special there, Omnisphere owners are not only unable to articulate what that is, but they're openly hostile towards anyone who even asks what's beautiful about the emperor's clothes, let alone, suggest that maybe he doesn't have any in the first place.

Frankly, the synth engine isn't of the standards that you're looking for. Everybody knows that the Emperor's Clothes in this scenario is the sample library.

[gremlinmoon]

At this point, I would be more interested in the methods you used to program (Especially using the granular & spectral synthesis) then soundcloud demos (which is almost like posting screen shots). Although they are a vast improvement over the old spectra way.

It is programmed the way you would program any modern full-featured and effects-laden synth/sampler -- almost any of the extensive collection of parameters are capable of being modulated. "How" to program/mangle samples is another topic not specific to one synth or another. Sure, some synths may have one or two features that another doesn't and vice versa, but the programming methods are the essentially the same -- with each developer throwing in their little twists and special workflow tweaks on a concept. It is the twists and tweaks that keep everyone chasing the VST dragon

In regards to Omni's VA, I like it, I like it alot. However, it (to my ears) excels at "modern digital" and is great at bells and formanty distorted things which is what I love. However...that is what I tend to program no matter what synth I am on -- sort of what is the point for me to have multiple synths if I keep making the exact type sounds...?

That being said, I did some very rudimentary analog vs digital testing using analog samples from Omni/Trillian against its VA synth engine. http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zon ... -beta.html
While it ended with a ban or two by the end of its 30 page lockdown lol, if you are interested in the VA side of Omni and its ability to emulate analog qualities it might be of interest.

If i want a "vintage" analog sound with Omni/Trillian I use an applicable "classic analog" soundsource. This is where they really know what they are doing -- they keep the sample half-baked. This means that there is enough room in the sample to shape the direction but not so little that you fret about the synth engine filter not matching the sample. Often very little work is required.

In terms of the depth and breadth of the samples, I think what gets committed (pun intended) Omniheads laughing on a daily basis is the phenomenon that whenever you hear any sound you think about how you can do that within Omnisphere. Doing that for a couple of years will definitely affect you. But once you are familiar with the soundsources, over 75gb after you "have" to get Trilian, something clicks (or breaks) in your mind.

People really into sound design almost never rely on just one tool. If Omnisphere hits a limitation then I bring it into Alchemy which is a integral part of my software trinity along with Reaktor -- all of which have not been upped a version in a long, long time. And that to me is the definition of value. Reaktor 5 has been R5 for how long? Alchemy and Omnisphere are still not at their second versions! I have not bought tons of VSTs because I am far from being sick of those.

[ghettosynth]

So, when I considered adding Omnisphere to my studio several years ago, I wanted to know what was special about the synth engine. What I learned was that if there was anything special there, Omnisphere owners are not only unable to articulate what that is, but they're openly hostile towards anyone who even asks what's beautiful about the emperor's clothes, let alone, suggest that maybe he doesn't have any in the first place.

Frankly, the synth engine isn't of the standards that you're looking for.

Yes, I'm long past that.

[declan32001]

So, when I considered adding Omnisphere to my studio several years ago, I wanted to know what was special about the synth engine. What I learned was that if there was anything special there, Omnisphere owners are not only unable to articulate what that is, but they're openly hostile towards anyone who even asks what's beautiful about the emperor's clothes, let alone, suggest that maybe he doesn't have any in the first place.

Frankly, the synth engine isn't of the standards that you're looking for.

Yes, I'm long past that. I'm not posting in this thread because I'm considering Omnisphere, I'm posting in this thread because I participated heavily in the OPs thread that led to his purchase of Omnisphere. In other words, I'm just in here talking about synths, which is what I enjoy doing on KVR.

Everybody knows that the Emperor's Clothes in this scenario is the sample library.

Yeah, I'm not sure that Everybody knows that, but, that's my takeaway as well. Now, recall that my continued discussion here was because I responded to an attempt to address the following statement by a potential customer. That is, BBFG# seems to have the impression, ostensibly from other Omnisphere users, that there's more under the hood than just good samples and programming.

However, it still doesn't change the fact that if it was as good as it says (and I do believe it may be), then the best argument is to show and tell how its workings come into play and how it applies

So, my take on this, based on your statement, is that you've just answered this. The inner workings are pretty straightforward and they're largely layers+multistage envelopes+effects+good but not cutting edge synth engine + well done samples and presets = Omnisphere?

Which, of course, was my initial impression several years ago when I saw the very first video on the product. Which is why I've been a bit taken aback by those who've continually insisted that there's more.

Omnisphere has a lot of VA power that few other synths have...It sounds wonderful, a lot like a Moog

I agree, waveshaping/FM/ring modulation/granular and other feature of the oscillator section + The large palette of different filters + complex Modulation section + arpeggiator + etc, etc...

Rather expensive but not insanely overpriced if you'd consider it only as a VA synthesizer, making abstraction of the sample library

So, if you want to know why people are asking about the internals, it's because owners on KVR make claims that the internals are worth the price. Now, don't you think that it's reasonable that people, who take the claims of owners at face value, are interested in probing deeper into those claims? I sure do.

You really are BBFG# whether you know it or not. Claims? You wanna dig up 7 year old posts that say users are pretty content with the DSP ability of Omnisphere, go ahead.

Price is a ridiculous argument. I could buy Alchemy or pretty much any NI synth cheaper today than I could then. There could be a reason for that.

But since you've played all the great hardware synths in the world your argument falls pretty flat in that regard.

I do love this though: "

However, it still doesn't change the fact that if it was as good as it says (and I do believe it may be), then the best argument is to show and tell how its workings come into play and how it applies

Omnisphere just sucks man, I have no idea why I bought it & love it, but although Spectrasonics would prefer everyone buys it, no one really cares if you have some faked fascination about it.

I'm grateful they've loved me though. Been pretty cool..

[BBFG#]

Bubbles... nothing gets in, nothing comes out.

[Krakatau]

i LOVE bubbles...my last daughter too !!!!

...so what's wrong

[ghettosynth]

You really are BBFG# whether you know it or not. Claims? You wanna dig up 7 year old posts that say users are pretty content with the DSP ability of Omnisphere, go ahead.

That post was from the end of 2011, so it's about two years old. !.5 was out at the time, that's when I was considering purchasing.

Price is a ridiculous argument. I could buy Alchemy or pretty much any NI synth cheaper today than I could then. There could be a reason for that.

But since you've played all the great hardware synths in the world your argument falls pretty flat in that regard.

Price is always relative to the market today, not what it was at some point in the past. Ironically, I purchased most of my analogs during the window when they were dirt cheap. The prices I paid for many of them would make you cry, not the really good ones though, they've never been "cheap." Of course, I paid full pop for a K2000 which is worth less today than many plugins. I learned my lesson on hardware, that's for sure, I don't waste money on gear that I don't think is really going to do something for me.

I'm here to talk about synths. If you want to do that, I'll be glad to engage you.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

That post was from the end of 2011, so it's about two years old. !.5 was out at the time, that's when I was considering purchasing.

I'm here to talk about synths. If you want to do that, I'll be glad to engage you.

over 2 years later and you still haven't bought it. seems you have decided it isn't from you and are just trolling. either that or you just don't know how to ask the right questions

[ghettosynth]

That post was from the end of 2011, so it's about two years old. !.5 was out at the time, that's when I was considering purchasing.

I'm here to talk about synths. If you want to do that, I'll be glad to engage you.

over 2 years later and you still haven't bought it. seems you have decided it isn't from you and are just trolling. either that or you just don't know how to ask the right questions

As I said above, I'm talking about synths, you're talking about me, thank you, I'm flattered, but really, I think that conversations about synths are more interesting than conversations about me.

[ghettosynth]

Lame as those sounds are, that video is awesome.

Yeah yeah, I thought some people might like it. I should buy one of these just for built in demos, they're a party all by themselves.

[declan32001]

Yeesh! I have to admit that made me laugh. I have to give you props for sticking that in a once happy Omisphere thread. Very evil in a Tarantino-ish way.

[padillac]

Spectrasonics have a set of comprehensive omnisphere video tutorials freely available for anyone to watch. If you want to know more about the inner workings and what sets omnisphere apart from other synths, that's your best bet. I suspect the synthesis section will be of interest to ghettosynth & BBFG# and anyone else with questions about what lies beyond the preset browser.

[BBFG#]

Spectrasonics have a set of comprehensive omnisphere video tutorials freely available for anyone to watch. If you want to know more about the inner workings and what sets omnisphere apart from other synths, that's your best bet. I suspect the synthesis section will be of interest to ghettosynth & BBFG# and anyone else with questions about what lies beyond the preset browser.

Most of that is support to their sales than anything 'tutorial'. It has been one of my main complaints along with no real sound demos.
After our last roundabout here where Eric finally popped his head in and promised they would change that, they have. You can finally get some better demos of their sound in Mp3 as well as video now without the litany of included sales pitch.
Hopefully, they will address this in their tutorials next.
But it has much of why I've looked for answers here instead.
Isn't that ironic?

[padillac]

Spectrasonics have a set of comprehensive omnisphere video tutorials freely available for anyone to watch. If you want to know more about the inner workings and what sets omnisphere apart from other synths, that's your best bet. I suspect the synthesis section will be of interest to ghettosynth & BBFG# and anyone else with questions about what lies beyond the preset browser.

Most of that is support to their sales than anything 'tutorial'. It has been one of my main complaints along with no real sound demos.

As someone who has learned a great deal about how to use their products via those video tutorials page, I respectfully disagree. They show you how to use the product in great detail, how all the unique features combine to help programmers create the sounds they want. Omnisphere has some unique tricks (basically everything in the synthesis section of video tutorials) and so I can see how it might come across as "salesy" given that they point out that the features are unique. But as an omnisphere user, I've referred to those video tutorials often in order to learn how it works and do cool things with it. In my opinion it's a straightforward and fairly in-depth set of videos on what it's capable of. They're enough to get me started, and I don't feel a need for additional vids like macprovideo or whatever.

[gremlinmoon]

... along with no real sound demos.
After our last roundabout here where Eric finally popped his head in and promised they would change that, they have. You can finally get some better demos of their sound in Mp3 as well as video now without the litany of included sales pitch.
Hopefully, they will address this in their tutorials next.
But it has much of why I've looked for answers here instead.
Isn't that ironic?

I believe you are trolling. There are multiple YT videos (pages upon pages of search results)where they go through hundreds if not thousands of patches (i.e. Torley's Project Preset or Kybdwizrd's 6 or 7 Omnisphere videos, not to mention the several hours of demos, patches and power tips by PlugInGuru, MIDIhead, etc...and reviews in every major publication online and in-print). At this point Diego Stocco is even offering tutorials on his own website on how to create psychoacoustic libraries on your own.

I don't recall you asking any questions related to modulation capabilities, waveform manipulation, unique features, sample sources, sample quality, etc...generally it is complaints about how the people at Spectrasonics have the nerve and audacity to believe in the product they spent 7 years creating and are proud about it. Furthermore, you dismiss anyone who loves it as mindless followers with the further implication that they know little to nothing about synthesis...

Do you actually have questions regarding features? If so please list them -- KVR is filled with people who love to answer questions if they can. However, they can't answer questions that have not been asked.