Omnisphere - worth $500?

[BBFG#]

I'm a make a song in omnisphere tonight, it's going to be called "because there are not enough threads"

Too many threads, not enough rope.

[Lotuzia]

....... I much prefer synthesis to samples... .....

Too bad for all those who thought that samples were just a possible part of synthesis .... Like a sound source possibly replacing oscillators.

Furthermore, when someone is modulating a filter or an lfo with .... a sample, he's not doing synthesis. Others do it. Those who know how to ........

[Touch The Universe]

my song will be called not enough treads

[elassi]

My remix/mash-up of your songs will be: "Where's my own sample, mofo!?"

[trimph1]

I have my own samples, so, phlphlphlphl

[brekehan]

most people that say Omnisphere is to high priced at $500 seem to not have a lot of hardware synths or use freebie or lower priced synths.

I know that is a generalization. but it seems to be somewhat true.

I bought a used Roland D-50 rack, the D550, and it was $400.
I bought a used Yamaha Motif 6 and it was $500.
I bought a Yamaha Motif MOXF 8 and it was $1200

If I had a ton of money I would buy a Access Virus and it would be at least $1000. at least, probably more.

my next hardware synth is going to be a Roland System-1 and that's $599.

***SNIP***

$500 for a quality synth is not unreasonable. for many $500 is a large investment. My Les Paul ProTop guitar cost $700. My microphone cost $300.

it's all relative. many musicians are creating quality music on a dime. some want other tools and are willing to pay for those tools.

I have so many DAWs it's crazy - Sonar X3, ProTools 10/11, Cubase 7.5, FL Studio 11, Reason 7, Ableton 8/9 suite. All for different purposes and to work with other different musicians.

I own all the Spectrasonic tools. Stylus RMX Expanded, Omnisphere, Trillian. they are quality tools.

It all depends on what YOU need to accomplish your goals as a musician and inspires you.

I've spent thousands and $500 is a lot to me. You are trying to compare the prices of hardware to software and I disagree with that. I own my Ibanez 7 string custom. I own my Line 6 stack. I own all my hardware and can do whatever the heck I want with it. If I want to lend it out to 100 different people, take it apart and rebuild it, paint it a different color, or light it on fire I can. With software all I own is a license and some amount of hope that the company will stick around and fulfill that promise of a working license.

There is a certain added value to having physical hardware in hand. But, I digress because I don't want to branch the thread into a software vs hardware argument.

With a synth package like this one, all I can do as a non-owner is compare its price to similar software packages and try to evaluate which I will get more out of for the dollar.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

With a synth package like this one, all I can do as a non-owner is compare its price to similar software packages and try to evaluate which I will get more out of for the dollar.

exactly !! which is why those that don't own it (or haven't demoed it extensively) can't really add much value to a thread like this ; value/worth is personal, and relative

[BBFG#]

With a synth package like this one, all I can do as a non-owner is compare its price to similar software packages and try to evaluate which I will get more out of for the dollar.

exactly !! which is why those that don't own it (or haven't demoed it extensively) can't really add much value to a thread like this ; value/worth is personal, and relative

I own Atmosphere, I've demoed Omni quite a few times and for a couple or more hours each time.
It really comes down to a personal preference and can easily be dissuaded by what you want and what you already have/use. I haven't loaded Atmosphere on any machine since my Vista x64 Core Duo. And since then, there is so much that has become available that I do use that does it better for me. Something about the academia of proposed specs is one of those things that keep me checking it out. But it still has yet to reach a value in price of actuality to me.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

With a synth package like this one, all I can do as a non-owner is compare its price to similar software packages and try to evaluate which I will get more out of for the dollar.

exactly !! which is why those that don't own it (or haven't demoed it extensively) can't really add much value to a thread like this ; value/worth is personal, and relative

I own Atmosphere, I've demoed Omni quite a few times and for a couple or more hours each time.
It really comes down to a personal preference and can easily be dissuaded by what you want and what you already have/use. I haven't loaded Atmosphere on any machine since my Vista x64 Core Duo. And since then, there is so much that has become available that I do use that does it better for me. Something about the academia of proposed specs is one of those things that keep me checking it out. But it still has yet to reach a value in price of actuality to me.

i was not really addressing you with this comment. if anything, your position seems to be valid (save for certain nonsense inferences, that i highlighted previously).

you have owned atmosphere (which, to me, is still a major draw to the omni-library). you HAVE demoed omnisphere as often as the opportunity presents itself, and this would have been the full version (this is important). as such, your decision not to buy, based on the product's value FOR YOU, is sound.

the rest is just baiting and noise

[cfanyc]

While I'm looking at synths brought up, Blue 2. Fantastic instrument... but I find it a bit confusing to work in, but sure, amazingly powerful. But more capable than Omnisphere... it's a bit hard to say. I like Omnisphere's effect send/master buss set up a lot. 6 oscs in Blue 2 is a lot... but not compared to 16 oscs in Omnisphere, though Omnisphere has no sub oscs. I also like how LFOs in Omnisphere are just there for you to decide what they do. Omnisphere's performance mode is also unlike anything found in Blue 2, so again, it's hard to totally compare them 1:1, but sure, in terms of synthesis types Blue 2 wins.

So, I guess if you're looking for a good synth that comes with a little sample content, a healthy amount of synthesis types that has great effects and flexibility, Blue 2 or Electra2 are great choices. I really like them. But like other's have said, when you couple Omnisphere's feature set with that sample engine and content... I don't know, I just feel like I'm playing some amazing hardware ROMpler. I'd buy Omnisphere over a Fantom or Motif any day of the week.

Omni has subosvillators galore: just use the harmonia oscillators to serve
as such. Hence 1 patch in omni has up to 12 modulatable oscillators
(1 regular + 5 harmonia per layer times 2 layers) per patch times
8 parts per multi = up to 96 oscilators per multi.

[BBFG#]

With a synth package like this one, all I can do as a non-owner is compare its price to similar software packages and try to evaluate which I will get more out of for the dollar.

exactly !! which is why those that don't own it (or haven't demoed it extensively) can't really add much value to a thread like this ; value/worth is personal, and relative

I own Atmosphere, I've demoed Omni quite a few times and for a couple or more hours each time.
It really comes down to a personal preference and can easily be dissuaded by what you want and what you already have/use. I haven't loaded Atmosphere on any machine since my Vista x64 Core Duo. And since then, there is so much that has become available that I do use that does it better for me. Something about the academia of proposed specs is one of those things that keep me checking it out. But it still has yet to reach a value in price of actuality to me.

i was not really addressing you with this comment. if anything, your position seems to be valid (save for certain nonsense inferences, that i highlighted previously).
you have owned atmosphere (which, to me, is still a major draw to the omni-library). you HAVE demoed omnisphere as often as the opportunity presents itself, and this would have been the full version (this is important). as such, your decision not to buy, based on the product's value FOR YOU, is sound. the rest is just baiting and noise

And I keep trying it. It's just at this point, either the price needs to come down or some of the engines need to be improved. Adding import or more samples would be a bonus on top of that that. Or like I said before, give us a 'bundle' price on all three. It sure bumped me from just wanting Kontakt to having the Komplete line.

[pdxindy]

While I'm looking at synths brought up, Blue 2. Fantastic instrument... but I find it a bit confusing to work in, but sure, amazingly powerful. But more capable than Omnisphere... it's a bit hard to say. I like Omnisphere's effect send/master buss set up a lot. 6 oscs in Blue 2 is a lot... but not compared to 16 oscs in Omnisphere, though Omnisphere has no sub oscs. I also like how LFOs in Omnisphere are just there for you to decide what they do. Omnisphere's performance mode is also unlike anything found in Blue 2, so again, it's hard to totally compare them 1:1, but sure, in terms of synthesis types Blue 2 wins.

So, I guess if you're looking for a good synth that comes with a little sample content, a healthy amount of synthesis types that has great effects and flexibility, Blue 2 or Electra2 are great choices. I really like them. But like other's have said, when you couple Omnisphere's feature set with that sample engine and content... I don't know, I just feel like I'm playing some amazing hardware ROMpler. I'd buy Omnisphere over a Fantom or Motif any day of the week.

Omni has subosvillators galore: just use the harmonia oscillators to serve
as such. Hence 1 patch in omni has up to 12 modulatable oscillators
(1 regular + 5 harmonia per layer times 2 layers) per patch times
8 parts per multi = up to 96 oscilators per multi.

Real analogue doesn't need all those oscillators to sound good... some digital sample based wannabe needs all that to cover up that 1 of them sounds like crap...

[pdxindy]

Good Rompler, Decent VA. Not worth 500.00 though

Calling Omnisphere like that sounds like calling a Ferrari "mmm... good car, decent engine"

Naaa... It depends on samples, so it's really an audio recording of a Ferrari - not the real thing!

So, for $500 Eric is supposed to deliver you a piano and light it on fire in your studio?

Naaa... just deliver the piano...

[zerocrossing]

I would still rather have your Focus Electric over the Ferrari since I could use it more than I ever would or could the Ferrari. This car analogy only keeps it as some sort of elitist ownership rather than anything useful. Personally, if I can only have one car, it's probably going to be a truck I can get more done with.

My point exactly. You find the less expensive truck more valuable, though money wise it's worth a lot less. Someone who wants the pinnacle of performance engineering would feel the opposite. Even though I'm with you on the pragmatic side, I can also see it from another point of view.

[zerocrossing]

I'm a make a song in omnisphere tonight,

Are you channeling my great uncle Umberto? (who was a Fiat guy, if anyone cares. )