KVR Audio

blueman · Post by **blueman** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:21 pm

Each holiday season, over the last couple of years, I have noticed a steady decline in my desire for new computer audio tools. I was concerned that I was losing interest in new music, but it occurred to me: the real issue is a lack of innovation in development. Companies are still trying to recreate "analog warmth" and "vintage" sound

This year I bought almost nothing new. Sampling, instruments, and effects continue to be reimagined versions of the same offerings we've been given for years. Other than a few innovative developers, our small world hasn't grown or evolved much at all; incidentally, it has saved me a LOT of money. Hmmmm...maybe I just have everything I need now.

What do you guys think? Am I missing some great innovation happening somewhere? It seems that we just keep getting another SSL or Neve clone, Kontakt-based sample set, delay effect, or new convo reverb. Rinse and repeat.

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:27 pm

If I had to choose one thing, I would like to hear better playing over better sounds. But yeah, it's gotten odd.

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:37 pm

Innovation? I already have 7 commercial (bought) delays and 20 free delays and...

...well, sometimes I wish there were a revolutionary NEW kind of effect and not only delay, reverb, pitch-shifter, distortion, chorus, flanger, phaser etc. For example a swirl-maker, bubble-maker, horrifier or whatever, something completely innovative!

Well, Glitchmachines made some innovative effects, sad that they didn't participate in the Black Friday sales!

http://www.glitchmachines.com

But on the synthesizer side, Serum is pretty innovative, as is MUX!

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:59 pm

blueman wrote:Each holiday season, over the last couple of years, I have noticed a steady decline in my desire for new computer audio tools. I was concerned that I was losing interest in new music, but it occurred to me: the real issue is a lack of innovation in development. Companies are still trying to recreate "analog warmth" and "vintage" sound This year I bought almost nothing new. Sampling, instruments, and effects continue to be reimagined versions of the same offerings we've been given for years. Other than a few innovative developers, our small world hasn't grown or evolved much at all; incidentally, it has saved me a LOT of money. Hmmmm...maybe I just have everything I need now.

What do you guys think? Am I missing some great innovation happening somewhere? It seems that we just keep getting another SSL or Neve clone, Kontakt-based sample set, delay effect, or new convo reverb. Rinse and repeat.

I feel the same way Rich, Samp Pro X2 is coming out in Dec and I cannot think of anything or have read any requests on samp forums that make me want to even bother with the hassle of upgrading let alone the cost. As for music gear, in 2014 I have not even bought as much as a guitar pick, my cousin sent me a pair of his small dia con mics for free and he sent me his plugin for free and that's the only new gear I have had all year.

Not only has it saved me a lot of money, this year has been a year of getting more songs done and much more playing. It use to be I would start over on parts if I got a new synth, a new upgrade, a new amp, a new guitar and that was a reason to stall. But this year no such excuses exist and tbh I hope 2015 is the same, I have said it before..maybe we're just running out of GAS

trimph1 · Post by **trimph1** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:06 pm

I think we are running out of GAS myself.

But looking for innovative stuff one can try out xoxos synths and such. Some are pretty good

blueman · Post by **blueman** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:14 pm

Hey, that's great perspective guys; way to turn it into something positive!

blueman · Post by **blueman** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 9:17 pm

Well, I have to be fair: EZdrummer 2 was a pretty innovative product for 2014. I think things are just slowing down and becoming redundant now. Maybe that's as it should be.

Gone soft · Post by **Gone soft** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:49 pm

What about Amaranth Audio Cycle? MusicRadar called it a "synth that dares to be different" and also wrote that "With Cycle, though, Amaranth Audio may have set a new bar in terms of progressiveness - this is a synthesiser that challenges us to hurtle headlong into the future rather than wallow in the past." It can be a bit hard to dig into though, as I guess most more or less innovative synthesizer the last couple of decades have been - at least initially. That was last year though, possibly some of you will allready consider this old news...

Slightly less innovative (at least in it not being such a radical departure from the conventional subtractive approach) but still possibly a contender and certainly not a victim of the usual nostalgia: MeldaProduction MPowerSynth - you almost have to demo it and see what you think, there's so much stuff to explore in there I wouldn't know where to begin and what to leave out if I tried to summarize it (and I'm also bound to have missed some functionality).

VariKusBrainZ · Post by **VariKusBrainZ** » Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:54 pm

Seriously ?

You're obviously just referring to commercial products that interest you alone.

Pull your head out of your butt lol

andrelafosse · Post by **andrelafosse** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:03 am

To me, it actually feels like the last couple of years have seen a lot of synths that are outside the VA paradigm. Bazille, Serum, Codex, Cycle, Spectral, Kaivo, Iris...

Sendy · Post by **Sendy** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:31 am

I have enough stuff to keep me going for a lifetime. It's all in the mind, not the tools.

Yeah, I know, this is an easy thing to say, and a bit preachy/high groundish, but I honestly think it's true. Just think of all the crazy, creative effects chains we can make, the techniques we're empowered to combine and explore... It's dizzying just to think about it.

I have to say, I also really appreciate the latest wave of "philosophically boring" VA's. Diva and Monark are prime examples (though Diva allows a fair bit of modular patching and experimentalism when you get to know it), Monark is essentially 3 oscillators and a filter, but it sounds SO good it's impossible not to feel it's charm, IMO.

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:40 am

Sendy wrote:I have enough stuff to keep me going for a lifetime.

Only ONE life time? I need at least 10 life times to make every possible modulation with MUX 6 and the MeldaProduction Creative Bundle...

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 4:54 am

It seems to me that this constant obsession with "new" isn't particularly healthy. I do love the occasional new toy to stimulate the old grey matter, but don't we all have enough stuff already?

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:40 am

blueman wrote:Has digital audio innovation (mostly) stopped?

I have little doubt people have been asking that question every year since the 80s.

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:50 am

foosnark wrote:
blueman wrote:Has digital audio innovation (mostly) stopped?
I have little doubt people have been asking that question every year since the 80s.

Are you suggesting that innovation in asking questions about digital audio innovation has stopped?