Omnisphere 2 is here! (yes, it's really here!)

[Phorous]

r1chard, if Omnisphere had no effects it wouldn't have nearly that many presets.

There would still be presets, just not near as many or as good. Effects are a huge part of making patches in Omnisphere...

Just because you don't use the effects doesn't mean that sound designers working on Omni patches won't either. That has a direct impact on the patches you use!

[keyman_sam]

Noob question on Omnisphere 1/2 - does it include all of trillian's and atmosphere's patches?

[neverfall]

I haven't been on KVR much in the past 3 years but most of you are still SO PREDICTABLE. You will bitch and moan about ANYTHING you can't afford. If the product isn't for YOU then it simply isn't for YOU. Stick with the freebies. No one is going to judge you.


Then again you know what? Continue bitching. For years you've spat out the 'Why can't I import my own audio' drivel. Welp...you got it! Keep giving Persing and Co. more ideas! Hey I've got one! Can we PLEASE see some implementation of Battery-Like' cells and an ADVANCED STEP SEQUENCER in Stylus 2? Okay. Thanks!

[AnalogGuy1]

I agree with this unfairness completely. And it isn't just limited to Spectrasonics!

I have a 2010 Subaru. The 2015 model costs the same amount as I paid for my old one, and looks much nicer than my old one. But when I went to the dealership said I should be given a new car for at least half off because I have this five year old model, he wouldn't do it.

The nerve!

Oh Please, stop being silly, we all know hardware is different but if you want to use that analogy, you can trade in your 2010 against the 2015 and pay less.

I completely agree with you. I can trade in my 2010 Subaru and get the 2015 for about 50% off. If only Spectrasonics would do the same. But they are so unfair!

Which is why I said hardware is different. Every time you do a MAJOR hardware update, you must start from scratch, you must retool, that is only part of the cost. Even if you don't start from scratch you still must put a piece of hardware which is costs money. At best spectrasonics only puts out a new box.

Spectrasonics did not start from scratch neither did they have to retool. It is a minor upgrade.

Subaru's 2015 update is based upon the same frame they've been using since 2008. The seats, dashboard, and engine are largely unchanged. Much of the tooling has stayed the same. From the outside, it looks largely the same. They didn't start from scratch in any way. They took the basic model, added a few minor new features, and prettied up the face. Not unlike Omni 2.

I agree with you that hardware involves raw material costs, which is different than software. Software doesn't have raw materials, but has NRE code development costs, DVD reproduction costs, mailer design and fabrication costs, marketing costs, distribution costs, legal costs, and the costs associated with obtaining the new sample material and their capital investment in the building, salaries, utilities, and production hardware. Plus probably lots of coffee. To feel entitled to a free upgrade doesn't seem any more rational to me than for me to feel entitled to a new car because it only introduces minor new features over the one I previously bought.

I agree it would be unfair if one were forced to upgrade to keep existing functionality. Like the way my car is slowly decaying. But anyone who feels this is a minor upgrade and not worth the upgrade price, should not upgrade and be content with the same product they originally purchased - the upgrade has not reduced the functionality you already have in any way. FWIW, I agree with you that Omni 2 doesn't introduce anything that for me is worth $250, and I'm happy to keep using Omni 1.

[mostlyjustj]

Noob question on Omnisphere 1/2 - does it include all of trillian's and atmosphere's patches?

Atmosphere: yes
Trillian: no

[aMUSEd]

Noob question on Omnisphere 1/2 - does it include all of trillian's and atmosphere's patches?

Atmosphere yes, Trillian no

[Kain]

This sucks, I have not finished Omnisphere yet and now they are releasing the next game? How will I ever find motivation to finish the first one now????? I have only done like 10% of the levels.

Oh by the way this company rocks. I got omnisphere on the first day for a very good price (like a 150 EUR or something) because the year it was released I purchased Atmosphere,Trilogy and Stylus RMX . Then I got Trilian almost completely for FREE (maybe 15 EUR for shipping) because my purchase of Trilogy was within the grace period. Now the VIP price is $ 200. That's a lot but still totally worth it. I am a happy customer, just wish FL Studio would make it more easy to play Spectrasonics products live, because FL Studio makes all incoming MIDI omni and that just sucks. I use a different DAW for live performance with Spectrasonics products but I wish I could do it with my most familiar DAW, FL Studio.

[chk071]

[Kain]

With audio import function, you can now also USE the effects of Omnisphere OUTSIDE of Omnisphere. Just not live with your other VST plugins, but after you bounce to audio you can import the tracks and use the Omnisphere effects on it. That's also pretty cool because I like many of the Omnisphere effects.

[Kain]

These are all great improvements however there's no mention of cpu efficiency. Obviously they haven't made improvements in that area. So looks like it will be a 1 track per session synth like Omni 1.

Yeah you are right. Omnisphere 2 would be so much more useful if it had 8 channels per instance like the first Omnisphere. But even then, to simulate powerful white noise you need like at least 20 - 30 to get that energy in all the frequencies. And my Pentium 2 just does not do 3 instance of Omnisphere so I don't think it will do 20 of 30 instance of Omnisphere 2. Oh well.

[declan32001]

This sucks, I have not finished Omnisphere yet and now they are releasing the next game? How will I ever find motivation to finish the first one now????? I have only done like 10% of the levels.

Oh by the way this company rocks. I got omnisphere on the first day for a very good price (like a 100 dollars or something) because the year it was released I purchased Atmosphere,Trilogy and Stylus RMX . Then I got Trilian almost completely for FREE (maybe 15 dollars for shipping) because my purchase of Trilogy was within the grace period. Now the VIP price is $ 200. That's a lot but still totally worth it. I am a happy customer, just wish FL Studio would make it more easy to play Spectrasonics products live, because FL Studio makes all incoming MIDI omni and that just sucks. I use a different DAW for live performance with Spectrasonics products but I wish I could do it with my most familiar DAW, FL Studio.

Kain, I wouldn't worry about only completing "10% of the levels" as of yet, but if you paid less than $149 for the upgrade to the first Omnisphere, some people here are going to be mean.

Seriously, FL Studio isn't going to help you playing Omnisphere/Trilian live in any way. Somebody's going to have to buy a new DAW.

But really seriously, if you just want to play Omnisphere live and not in its "live mode" you have some relatively inexpensive better options than FL can provide, if you have a really good hardware midi controller (or two).

Otherwise you're talking to a guy who bought Atmosphere, Trilogy & Stylus in 2002, and your ideal pricey daw would be Ableton Live, but Reaper could work well for you.

I'm just sooo envious of anyone using Omnisphere playing live, those days are far behind me that I wish you the best of luck.

[Kain]

Yeah, we old users have been shafted royally. Since 1.0 we've only had the following:

• 4,500 new patches
• Trilian Library Integration - Support for loading Trilian factory soundsources, patches and multis in Omnisphere.
• 64-bit native support.
• Support for new STEAM engine features introduced in Trilian, including: Round Robin soundsources, Release layers, Multichannel soundsources, Legato articulation triggering.
• Memory Management features: Lite Version feature, sample thinning, training/purging for maximizing efficiency and faster loading/auditioning.
• Various interface improvements - Soundsource Zoom page mixing, Edit page soundsource images, memory meter, etc.
• Support for maximum number of RTAS processors in Pro Tools.
• 32-bit Sample File Server - more memory access in 32-bit systems (Mac only)
• New Browser "Favorites" system with star ratings
• "Projects" quick tagging for easy sound organization
• New "Juicy" and "Power" synthesizer filter algorithms
• Triplets and Dotted values in Arpeggiator
• Support for "Omni Live" remote control iPhone App
• New "Latch" performance features for Live Stack modes allow notes from any part to be "frozen"
• New Trigger modes allow Omnisphere and Trilian parts to be synchronized and quantized in real-time performance
• New "Sustain2" mode allows for much more realistic Rock-style Bass playing in Trilian
• All Envelopes now have Groove Lock™ feature. Envelope Patterns can be created via drag and drop of MIDI Files
• New Browser 'Search Lock' and 'Search Clear' features improve workflow
• New "Orb" page / circular sound manipulation interface
• New Harmonia zoom page shows all Harmonia parameters per layer
• Independent modulation options added for Harmonia Levels/Fine Tuning
• New Waveshaper zoom page with new polyphonic 'Crusher' and 'Reducer'
• New Granular 'Speed' and 'Position' modes
• New Granular zoom page with 'Granular Visualizer'
• New 5-Column Browser view displays more sound categories and attributes simultaneously
• Support for new 'Omni TR' iPad app
• New "Most Recent" Browser sorting option for User Patches
• Added support for Polyphonic Aftertouch
• 'Clone Part 1' feature added for use with multichannel MIDI controllers
• New "Clone Part 1 MIDI Controls and Make Omni" MIDI Learn function
• Modulation Envelope points can be key-command snapped to semitone when modulating pitch
• User-assignable Legato Interval rule added in Soundsource Zoom
• "Reset Factory defaults and preferences" feature added to Utility menu

Yeah, we've been really screwed. And now they ask for money for this puny, minor upgrade:

Audio Import - Use your own audio file as a soundsource in Omnisphere
Over 400 New DSP Waveforms for the Synth Oscillator - an increase of 100X
Wavetable Synthesis - Each Waveform is now a Morphing Wavetable
Powerful New Granular Synthesis algorithm
Deeper FM/Ring Mod capabilities for aggressive timbres
8 New Filter Types - New Power Filters, Vowel, Resonators
New Unison Drift models Analog Polysynth behavior
Expanded Modulation with new sources and many more targets
Polyphonic LFO and Modulation Envelope options
Soundsource Reversing
More than 3,000 New patches and soundsources from acclaimed Spectrasonics Sound Design Team
New Omnisphere EDM library with cutting-edge, modern sounds
New Exclusive Soundsources from Diego Stocco's Custom Built Instruments
New category of Phrase-based Soundsources for granular synthesis
Hundreds of new Circuit Bent Soundsources
Many Innovative new Psychoacoustic Soundsources
New Melodic Cave Stalactites Soundsources
Redesigned Wider User Interface with many improvements
New Show Modulation pane opens modulation routings/sources on left side
New Mini-Browser available at all times
Larger Full Browser Design
Enhanced Browsing Experience:
Sound Match™ feature instantly locates any related sounds in the library
Sound Lock™ allows endless useful variations by locking sound aspects while you browse
Easy Sound/Project Sharing for collaborators and third party libraries
Greatly Improved sound organization system
Fast Progressive Loading allows rapid auditioning
Browse Patches by Mood
Expanded Genres
Browse by Oscillator type
Boolean search options
New Arpeggiator Features:
Note transposition for step seq-style patterns
Arp pattern lock while browsing
Speed Offset control allows slow down/speed up effects
New modulation capabilities
25 New FX Units:
Innerspace
Quad Resonator
Thriftshop Speaker
Classic Twin
Bassman
Hi-Wattage
Rock Stack
Brit-Vox
Boutique
San-Z-Amp
Stompbox Modeler
Metalzone Distortion
Toxic Smasher
Foxxy Fuzz
Analog Phaser
Analog Flanger
Analog Chorus
Analog Vibrato
Solina Ensemble
Vintage Tremolo
Envelope Filter
Crying Wah
Stomp-Comp
Precision Compressor
Studio 2-Band EQ
Flexible New FX Features:
16 FX units per patch
Full matrix modulation of every FX slot
New Aux FX rack per patch with Pre/Post fader sends
Hundreds of New FX Presets and Racks
Lock FX while browsing
Improvements/Special Features:
Live Mode with key splits
Enhanced Orb with Attractor mode
Tweak Trilian Custom Controls Interface inside Omnisphere
Global Clock Speed (Halftime, Doubletime, etc)

Bastards.

Right, just to show 'em, instead of giving them $249 of my hard earned cash, I'm going to spend $3,000 on Nexus 2 expansions instead. I know I can't edit them, but to hell with Spectrasonics and their money grabbing ways of treating loyal customers.

Don't forget about this. The year I bought Atmosphere, Trilogy, Stylus RMX they screwed me over by releasing Omnisphere a year later and made me pay a 150 EUR for it. Then shipped me all the DVD's had them three of four days after launch day. Got so in to it I had a psychosis and spend close to a year in a mental hospital (no joke). Oh they also gave me all the S.A.G.E expanders for free with Stylus RMX and I feel like they should have given me much more. Then they released Trilian and yes I did not have to pay for it (inside grace period with Trilogy) but then they had the audacity to charge me 15 EUR for shipping me the DVD's (got them second day after launch) and now they want me to pay another 200+ some CAD as a VIP customer? Oh my God. I even bought that Tribute library. Can you believe those guys? After all I have been through with their products (medication is not cheap) now they want more money? Do they think I have a job or something? (I actually have a job, but for the sake of arguments let's say I was homeless)
Also I hate Diego Stocco with a passion because he is from Spain and I hate people from Spain (after I found out my Spanish internet girlfriend was fake) so I am only interested in a version of Omnisphere 2 without all his annoying patches and his face blurred out.

If only people could be reasonable and make sense once in a while. That would be nice. And I am so done with all the sarcasm

[r1chard]

r1chard, if Omnisphere had no effects it wouldn't have nearly that many presets.

There would still be presets, just not near as many or as good. Effects are a huge part of making patches in Omnisphere...

Just because you don't use the effects doesn't mean that sound designers working on Omni patches won't either. That has a direct impact on the patches you use!

Omnisphere already had effect and it used them. I don't need to pay for more was my only point. People were trying to justify the price and they used new improved effects, but I don't need them, The original ones were great, if they weren't V1 would suck, but it doesn't. That was my point, it just wasn't a selling feature for me, not that Omnisphere should remove the original effects and have none.

[Phorous]

r1chard, if Omnisphere had no effects it wouldn't have nearly that many presets.

There would still be presets, just not near as many or as good. Effects are a huge part of making patches in Omnisphere...

Just because you don't use the effects doesn't mean that sound designers working on Omni patches won't either. That has a direct impact on the patches you use!

Omnisphere already had effect and it used them. I don't need to pay for more was my only point. People were trying to justify the price and they used new improved effects, but I don't need them, The original ones were great, if they weren't V1 would suck, but it doesn't. That was my point, it just wasn't a selling feature for me, not that Omnisphere should remove the original effects and have none.

Fair enough. I can see how the upgrade isn't worth it for you, luckly V1 isn't going anywhere anytime soon most likely.

[Kain]

This sucks, I have not finished Omnisphere yet and now they are releasing the next game? How will I ever find motivation to finish the first one now????? I have only done like 10% of the levels.

Oh by the way this company rocks. I got omnisphere on the first day for a very good price (like a 100 dollars or something) because the year it was released I purchased Atmosphere,Trilogy and Stylus RMX . Then I got Trilian almost completely for FREE (maybe 15 dollars for shipping) because my purchase of Trilogy was within the grace period. Now the VIP price is $ 200. That's a lot but still totally worth it. I am a happy customer, just wish FL Studio would make it more easy to play Spectrasonics products live, because FL Studio makes all incoming MIDI omni and that just sucks. I use a different DAW for live performance with Spectrasonics products but I wish I could do it with my most familiar DAW, FL Studio.

Kain, I wouldn't worry about only completing "10% of the levels" as of yet, but if you paid less than $149 for the upgrade to the first Omnisphere, some people here are going to be mean.

Seriously, FL Studio isn't going to help you playing Omnisphere/Trilian live in any way. Somebody's going to have to buy a new DAW.

But really seriously, if you just want to play Omnisphere live and not in its "live mode" you have some relatively inexpensive better options than FL can provide, if you have a really good hardware midi controller (or two).

Otherwise you're talking to a guy who bought Atmosphere, Trilogy & Stylus in 2002, and your ideal pricey daw would be Ableton Live, but Reaper could work well for you.

I'm just sooo envious of anyone using Omnisphere playing live, those days are far behind me that I wish you the best of luck.

Like I said, I use a different DAW for live performance. And it's reaper because it does what I need it to do and is very cheap. In the future I would really like to go outside to places with lots of people and have a couple of plasma screens behind me. And then just make music all day or even try making quick and short customised songs for people for a small fee, then upload it to their phones. And have them play with the orb on a ipad while I am performing.