Wow Me! (Synth Suggestions...Dune 2 Winner Prize Ready...Update 5/5)

[Albert.VST]

......

In fairness it's easy to assume that a thread stating that you own 100 synths but want recommendations for more is a joke.

An interesting point is made here. I think that Its precisely when your synth collection begins to become *respectable* that you should need the biggest help of the community to point you towards synthesizers that really stand out of the crowd.

If you only have one or two synths, then a lot of instruments will offer you something somewhat different, so a thread mentioning almost every synth under the sun might be relevant ( and it usually ends like this on Kvr anyway )

I don't really agree. If you have such a *respectable* synth collection, and according to what I read from the topic starter he doesn't buy 'in the wild' but always uses a demo first before buying, you know what is going on in the market. By reading here on the forum, or using other sources. So very unlikely to have missed the 'synth of all synths'.

Looking through the list of synths topic starter has, I think it is very unlikely to find anything that is sounding completely different. I would say the full sonic pallette is covered with what he has.

Though what I saw is the the topic starter quite some time stating 'this won't run on my PC' on synths that according to him do sound good. So my question, if you spend quite some cash on synths, why not save for e.g. an i7 upgrade. Then that argument is gone, and it is possible to use 'the next big thing' that needs it without limitation.
Also the remark 'it doesn't add to what I have but if discounted heavily I will buy' looks a bit odd, what except from 'gear lust' is the sense of buying it when discounted?

[spaceman]

Time for a picture I would say

Yes please... Where are the cats?

Preset no. 2

[wagtunes]

On Syn'X. I rated it 4 of 5 stars upon just listening to the demo because it seemed to be a basic VA synth ala Moog/Oberheim.

To be fair, as I've done with almost everything else unless I really didn't like the sound, I downloaded the demo.

For what it does, it's excellent. Great analog sound. Still reminds me of an Oberheim.

So the question becomes, do I want to spend $178 on what is basically a "narrow" synth? The answer is probably not.

Oxium - Because of the low price

Spectral - Because it is the best of the lot so far

Sunrizer - Because I loved the unusual sounds of the demo tracks and it's cheap as hell. Problem is, it's not Windows yet. So I am waiting the few weeks (at least that's what the developer says) for the Windows version to come out. If I like the demo and I have money left over after my purchase, I may end up getting this along with my first choice.

I don't agree that synthX is particularly narrow, but it's not supposed to be modern. But I can see why you'd go for Oxium instead, if price is a factor. Spectral is class. I'm still not too sure on Sunrizer yet.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree on this threads merit (it's run out of steam). A list of top synths aimed towards the general public would have been better, but there are loads of them already.

Hmm.... like I've said I still think you are self-deluded. I've already explained it - you are setting yourself an impossible task as well as your approach to examining certain synths.

This is from my OP.

So here's what I'd like all those who feel like participating in this thread to do. Recommend a synth that I don't have (I'll list the ones I do have in a moment) and tell me why I'd love it.

What's important to me?

1) Sound above all else. The more unique the better.
2) Programming. Must be extremely flexible with lots of modulations.
3) No more than $200.

That, along with the list of synths I already have should have made this very easy. If I in fact was setting myself up an impossible task, all everybody had to do was simply say "nothing exists that you don't already have." Or whatever.

But obviously that wasn't the case. I got some excellent suggestions. In fact, there were only 3 synths mentioned that I didn't really like that much at all.

Diversion - 3.5 - Wasn't wild about the sound.
Helix - 3 - Horrible interface
Virtual CZ - 3.5 - Wasn't wild about the sound.

Everything else got a 4 or higher. When you only have $200 to spend, the 4s just don't make it. Something has to go.

Synths I loved for their sound

Symtohm - May get it someday. Very unusual synth.
AIR Loom - No demo available
Rhino - Haven't demo'd it yet
Enzyme - Horrible GUI turned me off on it but great sound
CRX 4 - Haven't demo'd it yet
Surge - Haven't demo'd it yet. Hesitant on 7 year old synth

So as you can see, I still have a few synths that I really need to try out before I make my final decision.

I don't know about you but when I decide to spend what to me is a considerable amount of money, I don't make hasty decisions. I have to be damn sure that what I'm getting is something I'm really going to love.

But right now I'm still looking at about a half dozen synths (if you include Sunrizer and Syn'X 2 not out yet) to go through before I decide.

Is this it? Have we covered everything? Maybe. But I have no way of knowing as evidenced by the sheer number of synths mentioned to me that I never heard of before these last few days.

So while you think this thread may now be a waste of time, it has been, and I hope, continue to be an enormous help to me.

But like I said, if you don't want to participate, don't. I'm not twisting your arm. You can pretend this thread doesn't exist if you want. And if everybody else does that, eventually it'll fade onto page 2 and I'll return to it in a few weeks when I've made my decision and announce who the winner is.

Right now it looks like Spectral, but like I said, I still have quite a few synths left to demo.

[jeffb01]

did you try cyclop?

[Robmobius]

Looking through the list of synths topic starter has, I think it is very unlikely to find anything that is sounding completely different. I would say the full sonic pallette is covered with what he has.

That what I was thinking too.

[Robmobius]

Is this it? Have we covered everything? Maybe. But I have no way of knowing as evidenced by the sheer number of synths mentioned to me that I never heard of before these last few days.

That's not really the point I'm making at all. To take it to your tangent: You've been given 'the best' that's available so far - not everything (probably for good reason).

Also, I don't agree with you 'not making hasty decisions' (or assumptions). The evidence speaks for it self. I won't go over it again as there's no point because I've mentioned it 4 or 5 times.

I also don't agree with you about Diversion - it's an epic piece of software.

[wagtunes]

Looking through the list of synths topic starter has, I think it is very unlikely to find anything that is sounding completely different. I would say the full sonic pallette is covered with what he has.

That what I was thinking too.

And I never said that wasn't a possibility. Regardless, I wouldn't know if I didn't ask.

Imagine I presented my list of synths and Zebra 2 wasn't on it and almost everybody said "OMG, you don't have Zebra 2? Are you nuts?"

I would have downloaded the demo after listening to the sound demos, seen how amazingly off the charts it was, and that would have been the end of it. I would have said, "That's it folks. We have our synth. I'll pick a winner for the sound library out of a hat" and we would have been done on page 1. My $200 would have been spent.

But I already have Zebra 2. So I'm looking for something that maybe has a different sound. Maybe has something that I can add that doesn't sound like the same synth. Something that has lots of modulation routings. Something with maybe an unusual character.

If I don't ask, I don't know.

So maybe we're done. If we are, and I end up getting Spectral, I'll return in a few weeks, announce the winner and lock the thread.

Is that fair enough?

But if people are going to keep slinging arrows at me, I'm going to defend myself because I have done nothing wrong in this thread other than just ask for some synth suggestions laying out some very specific needs as well as listing everything I already have so that there wasn't time wasted recommending (1) synths I already have and (2) synths that don't meet the criteria.

For example, if I'm looking for synths with lots of modulation capability and unusual sounds, why would somebody mention Diva?

It's essentially a Minimoog that sounds fantastic. But it's a bread and butter synth and that's not what I'm looking for. I made that very clear in the OP.

This didn't have to be hard. In fact, only a few synths should have been mentioned at all. But when you ask for opinions you have to expect that people will recommend things that clearly aren't close to what you're looking for but in their mind, it's something I should have. Thus, I had to take the time to go through all these synths.

All told I have gone through 21 synths. That's a lot to go through in a few days. And no, you can't thoroughly go through every nook and cranny of 21 synths in that short a time, but at some point I have to make a decision based on the limited knowledge I have. Otherwise, I'll be doing this for months and I don't want to do this for months.

I just received $32 from GoDaddy so now I have $232 to spend on a synth or synths. I'd like to get one by at least the middle of April. I don't want to be demoing synths until the fall. So yes, I make quick judgments because I have to. If the synth doesn't wow me at a price I think that synth is worth, it's no longer a consideration.

As great as Diva is, as an example, it's essentially a sawtooth, sine, triangle, square/pulse wave synth with LP and HP filters.

It's a Minimoog, more or less. For me, that's not worth spending $179 on no matter how great that MInimoog sounds.

And that's the process I have to go through with every synth or I'll end up spending thousands instead of a couple of hundred.

[Robmobius]

For example, if I'm looking for synths with lots of modulation capability and unusual sounds, why would somebody mention Diva?

Um... Maybe because it's one of the best synths around, they were only trying to help

So, why now complain about someone who was only trying to help you in the first place? That's not very nice... as you're implying they are a a bit thick or something.

[wagtunes]

For example, if I'm looking for synths with lots of modulation capability and unusual sounds, why would somebody mention Diva?

Um... Maybe because it's one of the best synths around, they were only trying to help

So, why now complain about someone who was only trying to help you in the first place? That's not very nice... as you're implying they are a a bit thick or something.

All I'm saying is that based on my criteria, this could have been a very easy process if people just read the OP. I tried to make it as clear as possible. If I failed in doing that, then it's on me and I'll take the heat for it. But I think I was pretty clear.

And no, I'm not calling anybody names or implying anything, unlike a few people here who have called me everything short of being an idiot. But that's okay. I have a thick skin and can take it.

As I said, a simple solution to all this is simply not participate in this thread. Yet, you continue to come at me.

One can only ask why?

[BBFG#]

Looking through the list of synths topic starter has, I think it is very unlikely to find anything that is sounding completely different. I would say the full sonic pallette is covered with what he has.

That what I was thinking too.

I get the impression it doesn't have to be completely different, just interesting enough without having to buy a new system just for it. But in form of what the OP has. I would offer that the search be with plugins where type of synthesis engine be the first thing to eliminate the many. (Which from what I can tell, ought to kill VA and FM specific engines and presents part of the short list as a cognitive dissonance). Eliminate those, and the battle is more than half way won.

[wagtunes]

Looking through the list of synths topic starter has, I think it is very unlikely to find anything that is sounding completely different. I would say the full sonic pallette is covered with what he has.

That what I was thinking too.

I get the impression it doesn't have to be completely different, just interesting enough without having to buy a new system just for it. But in form of what the OP has. I would offer that the search be with plugins where type of synthesis engine be the first thing to eliminate the many. (Which from what I can tell, ought to kill VA and FM specific engines and presents part of the short list as a cognitive dissonance). Eliminate those, and the battle is more than half way won.

You know what's a really great sounding synth as far as unusual goes?

Scrooo

It's just too bad they put that engine in such a cheap shell with virtually nothing else. Take that engine and stick it in Dune 2 with it's modulations and arp and you might have me sold.

In fact, I'll go as far as to say that maybe outside of Serum, Scrooo is one of the most unusual sounding synths I've heard. You really have to roll up your sleeves and dive into programming it because it's pretty convoluted and not at all intuitive, at least not at first. Even the presets sound great.

Oh, and this without any FX such as delay or reverb.

The synth is free if anybody wants to hear what I'm talking about.

THAT is what I call unusual and different. Not Dune 2 and certainly not Diva.

[pdxindy]

As great as Diva is, as an example, it's essentially a sawtooth, sine, triangle, square/pulse wave synth with LP and HP filters.

You obviously didn't spend much time with Diva...

Diva is one of my favorite synths for ambient stuff using the Digital Osc which goes way beyond the usual 3-4 waveforms. The Digital osc and Uhbie filter by themselves could be a whole synth. The sound quality is incredible. The range of timbres, warmth and nuance makes Diva quite unique.

[Numanoid]

Just making sure this thread stays at the very top of the forum

[wagtunes]

Okay, I have finished up installing and trying out the synths that I hadn't downloaded yet.

DCAM Synth Squad - GUIs too small and it appears to be 32 bit. Will wait for update.
CRX4 -Nice sound, decent modulation matrix but filters are meh.
Rhino - Thin and airy sound. Very blah.
Surge - Wouldn't even install. Too old a synth for my machine.

That's it. I'm all caught up. Everything has been initially tested and I'm still down to just a few possible synths.

Once Sunrizer is made available, I will demo it and then make my final decision. At that time, I will post the synth choice here along with the winner.

[Robmobius]

As great as Diva is, as an example, it's essentially a sawtooth, sine, triangle, square/pulse wave synth with LP and HP filters.

You obviously didn't spend much time with Diva...

Diva is one of my favorite synths for ambient stuff using the Digital Osc which goes way beyond the usual 3-4 waveforms. The Digital osc and Uhbie filter by themselves could be a whole synth. The sound quality is incredible. The range of timbres, warmth and nuance makes Diva quite unique.

Definitely, it's a lot more than that.