Tone 2 - Saurus 2 is available

[Apostate]

Who cares, the problem is that people might expect too much of the new version. While I like the sound, some things almost make me regret having bought it...

I care. I demo'd the update quite a bit and really like the new additions; however I'm not paying for this update, and we were already informed we wouldn't have to.

I'm quite happy from my Saurus purchase of last week anyway. It complements my Diva and Arturia 2600 and Mini V great. Love them all.

[Sendy]

I've already splashed out on the Electra (without an 'X') 2 upgrade, somewhat begrudgingly. I felt like it was a cool update, but not one to be paying that much for. Now it seems to me like Tone2 will be doing this kind of incremental, paid upgrade for many of their synths. A lot of us feature nerds will feel that like an itch that needs to be scratched... you've got the synth but now you're missing those five cool new filter types... go on... splash the cash... you know you want to! No! It's a slippery slope.

I'm curious to check out Saurus 2, but really don't want to buy it unless I feel super-compelled. Even then, I'll feel like a bit of a shmuck if I do. Strobe 2 is coming out soon, and that sounds like it's shaping up to be something else entirely.

[HydrogenHuman]

Yes, I got the v2 version yesterday, per download link.

Did you download the demo link, or the "update" link from the update page?

I'm still seeing v1.1 on the update page, but the demo is 2.0.

Neither, I got the download link in a rather informal mail from the developer, about an hour after I got the official download links from the Share It site.

Who cares, the problem is that people might expect too much of the new version. While I like the sound, some things almost make me regret having bought it...

Interesting. I have not yet received any update e-mail or anything and I ordered and registered Saurus on April 21st.

[zerocrossing]

I'm ready! I demoed 2 extensively, I personally think this update rocks.

The demo is doing nothing special for me, but it does sound pretty good. Maybe better than v1, but "analog?" No. They did seemingly get rid of the high end harshness that plagued the first one (in fact, I notice the oscs don't alias. Very nice), but the idea to market this as a sort of "vintage" instrument... They should rename it Subtractor and just market it as a virtual subtractive synth like Sylenth or Hive and be done with it. It's got that Tone2 "plastic gloss" all over it. Not that there's anything wrong with that (I'm a fan of Tone2 synths in general), but if you compare it to other VA synths like ones from XILS, U-HE, Sonicprojects, etc, it's laughably off. Anyway, not to be mistaken, I'm not criticizing the synth, just Tone2's marketing. If they were really going for a vintage analog thing, they failed. If they were going for a generally nice and simple VA, nice job!

For me though, I expect more from a synth that doesn't really deliver a vintage character. I'll pay for it, but if you're going to get me to enter my paypal password your synth better have at least two aux envelopes, 4 LFOs and while you're at it, throw in a second filter. When I think about this synth I can't help but think of Element which is on sale for $79 dollars right now and sounds better and has a few extra features. I know this sounds bad, but I can't imagine buying Saurus 2 unless they had a similar deal... and even then I think I'm lousy with virtual subtractives. The market is pretty flooded with great stuff.

[Apostate]

I've already splashed out on the Electra (without an 'X') 2 upgrade, somewhat begrudgingly. I felt like it was a cool update, but not one to be paying that much for. Now it seems to me like Tone2 will be doing this kind of incremental, paid upgrade for many of their synths. A lot of us feature nerds will feel that like an itch that needs to be scratched... you've got the synth but now you're missing those five cool new filter types... go on... splash the cash... you know you want to! No! It's a slippery slope.

Huh. I bought Elektra just a month before 2 came out and downloaded the update for free from their forum.

[Robmobius]

Hmm... 60e is a fair bit for an update (it's the VAT I really begrudge but that's not Ts fault). The demo sounds nice.

Just shelled out for Omni 2 so don't know if I can afford this...

[fluffy_little_something]

Sorry, but Element does not sound better than Saurus in my view. It sounds brutish and unrefined compared to Saurus.

I think Saurus is very good for basses. One thing I noticed, though, is that it tends to distort easily, maybe it has a limiter inside. Sometimes it starts to distort when the third blue light of the LED chain is on, not even the orange one.

it can sound very punchy, but one has to fiddle around a lot till one finds the ideal settings for Phase, Attack etc.

What I like is how minimalist, yet effective features like unison and effects have been implemented. And every knob makes a real difference in the sound.

It's really a mixed bag in my view. I wish they would fix all remaining issues, then it would be a really cool synth. I prefer its sound to Diva's, although (or because) it might not be as analog.

[Apostate]

Sorry, but Element does not sound better than Saurus in my view. It sounds brutish and unrefined compared to Saurus.

I think Saurus is very good for basses. One thing I noticed, though, is that it tends to distort easily, maybe it has a limiter inside. Sometimes it starts to distort when the third blue light of the LED chain is on, not even the orange one.

it can sound very punchy, but one has to fiddle around a lot till one finds the ideal settings for Phase, Attack etc.

What I like is how minimalist, yet effective features like unison and effects have been implemented. And every knob makes a real difference in the sound.

It's really a mixed bag in my view. I wish they would fix all remaining issues, then it would be a really cool synth. I prefer its sound to Diva's, although it might not be as analog.

Great post and I agree with much of it, especially about Element. I'm kind of surprised anyone would shill out for Element and not Saurus, or Serum, the new Nave vst, Z3ta...there are so many better synths out there.

But hey, everybody's ears are different I guess, more power to ya if it helps you make your music.

[fluffy_little_something]

PS: Regarding the distortion, I think it has to do with the voice stealing in mono mode because the same patch in Poly 16 mode sounds perfect, without the slightest distortion, even when playing two bass notes at the same time!
The Poly 16 mode is my favorite, it sounds clean and punchy without clicking. I wish the mono mode were like that, just in mono...

[Robmobius]

Element didn't really do much for me tbh. It sound good but nothing great imo. I think they did a much better job with Codex.

I'd prefer Saurus 1 over Element.

EDIT: Playing with Saurus 2. I like the sound, sounds beefier and less harsh. I'll be picking it up.

[fluffy_little_something]

I wonder how the unison works inside. Is it a kind of delay or chorus? Just wondering because I noticed that on their factory patches with unison on, they always pan the signal hard to one side, but thanks to unison it sounds rather wide and stereo.

All in all, it does sound pretty much like the analog synths I know from records decades ago.
I like the way the filters sounds, even at high resonance values, it sounds musical, not irritating.

[Robmobius]

I wonder how the unison works inside. Is it a kind of delay or chorus? Just wondering because I noticed that on their factory patches with unison on, they always pan the signal hard to one side, but thanks to unison it sounds rather wide and stereo.

Not quite sure how it works... I've been playing with the unison since I checked out the demo. Tone 2 do unison really well. It definitely needs to be wide especially with X4 on. Is it a case of stacking the Oscillators (like in Strobe)?

A few more filters would be nice. But the ones they have sound very good.

[KingTuck]

When unison is on, the Pan knob serves as Stereo Spread for the detuned voices.

[fluffy_little_something]

Yes, I like the way the filter sounds, even at high resonance it sounds pleasant and musical, not aggressive or irritating...

https://app.box.com/s/2sj5yedp21uuckytc9rjqodkljqz3zmf

[KingTuck]

A few more filters would be nice. But the ones they have sound very good.

Filter module is pretty damn strong. It's a multimode filter with most every filter type you could really want. Do you mean different filter characters for each respective type/slope? That'd probably go against the design of the synth. The design of Saurus is to be articulate and focused instead of extensive and exhaustive. A bunch of variations of 4-pole LP filters would be strange for this synth.

Or do you mean more filters in the signal route? I could see why that's appealing. But same reason applies I think for why that isn't here.