Tone 2 - Saurus 2 is available

[Apostate]

Of course you're all right that there's a lot of overlap between one synth and another (especially ones by the same developer), that you choose synths (and other instruments, band members, friends, etc...) as much for where they tend to lead you as for their capabilities, and that it's really about the song and the performance anyway, not the synths.

I was asking because I was offered Saurus and Electra2 at quite good prices, and got both, have played pretty much with Saurus and really like it, but haven't had time to check out Electra yet, wondered if having both was a waste of my limited resources. I'm not hearing such a resounding Yes that I'll skip what I'd naturally do anyway, which is to explore both more when I can, and make up my own mind. I suspect I'll keep both, really just feeling guilty about the GAS I've succumbed to in the first part of this year.

I'm guessing that once you have the time to get into Elektra you're going to be very glad you bought both. Don't listen to the more dismissive here, they're both great instruments, and there are definitely complementary attributes. Many of the naysayers have valid points of course, but I've never once regretted or even thought about selling my Tone 2 stuff.

I wouldn't exactly call myself a naysayer. I do own two Tone 2 synths. I would say that I am being realistic and quite fair and accurate of my appraisal on Tone 2 synths and synths in general.

Truth is, you could probably buy no more than a half dozen synths and have every single possible bass covered in song creation as far as texture, mood, feel or whatever you want to call it.

In fact, if I were to make my list of 6 synths that I am sure would cover everything imaginable, it would be these. I will list them and what area they'd cover.

Omnisphere - Textures, Soundscapes
Dune 2 - EDM
Kontakt - Bread and Butter rock, pop, traditional sounds
Serum - Evolving sounds
FM 8 - FM sounds
ImpOSCar 2 - Old Analog

That's it. With just those 6 synths I don't think there is anything I couldn't be able to do. And I haven't even included Zebra 2, which is one of my favorite synths.

You just don't need a lot of synths to cover most areas of sound. So why would I need more than one or two Tone 2 synths when 80% of each engine is pretty much the same character of sound?

Not a naysayer. Just a realist.

I didn't specifically mean you or anyone else, and you have very good points.

[Apostate]

Sometimes I wonder if you could just have Reaktor (or more likely, one of the Kompletes) and pretty much not need anything more.

[wagtunes]

Sometimes I wonder if you could just have Reaktor (or more likely, one of the Kompletes) and pretty much not need anything more.

I own Komplete 9 and it's lacking in some areas, IMO. I don't think it's great for textures and soundscapes. It doesn't come close to Omnisphere in this area.

Analog emulations? Monark is about it. It's the only one with a really amazing filters. All the other Reaktor stuff is lacking in this area. I don't know if that's by design (so as not to cut into standalone Monark sales) or simply because the designers just aren't talented enough to create great filters.

Reaktor is fine for quirky things. Into experimental music? Reaktor can cover a lot of bases. But for analog emulations, I'd stick with things like Diva, ImpOSCar 2, and even Arturia's Oberheim SEM.

And then of course for realistic strings, forget Komplete. You need to go for something like EWQL, 8dio or Vienna. Kontakt's strings are fine for pop but not for classical music or orchestral based compositions. I spent close to a grand for the EWQL collection just to cover my orchestral needs.

Don't get me wrong. I am so glad that I bought Komplete 9. But if it was the only thing I had, I'd feel that I was missing quite a few things.

[Apostate]

I agree with a lot of the above. I most certainly wouldn't trade me Hollywood Strings or Brass for any other emulation...not by a long shot. And Monark is great, but it sits well with my Saurus, Diva, Arturia.

You know, Reaktor really is great for crazy stuff, but I think XILS 3 might at least match it, especially in terms of evolving pads.

So yeah, Komplete isn't that complete lol!

[wagtunes]

I agree with a lot of the above. I most certainly wouldn't trade me Hollywood Strings or Brass for any other emulation...not by a long shot. And Monark is great, but it sits well with my Saurus, Diva, Arturia.

You know, Reaktor really is great for crazy stuff, but I think XILS 3 might at least match it, especially in terms of evolving pads.

So yeah, Komplete isn't that complete lol!

I have XILS 4 and haven't really spent the time with it that I should. As modular's go, Bazille is just so much easier to get crazy stuff out of it. XILS 4 requires a lot more work.

Eventually, I'll make the time but right now I just don't have it to make.

And no, Komplete isn't all that complete.

[Apostate]

I agree with a lot of the above. I most certainly wouldn't trade me Hollywood Strings or Brass for any other emulation...not by a long shot. And Monark is great, but it sits well with my Saurus, Diva, Arturia.

You know, Reaktor really is great for crazy stuff, but I think XILS 3 might at least match it, especially in terms of evolving pads.

So yeah, Komplete isn't that complete lol!

I have XILS 4 and haven't really spent the time with it that I should. As modular's go, Bazille is just so much easier to get crazy stuff out of it. XILS 4 requires a lot more work.

Eventually, I'll make the time but right now I just don't have it to make.

And no, Komplete isn't all that complete.

Bazille is more fun in my opinion. But XILS can definitely be rewarding, I get that every time I take my time with it. They're both great.

I never saw the need to upgrade to 4, the demo didn't impress me enough. It will be interesting to see where XILS goes from 4 though.

[wagtunes]

I agree with a lot of the above. I most certainly wouldn't trade me Hollywood Strings or Brass for any other emulation...not by a long shot. And Monark is great, but it sits well with my Saurus, Diva, Arturia.

You know, Reaktor really is great for crazy stuff, but I think XILS 3 might at least match it, especially in terms of evolving pads.

So yeah, Komplete isn't that complete lol!

I have XILS 4 and haven't really spent the time with it that I should. As modular's go, Bazille is just so much easier to get crazy stuff out of it. XILS 4 requires a lot more work.

Eventually, I'll make the time but right now I just don't have it to make.

And no, Komplete isn't all that complete.

Bazille is more fun in my opinion. But XILS can definitely be rewarding, I get that every time I take my time with it. They're both great.

I never saw the need to upgrade to 4, the demo didn't impress me enough. It will be interesting to see where XILS goes from 4 though.

XILS 4 requires a lot of "outside the box" thinking to get the most out of it. It's the interaction between the two modules that makes it so that it can do things that XILS 3 simply can't physically do no matter how hard you try. It's essentially 2 engines working at the same time.

But man, what a time suck it is to get something really outrageous out of it.

Okay, all this XILS talk is making me want to drag that thing out of mothballs and start fiddling with it and I've got way too much work to do.

Maybe tonight during my free time. LOL.

[Apostate]

I agree with a lot of the above. I most certainly wouldn't trade me Hollywood Strings or Brass for any other emulation...not by a long shot. And Monark is great, but it sits well with my Saurus, Diva, Arturia.

You know, Reaktor really is great for crazy stuff, but I think XILS 3 might at least match it, especially in terms of evolving pads.

So yeah, Komplete isn't that complete lol!

I have XILS 4 and haven't really spent the time with it that I should. As modular's go, Bazille is just so much easier to get crazy stuff out of it. XILS 4 requires a lot more work.

Eventually, I'll make the time but right now I just don't have it to make.

And no, Komplete isn't all that complete.

Bazille is more fun in my opinion. But XILS can definitely be rewarding, I get that every time I take my time with it. They're both great.

I never saw the need to upgrade to 4, the demo didn't impress me enough. It will be interesting to see where XILS goes from 4 though.

XILS 4 requires a lot of "outside the box" thinking to get the most out of it. It's the interaction between the two modules that makes it so that it can do things that XILS 3 simply can't physically do no matter how hard you try. It's essentially 2 engines working at the same time.

But man, what a time suck it is to get something really outrageous out of it.

Okay, all this XILS talk is making me want to drag that thing out of mothballs and start fiddling with it and I've got way too much work to do.

Maybe tonight during my free time. LOL.

Now you've got me reconsidering 4. But for now I'm having a ball doing spectral stuff on Gladiator. Hope you have a wonderful evening!

[db3]

I'm guessing that once you have the time to get into Elektra you're going to be very glad you bought both. Don't listen to the more dismissive here, they're both great instruments, and there are definitely complementary attributes.

I was in the same boat. I picked up Saurus and Elektra recently in the 30% off promo during Musikmesse.
Afterwards I started having second thoughts, thinking I should have got Nemesis rather than Elektra. After spending more time with both I realised that while there was some overlap I would value having both. Just need to get Nemesis now to complete my T2 set

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Just need to get Nemesis now to complete my T2 set

(perfect time for a thoroughly shameless plug): Get my awesome ambient soundset, too, then! ;-P https://tone2.com/html/ambientica.html

https://soundcloud.com/macnight/ambient ... f-bionight

[Apostate]

Just need to get Nemesis now to complete my T2 set

(perfect time for a thoroughly shameless plug): Get my awesome ambient soundset, too, then! ;-P https://tone2.com/html/ambientica.html

https://soundcloud.com/macnight/ambient ... f-bionight

COOL!

Love Nemesis.

[Mac of BIOnighT]

COOL!
Love Nemesis.

Thanks Me, too

[dwozzle]

Haven't tried this yet, but Markus replied to my question/feature request on their forum:

Entering numbers with a keyboard is currently not supported from our plugins. So far noone else did this request this feature.

These tweaks are supported by many Tone2 plugins:

strg/ctrl+left mouse = reset a parameter to the default value
shift+left mouse+move mouse = fine tune a parameter
up/down/left/right key = quick select next/previous patch in patch browser (if host supports it)
mousewheel = quick select a list or percentage tweak parameter (on PC: only if plugin has focus)
mousewheel = quick select a patch / category in patch browser (on PC: only if plugin has focus)

Good news hopefully is that it looks like by fine tuning with shift-mouse we might be able to adjust pitch bend range with enough accuracy to be usable. Will try when I get home tonight.

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Good news hopefully is that it looks like by fine tuning with shift-mouse we might be able to adjust pitch bend range with enough accuracy to be usable. Will try when I get home tonight.

Sorry, I thought this was known, so I didn't mention it - yes, it does work, of course

[dwozzle]

Good news hopefully is that it looks like by fine tuning with shift-mouse we might be able to adjust pitch bend range with enough accuracy to be usable. Will try when I get home tonight.

Sorry, I thought this was known, so I didn't mention it - yes, it does work, of course

Probably is known, by those who RTFM, which apparently in this case isn't me, and I'm new to Tone2 stuff.

Does that help set pitch bend range to 2, or 5, which I couldn't do without it? I thought people besides me were saying it was a problem, and I'd think at least some of them would know about that.