KVR Audio

Fantasie · Post by **Fantasie** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 2:57 am

Absynth fallin' into the Abyss of oblivion?

liv · Post by **liv** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 3:39 am

Igor Amos wrote:Who has used it a lot and would like to comment?

Is it good?

thanks,

IA

I have used it and am using it a lot and have nothing but praise for it.
Maybe old to some and so not the most "fresh" topic but it is an absolutely fantastic synth imho.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:15 am

I've had Absynth for years... I find the GUI really clumsy to use. It needs a makeover!

I'd also like to see the Oscs and Filters be updated. Somehow they just sound weak to me. Feature-wise Absynth does not need anything added... just make what's there sound better and have a better workflow.

I have no expectation that will ever happen.

ATN69 · Post by **ATN69** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 4:29 am

Re: How come nobody ever talks about Absynth anymore?

Seems there are many talking about Absynth

I agree with pdxindy. I stopped using Absynth because of it. It needs a majour overhaul.

HcDoom · Post by **HcDoom** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:41 am

I got used to GUI and the sounds I get with it are impossible to get with other synths...at least in my experience. Love it and would pay extra money for a new version!

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 7:51 am

I've used Absynth extensively for scoring to video. As others have said, its an incredibly deep synth, and really excels at evolving textures due to the effects and the complex envelopes.

However, I have to say that I've always hated the numeric value entry system. Just give me knobs or something. Or just drag across the values to change it, with shift to go faster or alt/option to go slower instead of having multiple value controls for each parameter. It drives me crazy!

And yes, it is definitely due for a GUI makeover, and the oscillators and filters could also use an update.

Jace-BeOS · Post by **Jace-BeOS** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:05 am

I'm in FULL agreement with the people criticizing the GUI but complimenting the capability of Absynth. It should get a UI overhaul, some refinements to existing functionality, and be kept on the market.

loachm · Post by **loachm** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:11 am

deastman wrote:However, I have to say that I've always hated the numeric value entry system. Just give me knobs or something. Or just drag across the values to change it, with shift to go faster or alt/option to go slower instead of having multiple value controls for each parameter. It drives me crazy!

...maybe I don't get this right, but you can drag the values - drag one of the two or three buttons next to the value for different increments...

recursive one · Post by **recursive one** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:25 am

I agree that no other synth can do what Absynth does the best. Its my most used tool for different kinds of textures, inharmonic soundscapes and other weird sounds. I love it's sound, it's definitely not hi-fi but has some strange "abstract" character setting it apart from other synths I have.

But I have to confess that I mostly use presets, the GUI is not the best in terms of tweakability and when I start building my own sounds I often come in nowhere.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:26 am

loachm wrote:
deastman wrote:However, I have to say that I've always hated the numeric value entry system. Just give me knobs or something. Or just drag across the values to change it, with shift to go faster or alt/option to go slower instead of having multiple value controls for each parameter. It drives me crazy!
...maybe I don't get this right, but you can drag the values - drag one of the two or three buttons next to the value for different increments...

Right, I'd prefer something slightly different. Actually, the preferred behavior I described is the way you modify values in Adobe After Effects. Simply dragging left or right across a number acts as a slider, and on the fly you can increment values faster by holding down shift, or very fine edits by holding down option. What I dislike about Absynth is having three different controls to drag on, depending if I want large, medium, or fine edits to a single parameter field. Granted, the current system is pretty efficient for cramming a lot of control into a small area, but I find the modifier key method to be way more efficient. I do that in After Effects many times a day and it feels effortless. Changing values in Absynth means deciding which of the three controllers to start dragging, then deciding I'm on the wrong one and choosing another, but then having to switch again just to add precise edits. Its maddening.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:28 am

If you're mostly a preset user of Absynth, just learn to use the mutate controls and you'll have endless new sonic options to choose from.

Kalamata Kid · Post by **Kalamata Kid** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:56 am

deastman wrote:
loachm wrote:
deastman wrote:However, I have to say that I've always hated the numeric value entry system. Just give me knobs or something. Or just drag across the values to change it, with shift to go faster or alt/option to go slower instead of having multiple value controls for each parameter. It drives me crazy!
...maybe I don't get this right, but you can drag the values - drag one of the two or three buttons next to the value for different increments...
Right, I'd prefer something slightly different. Actually, the preferred behavior I described is the way you modify values in Adobe After Effects. Simply dragging left or right across a number acts as a slider, and on the fly you can increment values faster by holding down shift, or very fine edits by holding down option. What I dislike about Absynth is having three different controls to drag on, depending if I want large, medium, or fine edits to a single parameter field. Granted, the current system is pretty efficient for cramming a lot of control into a small area, but I find the modifier key method to be way more efficient. I do that in After Effects many times a day and it feels effortless. Changing values in Absynth means deciding which of the three controllers to start dragging, then deciding I'm on the wrong one and choosing another, but then having to switch again just to add precise edits. Its maddening.

Sorry, but I love the control of using three value sliders!

Kalamata Kid · Post by **Kalamata Kid** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 8:58 am

deastman wrote:If you're mostly a preset user of Absynth, just learn to use the mutate controls and you'll have endless new sonic options to choose from.

Out of curiosity is there a VSTi/VST with better randomizer than Absynth?

loachm · Post by **loachm** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:40 am

deastman wrote:Right, I'd prefer something slightly different. Actually, the preferred behavior I described is the way you modify values in Adobe After Effects. Simply dragging left or right across a number acts as a slider, and on the fly you can increment values faster by holding down shift, or very fine edits by holding down option. What I dislike about Absynth is having three different controls to drag on, depending if I want large, medium, or fine edits to a single parameter field. Granted, the current system is pretty efficient for cramming a lot of control into a small area, but I find the modifier key method to be way more efficient. I do that in After Effects many times a day and it feels effortless. Changing values in Absynth means deciding which of the three controllers to start dragging, then deciding I'm on the wrong one and choosing another, but then having to switch again just to add precise edits. Its maddening.

...you're right, it's maddening that Absynth is really bad at being After Effects...

Jace-BeOS · Post by **Jace-BeOS** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:42 am

jancivil wrote:name of its creator is Brian Clevinger.

Thanks for sharing that. He said he's always working on it... Back when version 5 was released. I wonder what his development version is like today and if it's any further from the current public release.