Softube Modular

[Uncle E]

to replicate my eurorack system, at those prices I'd still end up spending probably a couple grand.

When you say replicate, do you mean with the exact modules or do you mean replicating the capabilities of your eurorack?

[deastman]

I mean exactly replicate. Of course there are some unknown quantities here, such as the Softube utility modules included, and how many manufacturers will get on board.

My point is simply that an equivalent of my existing system, while a fraction of the cost, would still be fairly significant. And the hardware holds its value, whereas the software does not (not to mention license transfer fees).

[Dasheesh]

The video shows just what I usually expect from modulars - pointless non-musical noise

Right, because the best use of a complex, fully modular, reconfigurable system is to make standard monosynth bass and lead sounds.

The intention of a musical instrument is to make musical tones that you can play. What most people do these days can be done with a can of chili and a microphone.

[zerocrossing]

I can see, a heated discussion. But the most important question is not discussed at all: How does it sound?

Of course, we can't say anything about it, yet. But then, why all the talking? There's really nothing to discuss as long as we can't test the sound of it...

There's a reason why modulars are often presented with acid farts. Those filter-fm sounds are really hard to get right in software, because software filters break easily when pushed to this limit. If softube modular gets it right, I'll bite. No further questions asked.

Things are progressing in this direction. Roland's System 100 is great as is Monark/Reaktor 6. Almost as good as analog hardware. Diva, Xils3 and Vacuum Pro are decent. I haven't tried Bazille yet, but it's not an analog emulation, eh?

[whyterabbyt]

The intention of a musical instrument is to make musical tones that you can play.

Well that certainly cleared things up for me.

[Dasheesh]

I can see, a heated discussion. But the most important question is not discussed at all: How does it sound?

Of course, we can't say anything about it, yet. But then, why all the talking? There's really nothing to discuss as long as we can't test the sound of it...

There's a reason why modulars are often presented with acid farts. Those filter-fm sounds are really hard to get right in software, because software filters break easily when pushed to this limit. If softube modular gets it right, I'll bite. No further questions asked.

Things are progressing in this direction. Roland's System 100 is great as is Monark/Reaktor 6. Almost as good as analog hardware. Diva, Xils3 and Vacuum Pro are decent. I haven't tried Bazille yet, but it's not an analog emulation, eh?

I use half a dozen software synths. Bazille is one of them. It can be very analog until you use the phase distortion, then it starts to go more digital on you. I LOVE bazille. It gives me so many options, but that's not my way. I prefer to get to the soul of an instrument and play the instrument. There are a few talented programmers on here that can make any instrument sound like pretty much anything, but that's the difference between a musician and a sound designer. Both talents, both valuable but there is the difference. Back in the day we used to call them tweakers (edit, spellcheck) v.s romplers, but it was the same argument. It's always been around. I play the sound of the instrument. I listen for the character of instruments, but yeah, even I will geek for a high end sound design tool like mpowersynth sometimes.

[Dasheesh]

It extends to the arguments about "what sounds good" as well. In that case it's often quality versus character. In other words you have a great sound, or instrument that has poor quality of sound and many people will say it sound bad, or a stupid shit poor job of using you instrument, but done at 192 kHz 32 bit and people will eat it up. It's the EDM syndrome. "I'm a musician, producer, sound composer, publisher, invented, blah.blah.blah", well, maybe you are, but that means you aren't doing any of it very well. It takes time to get good at something, not millennial NOW OR NEVER time, I'm talking sometimes decades.

[wagtunes]

Well, I know I'm going to take some heat for this, but going on the suggestion that I download the Reaktor 6 player, I did. Unfortunately, the player only comes with a few ensembles like Spark, Monark, etc. So I had to go to the user database and download others to get an idea of what Reaktor 6 was capable of doing.

Now maybe I just downloaded bad ensembles. I don't know. It's possible. But I just didn't hear anything that made me want to go pay the $99 upgrade price to go from 5 to 6. The core sound engine sounds the same. It's fine for certain things and I use Reaktor 5 for certain things, but for what I'm looking for, sound wise, out of a modular, Reaktor 6 falls short. It just doesn't do it for me.

So I'll be patiently waiting for Softube and hope it has more of the sound that I'm looking for.

[VariKusBrainZ]

Well, I know I'm going to take some heat for this, but going on the suggestion that I download the Reaktor 6 player, I did. Unfortunately, the player only comes with a few ensembles like Spark, Monark, etc. So I had to go to the user database and download others to get an idea of what Reaktor 6 was capable of doing.

Now maybe I just downloaded bad ensembles. I don't know. It's possible. But I just didn't hear anything that made me want to go pay the $99 upgrade price to go from 5 to 6. The core sound engine sounds the same. It's fine for certain things and I use Reaktor 5 for certain things, but for what I'm looking for, sound wise, out of a modular, Reaktor 6 falls short. It just doesn't do it for me.

So I'll be patiently waiting for Softube and hope it has more of the sound that I'm looking for.

So in what way does it fall short?

Perhaps you don't possess the skill, knowledge or experience or perhaps you've fallen for the mystic hype and don't actually know what you want to hear from a modular but believe it must be something incredible like the aural equivalent of the 'Nectar of the Gods'

Or you just need to add another soft Synth to the list of overcompensation you're famous for posting

[kokotte]

i 'm agree Wag, but monark sound wonderfull,in the V5 or V6, and now,in the reak 6, all connectiion are at audio rate, like the real thing, the fm is great, not like in a eurorack synstem, but great, the possibility are here, reaktor 6, is for me a big step up compare to 5, a reactor noob like me can connect everything to every thing easily and enjoy all the great free module with having a math degree, after, like someone said, it just in the wire process who make the difference, it a really open system , not like mux for eg. the limit are our imagination, not the input/output capacity. let's wait softube and see what they bring to the table....(i m more interesting about the future zebra 3 too be honest)
my 2 cents.

[aMUSEd]

Well, I know I'm going to take some heat for this, but going on the suggestion that I download the Reaktor 6 player, I did. Unfortunately, the player only comes with a few ensembles like Spark, Monark, etc. So I had to go to the user database and download others to get an idea of what Reaktor 6 was capable of doing.

You can download 3 Blocks ensembles for 3, I even linked to them.

[Dasheesh]

i 'm agree Wag, but monark sound wonderfull,in the V5 or V6, and now,in the reak 6, all connectiion are at audio rate, like the real thing, the fm is great, not like in a eurorack synstem, but great, the possibility are here, reaktor 6, is for me a big step up compare to 5, a reactor noob like me can connect everything to every thing easily and enjoy all the great free module with having a math degree, after, like someone said, it just in the wire process who make the difference, it a really open system , not like mux for eg. the limit are our imagination, not the input/output capacity. let's wait softube and see what they bring to the table....(i m more interesting about the future zebra 3 too be honest)
my 2 cents.

Yeah, I don't use NI stuff because I'm trying to eliminate extensive copy right protection from my machine. I have been told by reputable people though, and I get the real impression, that monarch is done right. Like per cycle calculation kind of stuff with real character. If I went reaktor it would be for the monark modules.

[justin3am]

The video shows just what I usually expect from modulars - pointless non-musical noise

Right, because the best use of a complex, fully modular, reconfigurable system is to make standard monosynth bass and lead sounds.

The intention of a musical instrument is to make musical tones that you can play. What most people do these days can be done with a can of chili and a microphone.

I'd argue that a modular synth is not always a 'musical' instrument. It doesn't have to be.
It can be used for music but it can by used for other sound applications as well. I frequently use mine as a piece of test equipment.

However, I get the feeling that this is another one of those "modular synth music, isn't music" arguments. Ugh...

Softube's Modular looks really cool. I can't wait to try it out, especially if I can integrate it with my existing modular. The best thing about any modular is that each new component not only adds the features of that new component, it also expands the functionality of every other existing component.

[Dasheesh]

The video shows just what I usually expect from modulars - pointless non-musical noise

Right, because the best use of a complex, fully modular, reconfigurable system is to make standard monosynth bass and lead sounds.

The intention of a musical instrument is to make musical tones that you can play. What most people do these days can be done with a can of chili and a microphone.

I'd argue that a modular synth is not always a 'musical' instrument. It doesn't have to be.
It can be used for music but it can by used for other sound applications as well. I frequently use mine as a piece of test equipment.

However, I get the feeling that this is another one of those "modular synth music, isn't music" arguments. Ugh...

Softube's Modular looks really cool. I can't wait to try it out, especially if I can integrate it with my existing modular. The best thing about any modular is that each new component not only adds the features of that new component, it also expands the functionality of every other existing component.

Your right, Doesn't always have to be. That's a distinction that I make. I'm also into a lot of early glitch and drone. I have a box full of rarities from that time period of experimentation. My argument it that there IS a distinction, and that this whole argument arises from people failing to make that distinction.

[zeep]

..Yeah, I don't use NI stuff because I'm trying to eliminate extensive copy right protection from my machine..

Dude, Native Instruments extensive copyright protection?
I buy the plugin, activate it and it's done. On more than one DAW.

Their software is non-intrusive and installs neat and fully configurable.

If that is extensive i wonder what you think about a dongle. Illuminati-Police-State-Global-Over-Extensive?