Softube Modular

[wagtunes]

The sound isn't special, at least to me. Specially compared to Diva, Monark and the moog filter blocks.

But in blocks I hate having to look down for the connections.

Modular still has a lot to prove too, need more modules and more developers on board.

I look at it this way. It's early. If there is enough interest, there will be more developers and optimization.

[ImNotDedYet]

Thanks to Blue Phase Music (nice name!) I got it up and running.

I have to say that I do not hear or see what all the hub-bub is all about. I did my quick stress test (one osc modulating the filter cutoff an octave down from the main osc) and it sounds good, but the idea that this is some major step forward from Reaktor 6 is hyperbole, IMO. I think the stock Minimoog filter in Reaktor 6 blows away the A-108 emulation, but maybe I'd like actual Moog ladder filter (got a clone on my ATC-X) more than I'd like the A-108. When you crank up the filter gain I hear aliasing as compared to running a similar patch in Reaktor at 96 khz. Maybe that's just a lot more distortion? Sounds aliasy to me. The deopfer oscs sound a bit stiff and modern. I'd love a drift control. Overall, I'd say it sounds... fine.

CPU wise, it's greedy, as expected, and I found that when I made anything really cool I would max out my 2.5 ghz i7. The cool thing about Reaktor is that when doing audio rate mod stuff I can run it at 96 khz, but if that's not important I can back it off to 48 khz and mostly not notice a sound difference and still get my patch to be playable. I couldn't get a bunch of the presets to really play and I bet I could get them to play and sound good using Reatkor at 48 khz, so some quality modes might have helped out here. So, the thing is that the type of patches I was able to get going that ran OK were things that I could do in various other plug ins with nice mod matrixes. For instance, building a 2 osc, 2 LFO, 2 EG, etc kind of affair in Softube Modular is a waste of CPU cycles. Roland's System 100 plug in sounds much better and is a bit easier on the CPU. For me the point where Softube Modular becomes interesting is the point where I can't run it.

It's missing a lot too. Little things like portamento. Yeah, I know, use the Slew Limiter module, but having things like that built into the CV module go a long way toward basic usability. Why don't all the performance modules have CV in? That would be super great for performance orientated stuff for people who use alternative MIDI interfaces like a Hot Hand. The stock modules are just... boring. Where's the wavetable/FM/additive/sampleplayer oscs? I get that those might come later but at a price. Again, Reaktor 6 already has nice examples of all of the above.

Speaking of usability, I hate the way you add modules. First off, I don't need to see a picture of the module I want, especially on the deopfer modules which all look so similar anyway that it just makes for a large window. Imagine what might happen when/if more modules are developed. You're painted into a corner. I couldn't even figure out how to move a module. That should be so obvious but I could only delete them. I know, RTFM, but on something as simple as that, it's a UX fail. I see why people like it at first, the UI looks good and things are easy enough to connect, but cables graphics often block things. It's one of those things where they went all the way over to the intuitive end of the spectrum (the other end being learnable) but at the expense of usability and clarity. I much prefer R6's Blocks and how they work.

Oh look. I made a bunch of random changes to a preset and... it's saved? Uh... no. reinstantiate the plug in and it's back. Fail. Forget all that, just put in a modern patch browser like pretty much most of the better commercial plug ins offer. Might be nice if modules could have their own presets as well, but that's not too big a deal.

So, overall I came into this pretty skeptical. The idea of continuously paying for new modules as they come out because the stock modules are just basic is a mistake, IMO. I thought that it might just sound so kick-ass that I couldn't resist. I can resist.

The Doepfer stuff is pretty vanilla, but it still sound pretty good to me. The Rubicon on the other hand is quite nice, and it has a lot more options from an oscillator/waveform modification standpoint. Throw in uFold and you can do all kinds of things. Korgasmatron provides a lot of nice functionality a la MS-20 with dual filters that can be run either parallel or in serial, two FM possibilities and more.

Why would you want or need CV into a performance knob? It's already mapped to a knob in your modular system that can likely be CV modified. Portamento can be done w/ slew. Why would one need a specific portamento?

I do agree the UI is clunky and it's not the most intuitive system, a preset browser would be nice as well. But if you can't be bothered to read the manual to learn how to move a module...you're probably missing out on a lot of the possibilities with the utility modules as well.

Does it sound better than a Diva or Monark? I don't think so, but I think it's on par with those. Thow in the modular possibilities, and you get a lot more sonic creation possibilities than either Diva or Monark. Can you do this and more with Reaktor? Probably, but you want to talk smack about this UI? Reaktor patching is far more of a pain than this.

You can choose to like it or not - I think it's a helluva synth and fantastic concept for ITB. I think it would be more fair if you actually read the manual and did more than just play with presets and modify those. But, to each their own.

[ImNotDedYet]

The sound isn't special, at least to me. Specially compared to Diva, Monark and the moog filter blocks.

But in blocks I hate having to look down for the connections.

Modular still has a lot to prove too, need more modules and more developers on board.

I look at it this way. It's early. If there is enough interest, there will be more developers and optimization.

Softube is doing all the development I believe. The question is will it garner enough sales to try to model other, more interesting modules. Getting into some different filters - even Doepfer makes a nice SEM and Wasp filter that sound great, some out there stuff like Maths and Clouds - some of the different, crazy things from Mutable Instruments and Make Noise, etc. That's when the magic would really start to happen IMO.

[wagtunes]

The sound isn't special, at least to me. Specially compared to Diva, Monark and the moog filter blocks.

But in blocks I hate having to look down for the connections.

Modular still has a lot to prove too, need more modules and more developers on board.

I look at it this way. It's early. If there is enough interest, there will be more developers and optimization.

Softube is doing all the development I believe. The question is will it garner enough sales to try to model other, more interesting modules. Getting into some different filters - even Doepfer makes a nice SEM and Wasp filter that sound great, some out there stuff like Maths and Clouds - some of the different, crazy things from Mutable Instruments and Make Noise, etc. That's when the magic would really start to happen IMO.

I agree. And that's pretty much what I'm waiting for.

[blutronic]

I really get all that you guys are saying but I gotta say, I just layered the following stock modular patches on top of each other "BassSynth Classic M Mon" and "Bass Dubstep Follow Mono" and then ran the stack through the effects version of modular using the "Chorus Dense" patch and played while turning the cutoff knob on the control panel of the "Bass Synth Classic M mono patch" patch, also turned up the frequency knob on the right hand A-108 VCF8 on the Dubstep patch and I am just so giddy and blown away.

And you can't accomplish this with what you have?

My subs are blowing my hair back with all the wind this setup is making (literally).

And you can't accomplish this with what you have?

You absolutely could do this with the other synths. I was just commenting on the quality of Modular being equal to the others and holding it's own in terms of sound quality. It really is very good to my ears.

I would add that for me, It does have a unique flavor that compliments the others and I get the added bonus of learning eurorack style modular synthesis using software since I don't have any eurorack hardware and never plan on getting any ER hardware since I prefer everything ITB anyway.

It certainly is nice to have all the choices we have today and for someone who does not have any of the other VST's I mentioned, this is simply another viable option to get solid modular sound.

It's not all a bed of roses though, paying money for add on modules is not exactly ideal but no worse than everything else we all like to spend money on (latest VST's, effects, DAW's etc.) so a money pit this hobby is for some of us .... Reaktor 6 blocks has the advantage here because you don't keep paying out. If you only want one or the other, Reaktor 6 is simply outstanding and an excellent choice.

[blutronic]

The sound isn't special, at least to me. Specially compared to Diva, Monark and the moog filter blocks.

But in blocks I hate having to look down for the connections.

Modular still has a lot to prove too, need more modules and more developers on board.

Agree all the way on comparing to Diva, Monark etc. I hope Softube is very successful here. More choices and flexibility is always a good thing. Exciting times....

[zerocrossing]

The sound isn't special, at least to me. Specially compared to Diva, Monark and the moog filter blocks.

But in blocks I hate having to look down for the connections.

Modular still has a lot to prove too, need more modules and more developers on board.

I look at it this way. It's early. If there is enough interest, there will be more developers and optimization.

Softube is doing all the development I believe. The question is will it garner enough sales to try to model other, more interesting modules. Getting into some different filters - even Doepfer makes a nice SEM and Wasp filter that sound great, some out there stuff like Maths and Clouds - some of the different, crazy things from Mutable Instruments and Make Noise, etc. That's when the magic would really start to happen IMO.

I totally agree, but I'd be excited to find something like Maths included in the basic package. To me it's pretty meh, but the add ons are the best part. They should have done a first release that had everything that's out now plus a few more unique cool modules for $199.

[S0lo]

The Doepfer stuff is pretty vanilla, but it still sound pretty good to me. The Rubicon on the other hand is quite nice, and it has a lot more options from an oscillator/waveform modification standpoint. Throw in uFold and you can do all kinds of things. Korgasmatron provides a lot of nice functionality a la MS-20 with dual filters that can be run either parallel or in serial, two FM possibilities and more.

The secret to Doepfer stuff is the sheer multitude of modules he has. He gives you much more than whats is available here in modular, in "bits and pieces" form instead of "combined cooked" form. In the right hands you can achieve what many other manufacturers do and more.

Though doepfer stuff is usually analog based. When it comes to digital, other rivals like mutable intruments and Makenoise excel.

[mostlyjustj]

Not having had much experience with anything purely modular like this, I'd love to be able to find a beginners tutorial, but I can't find one. Can anybody point me in a good direction?

The factory patches are pretty complex! Would like some simpler to start that I can sink my teeth into...

[deastman]

The Doepfer stuff is pretty vanilla, but it still sound pretty good to me. The Rubicon on the other hand is quite nice, and it has a lot more options from an oscillator/waveform modification standpoint. Throw in uFold and you can do all kinds of things. Korgasmatron provides a lot of nice functionality a la MS-20 with dual filters that can be run either parallel or in serial, two FM possibilities and more.

The secret to Doepfer stuff is the sheer multitude of modules he has. He gives you much more than whats is available here in modular, in "bits and pieces" form instead of "combined cooked" form. In the right hands you can achieve what many other manufacturers do and more.

Though doepfer stuff is usually analog based. When it comes to digital, other rivals like mutable intruments and Makenoise excel.

I was just going to write something similar. The thing with Doepfer is that it started with a much more traditional modular philosophy than many of the more recent manufacturers. He offered a huge number of small, basic building blocks which could be patched in myriad clever ways to create anything you wanted. And as SOlo says, only a tiny fraction of those are represented in the current Softube offerings. The trend with most developers has been to bring out increasingly large, complex (and expensive) modules which are more like entire worlds in and of themselves. Look at something like the Intellijel Rainmaker, and you've got a really complex little digital computer environment rolled up into a module. Its just a completely different philosophy from the Doepfer one.

I've mentioned this earlier in the thread, but the basic Doepfer modules are kind of underwhelming. The A-110 is indeed a very static, uninspiring oscillator. I much prefer the Curtis-based A-111. And while the filter provided is okay, I like their Wasp filter much better.

So yes, this is still early days, and hopefully we'll see a lot more modules coming out. And hopefully we won't have to pay for all of them! There are a lot more of what I consider to be "the basics" which are still lacking.

[Uncle E]

maybe I'd like actual Moog ladder filter (got a clone on my ATC-X) more than I'd like the A-108.

Probably. The hardware Doepfer filters I've used were underwhelming. You might prefer the Softube Modular Intellijel Korgasmatron II.

[Uncle E]

Does it sound better than a Diva or Monark? I don't think so, but I think it's on par with those.

That's good enough for me.

You can choose to like it or not - I think it's a helluva synth and fantastic concept for ITB. I think it would be more fair if you actually read the manual and did more than just play with presets and modify those. But, to each their own.

Plus, it's odd that there's still so much talk about price after the price drop and intro sale. Most of our pre-order customers bought it when we still thought the release price was going to be $99. I get that there are valid issues (the iLok transfer fee being about the same price as the modules, for one) but I don't see how anyone can see Softube's prices as being unreasonable or greedy.

[pdxindy]

To me Softube Modular has the edge over Reaktor 6 Blocks just because of the UI.

If reaktor blocks had the patching points in the modules, instead of a separate view, it would way easier to use. As it stands Softube's has better workflow.

Reaktor Blocks has the advantage of being totally open to development and is going to be cheaper in the long run.

UI wise, perhaps... but sound-wise?

I listened to a bunch of Softube Modular audio demos and while they certainly sounded fine, they still sound like a softsynth to me and lacking some presence or aliveness (hard to put words to). I have never particularly liked the sound of Reaktor (I own it) but when I first heard some Blocks audio demos, my ears perked up. It has something pleasing.

So does Bazille...

Nothing I have heard from Softube Modular caught my attention that way.

[D-Fusion]

I bought everything from the Modular except for the drums.
I am amazed at how crispy the doepfer vco sounds without breaking up in the high and low register like many vst's tend to do.

It also has that in your face sound which i like instead of sounding mellow and it sounds just as i remember it from the around year 2000 but i am getting old so my memory might trick me

I also like the bass response on it which is very deep and punchy
The cpu usage is high but i don't mind treating it like a hw synth and freeze tracks when needed.

[kiezum]

I like Bazille, but Modular is something else. It's got a 'realness' and it is very versatile. There are a few interesting utility 'math-like' modules.

BTW Intellijel have excellent manuals on their website with almost every possible patch example. An interesting read.