Softube Modular

[kiezum]

I haven't even tried the presets in Modular

[thetechnobear]

Reaktors UI is a bit of a mess.... e.g. its inconsistency with inlet vs a/b modulations.

Sound, being on par with Diva/Monark is good enough for me, and Id agree the Doepher filter is not the most exciting
BUT...
Reaktor Blocks does not have many other good analog filters and oscillators despite being out for some time.
why? because it takes serious dev... bare in mind, even the Monark one come from a commercial product, which NI ripped out to give blocks a firm base to start from.
thats my issue... Reaktor Blocks is unlikely to get serious development, as its unpaid, Softube on the other hand has model which makes it viable.

perhaps System63 for Reaktor, if it is ever released will change that... but that will be a paid product, and also was started long before Blocks came out

don't get me wrong, I love Blocks....

Reaktor has shown its fantastic for utility modules, in that area there are some seriously cool modules including sequencers etc, and I actually think the initial blocks selection was slightly better thought out (in content/coverage) that Softubes.

As for pricing, $79 for the basic package looks a bargain, compare to other VSTs at that price level, even if you bough no other modules e.g. compare to u-he ACE
I will grant, I think the intellijel modules are more expensive that Id like
also Heartbeat is expensive (i suspect was priced like this, due to the original standalone product pricing... and its a big discount on that)

[.jon]

it blows Reaktor away. I had Reaktor 6 on my to-buy list (I own 5) but have taken it off. I don't need it.

I'm still at Reaktor 5, so I may as well put that upgrade money towards this then.

I didn't know about the iLok software auth. I have it installed, so I'll take another look, and then fire up the demo.

Thanks!

It certainly does not "blow Reaktor 6 away", Blocks aren't confined into the limitations of hardware emulations, and you don't have to pay for new modules, there's tons of them in the user library. Workflow is different due to not having patch cables, but this is more than made up by the visual modulation UI. And Reaktor 6 sounds insanely good.

[Bathrobe]

It certainly does not "blow Reaktor 6 away", Blocks aren't confined into the limitations of hardware emulations, and you don't have to pay for new modules, there's tons of them in the user library. Workflow is different due to not having patch cables, but this is more than made up by the visual modulation UI. And Reaktor 6 sounds insanely good.

Yes, but Reaktor is from NI. Whereas Modular is from Softube.

[Dostoyevsky]

It certainly does not "blow Reaktor 6 away", Blocks aren't confined into the limitations of hardware emulations, and you don't have to pay for new modules, there's tons of them in the user library. Workflow is different due to not having patch cables, but this is more than made up by the visual modulation UI. And Reaktor 6 sounds insanely good.

Exactly. Reaktor sounds insanely good and it comes with a maximum of flexibility. However, flexibility entails complexity. You could do whatever you want within Reaktor, i.e. build your own Korgasmatron (why is everybody so eager to emulate hardware anyway?). If you are not into core development, just explore the 5000 free entries of the user library. Again: five thousand. Free. There is a Maths block. There is Loquelic Iteritas. There is Mutable Instruments stuff. Maybe Michael, Matthew, and all the other developers should ask for being paid so that people start appreciating their work. Obviously, to some free equals bad. BTW: There are commercial blocks, e.g. amazing machines.
I guess Softube modular mainly appeals to those who are interested in modular hardware synths but do not have the means to get the real one. They want to get as close to the real experience as possible. That's completely fine since Softube sounds decent to my ears and compared to my 12U rack. This isn't the most popular opinion in this thread, it's just mine. Nobody cares. If you like the demo and you prefer its sound and workflow, then ofc go get it. Easy. However, Softube modular simply isn't the "better" sounding alternative to Reaktor, it certainly isn't the cheaper one, and certainly is less flexible.

[tedannemann]

To quote Bruce Lee: "Simplicity is the key to brilliance".
I am using Reaktor since it was called "Generator". Softube Modular sounds different very different.
Maybe you could create a complex ensemble like Monark to get the same sort of sound - but why would I spend days or months to do so? Or in other words I highly appreciate your Korgasmatron ensemble and I am willing to compare the quality / the result with the Softube module as well with the hardware.

[wagtunes]

I just discovered a very serious problem with the add module system. Now mind you I am using the smaller GUI but it won't matter once we have a hundred modules to choose from.

Click on Add. If you use the smaller GUI, you will notice the performance modules at the bottom of screen are almost off the screen.

The screen itself doesn't scroll.

So what happens when we reach a point where there are so many modules that you can't see the ones at the bottom? How do we select them if the screen doesn't have an up and down scroll bar?

I wonder if the developers have even thought this far ahead?

[pdxindy]

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.

Any audio examples? I listened to a number of Modular audio examples and was not particularly impressed.

Maybe there is better stuff out there, but from what I have heard, I think Reaktor Blocks sounds distinctly better... Bazille too.

[JoeCat]

Having Reaktor 6, I'm still on the fence. Softube's product "feels' more like a modular because of the patching, and certainly having access to direct emulations is a dream for those of us not quite ready to take the hardware plunge. The prices are (so far) reasonable IMO, and the interface is decent if a bit clunky (I'm not fond of the combination of sskeuomorphic and non-skeuomorphic elements, like the block names and patch cables, and drag-drop for moving would be welcome). But it's early in development.

Both systems excel in sound quality (to my ears - I'll trust zerocrossing's detailed analysis for specifics). For most musical applications, I can't imagine finding R6 lacking unless you need a specific sound via emulation.

In terms of experimentation and bang-for-the-buck though, it's hard to compare anything to R6 Blocks. The collection of available blocks both from NI and the user library is enormous, and the quality is still high across the board. Reaktor's sound quality was always respectable even before Core, and they brought in some much improved UI elements. Looks great and the dynamic modulation feedback is always welcome.

This alone is worth the price.
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/9093/
A free library of 140 additional quality blocks, some developed directly from Mutable Instrument's products. There's a lot of professional-level development here.

That's not to take away from Softube's product; It's not even necessarily either-or. I just think you gotta know what you're really after with a limited budget. I can see having both in my future, but may wait with Softube until they iron out some 1.x issues and I see what else gets developed.

As far as Bazille - different beast to me (modular but it's "pre-built obviously). But that one's a no-brainer in the "smiles for the $" department.

[thetechnobear]

another newer alternative (mac only) is Pulsar Modular, AiynZahevSounds has put together a really nice video for it

[tedannemann]

another newer alternative (mac only) is Pulsar Modular, AiynZahevSounds has put together a really nice video for it

Oh yes, highly digging this thing as well. It's a shame that it is AU only. I really like the GUI however in terms of sound I prefer Softube Modular at the moment - even if it's highly more versatile of course.

[thetechnobear]

another newer alternative (mac only) is Pulsar Modular, AiynZahevSounds has put together a really nice video for it

Oh yes, highly digging this thing as well. It's a shame that it is AU only. I really like the GUI however in terms of sound I prefer Softube Modular at the moment - even if it's highly more versatile of course.

yeah, P900 has a very different sound, I think its quite complimentary to others.
I can't believe we have been lucky enough to get Blocks, P900 and Softube Modular in such a short space of time... great time if your into this kind of synth

[zerocrossing]

After a very enjoyable weekend playing around with this I feel I cannot, in the end, bite. I would like to.

The problem for me remains the expense, not the expense per se (though it will rapidly build up if other manufacturers come on board), but the complete inability to ever recover any of it for the 'in app purchases', ie modules. With the $25 transfer fee these can, effectively, never be sold.

I would probably never want to do that, but you never know what life throws up.

By all means use iLok for the main app, Softube, but until you release the modules from this protection I predict you will lose potential sales, including to me.

This is not just an anti-iLok post, and I am not trying to stir up a sh*tstorm, simply a plea to Softube (which I have made directly in an unanswered email to their support) because iLok protected in-app purchases are a completely new thing, in my experience.

It's back to Reaktor and Oscillot for me for now.

It's a fair position to take, but for me I find it helpful to think of software in a very different way than hardware. In hardware, you pay for the intellectual property (design) as well as the hardware itself. With software, all you pay for is the intellectual property. In fact, you don't even own it. You own a license to use it. (Read your EULA) It's actually the same for hardware but the two are so married together that the point becomes moot. Having to pay a separate transfer fee for each add-on is a giant down side though, no doubt, but I look at it like buying a book or movie. Because you don't pay for the hardware (your computer and interfaces) you get it at a vastly lower price. Think about the difference in cost between a Virus TI and Spire. It's less than the money you'd lose if you bought a Virus TI new and sold it.

But Reaktor (and maybe Oscillot, I don't know it) is a fine product that IMO sound every bit as good as the Softube Modular. Actually, somewhat better, IMO. I also think that while people are in love with how you can patch things easily and quickly compared to Reatkor, it's like falling in love with the super hottie who ends up being ultra high maintenance. For something fairly complex, I feel Reaktor's approach is far superior even though it seems a bit clumsy at first. The other cool thing is that with the other add-on modules like the Korgasmatron, if there isn't an equivalent already in the Reaktor user library, you can bet your sweet bippy that someone will make one and you can download it for free. I mean, there's already a MS-20 filter emulation so it doesn't seem like it would be super hard. I'm not very knowledgeable about the Korgasmatron, but isn't it two multi-mode MS-20 filters that you can crossfade between? Regardless, just download this and watch how your Korgasmatron emulation envy melts away.

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/9587/

[ImNotDedYet]

The other cool thing is that with the other add-on modules like the Korgasmatron, if there isn't an equivalent already in the Reaktor user library, you can bet your sweet bippy that someone will make one and you can download it for free. I mean, there's already a MS-20 filter emulation so it doesn't seem like it would be super hard. I'm not very knowledgeable about the Korgasmatron, but isn't it two multi-mode MS-20 filters that you can crossfade between? Regardless, just download this and watch how your Korgasmatron emulation envy melts away.

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/r ... show/9587/

Looking at it, my envy doesn't melt away. XY pad for cutoff and res and CV inputs that you can't tell where they're from or what they control?

Different strokes and all...

[lnikj]

After a very enjoyable weekend playing around with this I feel I cannot, in the end, bite. I would like to.

The problem for me remains the expense, not the expense per se (though it will rapidly build up if other manufacturers come on board), but the complete inability to ever recover any of it for the 'in app purchases', ie modules. With the $25 transfer fee these can, effectively, never be sold.

I would probably never want to do that, but you never know what life throws up.

By all means use iLok for the main app, Softube, but until you release the modules from this protection I predict you will lose potential sales, including to me.

This is not just an anti-iLok post, and I am not trying to stir up a sh*tstorm, simply a plea to Softube (which I have made directly in an unanswered email to their support) because iLok protected in-app purchases are a completely new thing, in my experience.

It's back to Reaktor and Oscillot for me for now.

It's a fair position to take, but for me I find it helpful to think of software in a very different way than hardware. In hardware, you pay for the intellectual property (design) as well as the hardware itself. With software, all you pay for is the intellectual property. In fact, you don't even own it. You own a license to use it. (Read your EULA) It's actually the same for hardware but the two are so married together that the point becomes moot. Having to pay a separate transfer fee for each add-on is a giant down side though, no doubt, but I look at it like buying a book or movie. Because you don't pay for the hardware (your computer and interfaces) you get it at a vastly lower price. Think about the difference in cost between a Virus TI and Spire. It's less than the money you'd lose if you bought a Virus TI new and sold it.

I have no hardware

I have a strong anally retentive collector streak though; companies just love me, dollar signs light up in their eyes when they see me buy my first plugin from them In all likelihood I would purchase every module and then one day, completely bankrupt, I might find myself unable to liquidate $2000 worth of modules (if they produce that many!).

OK, that’s only half true, but I think I will sit on the fence for now and see how this pans out over the next few months. As Deastman notes, there is just too many little things missing at the moment, and if they all have to be purchased it is going to get expensive.