Rob Papen Predator 2 will coming on 25 November :)

[Echoes in the Attic]

Once Avenger is out it will be rather hard to sell those coupons I guess.

Avenger doesn't even have polyphonic aftertouch, so the papen synths have that going for them, as has been the case since Albino came out well over a decade ago. I still can't believe a major feature heavy synth can come out these days like Avenger and not have aftertouch. And you get replies on that like "Well it's rare for keyboards to support that". Huh? Let me think back to all the devices I've bought over the past decade or am about to buy. Novation SL, Ableton Push, Maschine. CME Xkey, Keith Macmillen QuNexus, Nektar Panorama, Linnstrument... Every one has polyphonic aftertouch and it wasn't a requirement for me at the time, it just happened. So I don't understand why a developer claims it's rare.

[chk071]

Frankly, i don't think polyphonic aftertouch is an essential feature for the target audience Avenger aims for... or that there's really many out there who use it.

[4damind]

My impression from the demo tracks on their site is that the current version has nice overall tone but sounds way too thin and weak. Also the filter modulations in these tracks show that the filters probably aren't of the best quality. If the new version is going to have some added features but the same basic sound, I'm not sure it will be a serious competitor to Spire, Rapid and other great synths available now.

The question is of course if they improved the engine (audio path, filters etc) or if it's more a face lifting.
I don't expect they developed Predator 2 new from scratch.. but who knows

[damoog]

Never liked predator..couldnt understand the hype with it

[Synthman2000]

My feelings with Predator (non v2) is it is a very powerful synth engine. It can do a lot and it pulls it all off well. It gives you a feeling that this synth can do anything. It also has an extremely fun and intuitive interface that is mega tweakable and in fact I like the existing user interface a lot. Also a very stable synth.

The filters are quite good. Leaky up top with the HPF though like it goes to 16kHz or so. I like to hear silence when the HPF is closed.

Sonic character is pliable, liquiddy/rubbery but alas a bit thin and gritty. Overall sound can be on the glassy side, wide and missing the mid channel (that could be a memory from presets overcooked with effects and wideners etc.) it is quite old and it has a sound much like synths of its time, fairly digital sounding.This is not helped by the effects although arguably thin in gets you thin out. The effects are very fully featured. FWIW though Massive can sound a bit thin these days as well.

Compared with synths of the last 2 years, sound is a little less smooth and precise, possibly lacking a bit of body. It has a bit of a sound of a time, I would like to see that go for V2 and for it to sit with the best new synths.

However go through some presets and there is some fatness in there. Especially on some of presets emulating big analogue poly synths.

Overall I would like to hope that the sound has been fattened up and that the filters improved a bit. I think I will demo V2 before immediately taking the plunge.

If you have complex layering in your music bear in mind not every synth can be up front and in your face.

[dune_rave]

I like Predator because it's the "next Albino" The new version will be cool !

[Teksonik]

It would be nice to see a comprehensive list of what new features will be included in Predator 2 while waiting for it to be released. Given the length of the development cycle one would expect some significant changes. (I am aware that Jon's personal tragedy did contribute to the time it has taken for P2 to be released).

[fluffy_little_something]

My feelings with Predator (non v2) is it is a very powerful synth engine. It can do a lot and it pulls it all off well. It gives you a feeling that this synth can do anything. It also has an extremely fun and intuitive interface that is mega tweakable and in fact I like the existing user interface a lot. Also a very stable synth.

The filters are quite good. Leaky up top with the HPF though like it goes to 16kHz or so. I like to hear silence when the HPF is closed.

Sonic character is pliable, liquiddy/rubbery but alas a bit thin and gritty. Overall sound can be on the glassy side, wide and missing the mid channel (that could be a memory from presets overcooked with effects and wideners etc.) it is quite old and it has a sound much like synths of its time, fairly digital sounding.This is not helped by the effects although arguably thin in gets you thin out. The effects are very fully featured. FWIW though Massive can sound a bit thin these days as well.

Compared with synths of the last 2 years, sound is a little less smooth and precise, possibly lacking a bit of body. It has a bit of a sound of a time, I would like to see that go for V2 and for it to sit with the best new synths.

However go through some presets and there is some fatness in there. Especially on some of presets emulating big analogue poly synths.

Overall I would like to hope that the sound has been fattened up and that the filters improved a bit. I think I will demo V2 before immediately taking the plunge.

If you have complex layering in your music bear in mind not every synth can be up front and in your face.

Sound-wise Sylenth1 sounds clearly superior to me, despite being the same age. The difference becomes apparent as soon as one uses spread / unison on Predator and multiple waves on Sylenth1. Especially on headphones the difference is huge.

Some of the presets are good and interesting, but more due to the patching skills and effects, which kind of camouflage the basic sound.

Despite its analog appearance, it seems better at cold metallic sounds than at emulating analog hardware.

[Synthman2000]

I literally thought of Sylenth just now and have to agree when it comes to VA style sound. Clearly Predator can do much more including FM/ Basic wavetable kinds of stuff... but for basic VA style Sylenth really is and was for the time a very good synth.

The fact most people have and use it today is really quite something. Yes spread seems to get blurry on Predator 1 like you have just mixed stereo white noise in.

I hope these aspects are improved in V2 because there really is high level competition out there.

[MillerSam]

As beta tester, I can say it's more than a facelift.
The morph feature will be really deep and interesting
It's not developed from scratch but a development from v.1

[fluffy_little_something]

So, Mr. beta tester, how about the sound quality? Has it been brought up to date as well?
I don't really care about morphing, never used it in v1, either.
If my interests were a pie, 350° would account for analog sound quality.

[dune_rave]

If up to date sound means huge cpu hit, I don't want it.

[fluffy_little_something]

If up to date sound means huge cpu hit, I don't want it.

Hehe, me neither as long as I have my slow computer
I was thinking of the Sylenth1 level, that synth actually uses less CPU than Predator v1, yet sounds better in my view.

[chk071]

Sound quality =/ large CPU hit. At least when you're not doing accurate circuit modelling of some kind. There are many examples that that just isn't true.

[MillerSam]

Predator 2 is not designed for perfect analog emulation or analog sound.
It is still a digital Synthesizer. For analog sounds I prefer the Legend, diva, monark...
The pay update will give Predator a fresh look with many new features and personally a better GUI.