Avenger vs. Rapid

[exmatproton]

Can't even install the Rapid demo... always gives out error messages.

Just a heads up, as Mr. Parawave also asked me about that: Probably was an issue with the download. I downloaded the demo again, this time with the browser, not with my download manager, and, the installation worked fine. Must say that it sounds a bit too harsh for me though, as if there was much saturation by default. I think i do prefer the cleaner sound of Avenger, when comparing the two (and Spire over both of these ).

Be sure to tone down your filter section.

Rapid INIT.JPG

[chk071]

Could very well be it. I noticed that that is set to 50% on the default patch (why?), but i thought it'd just brighten up the sound.

[exmatproton]

Could very well be it. I noticed that that is set to 50% on the default patch (why?), but i thought it'd just brighten up the sound.

I have no idea why it is set to that value. I know my ears like it around 40%. The good thing about the knob (imho) is for weird, soft wavetables. To get more strange textures out of a soft wave. But otherwise, it is @ 40% over here.

[chk071]

I will try again with that parameter turned down, thanks for the heads up.

[tatanka]

I find it a little sad that rapid only threw in a few presets in the demo while avenger has full factory library.

So its hard too compare the factory content and a little hard to understand cause otherwise the demos are like twins (timeout etc.).

I am more a preset user, like the few presets rapid has, they sound better too my ears, but if the rest sounds the same....

I would love to have some more sequences too compare cause the sequences in avenger are really inspiring, I just throw a whole existing midi track in a rack with avenger and whooooo it sounds like a song, amazing

[OzoneJunkie]

I will try again with that parameter turned down, thanks for the heads up.

I didn't notice this either until it was pointed out to me - and it was the exact thing that was causing me to dislike the sound of a lot of the patches - the high end sizzle/grit/distortion that I was hearing on some patches. Sure enough, when I turned that down/off on some patches things sounded better, especially when starting with an empty patch and building from scratch. Having said that, there are some patches that make very good use of it.

But I'm not sure I agree with the idea of having it on with a value by default.

[exmatproton]

I will try again with that parameter turned down, thanks for the heads up.

I didn't notice this either until it was pointed out to me - and it was the exact thing that was causing me to dislike the sound of a lot of the patches - the high end sizzle/grit/distortion that I was hearing on some patches. Sure enough, when I turned that down/off on some patches things sounded better, especially when starting with an empty patch and building from scratch. Having said that, there are some patches that make very good use of it.

But I'm not sure I agree with the idea of having it on with a value by default.

I find, with the parameter set to 0, everything is too dull. It also depends on which filter is selected. The high register is different between different fillters.
All in all, i really like the sound Rapid is able to make. The harsh (default) sound, is just that treble settings. Nothing more (luckily)

[OzoneJunkie]

I find, with the parameter set to 0, everything is too dull. It also depends on which filter is selected. The high register is different between different fillters.

I agree. There's just a few presets that I didn't like with it turned on/up. And again, initializing a preset and then adding certain wavetables, with the Filter Treble turned up, it wasn't right to my ears. But that grit was enough to turn me off to the synth in general initially. Glad I was educated and gave it another chance. Still considering a purchase during the sale this month

[wagtunes]

I will say this much. If I am having one of my lazy days (and we all have them) and don't want to bust my ass to get a sound, I'll choose Rapid over Avenger in a heartbeat. It has a built in character that makes it easier to get that nice fat, juicy lead or pad or whatever. I don't have to fuss as much. But overall, I prefer Avenger because of its versatility.

[TorbjornHedberg]

Have demoed both. Want to buy only one. My impressions:

Rapid: clear and well defined sound allround.

Avenger: much more possibilities and more fun but somewhat "less defined" sound, not unlike what happens when sound goes through an MP3-encoder.

My question:
Does anyone else get the same feeling about the Avenger sound or is it just my lack of deeper understanding?

[wagtunes]

Have demoed both. Want to buy only one. My impressions:

Rapid: clear and well defined sound allround.

Avenger: much more possibilities and more fun but somewhat "less defined" sound, not unlike what happens when sound goes through an MP3-encoder.

My question:
Does anyone else get the same feeling about the Avenger sound or is it just my lack of deeper understanding?

Avenger's is a more clean and sterile sound. It doesn't have the color of Rapid. You have to work at adding that color. It can be done but it takes effort.

In our "instant gratification" world, that's not something a lot of people want to do.

Point is, I could post a demo track of nothing but Rapid and Avenger and you wouldn't be able to tell which sounds were made by which synth. Not definitively.

[OzoneJunkie]

I will say this much. If I am having one of my lazy days (and we all have them) and don't want to bust my ass to get a sound, I'll choose Rapid over Avenger in a heartbeat. It has a built in character that makes it easier to get that nice fat, juicy lead or pad or whatever. I don't have to fuss as much. But overall, I prefer Avenger because of its versatility.

The workflow in Rapid does seem a little bit easier. I did purchase Avenger. Initial issues aside, I'm in love with it already. The sale price of Rapid makes it hard to pass up for me. I do dig it

[Caine123]

Have demoed both. Want to buy only one. My impressions:

Rapid: clear and well defined sound allround.

Avenger: much more possibilities and more fun but somewhat "less defined" sound, not unlike what happens when sound goes through an MP3-encoder.

My question:
Does anyone else get the same feeling about the Avenger sound or is it just my lack of deeper understanding?

Avenger's is a more clean and sterile sound. It doesn't have the color of Rapid. You have to work at adding that color. It can be done but it takes effort.

In our "instant gratification" world, that's not something a lot of people want to do.

Point is, I could post a demo track of nothing but Rapid and Avenger and you wouldn't be able to tell which sounds were made by which synth. Not definitively.

that's what i dont understand, what is the advantage to make the sound like in Avenger not so stand out

[exmatproton]

Have demoed both. Want to buy only one. My impressions:

Rapid: clear and well defined sound allround.

Avenger: much more possibilities and more fun but somewhat "less defined" sound, not unlike what happens when sound goes through an MP3-encoder.

My question:
Does anyone else get the same feeling about the Avenger sound or is it just my lack of deeper understanding?

Avenger's is a more clean and sterile sound. It doesn't have the color of Rapid. You have to work at adding that color. It can be done but it takes effort.

In our "instant gratification" world, that's not something a lot of people want to do.

Point is, I could post a demo track of nothing but Rapid and Avenger and you wouldn't be able to tell which sounds were made by which synth. Not definitively.

that's what i dont understand, what is the advantage to make the sound like in Avenger not so stand out

To have a clean, blank slate to start with and build upon that. Like Falcon

[parawave]

The harsh (default) sound, is just that treble settings. Nothing more (luckily)

Some call it harshness, some call it brilliance
It always depends on your desired sound. I like to do all kinds of stuff with the filter treble and oscillator treble/bass. Unlike a post-eq, these tonal controls act per voice, so I recommend playing with velocity, random trigger and envelopes. You can create interesting attacks and variations. Adding a random modulation to a treble control adds a lot of dynamics to an otherwise static pad for example.