Synthmaster for $10

[Numanoid]

You gotta be kidding, right? VST synths are not expensive at all. Compared to hardware, or some of the first VST synths, for example. Just to think about it that Emulator X3 was in the range of 800$ or Neutron VS cost 900$ once.

It actually makes a lot of sense to discount Synthmaster if it's in its end of life. A lot of people, like me for example, who would have not even considered it at 40$ (or probably even at 15-20$) got it. And those people might upgrade eventually.

Not sure I get your point, do you mean you would happily pay close to $1000 for Emulator X3/Neuron VS, but hardly 10 bucks for Synthmaster 2

Synthmaster is regulary voted/rated among the best vst's around, and v3 is going to ship in the spring as far as I know from the dev'statement.

[chk071]

Prices of VST's have come down over the years, hopefully they will come down even more.

VST's are still some of the most expensive software out there.

I would like to see max prices the same as new computer/console games, in the region $40-$50

You gotta be kidding, right? VST synths are not expensive at all. Compared to hardware, or some of the first VST synths, for example. Just to think about it that Emulator X3 was in the range of 800$ or Neutron VS cost 900$ once.

And games are a lot cheaper than this:

[ghettosynth]

Technically, Synthmaster is semi-modular. You may experiance this differently, but it is a semi-modular architecture. And i use it as such, just like A.C.E.
--
I like SM and i'm wondering when they will release the update with the bigger UI.

We simply have different perspectives. You cannot use Synthmaster like I use my actual semi-modular hardware. Essentially, a true semi-modular architecture allows you to freely route signals that are available at patch points. Strictly speaking, even ACE's modularity is limited because you cannot route the patch points to other instances of ACE. Only tools like Reaktor allow you to build synths that are truly semi-modular in that sense, and even then, only really within the Reaktor environment. Of course one can view DAW routing as a limited extension of this, but there are other limitations there, e.g. feedback, that also limit it's notion of modularity.

Software allows much more flexibility in routing than hardware so many synths are given the label, but, IMNSHO, don't really deserve it. The Matrix-12, often considered the prototype for this abuse of the semi-modular label, is not semi-modular and neither are almost all softsynths that simply have modulation matrices and some flexible routing choices. Moreover, since I was talking about with respect to my own valuation, nobody else's definition has any bearing. It really doesn't matter who's definition that you think is "technically" correct, what matters is how "I" will be able to use the synth.

ACE gets the semi-modular bump in my personal valuation because, within itself, it at least allows truly flexible re-wiring at audio rates via its patch points, Synthmaster is just flexible, so it doesn't get that bump.

[ghettosynth]

You gotta be kidding, right? VST synths are not expensive at all. Compared to hardware, or some of the first VST synths, for example. Just to think about it that Emulator X3 was in the range of 800$ or Neutron VS cost 900$ once.

Not sure I get your point, do you mean you would happily pay close to $1000 for Emulator X3/Neuron VS, but hardly 10 bucks for Synthmaster 2

Yeah, this comparison to hardware has always been invalid and has propped up the prices of plugins for far too long. There are so many differences between the two models and past vs current contexts that I'm not even sure the discussion is worth starting.

Personally, I have never understood VA synths that weren't flexible in some way. The only true VA hardware that I've ever spent real money on was my Nord G1. At the time, nothing could do what the G1 could do so I could accept it's virtual analogue-ness.

I remember when plugins first came out and people were impressed by this argument, especially with the shitty clones of analogue synths that came out at the time, I'm looking at you Pro-52!

[robotmonkey]

You gotta be kidding, right? VST synths are not expensive at all. Compared to hardware, or some of the first VST synths, for example. Just to think about it that Emulator X3 was in the range of 800$ or Neutron VS cost 900$ once.

It actually makes a lot of sense to discount Synthmaster if it's in its end of life. A lot of people, like me for example, who would have not even considered it at 40$ (or probably even at 15-20$) got it. And those people might upgrade eventually.

Not sure I get your point, do you mean you would happily pay close to $1000 for Emulator X3/Neuron VS, but hardly 10 bucks for Synthmaster 2

Synthmaster is regulary voted/rated among the best vst's around, and v3 is going to ship in the spring as far as I know from the dev'statement.

Was typing on a tablet so had to cut it short. What I meant was that even though synths have become cheaper because the "newness" factor of VST has worn off, prices can go down only so far. High quality synths will still be more expensive because they will need investment in R&D. I have no problem with paying good money for a very good synth that would expand my sound palette. The problem is that I have so many synths already (in the old days it would have been outrageous to have that many synths) that it's close to impossible to wow me with anything.

Overall I do not think that doing those occasional bargain sales will devalue synths much. Especially in the case where paid upgrade is in the wings. It's actually quite smart move because it tempts even people who would otherwise not consider a particular synth at all.

[Numanoid]

High quality synths will still be more expensive because they will need investment in R&D.

Why?

With better and more afforadable equipment to assist R&D in development software these days compared to the old days, I don't get why it need to be more expensive.

These days a dev can even cut out the distributor from the cost. Back in the day, CD/DVD's had to manufactured and boxes had to printed, transport had to be paid, to sell it in music stores.

These days software is sold more more less 100% via download, that is a big saving for any dev.

[AnX]

High quality synths will still be more expensive because they will need investment in R&D.

Why?

With better and more afforadable equipment to assist R&D in development software these days compared to the old days, I don't get why it need to be more expensive.

These days a dev can even cut out the distributor from the cost. Back in the day, CD/DVD's had to manufactured and boxes had to printed to sell it music stores.

These days software is sold more more less 100% via download, that is a big saving for any dev.

These days, serious devs will actually buy the synths the model, spend a LOT more time on R&D, pay higher wages to coders/designers, use better servers, etc etc. It all costs money.

Lets say you pay 3 ppl €25 ph for 6 months each, thats a big chunk from the off...

[Numanoid]

Lets say you pay 3 ppl €25 ph for 6 months each, thats a big chunk from the off...

Back in the day before calculators, you had to pay 1000 ppl €5 ph for 3 months each, doesn't make it a more lucrative deal.

All over the place jobs are being taken over by computers, it seems weird if the same isn't happening in the vst dev world.

Before anybody can show any numbers, it just becomes speculation anyhow.

So I believe vsts should be a lot less expensive than is priced today.

But if you want to pay a lot, be my guest.

[AnX]

Lets say you pay 3 ppl €25 ph for 6 months each, thats a big chunk from the off...

Back in the day before calculators, you had to pay 1000 ppl €5 ph for 3 months each, doesn't make it a more lucrative deal.

All over the place jobs are being taken over by computers, it seems weird if the same isn't happening in the vst dev world.

Before anybody can show any numbers, it just becomes speculation anyhow.

So I believe vsts should be a lot less expensive than is priced today.

But if you want to pay a lot, be my guest.

How does a computer buy a vintage synth?
How does a computer take it to pieces to measure the tolerances of each part?
How does a computer turn those figures into code?

Etc etc...

A computer is just a tool. Computers also cost money.

[zvenx]

My guess is that some hobbyist think everyone should be a hobbyist.
rsp

[jens]

What a pethetic webstore - I live in Switzerland but am n Spain right now and the site tells me the item currently can't be shipped to Spain - if I would be a US-citizen on holidays n Europe the exact same thing would happen - what a joke.

[cyberheater]

I ordered yesterday and still don't have my key. I'm in the UK. Anyone got their key yet?

[wickfut]

What a pethetic webstore - I live in Switzerland but am n Spain right now and the site tells me the item currently can't be shipped to Spain - if I would be a US-citizen on holidays n Europe the exact same thing would happen - what a joke.

no it wouldn't. You can change your location in the store settings and if you're a US citizen on holiday then you'd have a USA address connected to a credit card/paypal account.

Just change the location to USA, put your address down as some American hotel and pay with your paypal.

I'm in the UK and my order hasn't been declined, it's just on hold pending. It looks like, as stated earlier on the thread, that they've run out of stock and are awaiting more keys to be authorised.

[shonoob]

ships to:

United States
Marshall Islands
Palau

Wat

[exmatproton]

Technically, Synthmaster is semi-modular. You may experiance this differently, but it is a semi-modular architecture. And i use it as such, just like A.C.E.
--
I like SM and i'm wondering when they will release the update with the bigger UI.

We simply have different perspectives. You cannot use Synthmaster like I use my actual semi-modular hardware. Essentially, a true semi-modular architecture allows you to freely route signals that are available at patch points. Strictly speaking, even ACE's modularity is limited because you cannot route the patch points to other instances of ACE. Only tools like Reaktor allow you to build synths that are truly semi-modular in that sense, and even then, only really within the Reaktor environment. Of course one can view DAW routing as a limited extension of this, but there are other limitations there, e.g. feedback, that also limit it's notion of modularity.

Software allows much more flexibility in routing than hardware so many synths are given the label, but, IMNSHO, don't really deserve it. The Matrix-12, often considered the prototype for this abuse of the semi-modular label, is not semi-modular and neither are almost all softsynths that simply have modulation matrices and some flexible routing choices. Moreover, since I was talking about with respect to my own valuation, nobody else's definition has any bearing. It really doesn't matter who's definition that you think is "technically" correct, what matters is how "I" will be able to use the synth.

ACE gets the semi-modular bump in my personal valuation because, within itself, it at least allows truly flexible re-wiring at audio rates via its patch points, Synthmaster is just flexible, so it doesn't get that bump.

We can ofcourse agree to disagree here. However, again, technically speaking, you're just wrong. Whether or not patching is done by cables, or by a mod-matrix, it is (semi-)modular. And one can treat it as such as well.
Now, i get your feeling. It feels different and it certainly appears different, but that's just because of the layout of the digital synth (and ofcourse the lack of certain mod sources).

Your NSHO has nothing to do with what is happening technically. You can ofcourse use your synths the way you want, but it has nothing to do with the term (semi-)modular and if it fits a certain synth or not. Modularity comes in all sizes and forms these days. Also, Reaktor can be used fully modular.