Synthmaster for $10

[ghettosynth]

Is this Guitar Center deal for the latest version? I sprung for it this morning but haven't received the download link or serial number yet. I'm curious to know exactly what I'm getting!
Dan

Yes, but, the new version is supposed to be coming out in the spring.

[ghettosynth]

This situation is bad for dev.
Now, people tend to think 'SM is a 10 bux synth'.
Maybe SM Ver.3 is coming.

I'm sure that it is, where is the dev from? I'll be honest, I haven't paid too much attention to Synthmaster, I've never thought that much of the concept. I like a few things about it and it was worth $10, if he makes good choices on the next version I may upgrade, we'll see.

[bmrzycki]

This situation is bad for dev.
Now, people tend to think 'SM is a 10 bux synth'.
Maybe SM Ver.3 is coming.

I'm sure that it is, where is the dev from? I'll be honest, I haven't paid too much attention to Synthmaster, I've never thought that much of the concept. I like a few things about it and it was worth $10, if he makes good choices on the next version I may upgrade, we'll see.

I believe he's from (and as far as I know still lives in) Turkey.

[wagtunes]

On the subject of modular, I too ignore most of what's called modular or semi modular these days. To me, if I can't stick modules together in any manner, shape or form that I want, it's not modular anything. Semi modular? Don't really care. If I can't add an oscillator and route it to anything I want, it's just another synth to me.

So I guess I'm even more rigid on this "modular" stuff than ghetto is.

IMO, I own only 4 modular synths.

MUX
KarmaFX
Softube Modular
Reaktor

And Softube, right now, is still limited because there are only so many modules available and it's not like I can go and get more. They don't exist. And it's not looking like there's going to be any new modules for a long time.

And the truth is, all these synths are limited because they can't connect to other things that they're not compatible with unlike hardware that I can pretty much get stuff from wherever and stick it wherever. That's modular.

Softube has the potential to be that kind of modular if other developers will jump on and make stuff. But right now, it's not happening other than the few modules that have come out. So I'm hoping this changes soon though I'm not going to hold my breath.

One last thing.

Bazille

Yeah, I can stick anything anywhere, just like ACE. But it's a fixed architecture. The number of filters it has is all the filters it's going to have. I can't add any. I can't add any LFOs. I can't add anything. You want to call it semi modular? Fine. I call it a very flexible synth.

So yeah, I'm super picky about this stuff.

[maschinelf]

I never really liked this synth, mainly because of the imho fugly GUI that I absolutely detest. I concede that it's a very powerful and capable desert island synth, but far surpassed now by the likes of falcon. Which ofcourse is a lot more expensive for a reason. On the subject of the dev, iirc he no longer lives in Turkey.

Still easily worth 10 bucks, even without the inclusion of what seems like a very nice skin designed by satyatunes. But it's been almost 24 hours since I placed my order, and am yet to receive the license.

[Urs]

I can't add any. I can't add any LFOs. I can't add anything. You want to call it semi modular?

I call it modular.

The definition of a modular synthesizer is "a synthesizer that consists of independent modules which have a free signal routing". The definition of a semi-modular synthesizer is "a synthesizer that consists of independent modules which have a preset signal routing that can be altered to some degree".

A definition that includes "seemingly unlimited number of modules" has never existed, it's just a feature that some software synthesizers offer. Otherwise Moog would have offered their System 55 as "preset component for modular synthesizers" rather than "modular synthesizer". Sure, one could patch from one Moog Modular to another, one could even swap some modules. But that was not the gist of it being modular, it was just another feature.

The distinction between modular and semi modular was made specifically to describe the difference of pre-wired modular synthesizers such as Arp 2600 and modulars like the Moog ones which were not pre-wired.

[.jon]

Today, modular synthesizers are all actually modular systems, and that free extensibility is normally seen as the defining factor. You can add, remove and exchange the modules of a modular synth.

Any freely routable synth with a fixed, manufacturer-defined selection of modules is a semi-modular.

[e@rs]

It's back to $79 now.

[exmatproton]

I can't add any. I can't add any LFOs. I can't add anything. You want to call it semi modular?

I call it modular.

The definition of a modular synthesizer is "a synthesizer that consists of independent modules which have a free signal routing". The definition of a semi-modular synthesizer is "a synthesizer that consists of independent modules which have a preset signal routing that can be altered to some degree".

A definition that includes "seemingly unlimited number of modules" has never existed, it's just a feature that some software synthesizers offer. Otherwise Moog would have offered their System 55 as "preset component for modular synthesizers" rather than "modular synthesizer". Sure, one could patch from one Moog Modular to another, one could even swap some modules. But that was not the gist of it being modular, it was just another feature.

The distinction between modular and semi modular was made specifically to describe the difference of pre-wired modular synthesizers such as Arp 2600 and modulars like the Moog ones which were not pre-wired.

Exactly my point.

[exmatproton]

No, I'm not wrong. Semi-modular is simply a synth that is modular but has normalized routings that can be broken and rerouted ANYWHERE. You cannot do this with synthmaster.

(semi-)modular has nothing to do with synths generally speaking

The phrase semi-modular, as applied to synths, is specific and only makes sense when connected to the original concept of modular synths. By your definition, any synth with a routing choice is semi-modular and that is nonsense. Your attempt to overgeneralize it is exactly the abuse of terminology that I'm talking about. I've given you specific examples from synth history, if that doesn't convince you then, by all means, keeping on believing what you wish.

Your ideas are exactly the problem that I'm talking about. It the same disease that seems to infect everything regarding overgeneralization. Calling VA synthesizers "analog" and referring to any subtractive synth as a VA and then arguing pedantically from the english definitions as if you're some kind of scholar.

Your point of view completely lacks any history. A semi modular synth was originally used to describe synths that were patchable but lacked the ability to change modules. The normaled routings are just a side effect of being able to accomplish a standard routing with switched jacks.

The only reason that I explained to you was so you would understand my point of view, it wasn't an invitation to engage in disagreement and debate. But seriously, I'm not at all interested in your point of view, you're wasting your breath. I have no interest in useless definitions just because they make you feel like you've got a shinier toy.

You can't even route an oscillator to the filter cutoff in Synthmaster, calling it anything-modular is just masterbation.

You are assuming and generalizing things yourself. Don't accuse me of doing so.
By definition Synthmaster is semi-modular. Period.
You can like that, or not. I don't care. But that doesn't matter.

The way you try to shove your own little, narrow view on others is kinda sad. Stuck in an era where stuff was different.

"you can't even do..."<-- this has nothing to do with something being (semi-)modular or not. And that is the last i will say about it. You can place yourself above others and call stuff whatever you want. You can be wrong as well. And in this case, you just are.

[egbert101]

<delete>

[hivkorn]

Zebra 2 for $10 might work too.

...not sure it will ever happens! and if it will the case , i think the website of Uhe will be down by too much traffic

[GeorgeZ]

Zebra 2 for $10 might work too.

...not sure it will ever happens! and if it will the case , i think the website of Uhe will be down by too much traffic

Lol, it'll crash so hard it'll bounce up again

[Lotuzia]

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

Ime, it doesn't work exactly like this. The PolyKB III represents 5 years of continuous development for example. It has a cost, and this cost can be found/is reflected in the price.

At the same time, the possible number of users for such 'high quality' -in lack of a better term- synthesizers have been reduced, because there are tons of synthesizers available with a lighter price point, and some users might not see the differences between high end and less hi end, or I'd prefer to say more 'standard', synthesizers. This part of the global user population will obviously turn to less costly units. In short : My perception of 'the market' is that Hi end synthesizers become more and more targeted to hi end, or 'educated' -yes, I know this sounds a bit elitist-, users. I can't see this tendency revert in the near future.

So, as in every other field, like cars, the owners of Corvette and Dacia are not the same, and this reflects both the technology/R&D/cost of producing some units, the size of the market, the wallet of the users, and the perception of the users of the compared merits of such cars ( i'm sure most people will find this comparison inadequate, and they will be 80% right, but still ... )

Then, a few points : the soft synth market is a microscopic niche thing, compared to the market of hardware instruments, wich is also a very tiny thing in itself, compared to other 'industries'. And, the icing of the cake, the software synths cost way less than the hadrware synths. For music professionals, one will probaly have hard times to find other industries where the entry point for ultra pro software tools is in the 150$ range. It's also far less than a gaming console. And only 2 times the price of a single game for example. So, people can complain of course, but is it 100% reasonable to do so ?

And finally, there can be, in some synthesizers, something almost priceless : Innovation, due to people thinking at least a bit out of the box, and not trying to offer only valid and solid standard synths, packing in a single unit a lot, or more and more, of already known things, but synthesizers with new features and musical functions. It's very hard to give a price to these things, because they simply exist nowhere else, are unique, and will make your experience with these synhths a real joy. I believe that such synthesizers exist. At a somewhat very reasonnable price.

Ime, ymmv etc etc/

[Taurus]

More customer for low price or few customer for high price. It's on the company which decision will be the better one. The most plugins I bought was between 30 to 100,-EUR. Above I will search for alternatives or check my requirements again and again.