I'm looking forward to any other reports on this synth. I can't demo it myself as I'm away from my studio for a few days.
Seems like a lot of overlap with this and Serum, but does have a few things that Serum doesn't, from what I can tell from watching the intro video.
New wavetable synth - Sektor by Initial Audio
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- KVRian
- 1395 posts since 16 Jan, 2004
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- KVRAF
- 2772 posts since 22 May, 2017
Sektor doesn't look to be in the same league as any of those you mentioned though.wagtunes wrote:Actually it's $139. But how is that a bit much? Something like The Legend goes for a hundred bucks. Diva is way more than $139. So is Dune 2. Serum is close to $200.
I think $139 for a WT synth, depending on how deep it is and how good it sounds, is perfectly reasonable given what's out there and what it's selling for.
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- KVRAF
- 2772 posts since 22 May, 2017
Frantz wrote: I definitely need this just to get the stickers.
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- KVRAF
- 2772 posts since 22 May, 2017
False.PietW. wrote:Robmobius wrote:Codex, a bit of an underrated synth that, unfortunately...Halonmusic wrote:Yeah i guess you're right. And I just remembered that Waves Codex Lies around that same price aswell.
Codex by far the worst software ever programmed.
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- KVRist
- 467 posts since 3 Jun, 2012
still wonder why they renamed the company from Ignite VST to Initial Audio ?
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- KVRAF
- 3959 posts since 10 Sep, 2010 from A shit hole (Ireland).
Me too!yellowmix wrote:Would like to hear your reasoning on that.PietW. wrote:Codex by far the worst software ever programmed.
I will take the Lord's name in vain, whenever I want. Hail Satan! And his little goblins too.
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- KVRAF
- 10128 posts since 16 Dec, 2002
Cos hes a Plonkeryellowmix wrote:Would like to hear your reasoning on that.PietW. wrote:Codex by far the worst software ever programmed.
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- KVRAF
- 22868 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
And you're basing this on what exactly? Have you demo'd it? Or have you just looked at a photo of the interface and listened to some audios?Russell Grand wrote:Sektor doesn't look to be in the same league as any of those you mentioned though.wagtunes wrote:Actually it's $139. But how is that a bit much? Something like The Legend goes for a hundred bucks. Diva is way more than $139. So is Dune 2. Serum is close to $200.
I think $139 for a WT synth, depending on how deep it is and how good it sounds, is perfectly reasonable given what's out there and what it's selling for.
I won't have any idea how good this synth is or isn't until I put my hands on it. So unless you have, again, what are you basing this on?
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- KVRAF
- 2066 posts since 11 Aug, 2012 from omfr morf form romf frmo
Okay, I demoed it, made several expressive patches, and that's the most special thing here. If you don't have an MPE device, you're going to feel like it's missing something.
Pros:
* Contemporary, vector, fully-scaling GUI
* Built-in GUI color menu
* Drag and drop modulation, or right-click menu.
* 12 pair mod matrix
* interesting "rainbow" option that changes color of modulation indicators according to strength/value
* MPE-capable with the flick of a switch
* 8 expression source>target pairs with curves (in addition to Mod Matrix)
* 2 Parallel filters, LP/HP/BP, 1- or 2-pole
* Dedicated ADSRs for Amp and Filter, plus 2 ADSRs and 3 Mod Envelopes (MSEG)
* 2 Wavetable oscillators, A can FM modulate B
* Very fine control over individual unison voices
* Factory wavetables are interesting
* Sample-playback oscillator, good factory library
* Easy to use sequencer/arp
* 2 FX lanes, configurable source, modifiable FX module order
* Good selection of standard FX, 4-node EQ, compressor, okay delay, chorus, phase, reverb is decent, there's a trance gate too
* Good CPU usage
* Built-in help (hover)
* Generous, unencumbered demo
Cons:
* Maximum 4 targets per modulation, though the Matrix allows 12 more arbitrary source-target pairs.
* Filter architecture is not flexible
* 7 voice unison (per oscillator) parameters cannot be modulated
* No oscillator shape algorithms (e.g., bend, sync)
* Doesn't seem to be a way to import wavetables or samples
* No wavetable edit or manipulation besides index
* 3.81gb of data is placed in a specific path on main drive, cannot be changed or relocated
* CPU spikes up for no good reason at idle after a few minutes then goes down when you play a note. wtf?
Impressions:
It's well-thought out, the contemporary GUI ticks off all the boxes. It still feels like Serum is much faster with regards to workflow. At this pricepoint its competitor is Synthmaster (nevermind that Synthmaster regularly goes for much less than 129 MSRP), and Synthmaster is just more capable. I want to like it but I personally have no use for it, since it's simply outclassed by Serum in every regard. But if you don't have Serum, is this is a good option? If you have an MPE input device, maybe. Otherwise, it falls way short of the next step up, if you look at Tone2 Icarus ($179), for example. But if you have exactly $139 and need a wavetable synth now... well, I'd say check out Synthmaster and save some money or do Serum rent-to-own.
It's in a tough market position. It does everything mostly right, but it feels lacking given how much a little more money gets you and what it's missing that less expensive options do. If it were something like $99 then it would make more sense. If you're in the market for your very first wavetable synth, all of the ones I mentioned have demos. You'll know what I mean if you actually try it out.
What could they do to solidify a market position? Custom/import samples and wavetables would be a good start. Some oscillator algorithms would be good too. The filters are honestly boring even with the "drive" control; some more characterful options would be nice. Since it has a parallel filter architecture, it sorely needs a notch filter. Then the GUI and eyecandy makes up for the rest of it.
Pros:
* Contemporary, vector, fully-scaling GUI
* Built-in GUI color menu
* Drag and drop modulation, or right-click menu.
* 12 pair mod matrix
* interesting "rainbow" option that changes color of modulation indicators according to strength/value
* MPE-capable with the flick of a switch
* 8 expression source>target pairs with curves (in addition to Mod Matrix)
* 2 Parallel filters, LP/HP/BP, 1- or 2-pole
* Dedicated ADSRs for Amp and Filter, plus 2 ADSRs and 3 Mod Envelopes (MSEG)
* 2 Wavetable oscillators, A can FM modulate B
* Very fine control over individual unison voices
* Factory wavetables are interesting
* Sample-playback oscillator, good factory library
* Easy to use sequencer/arp
* 2 FX lanes, configurable source, modifiable FX module order
* Good selection of standard FX, 4-node EQ, compressor, okay delay, chorus, phase, reverb is decent, there's a trance gate too
* Good CPU usage
* Built-in help (hover)
* Generous, unencumbered demo
Cons:
* Maximum 4 targets per modulation, though the Matrix allows 12 more arbitrary source-target pairs.
* Filter architecture is not flexible
* 7 voice unison (per oscillator) parameters cannot be modulated
* No oscillator shape algorithms (e.g., bend, sync)
* Doesn't seem to be a way to import wavetables or samples
* No wavetable edit or manipulation besides index
* 3.81gb of data is placed in a specific path on main drive, cannot be changed or relocated
* CPU spikes up for no good reason at idle after a few minutes then goes down when you play a note. wtf?
Impressions:
It's well-thought out, the contemporary GUI ticks off all the boxes. It still feels like Serum is much faster with regards to workflow. At this pricepoint its competitor is Synthmaster (nevermind that Synthmaster regularly goes for much less than 129 MSRP), and Synthmaster is just more capable. I want to like it but I personally have no use for it, since it's simply outclassed by Serum in every regard. But if you don't have Serum, is this is a good option? If you have an MPE input device, maybe. Otherwise, it falls way short of the next step up, if you look at Tone2 Icarus ($179), for example. But if you have exactly $139 and need a wavetable synth now... well, I'd say check out Synthmaster and save some money or do Serum rent-to-own.
It's in a tough market position. It does everything mostly right, but it feels lacking given how much a little more money gets you and what it's missing that less expensive options do. If it were something like $99 then it would make more sense. If you're in the market for your very first wavetable synth, all of the ones I mentioned have demos. You'll know what I mean if you actually try it out.
What could they do to solidify a market position? Custom/import samples and wavetables would be a good start. Some oscillator algorithms would be good too. The filters are honestly boring even with the "drive" control; some more characterful options would be nice. Since it has a parallel filter architecture, it sorely needs a notch filter. Then the GUI and eyecandy makes up for the rest of it.
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- KVRian
- 1395 posts since 16 Jan, 2004
Thanks yellowmix, I appreciate the review.
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- KVRAF
- 6465 posts since 18 Jul, 2008 from New York
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- KVRAF
- 2066 posts since 11 Aug, 2012 from omfr morf form romf frmo
You're welcome.
Another thing I want to add. Going through the patches, there were several impressive ones. But then I realized the bulk of the sound was coming from the sample oscillator. I haven't listened to the demos but I'd be wary of judging the synth that way since it could be a sample-based patch. If it's got an acoustic instrument sound like orchestral strings, brass, or piano, it's likely sampled.
That isn't to say you can't make great sounds without samples, though, you can certainly can. Just stressing you really need to demo it if you're leaning towards a purchase.
Another thing I want to add. Going through the patches, there were several impressive ones. But then I realized the bulk of the sound was coming from the sample oscillator. I haven't listened to the demos but I'd be wary of judging the synth that way since it could be a sample-based patch. If it's got an acoustic instrument sound like orchestral strings, brass, or piano, it's likely sampled.
That isn't to say you can't make great sounds without samples, though, you can certainly can. Just stressing you really need to demo it if you're leaning towards a purchase.
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- KVRian
- 851 posts since 26 Jan, 2014 from United States of America
What folder did it place the samples? I installed on S drive and I only see something like 50Mb folder there, can not find the 3Gb folder anywhere. Thanks.
I went on and bought it. It is ok. I went through Arps and Basses. The arps sound like "doll carnival", most pre-programmed arps I could better play live. I guess for someone who can not play... I did not find any dissent wooble bases that would be production ready.
The GUI loks ok in blue but white/green has very low resolution.
The Master level is way too loud- clipping the output of track it is on.
I went on and bought it. It is ok. I went through Arps and Basses. The arps sound like "doll carnival", most pre-programmed arps I could better play live. I guess for someone who can not play... I did not find any dissent wooble bases that would be production ready.
The GUI loks ok in blue but white/green has very low resolution.
The Master level is way too loud- clipping the output of track it is on.