How About Some Less Expensive Synths?

[Urs]

It would be cool it u-he did a low cost mono synth just dedicated to bass using Diva technology.

We did that... hasn't worked out. Had to make it poly.

I would think that a monster monophonic bass synth would be really popular. I guess not.

In case of Repro-1, adding Repro-5 has made it thrice as popular.

[pdxindy]

It would be cool it u-he did a low cost mono synth just dedicated to bass using Diva technology.

First, u-he synths are already low cost. The highest price is Zebra and $200 is nothing. That price includes years of updates so that the user can keep using it in the constantly changing computer environment. All of that costs. I've had Zebra for well over 10 years and received a huge number of improvements, bug fixes, new GUI, new formats, OS updates, etc. etc. and not had to pay a penny in all that time. Zebra is by far the best value I've ever had with any music related purchase. Lots of power cost synths have come and gone in that time.

Second, a lower priced synth still requires lots of work. Every time there is a change to an OS or plugin format, it requires the same effort as a more expensive synth. So does support.

In the software world, u-he is something of a boutique company. They offer a higher level of attention to detail, engineering, overall solidity and fresh creative development than most other companies. That needs to be valued.

Third, u-he synths aren't afterthoughts. Each has something unique about it and stands separate from the other synths. It is a nice diversity and that spirit should be maintained.

In hardware there is an actual cost per voice. In software it is not necessarily cheaper to make a mono synth (development, support, updates etc). That idea falsely translates from the hardware world. That is likely the most significant reason why software mono synths are not so well received. Everyone knows that with software, it is something of an arbitrary limitation.

I could see a mono synth if it was designed to be mono only with voice always on, all audio rate and with multiple CV channels and tools for integrating with hardware modular. That would be something different. But it would also take as much work as a poly synth and would need to be priced accordingly. Mono isn't cheaper in software.

What u-he doesn't have is a drum synth. Releasing a drum synth makes sense I think. Maybe 2... one simpler, and one with more deep editing... you know, the Hive and Zebra of drum synths (but both with a touch of RePro quality )

[tony10000]

It would be cool it u-he did a low cost mono synth just dedicated to bass using Diva technology.

We did that... hasn't worked out. Had to make it poly.

I would think that a monster monophonic bass synth would be really popular. I guess not.

In case of Repro-1, adding Repro-5 has made it thrice as popular.

Well, it is also a "two for one". I find myself using Repro One more.

I still think that a simple monster bass synth would be popular. Not an emulation of a certain analog synth. (I think simple mono emulations are dead.) One designed specifically for producing bass sounds, capable of stacking sounds, and including a flexible sub-oscillator. One that is more capable than The Legend, Repro One, or Monark.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

It would be cool it u-he did a low cost mono synth just dedicated to bass using Diva technology.

We did that... hasn't worked out. Had to make it poly.

I would think that a monster monophonic bass synth would be really popular. I guess not.

In case of Repro-1, adding Repro-5 has made it thrice as popular.

Well, it is also a "two for one". I find myself using Repro One more.

I still think that a simple monster bass synth would be popular. Not an emulation of a certain analog synth. (I think simple mono emulations are dead.) One designed specifically for producing bass sounds, capable of stacking sounds, and including a flexible sub-oscillator. One that is more capable than The Legend, Repro One, or Monark.

Right. Do that!





Then make it polyphonic!

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

In all seriousness, U-he have the Preset Browser updates to get out, spring reverb plugin, Hive 2.0, Zebra3, Diva2, the Drum Synth, a Uhbik set of updates, maybe a new filter plugin, all in various states within the queue. And that's just the stuff we've heard about. Sounds like a good decade's worth of work to me.

So...don't think another mono synth is going to happen anytime soon.

[pdxindy]

Well, it is also a "two for one". I find myself using Repro One more.

I still think that a simple monster bass synth would be popular. Not an emulation of a certain analog synth. (I think simple mono emulations are dead.) One designed specifically for producing bass sounds, capable of stacking sounds, and including a flexible sub-oscillator. One that is more capable than The Legend, Repro One, or Monark.

That would be RePro5 and ACE

[pdxindy]

In all seriousness, U-he have the Preset Browser updates to get out, spring reverb plugin, Hive 2.0, Zebra3, Diva2, the Drum Synth, a Uhbik set of updates, maybe a new filter plugin, all in various states within the queue. And that's just the stuff we've heard about. Sounds like a good decade's worth of work to me.

So...don't think another mono synth is going to happen anytime soon.

Don't forget Bazille 2... (my dream)

[AnX]

What u-he doesn't have is a drum synth. Releasing a drum synth makes sense I think. Maybe 2... one simpler, and one with more deep editing... you know, the Hive and Zebra of drum synths (but both with a touch of RePro quality )

a synth is a drum synth.

you can easily make all the drum sounds you want in zebra (or any capable synth)

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

What u-he doesn't have is a drum synth. Releasing a drum synth makes sense I think. Maybe 2... one simpler, and one with more deep editing... you know, the Hive and Zebra of drum synths (but both with a touch of RePro quality )

a synth is a drum synth.

you can easily make all the drum sounds you want in zebra (or any capable synth)

It's about the workflow though. I know Zebra can be a great drum synth, but even if I'm being cute, I can get about 4 types of drum sounds per instance (throw the kick on Lane 1, snare on Lane 2, etc.). And that's after you figure out how to set each lane up and figure out some sensible parameter ranges. Not a great workflow situation, or particularly easy to setup, maintain or manipulate compared to something like uTonic, Tremor, Drumatic, etc. I'd be all for a dedicated U-he drum synth! In the meantime, now I want to go create a bunch of Zebra drum patches.

[tony10000]

Well, it is also a "two for one". I find myself using Repro One more.

I still think that a simple monster bass synth would be popular. Not an emulation of a certain analog synth. (I think simple mono emulations are dead.) One designed specifically for producing bass sounds, capable of stacking sounds, and including a flexible sub-oscillator. One that is more capable than The Legend, Repro One, or Monark.

That would be RePro5 and ACE

I think u-he can do better than those. U-he has the ability to innovate and revolutionize like very few other companies in the plug-in space. How about one with various oscillator emulations and filter types like a Diva? Add some cool effects. Call it DivaBASS. Price it at $79 and it will sell like hot cakes.

[AnX]

patching together bits of other stuff for a 'new' synth is not good business

leave that to tone2

[tony10000]

patching together bits of other stuff for a 'new' synth is not good business

leave that to tone2

Last time I looked, Tone2 was very successful plug-in designer that makes some great sounding synths. Is there something inherently wrong with that business model?

[Russell Grand]

I don't hate the OP's idea unlike most peeps in here, but I don't see it working out with u-he. However, as broke as I am, any music software that's inexpensive sounds good to me!

[pdxindy]

I think u-he can do better than those. U-he has the ability to innovate and revolutionize like very few other companies in the plug-in space. How about one with various oscillator emulations and filter types? Add some cool effects. Call it Diva. Price it at $179 and it will sell great.

There... I fixed that for ya!

[tony10000]

I don't hate the OP's idea unlike most peeps in here, but I don't see it working out with u-he. However, as broke as I am, any music software that's inexpensive sounds good to me!

As I said before, I am not a cheapskate and own Zebra, ZebraHZ, Ace, Hive, Repro 1/5, and Bazille. (I had Diva but I sold it because I like the other u-he synths better). I also own many of the other popular synths out there from various manufacturers (Serum, Sylenth, Spire, Dune 2, Avenger, Synthmaster, Ana2, and many others). So, obviously, I have no problem paying a premium price for good synths.

I am just offering a suggestion of what may (or may not) be a good product idea. If it is not u-he's cup of tea, then I will wait patiently for someone else to do it. RPs Sub Boom Bass is a similar product but I am not thrilled with the implementation (although I do like and own Predator 2 and Go).