Native Instruments Massive X Synth - Sequel to Massive (Out Now!)

[graspee]

https://gyazo.com/d47fddf7de5f1fee239e36848121ba53

Here, the performer is moving. Amazing!

Yeah that's great. So we should expect to have graphs of the LFOs and envelopes with progress shown on them too, shouldn't we?

[Stefken]

https://gyazo.com/d47fddf7de5f1fee239e36848121ba53

Here, the performer is moving. Amazing!

Now you've done it! Now we want the rest equally amazing!

[Stefken]

https://gyazo.com/d47fddf7de5f1fee239e36848121ba53

Here, the performer is moving. Amazing!

Yeah that's great. So we should expect to have graphs of the LFOs and envelopes with progress shown on them too, shouldn't we?

What he said. .. And I

[pdxindy]

What a clever developer decided to avoid numberic values all over the knobs.
The more I use Massive X the more I love its concept and its sound results!

What’s the advantage?

None... There is only disadvantage

I often pay no attention to numeric values in various synths. Often it is not needed at all.

But sometimes numeric values are needed. With the complex audio rate modulations possible in MX, even the tiniest adjustment can significantly alter the sound. And especially with right click drag for precise adjustment, it is easy to have 2 identical knobs at different values without being able to visually discern there is a difference.

With MX not having undo/redo, it is very easy to not be able to get back to where you were. With other synths that do not have undo, I use the numeric display to know the value so I can return to it if I want.

I think the lack of numeric display on a synth as complex as MX is stupid.

[pdxindy]

And is there a law somewhere that a "flagship synthesizer" should have animated ADSR graphs?

Yes. My law. Serum showed how it can be done. Controls ON the curves and moving dots in order to see where we are at. Also, Avenger, shamelessly and rightfully copied some Serum UI decisions (or who was first?) A static picture just as an explanation what is what... so 80s. Especially for analyzing other peoples patches, looking at knobs is not fun.

Serum is kind of annoying though... some controls are only in the graph and some on the knobs. And if you make the envelope really long, you cannot see the whole thing.

I think that MX will very much benefit from a dynamic graphical representation (I cannot imagine they would put those big graphics is there unless the plan was to animate them). It is not immediate to see the state of the Envelope at a glance. The ADSR are not in a line and it simply has enough parameters that will make it easier to see the shape at a quick glance.

Speaking of the MX envelopes, it is not clear to me what the Peak parameter is above the Attack stage. It seems to behave as just another version of Env Level.

[PatchAdamz]

The dark side of Massive X.

Single presets ambient experiment:

https://soundcloud.com/vintage-synth-pa ... -massive-x

[Functional]

https://gyazo.com/d47fddf7de5f1fee239e36848121ba53

Here, the performer is moving. Amazing!

Yeah that's great. So we should expect to have graphs of the LFOs and envelopes with progress shown on them too, shouldn't we?

To both: no. I don't really see a point with progress shown either in envelopes nor LFO's. I would love seeing envelope graphs though because it helps visualizing the length and the curve but I can live without that too.

Until MX, my favorite was Omnisphere. Omnisphere actually shows progress of LFO's, but that has never been an useful feature. And even though the envelope graphs exist (they don't show progress AFAIK), I've never bothered with it aside from setting the curve (because you can't do it on the surface). And because the graphs are hidden behind their own dedicated menu, I doubt actually that many people ever even look at the graphs, unless they purposely want to adjust the curve.

Diva, on the other hand, doesn't show shit with envelopes. LFO's also don't have anything else except a blinking light IIRC. The point here isn't that because Diva doesn't, MX shouldn't. The point is that I can't recall people complaining about that in Diva, like ever. I can partially understand the "Hey, Massive had these, so why not Massive X?" but at this point I personally view Massive X as a different synth altogether. Not even a v2 of Massive, just altogether different synth.

I'd see graph envelopes as a possibility in future but even if they never come, I honestly can live with it and if someone can't, their loss to be honest.

[Functional]

Speaking of the MX envelopes, it is not clear to me what the Peak parameter is above the Attack stage. It seems to behave as just another version of Env Level.

I think it's the peak between attack & decay stage. So if it's lower than sustain, the decay phase will actually increase to the sustain level rather than stay at same level (with max sustain) or lower to the sustain level. Don't quote me on this, but this seems logical.

Speaking of which: this is also a good reason why graphs should be included: they have an educational value for people who are beginners. Massive taught me so much about synthesizers because of how everything was laid down, including the signal path. Massive X on the other hand is more complicated and somewhat / significantly less informative for a beginner at least.

Honestly NI should do what is done with blocks, i.e. each parameter etc has an explanation when you hover over them. They should include a mode that enables to view these (or set it on by default & warn user that it can be turned off). But I bet people will be making tutorials too. If I ever get my YT channel up and running, I certainly will, this synth really deserves a good explanation of just how capable it actually is.

[Maeldron]

From now, I will ignore everything that can’t even make a sine wave. What could be easier than that?

You'd be surprised. For one, if you wanted a pure & clean sine wave, maybe you should use the "filter" knob in the osc section to make it, because that's how you make clean sine waves. The wavetable sinewaves are not clean, by design.

Thing is: almost nobody uses clean sinewaves to begin with.

Interesting.

I open Hive 2. Right click on the Preset name. Init. Osc1 is saw. Click on OSC1. Choose Wavetable.
The default wave is the sine. It has no aliasing/bonus harmonics/whatever in 44.1k, default settings. Are they cheating?

Should I send an email to Xfer Records and ask them "Please correct your website ASAP. Serum is not a wavetable synth. It can’t be because it can make a sine wave."

I guess Massive is also not a wavetable synth.

I think our terminology differs. It seems that what you call a "wavetable synth", I call a "bad synth".

You know, I didn’t do the testing with a sinewave because I want to make a song called "Pure Sinewave". It’s because it has no harmonics so you can see what happens.

For example, if I want to hire a nuclear physicist to a power generator, and I see that the person can’t replace the batteries in the remote controller of their TV, I will probably find another candidate, because, who knows... maybe I’m a bit picky, and they could run the power plant for more than five seconds?

[bartoszkwiecinski]

Hey Guys.

Can someone explain how to make sequencens with Massive X?

Is there an arp?

What is the exact funktion of the VR Modulator?

Someone figured those things out?

Btw: great Synthesizer to play with the ears and not looking on animated Displays

[chk071]

No arp.

Actually, that's something i'm missing as well. Not sure why, when i have a arp both in my DAW, and as outboard fx. There's something comfortable, and immediate to have it on board.

[vurt]

I think our terminology differs. It seems that what you call a "wavetable synth", I call a "bad synth".

[pdxindy]

The point is that I can't recall people complaining about that in Diva, like ever.

Diva didn't waste like 10% of the GUI space on a useless graphic.

Also, the Diva envelopes are simple and easy to see at a glance. Especially the sliders essentially serve as a visual representation.

[Functional]

Hey Guys.

Can someone explain how to make sequencens with Massive X?

Is there an arp?

What is the exact funktion of the VR Modulator?

Someone figured those things out?

Btw: great Synthesizer to play with the ears and not looking on animated Displays

There is no traditional arp but you can use the performer like one. However, it's not going to be quite as simple to use as traditional arps but it is more capable on the other hand.

VR modulator: I'm not sure, I think we have to wait for manual for that. I mean, name implies virtual reality, but I have no idea what that means. It makes no sense.

[KBSoundSmith]

Hey Guys.

Can someone explain how to make sequencens with Massive X?

Is there an arp?

What is the exact funktion of the VR Modulator?

Someone figured those things out?

Btw: great Synthesizer to play with the ears and not looking on animated Displays

Unfortunately I can't run M-X so I can't say via first-hand... but I'm pretty sure Sequences would be handled with their MSEG/Performer modulation. Also, from what others have said, my understanding is that Performer is monophonic.