Massive X 1.2 is out

[HTT]

I have some u-he's synths and NI Komplete synths and if I do a sound from scratch, Massive X is my favorite. Usability is great, sound is great (filters are as good as Diva's and Repro's), it can sound analogue and very modern, everything is possible. Making sounds in that synth is very fast and intuitive. Strong FX, flexible routing. Only the preset browser is bad, almost not existing. Even if you use the Komplete Kontrol software it's stil bad for presets browsing.
Comparing it to cheaper synths like Iris or Synthmaster, they are worse soundwise.
I don't own Omnisphere, Falcon or Avenger, but I've played with them on other people's machines. They are not as intuitive to use and use a lot of tabs. They are more flexible, but are not as fast to use.

I can’t hear how Massive X’s filter is as analog-sounding as Diva’s. Massive X’s is no where close to Diva’s filter. Everything is possible with Massive X? Wut?

Comparing Massive X to Iris is like comparing apples to oranges. One is a wavetable synth while the other is a sample-based spectral synth. Different synth methods... If that means sample-based spectral synthesis compared to wavetable synths is “worse” sounding, well... I find Hive, Anima, and Rapid easier to navigate than Massive X- Keeping comparisons within wavetable synths. Synthmaster is quite capable, but lacks the sonic “robustness” of Massive X (and Anima and Rapid).

Avenger is quite straight-forward for its depth. I find it easier to navigate than Massive X. Avenger is also much more advanced than Massive X in almost all areas, not to mention more versatile. True, Falcon is a bit trickier to work with than Massive X. Sometimes that is the price that must be paid.

[chk071]

I can’t hear how Massive X’s filter is as analog-sounding as Diva’s. Massive X’s is no where close to Diva’s filter.

Interesting opinion. Care to elaborate on that? They sound pretty analog to me. At least the Blue Monark and the SVF filters. The Asimov is rather "proudly digital", in the sense that the resonance level doesn't get anywhere near the others.

Here's the passage from the MX manual about the Blue Monark filter, BTW:

13.2. Blue Monark

This multi-mode filter is a polyphonic adaptation of the filter found in NI's Monark, with additional
modes and slightly different non-linear behavior

So, it's basically the filter from NI Monark (with less saturation). And, if that doesn't sound analog to you, then I don't know what will...

[EvilDragon]

Massive X's filters are indeed as good as Diva's or sometimes even better.

[TheMaestro]

And here we have the classic example. It’s more important to discuss features that to actually make music with them.

Who cares if Diva or Massive X sound more “analog”. Are you utilizing it? Does it make a difference in your music? Or does it only make a difference when you discuss it?

Morons.

[zvenx]

I am much too sentimentally attached to Diva to weigh in on ED's comments about the Massive X filters comparison.

What I do know for sure however is NI is listening and hears the complaints on the shortcomings and are chipping away at them slowly but surely.
I for one was surprised how the preset is still so basic and can't even be navigated with a computer keyboards arrows, from a company specializing in Preset Browsing from way back in the Kore Days.

That being said, to me it really is a diamond in the rough. It is definitely in my opinion one of the best sounding Synths out there, reminds me of a hardware modular but in a different package.
That good.. to me.

rsp

[chk071]

And here we have the classic example. It’s more important to discuss features that to actually make music with them.

Who cares if Diva or Massive X sound more “analog”. Are you utilizing it? Does it make a difference in your music? Or does it only make a difference when you discuss it?

I don't often agree with what you're saying, but, yeah, definitely agree on that.

Sometimes you just get carried away with such shit discussions which lead to nothing. Nonetheless I think MX's filters sound pretty analog. If that's your thing. I know some digital filters which sound excellent (Waldorf!) and some analog modelled ones which sound excellent. Really depends which sound you are aiming for, and whether you need the analog characteristics at all, I think.

Actually, what I like about MX is that it's capable of both, and much more. It always frustrated me a bit when I have to open different synths for different purposes, sort of like using one trick ponies for many different things you want to do. It's not perfect by any means, but then, no synth I own really is.

[Hink]

And here we have the classic example. It’s more important to discuss features that to actually make music with them.

Who cares if Diva or Massive X sound more “analog”. Are you utilizing it? Does it make a difference in your music? Or does it only make a difference when you discuss it?

Morons.

why come here to call others morons when you can be making music...the flaming fails, kindly just leave the thread if you have nothing of value to offer

[SeeingInMidi]

People are always chasing "la creme de la creme". Always searching for the extra 5% difference. I still do, but I know when it becomes redundant. I have stepped into many writing sessions and camps, sometimes even for big artists. Everyone always pulls up the same old plugins, sylenth1, serum, massive 1 and omnisphere. When put into context, i always realise that it's always about how you use your tools and not about the quality of the tools. Will the quality of the filter or oscillator really make a difference in your production? Probably not to be honest.

[mholloway]

I can’t hear how Massive X’s filter is as analog-sounding as Diva’s. Massive X’s is no where close to Diva’s filter.

Quite an assertion, but you haven't really backed it up with anything meaningful. There's no reason to just assume Diva's filter is 'more analog' than Massive X's, without looking into the technical details. As far as our personal ear-judgements go (which I assume is what leads you to this assertion), I totally disagree: Massive has multiple filters that sound every bit as rich and 'analog' as those in Diva. But again, what does that even mean? How do you define your judgement of 'sounds more analog'? This gets us right back to the useless territory of arbitrary descriptors with no meaning: Warm, Fat, Round, etc. Meaningless, everybody has different ways to assess these 'qualities'. But both synths come from established dev teams who modeled actual analog filters. If you really think Massive X's are 'nowhere close' as you say, why not post some examples. Back your talk up with some meat. Make a sweep on both synths with the same settings and let us compare.

[TheMaestro]

And here we have the classic example. It’s more important to discuss features that to actually make music with them.

Who cares if Diva or Massive X sound more “analog”. Are you utilizing it? Does it make a difference in your music? Or does it only make a difference when you discuss it?

Morons.

why come here to call others morons when you can be making music...the flaming fails, kindly just leave the thread if you have nothing of value to offer

You missed the point.
And I enlightened at least one user. More than you did.

[Hink]

I dont care, no reason to call people morons, any further such posts will be deleted at the very least so knock it off.../end

[pdxindy]

Massive X's filters are indeed as good as Diva's or sometimes even better.

Technically speaking I agree. The Massive X filters are as good as it gets in digital... If I had to choose, I would still pick the Diva filters as a collection as I find them more musically beautiful for my tastes. NI tends to a harder sound than U-he... but that is just personal preference.

My disappointment with MX is not the sound engine, but the infrastructure around it.

[HTT]

So only the negative side of the argument needs “proof”? Hmmmm…

First off, we can start with the weakest side of the negative argument. Diva was made for VA, while Massive X is not.

Diva has tons of analog-type preset packs for purchase, while Massive X has like one. Comparing two Synthwave preset examples made within the last 12 months you can hear that either Diva is much better with analog or that Luftrum and the Unfinished are much better programmers than Patchmaker or both are true.

https://synthmob.com/presets/massive-ma ... -massive-x

https://www.luftrum.com/synthwavediva2

Lastly, I can compare in the same conditions synth pad patches that are close analogs (bad pun purposely inserted) between the synths:

Cathedralium for Massive X compared to Cheap Floyd for Diva
Deep Blue for Massive X compared to Kremen for Diva

Once effects are omitted, the Massive X overall sound is notably thinner and piercing. The Diva patches become thinner, but still maintain their analog-like character. This either indicates that Massive X depends on effects to make up for its lack of warmth and analog character or that Howard Scarr’s sound design is much beyond the Massive X sound designers.

I do not care enough for Massive X to devote much more energy to it or this thread.

[mholloway]

So only the negative side of the argument needs “proof”? Hmmmm…

No, only the person making the original assertion needs to prove it. This isn't that hard to understand. If you show up to a party and announce to the room "I'm the smartest person here!" and some people in the room say they disagree with you, is it on them to prove it, or on you?

[Sinisterbr]

Lastly, I can compare in the same conditions synth pad patches that are close analogs (bad pun purposely inserted) between the synths:

Cathedralium for Massive X compared to Cheap Floyd for Diva
Deep Blue for Massive X compared to Kremen for Diva

Once effects are omitted, the Massive X overall sound is notably thinner and piercing. The Diva patches become thinner, but still maintain their analog-like character. This either indicates that Massive X depends on effects to make up for its lack of warmth and analog character or that Howard Scarr’s sound design is much beyond the Massive X sound designers.

Hahah.. really? This is how you get your unquestionable conclusion?