Only 1 DAW & 1 xtra synth - what would you choose?
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- KVRAF
- 1524 posts since 29 Oct, 2015 from Jupiter 8
As mentioned before, it really depends on the DAW. With Live, Reason, Logic, FL Studio, etc. you don't need anything else, but it would be nearly impossible for me, or at least really really awkward with Reaper as i'd need at least a halfway decent drum sampler even before considering a synth unless i want to start copy & pasting each bd/hh/snare, etc. sample on the sequencer's timeline.
Ok, Reaper has this Samplomatic thingie.
But i wouldn't want to make music with just a (drum) sampler and also don't want to change my DAW again just so i could only use stock plugins.
And this wouldn't even necessarily reduce bloat: i'm not familiar with Logic, but from what i gather it probably has more synths & effects included than i have 3rd party plugins on my Reaper install
Ok, Reaper has this Samplomatic thingie.
But i wouldn't want to make music with just a (drum) sampler and also don't want to change my DAW again just so i could only use stock plugins.
And this wouldn't even necessarily reduce bloat: i'm not familiar with Logic, but from what i gather it probably has more synths & effects included than i have 3rd party plugins on my Reaper install
The GAS is always greener on the other side!
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neverenoughfunk neverenoughfunk https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=12310
- KVRian
- 828 posts since 6 Feb, 2004
ableton live and omnishpere
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ableton live and kontakt w/ all my sound libraries
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Reason Studio w/o any VST(s)...
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zenbeats (on ipad) and pure synth...
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ableton live and kontakt w/ all my sound libraries
-or-
Reason Studio w/o any VST(s)...
-or-
zenbeats (on ipad) and pure synth...
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Spencer Maddox Spencer Maddox https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=406543
- KVRian
- 814 posts since 19 Oct, 2017 from The Empire State
What Kontakt you running?Poppamoet wrote: Sat May 02, 2020 2:08 pm Kontakt ...lol which is a sampler but with only one choice.....I can sample any sound and build instruments with that ..... so im never limited
K6 honestly can be a synth too now that it does wavetables. Has some pretty good algorithms for mangling them too.
Can modulate mostly anything with the envelopes and LFOs they have.
Use the script to add unison and arps although the unison engine sounds terrible to me (I might be doing it wrong
It’s kinda stubborn and not nearly as easy as a devoted normal Wavtable Synth but it works if you want it to.
The post above this is likely bait, viewer discretion is advised.
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Spencer Maddox Spencer Maddox https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=406543
- KVRian
- 814 posts since 19 Oct, 2017 from The Empire State
Credit to OP for really making me think on this...
I genuinely was tied up on what I wanted to Pick as My 2.
Ableton Live and Serum was my final choice. Ableton now alone does most of anything I need, Serum is the VST I'm the most acquainted and Comfortable in. I also can use Serum to make realistic sounding Strings Textures and Instruments. I use so many Plugins so Its hard to Pick one and say thats the only one Im going to use. But as great as Diva Sounds, or as stable as sylenth1 is, or as powerful as Falcon can be, or as deep and complex reactor (reaktor would probably be 2nd place), Serum is the VST i reach for the Most for of any type. Ableton of course has the Wavetable synth now so In Theory it would seem serum is less useful but I only use Ableton Wavetable for Specific things. It dosent have the advanced Modulation or Editing options. It has a Kickass Unison Engine and fantastic intergration with my Push2 but its not in the same ballpark as serum persay. More like the Robin to Serums Batman
Ableton Operator is a fantastic FM Plugin and Grossly underated.
Ableton Analogue sounds phenomenal to My ears.
The Physical Modeling stuff is cool...albeit Glitchy for me sometimes.
And Ableton, and this probably the biggest thing, has the best sampling system of any DAW i've used to Date.
Im also assuming Since its Only for ableton M4L effects and stuff is still accepted? I hope, Because M4l is a big thing...Not in synthesis as much as just using convolution reverb to replace the plastic Ableton stock Reverb

Runners Up would be the rest of my "Main" Collection.
Reaktor
Sylenth1
Rapid.
Diva.
Pigments.
Massive X
Kontakt.
Falcon.
I genuinely was tied up on what I wanted to Pick as My 2.
Ableton Live and Serum was my final choice. Ableton now alone does most of anything I need, Serum is the VST I'm the most acquainted and Comfortable in. I also can use Serum to make realistic sounding Strings Textures and Instruments. I use so many Plugins so Its hard to Pick one and say thats the only one Im going to use. But as great as Diva Sounds, or as stable as sylenth1 is, or as powerful as Falcon can be, or as deep and complex reactor (reaktor would probably be 2nd place), Serum is the VST i reach for the Most for of any type. Ableton of course has the Wavetable synth now so In Theory it would seem serum is less useful but I only use Ableton Wavetable for Specific things. It dosent have the advanced Modulation or Editing options. It has a Kickass Unison Engine and fantastic intergration with my Push2 but its not in the same ballpark as serum persay. More like the Robin to Serums Batman
Ableton Operator is a fantastic FM Plugin and Grossly underated.
Ableton Analogue sounds phenomenal to My ears.
The Physical Modeling stuff is cool...albeit Glitchy for me sometimes.
And Ableton, and this probably the biggest thing, has the best sampling system of any DAW i've used to Date.
Im also assuming Since its Only for ableton M4L effects and stuff is still accepted? I hope, Because M4l is a big thing...Not in synthesis as much as just using convolution reverb to replace the plastic Ableton stock Reverb
Runners Up would be the rest of my "Main" Collection.
Reaktor
Sylenth1
Rapid.
Diva.
Pigments.
Massive X
Kontakt.
Falcon.
Last edited by Spencer Maddox on Sat May 02, 2020 5:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The post above this is likely bait, viewer discretion is advised.
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- KVRAF
- 2065 posts since 14 Sep, 2004 from $HOME
Hmmm. DAW is easy, Cubase 10, because I know it and it includes synths, a rompler and a drum sampler. None of which I use because I don’t like the UIs.
I think I’d be most torn between AddictiveDrums and IK MODO bass. Tough choice. Both don’t really count as synths, though. For that, Zebra.
I think I’d be most torn between AddictiveDrums and IK MODO bass. Tough choice. Both don’t really count as synths, though. For that, Zebra.
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- KVRAF
- 2430 posts since 11 Jan, 2009 from Portland, OR, USA
I was going to say Ableton Live 10 and FM8, because FM8 is my fav soft-synth.
But seeing as Live 10 Suite has Operator, it's a slightly redundant choice...
so I'll say:
Ableton Live 10 and Massive X.
But seeing as Live 10 Suite has Operator, it's a slightly redundant choice...
so I'll say:
Ableton Live 10 and Massive X.
- KVRAF
- 6113 posts since 7 Jan, 2005 from Corporate States of America
- KVRian
- 788 posts since 26 Jan, 2020
Noisetracker and OnePingOnly standalone.
There are two kinds of people in the world. And you're not one of them.
- KVRAF
- 6542 posts since 9 Dec, 2008 from Berlin
Bitwig & Respiro.
I hope I can bring my EWI USB too
I hope I can bring my EWI USB too
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