FXpansion releases Cypher2

[Echoes in the Attic]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I personally like Cypher much more than Strobe. I don't even particularly like the sound of strobe, but cypher is really cool with all it's audio rate modulation.

[cron]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I'd suggest waiting for the next time it goes on sale and getting to know Strobe2 a little better in the meantime. For me, how much you'll get into any FXpansion synth comes down to how well you get on with the TransMod modulation system, and everything you'll learn about TransMod in Strobe2 can be carried over to Cypher2. It's extraordinarily powerful, but certainly isn't to everyone's taste.

As an example, in most synths you'll get dedicated controls for unison stacks - stereo spread, detune amount, that kind of thing - but Strobe2/Cypher2 lack them because they expect you to 'roll your own' using the TransMod system. You'd make a unison detune control by selecting "unison voice number" as the modulator, then modulating the tuning knob with it. Now each voice in a unison stack will have a slightly different pitch. You can do the same with the pan knob for a unison stereo spread control.

"Unison voice number" is just one of something like 100 potential modulation sources, but just thinking about how you could use the unison voice number modulator is probably enough to make you realise that Strobe2 isn't really a one-oscillator synth. Fun things I've done in Strobe2 with just the 'unison voice number' modulator include matching the number of octaves the tuning knob spans with the number of unison voices in play to create comically huge sounds where each voice in the unison stack is playing a different octave, or producing some of the fattest sounds I've heard in my life by applying unison voice number to osc sync so every voice in the stack has a different osc sync value.

Some people are a little turned off by the thought of using TransMod to do things you usually find as dedicated controls, but once you start exploring it beyond replicating 'the simple things', it opens up sound design avenues other synths frankly can't touch. If during the second paragraph you thought "that seems like a very complicated way of achieving unison detune" rather than feeling your brain sparking to life with all the other cool things you could do with unison stacks, then it might not be for you. And that's fine, because it is a (comparatively) very complicated way of achieving unison detune, and "absolute power" isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for in a synth.

So yeah, take some time to get to know Strobe2, see how you get on with Transmod, then pull the trigger on Cypher2 next time its on sale if it's a go.

[LoveEnigma18]

@Echoes in the Attic: Thank you for your opinion. Cypher2 certainly sounds awesome.

@cron: Thank you for the detailed and excellent explanation, really appreciate it. I spent some time with Strobe2 demo and it is indeed a bit unconventional, but I personally like its sound. But as you said, if I don't learn and get into the TransMod system among other things, it makes little sense to get Cypher2, which looks like a bigger brother of Strobe2 to me. But since I got Strobe2 as a gift from my brother, $58 upgrade for Cypher2 is just too tempting.

I am not too much into sound design, it is always the GUI, the sound and the number of presets that attract me to a synth. GUI is probably not the strongest point for FXpansion, but they are decently laid out. I am not sure if they will do these upgrade sales again, but it is probably just FOMO. I will experiment with Strobe2 for a few days and only if I real feel the urge to get Cypher2 I will, else will not.

I am searching some good videos about Strobe2, so in case you remember any particular video that you can recommend, please do.

Thanks again.

[WasteLand]

is this a sounddesigners heaven plugin? (especially if have MPE controllers? can get it with a discount as a upgrade; €62).

i am not asking is it thé sounddesigners heaven plugin, because even a Mini V3 i like.... every VSTi, i have i like to program.

i have the demo, i read some things from this thread. mostly i decide how i can make presets myself, and how it sounds.

is it more the MPE implementation or the whole package?

is it different from other synths, i.e. it's own sound like for example LION, waldorf Largo, DS Thorn, syntmaster 2.9, vast dynamics vaporizer2, MSoundFactory, Pigments 2 or FM8. to name a few that i own (yes vaporizer2 is a wavetable synth, that one goes in every direction of course).

yes decide by yourself. i do. normally i don't ask these things, but why not start, now?

[Sinisterbr]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I'd suggest waiting for the next time it goes on sale and getting to know Strobe2 a little better in the meantime. For me, how much you'll get into any FXpansion synth comes down to how well you get on with the TransMod modulation system, and everything you'll learn about TransMod in Strobe2 can be carried over to Cypher2. It's extraordinarily powerful, but certainly isn't to everyone's taste.

As an example, in most synths you'll get dedicated controls for unison stacks - stereo spread, detune amount, that kind of thing - but Strobe2/Cypher2 lack them because they expect you to 'roll your own' using the TransMod system. You'd make a unison detune control by selecting "unison voice number" as the modulator, then modulating the tuning knob with it. Now each voice in a unison stack will have a slightly different pitch. You can do the same with the pan knob for a unison stereo spread control.

"Unison voice number" is just one of something like 100 potential modulation sources, but just thinking about how you could use the unison voice number modulator is probably enough to make you realise that Strobe2 isn't really a one-oscillator synth. Fun things I've done in Strobe2 with just the 'unison voice number' modulator include matching the number of octaves the tuning knob spans with the number of unison voices in play to create comically huge sounds where each voice in the unison stack is playing a different octave, or producing some of the fattest sounds I've heard in my life by applying unison voice number to osc sync so every voice in the stack has a different osc sync value.

Some people are a little turned off by the thought of using TransMod to do things you usually find as dedicated controls, but once you start exploring it beyond replicating 'the simple things', it opens up sound design avenues other synths frankly can't touch. If during the second paragraph you thought "that seems like a very complicated way of achieving unison detune" rather than feeling your brain sparking to life with all the other cool things you could do with unison stacks, then it might not be for you. And that's fine, because it is a (comparatively) very complicated way of achieving unison detune, and "absolute power" isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for in a synth.

So yeah, take some time to get to know Strobe2, see how you get on with Transmod, then pull the trigger on Cypher2 next time its on sale if it's a go.

This is the best explanation about Transmod ever, by far. TransMod isn't for me, I prefer dedicated knobs, I'm not very keen to sound designing. But only now, after this very explanation, I can understand why. Thank you.

[WasteLand]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I'd suggest waiting for the next time it goes on sale and getting to know Strobe2 a little better in the meantime. For me, how much you'll get into any FXpansion synth comes down to how well you get on with the TransMod modulation system, and everything you'll learn about TransMod in Strobe2 can be carried over to Cypher2. It's extraordinarily powerful, but certainly isn't to everyone's taste.

As an example, in most synths you'll get dedicated controls for unison stacks - stereo spread, detune amount, that kind of thing - but Strobe2/Cypher2 lack them because they expect you to 'roll your own' using the TransMod system. You'd make a unison detune control by selecting "unison voice number" as the modulator, then modulating the tuning knob with it. Now each voice in a unison stack will have a slightly different pitch. You can do the same with the pan knob for a unison stereo spread control.

"Unison voice number" is just one of something like 100 potential modulation sources, but just thinking about how you could use the unison voice number modulator is probably enough to make you realise that Strobe2 isn't really a one-oscillator synth. Fun things I've done in Strobe2 with just the 'unison voice number' modulator include matching the number of octaves the tuning knob spans with the number of unison voices in play to create comically huge sounds where each voice in the unison stack is playing a different octave, or producing some of the fattest sounds I've heard in my life by applying unison voice number to osc sync so every voice in the stack has a different osc sync value.

Some people are a little turned off by the thought of using TransMod to do things you usually find as dedicated controls, but once you start exploring it beyond replicating 'the simple things', it opens up sound design avenues other synths frankly can't touch. If during the second paragraph you thought "that seems like a very complicated way of achieving unison detune" rather than feeling your brain sparking to life with all the other cool things you could do with unison stacks, then it might not be for you. And that's fine, because it is a (comparatively) very complicated way of achieving unison detune, and "absolute power" isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for in a synth.

So yeah, take some time to get to know Strobe2, see how you get on with Transmod, then pull the trigger on Cypher2 next time its on sale if it's a go.

i have the demo now. the transmod isn't that difficult, i mean it is very transparant.
making a good modulation routing/matrix is something else.... but it works nicely.
now deciding if it is worth it. i already asked if it is an addition to what i have, but i will of course try it myself.

EDIT: i bought the Cypher 2, it is a great sounding synth. and it has it's ow character, and of course the MPE possibilties. sounddesign ++. didn't wanted buy more synths, but the waldof largo, and cypher 2 are too special not to buy, for me. in a way, or more than one way, i find the largo more difficult to learn than cypher 2... (with difficult, i mean, there isn't a synth that i own, can not program myself, but steeper learning curve, don't know why, o yes, cypher 2 is modular orientated, and i have the usual suspects of soft modulars..)

[El Bura]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I'd suggest waiting for the next time it goes on sale and getting to know Strobe2 a little better in the meantime. For me, how much you'll get into any FXpansion synth comes down to how well you get on with the TransMod modulation system, and everything you'll learn about TransMod in Strobe2 can be carried over to Cypher2. It's extraordinarily powerful, but certainly isn't to everyone's taste.

As an example, in most synths you'll get dedicated controls for unison stacks - stereo spread, detune amount, that kind of thing - but Strobe2/Cypher2 lack them because they expect you to 'roll your own' using the TransMod system. You'd make a unison detune control by selecting "unison voice number" as the modulator, then modulating the tuning knob with it. Now each voice in a unison stack will have a slightly different pitch. You can do the same with the pan knob for a unison stereo spread control.

"Unison voice number" is just one of something like 100 potential modulation sources, but just thinking about how you could use the unison voice number modulator is probably enough to make you realise that Strobe2 isn't really a one-oscillator synth. Fun things I've done in Strobe2 with just the 'unison voice number' modulator include matching the number of octaves the tuning knob spans with the number of unison voices in play to create comically huge sounds where each voice in the unison stack is playing a different octave, or producing some of the fattest sounds I've heard in my life by applying unison voice number to osc sync so every voice in the stack has a different osc sync value.

Some people are a little turned off by the thought of using TransMod to do things you usually find as dedicated controls, but once you start exploring it beyond replicating 'the simple things', it opens up sound design avenues other synths frankly can't touch. If during the second paragraph you thought "that seems like a very complicated way of achieving unison detune" rather than feeling your brain sparking to life with all the other cool things you could do with unison stacks, then it might not be for you. And that's fine, because it is a (comparatively) very complicated way of achieving unison detune, and "absolute power" isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for in a synth.

So yeah, take some time to get to know Strobe2, see how you get on with Transmod, then pull the trigger on Cypher2 next time its on sale if it's a go.

i have the demo now. the transmod isn't that difficult, i mean it is very transparant.
making a good modulation routing/matrix is something else.... but it works nicely.
now deciding if it is worth it. i already asked if it is an addition to what i have, but i will of course try it myself.

EDIT: i bought the Cypher 2, it is a great sounding synth. and it has it's ow character, and of course the MPE possibilties. sounddesign ++. didn't wanted buy more synths, but the waldof largo, and cypher 2 are too special not to buy, for me. in a way, or more than one way, i find the largo more difficult to learn than cypher 2... (with difficult, i mean, there isn't a synth that i own, can not program myself, but steeper learning curve, don't know why, o yes, cypher 2 is modular orientated, and i have the usual suspects of soft modulars..)

Wow, i'm surprised people are still buying ether Strobe or Cypher with the major bug it has. I've pretty much given up on seeing a fix for it. It's been over a year since the last update and Roli doesn't seem to be in a good place right now as well as focusing on other things. I asked support about how they were getting on with the bug updated and got the generic, "it's complex and takes time". Angus...if you're still out there, let us know what's happening?????

[Calenberger]

What major bug does it have?

[WasteLand]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I'd suggest waiting for the next time it goes on sale and getting to know Strobe2 a little better in the meantime. For me, how much you'll get into any FXpansion synth comes down to how well you get on with the TransMod modulation system, and everything you'll learn about TransMod in Strobe2 can be carried over to Cypher2. It's extraordinarily powerful, but certainly isn't to everyone's taste.

As an example, in most synths you'll get dedicated controls for unison stacks - stereo spread, detune amount, that kind of thing - but Strobe2/Cypher2 lack them because they expect you to 'roll your own' using the TransMod system. You'd make a unison detune control by selecting "unison voice number" as the modulator, then modulating the tuning knob with it. Now each voice in a unison stack will have a slightly different pitch. You can do the same with the pan knob for a unison stereo spread control.

"Unison voice number" is just one of something like 100 potential modulation sources, but just thinking about how you could use the unison voice number modulator is probably enough to make you realise that Strobe2 isn't really a one-oscillator synth. Fun things I've done in Strobe2 with just the 'unison voice number' modulator include matching the number of octaves the tuning knob spans with the number of unison voices in play to create comically huge sounds where each voice in the unison stack is playing a different octave, or producing some of the fattest sounds I've heard in my life by applying unison voice number to osc sync so every voice in the stack has a different osc sync value.

Some people are a little turned off by the thought of using TransMod to do things you usually find as dedicated controls, but once you start exploring it beyond replicating 'the simple things', it opens up sound design avenues other synths frankly can't touch. If during the second paragraph you thought "that seems like a very complicated way of achieving unison detune" rather than feeling your brain sparking to life with all the other cool things you could do with unison stacks, then it might not be for you. And that's fine, because it is a (comparatively) very complicated way of achieving unison detune, and "absolute power" isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for in a synth.

So yeah, take some time to get to know Strobe2, see how you get on with Transmod, then pull the trigger on Cypher2 next time its on sale if it's a go.

i have the demo now. the transmod isn't that difficult, i mean it is very transparant.
making a good modulation routing/matrix is something else.... but it works nicely.
now deciding if it is worth it. i already asked if it is an addition to what i have, but i will of course try it myself.

EDIT: i bought the Cypher 2, it is a great sounding synth. and it has it's ow character, and of course the MPE possibilties. sounddesign ++. didn't wanted buy more synths, but the waldof largo, and cypher 2 are too special not to buy, for me. in a way, or more than one way, i find the largo more difficult to learn than cypher 2... (with difficult, i mean, there isn't a synth that i own, can not program myself, but steeper learning curve, don't know why, o yes, cypher 2 is modular orientated, and i have the usual suspects of soft modulars..)

Wow, i'm surprised people are still buying ether Strobe or Cypher with the major bug it has. I've pretty much given up on seeing a fix for it. It's been over a year since the last update and Roli doesn't seem to be in a good place right now as well as focusing on other things. I asked support about how they were getting on with the bug updated and got the generic, "it's complex and takes time". Angus...if you're still out there, let us know what's happening?????

i read about the bugs. i have forgotten them already. haha. cypher 2 is a too great sounding synth, for me, for not to buy.

[WasteLand]

What major bug does it have?

transmod bugs, see pages 70-71-72 in this thread.
perhaps there are workarounds,
i am on version 2.5.1.2, i don't how old that version is...

[Calenberger]

What major bug does it have?

transmod bugs, see pages 70-71-72 in this thread.
perhaps there are workarounds,
i am on version 2.5.1.2, i don't how old that version is...

Ah, I see, thanks
That transmod behaviour is not really relevant for me.
I'm just a music maker, not a synth nerd.

[aMUSEd]

What major bug does it have?

transmod bugs, see pages 70-71-72 in this thread.
perhaps there are workarounds,
i am on version 2.5.1.2, i don't how old that version is...

Ah, I see, thanks
That transmod behaviour is not really relevant for me.
I'm just a music maker, not a synth nerd.

It's relevant to anyone who likes to play with hands-on control because hardware controller assignments break transmod ranges when tweaked.

[slashcobain4]

Cypher2 upgrade from Strobe2 is 30% off. Is it worth buying Cypher2, especially when one hasn't even spent time with Strobe2?

I'd suggest waiting for the next time it goes on sale and getting to know Strobe2 a little better in the meantime. For me, how much you'll get into any FXpansion synth comes down to how well you get on with the TransMod modulation system, and everything you'll learn about TransMod in Strobe2 can be carried over to Cypher2. It's extraordinarily powerful, but certainly isn't to everyone's taste.

As an example, in most synths you'll get dedicated controls for unison stacks - stereo spread, detune amount, that kind of thing - but Strobe2/Cypher2 lack them because they expect you to 'roll your own' using the TransMod system. You'd make a unison detune control by selecting "unison voice number" as the modulator, then modulating the tuning knob with it. Now each voice in a unison stack will have a slightly different pitch. You can do the same with the pan knob for a unison stereo spread control.

"Unison voice number" is just one of something like 100 potential modulation sources, but just thinking about how you could use the unison voice number modulator is probably enough to make you realise that Strobe2 isn't really a one-oscillator synth. Fun things I've done in Strobe2 with just the 'unison voice number' modulator include matching the number of octaves the tuning knob spans with the number of unison voices in play to create comically huge sounds where each voice in the unison stack is playing a different octave, or producing some of the fattest sounds I've heard in my life by applying unison voice number to osc sync so every voice in the stack has a different osc sync value.

Some people are a little turned off by the thought of using TransMod to do things you usually find as dedicated controls, but once you start exploring it beyond replicating 'the simple things', it opens up sound design avenues other synths frankly can't touch. If during the second paragraph you thought "that seems like a very complicated way of achieving unison detune" rather than feeling your brain sparking to life with all the other cool things you could do with unison stacks, then it might not be for you. And that's fine, because it is a (comparatively) very complicated way of achieving unison detune, and "absolute power" isn't necessarily what everyone is looking for in a synth.

So yeah, take some time to get to know Strobe2, see how you get on with Transmod, then pull the trigger on Cypher2 next time its on sale if it's a go.

great post, thank you for the sound advice

[LoveEnigma18]

Even though I have got familiar with and like Strobe2's TransMod system, I have decided against buying Cypher2 upgrade. Strobe2 is more than sufficient for me, so don't need Cypher2's advanced capabilities. Cypher2 is great, but I am happy with Strobe2 overall.

Thanks to cron for his solid advice.

[Bandaide]

Can one of you Cypher 2 gurus remind me how to delay the LFO, Juno style.

I have to use a ramp, don't I?