RAPID Synthesizer | Rapid 1.8.0 released | Free "SP - Granular Elements"

[clipnotic]

Well, this update got me to try the Rapid demo once again (last time I tried it was v1.4 or something like that). While it has evolved nicely I still have the same issues with it as I've always had. It's just too simplistic.

There are a lot of basic tricks you can not do and the filters are a weak point. Yes, there are some quite nice LowPass filters in that list but a very limited section of highpass and bandpass ones. Would really want higher quality, more organic bandpass and HP versions.

The modulation system is very basic and is the main frustration point for me. Rapid really needs a 3rd "modifier" slot for the modulation matrix so that you could more easily modulate things via other modulators and modifiers. Also it's frustrating that some of the modulation ranges aren't doubled.. for instance key tracking. Now you'll have to use up multiple mod matrix slots to do some pretty simple things like keyboard scaling of various things.

.. and I'm really missing a way to do a custom shape of any modulator output as you can in Alchemy, VPS Avenger, Pigments, Zebra etc.

In general, this is a pretty simple thing and it quickly frustrates me when I want to create dynamic very playable presets that change a lot depending on velocity and over the keyboard range.

Oh well.. maybe once it hits version 2.0 it'll become a bit more synth-tweaker friendly?

So, you tried only version 1.4 many years ago, but writing such a big text of nonsense?

I have Avenger and had Zebra and Alchemy many years (sold both) and the filters of Rapid are much better!

[exmatproton]

Well, this update got me to try the Rapid demo once again (last time I tried it was v1.4 or something like that). While it has evolved nicely I still have the same issues with it as I've always had. It's just too simplistic.

There are a lot of basic tricks you can not do and the filters are a weak point. Yes, there are some quite nice LowPass filters in that list but a very limited section of highpass and bandpass ones. Would really want higher quality, more organic bandpass and HP versions.

The modulation system is very basic and is the main frustration point for me. Rapid really needs a 3rd "modifier" slot for the modulation matrix so that you could more easily modulate things via other modulators and modifiers. Also it's frustrating that some of the modulation ranges aren't doubled.. for instance key tracking. Now you'll have to use up multiple mod matrix slots to do some pretty simple things like keyboard scaling of various things.

.. and I'm really missing a way to do a custom shape of any modulator output as you can in Alchemy, VPS Avenger, Pigments, Zebra etc.

In general, this is a pretty simple thing and it quickly frustrates me when I want to create dynamic very playable presets that change a lot depending on velocity and over the keyboard range.

Oh well.. maybe once it hits version 2.0 it'll become a bit more synth-tweaker friendly?

-For custom shapes, i use the Sequence mods. Works like a charm.
-The filters are very nice imho. Indeed, Rapid lacks a couple of good/different high pass filters, but to me there are other additions that make up for those, like a truly amazing COMB filter and the 'special' LP filters. I must admit that i usually use hp filters to filter a bit of the bottom out of the signal. So i personally don't need more hp filters.
-i don't agree about the lack of modifiers per se. In most (if not all) modulation sources, there is a depth knob. One can mod that knob to achieve the same result.

I would agree on a different way of displaying the modulation. I don't really like the way it is being displayd now. But i don't feel this is a dealbreaker in any sense.

*you say there are "a lot" of basic tricks Rapid can't do. I really can't find that much to be honest.
Sure it isn't Falcon, or Reaktor, but it is a great workhorse. And with the addition of the granular engine, it only got better

What i personally do miss, for some freaky stuff, is per voice FX. But that really is the only real gripe i have with Rapid. If i really need per voice FX, i open Phaseplant

[rezoneight]

So, you tried only version 1.4 many years ago, but writing such a big text of nonsense?

I have Avenger and had Zebra and Alchemy many years (sold both) and the filters of Rapid are much better!

To be fair he said he tried again

[zvenx]

............

Check out the cinematic xt. Most presets are from Matthias. I know, you don't like my work but I hope you can also live with some presets from me, which are also included.
There are a lot of "Splitted" presets from Matthias which are very rich!

Peace!

lol
I *carefully* worded what I said. .
It (your work) strikes me as it was designed for a genre that I do not generally go for...
You may indeed be very good at programming for many different genres, just you may have gotten the rep in edm and kept at it.

But I would say it is not my style....in general.
That is not to say they aren't some of your patches I like.. actually I think you did a bank for synthmaster that I favourited quite a few of them, and same for Avenger's Factory bank.

rsp

[clipnotic]

what's the problem with "modulation display", you simple right click on a knob and look at "modulated by" or "reset modulation" and you can link, see and reset the modulation source

[clipnotic]

So, you tried only version 1.4 many years ago, but writing such a big text of nonsense?

I have Avenger and had Zebra and Alchemy many years (sold both) and the filters of Rapid are much better!

To be fair he said he tried again

Yes, you're right!

[deejay2]

i have 1.8.0.2 version and do not see this new

Free sound package "Granular Elements".
155 Multi-Samples.
59 Sounds Presets.

how to import it?

[zvenx]

If I had to list one user on any forum whose ears I trust the most it would be bmaniac (although indeed he tends to a lot more 'nerdy' features than I ever want). Been reading his stuff for years and beta tested a few products with him too. That said, Rapid's simplicity is one of the things I like about it.

I too would like 2.0 to have even more filter choices.
rsp

[zvenx]

i have 1.8.0.2 version and do not see this new

Free sound package "Granular Elements".
155 Multi-Samples.
59 Sounds Presets.

how to import it?

Download it from your account and I believe it comes with its own installer.
rsp

[exmatproton]

i have 1.8.0.2 version and do not see this new

Free sound package "Granular Elements".
155 Multi-Samples.
59 Sounds Presets.

how to import it?

It is on the bottom of the list of downloadable content

[andrewbrewer]

The granular features here are very impressive

[bmanic]

Well, this update got me to try the Rapid demo once again (last time I tried it was v1.4 or something like that). While it has evolved nicely I still have the same issues with it as I've always had. It's just too simplistic.

There are a lot of basic tricks you can not do and the filters are a weak point. Yes, there are some quite nice LowPass filters in that list but a very limited section of highpass and bandpass ones. Would really want higher quality, more organic bandpass and HP versions.

The modulation system is very basic and is the main frustration point for me. Rapid really needs a 3rd "modifier" slot for the modulation matrix so that you could more easily modulate things via other modulators and modifiers. Also it's frustrating that some of the modulation ranges aren't doubled.. for instance key tracking. Now you'll have to use up multiple mod matrix slots to do some pretty simple things like keyboard scaling of various things.

.. and I'm really missing a way to do a custom shape of any modulator output as you can in Alchemy, VPS Avenger, Pigments, Zebra etc.

In general, this is a pretty simple thing and it quickly frustrates me when I want to create dynamic very playable presets that change a lot depending on velocity and over the keyboard range.

Oh well.. maybe once it hits version 2.0 it'll become a bit more synth-tweaker friendly?

So, you tried only version 1.4 many years ago, but writing such a big text of nonsense?

I have Avenger and had Zebra and Alchemy many years (sold both) and the filters of Rapid are much better!

What exactly in my post is nonsense? A few of the LowPass filters are very good and some of the more specialty things are ok but nothing special. The other basic shapes like High Pass and Band Pass are definitely not up to par with the LP filters.

Yeah, you go on keep on fanboying.. good for you.

[deejay2]

if you buy more expansions do you get additional discount like for example with nexus? are there any bundle offers for xpansions?

[bmanic]

-For custom shapes, i use the Sequence mods. Works like a charm.

Don't think you understood what I meant with custom shapes. I want to SHAPE the outgoing MODULATION SIGNAL, for instance key tracking so that I can precisely tune it to track the way I want it to track. As far as I can tell there is absolutely no way of doing this. It's one of the fundamental building blocks of something like Camel Audio Alchemy and one of the main reasons it is so powerful. You can custom shape any modulation source's input to any output target range.

Example of basic use for shaping key tracking:

Lets say you have a sound done that plays really nicely from C1 to around C3 but then as you go further up the keyboard some specific notes sound a bit shrill and resonant due to various synthesis parameters causing resonances and buildup of the fundamental frequency. What do you do? You could EQ it if it's one specific tone.. but what if it is always a multiple of a certain key that has the unwanted problems and thus happens in all octaves? This is where you make a custom key tracking modifier and then make it so that your problem is fixed for this specific key only. Now you got a nice even synth preset that doesn't need EQ nor compression to sound even and nice. End result is that it's nicer to play and fits better in a mix.

-The filters are very nice imho. Indeed, Rapid lacks a couple of good/different high pass filters, but to me there are other additions that make up for those, like a truly amazing COMB filter and the 'special' LP filters. I must admit that i usually use hp filters to filter a bit of the bottom out of the signal. So i personally don't need more hp filters.

HP and BP filters are very fundamental sound design tools.. not just basic "remove the lows" stuff. Especially in a synth that builds on layering sounds. It would be very nice to have good sounding "analogue like" HP and BP. Like the Vintage LP filter in Rapid (which sounds really good imho).

-i don't agree about the lack of modifiers per se. In most (if not all) modulation sources, there is a depth knob. One can mod that knob to achieve the same result.

Yes you can do a few work a rounds like that but what do you do if you want to have an envelope modulate the cutoff, then the envelope depth modulated by velocity which in turn is affected by the key tracking so that you get more aggressive envelope modulation on high key ranges (a quite simple scenario for some pluck sounds).

Flexible modulation is what in my opinion makes a synth truly "organic" in terms of keyboard playability.

Rapid already has a rudimentary modulation matrix. Most of these basics could be easily solved by allowing the actual matrix slots to be modulation targets.

Sure it isn't Falcon, or Reaktor, but it is a great workhorse. And with the addition of the granular engine, it only got better

I already got a lot of workhorse synthesizers (including Falcon and Reaktor) and also some that are more capable with similar feature sets (Avenger for instance but it has it's own silly quirks and stupid design decisions.. not to mention the horrible copy protection). Rapid's low CPU usage and awesome UI is what keeps me hoping for it to get more friendly for tinkers like me.

Rapid is for sure one of the best, if not THE best, synths for beginners to start out with. It does all the basics very well and is plenty capable when no deep diving is needed. It also seems to have quite a decent built in library and 3rd party support for more sounds, for those that don't make their own.

So yeah, don't get me wrong.. Rapid is undoubtedly great but with it's current feature set it isn't for me and I've outlined in my posts why that is the case.

[5Lives]

No MSEGs yet it seems, though apparently in 1.9. Wonder what the ETA is for that!