How many virtual instruments of each kind do you actually use?

[kvotchin]

So most of us probably own more plugins than we typically use much, if at all. That's a given.

But, like the title says - do you actually use multiple, say, wavetable synths .. ? Samplers (not counting such things as Kontakt, which usually are there mostly to load up libraries) .. ? Et cetera.

Just curious. Also, I've recently stripped my softsynths back to "what I need", so one of each kind. We'll see how that goes, of course.

[Vortifex]

Edited

[gentleclockdivider]

Analogue , V.a. flavour : reaktor , zebra , Talmod , tranzistow
FM flavour : reaktor , zebra , dexed , tranzistow
Spectral ,additive , Zebra , reaktor
1:1 emulations : abl3 , tal bassline , herman seib ppg , pg8x
Sampling :renoise

While in essence all available synthesis methods can be achieved with reaktor and tranzistow , I oftengrab for less cpu intensive plugins like zebra , a perfect balance between quality and cpu usage
I seriously don't need anything else

[wagtunes]

I don't look at synths that way. I don't say "I need a wavetable synth for this song in order to make this sound." I look at each synth the same way and decide which one I think will give me the best sound for the track that I'm doing that I'm looking for. Sometimes it's not even a synth. Sometimes it's a sample library or a lone sample that I load into Kontakt. Sometimes it's something in Omnisphere. Sometimes Synth1 is all I need to do what I need to do.

Lately, I've been more into "non synth sounding" music. Meaning stuff that sounds like a rock band. So I find myself using the following a lot.

MODO Drums
MODO Bass
Music Labs Real Guitars Series
VSL Orchestral Libraries

And then maybe I'll sprinkle in a pad or synth lead, But for the most part, I've been spending more time on realistic instrument simulations than synth sounds.

But to me, synths are synths. I don't see type.

[SneakyBeats]

I could probably do it well with having only one synth of each synthesis type.. But I have some bought second hand and those can't be sold anymore so.. I'm stuck with a bunch of each type.

[vurt]

42.

[Gamma-UT]

42.

And that's just the virtual analogues.

[courtjestr]

42.

The answer to life, the universe, and everything.

[FapFilter]

1x VA
1x Wavetable
2x Samplers (1x for melodic stuff, 1x for percussion / drums)

But i plan to add an Übersynth to that arsenal whenever / if Zebra 3 might surface

[glokraw]

So most of us probably own more plugins than we typically use much, if at all. That's a given.

But, like the title says - do you actually use multiple

I go by sounds, not by plugins. I use lot's of sounds, and always trying
more. It's like buying oranges, you can buy a bag, a crate, or a single item.
And knowing the skin thickness, ripeness, and overall condition, is crucial
with oranges!

An instrument with one sound or feature I love is better than three
with sounds or features I like, but that lack the love potion

I should add that my taste in sounds has changed dramatically in the past 5 years,
so I have to keep going back and re-searching older purchases.

[jancivil]

I am def. not one to have [many] redundancies in synths. Multiple wavetable synths sounds more like ferengi acquisitiveness than creative to me.
I have around 40 individ. 'instruments' in this project, I think ten are orchestra sections, using 7 different instrument plugins. One is a synth, Absynth. I use my shit, tho.

[Halonmusic]

One VA for bass, another VA for synthy sounds, yet another VA for pads. Stringmachine (VST) for ... strings Sonic Charge Cyclone/Luxonix Purity for rompler sounds

[layzer]

typically -

one drum vst - Linplug RMiV
one VA for bass - Elektro, charlatan, minimoogv, Asynth
one VA for synth sounds - synth1, obxd,pg8x
one rompler for pads - M1, WS, or Ravity
one WT or sampler for leads - Surge, SQ8L and Zampler
one various for arps - EnergyPro, Vanguard, DuneBE, Albino3, Toxic3, Vstation
one FM, PM or Additive for keys - OXEfm, PlastiCZ and Microtera

[foosnark]

There's no particular sense in having just one "kind" of synth when the variety within that "kind" is so vast.

What I tend to use now, aside from hardware, is:

Aalto (FM, distortion synthesis, basic physical modeling and/or subtractive... generally "West Coast")
Bitwig Grid (additive, subtractive, FM, phase modulation, AM, distortion synthesis, phase modulation, VOSIM, physical modeling, granular or whatever... modular!)
Bitwig Organ (additive)
Buchla Easel V (FM, distortion synthesis, "West Coast")
Chipsounds (partially sample-based synthesis, emulation of 70s and 80s computer and video game sound; some models have filters)
Chipsynth MD (FM, emulation of Sega Genesis)
Chipsynth PortaFM (FM, emulation of Yamaha PSS keyboards)
Fundamental (additive, emulation of test equipment oscillators)
LuSH-101 (subtractive)

[audiot]

42.

The answer to life, the universe, and everything.

Bullshit! The answer to life, the universe, and everything is REAPER! There is a fundamental mistake in the formula. I've corrected that!