KVR Audio

LazyBaba · Post by **LazyBaba** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:07 pm

Hello!
My main DAW is FL Studio, and I am mostly using Serum & FLEX at the moment. Time to time Sytrus (but I find it’s not very comfortable to use).

What VSTi would be good companion for especially with Serum? Maybe something with more “softer” sound if you know what I mean?

I really enjoy using Serum & I find all the tutorials out there to be very helpful. But still, I do miss some warmer sounds. Suggestions?

My music style is focused heavily on EDM (interested in all EDM styles actually).

Couple of “demands”:
Free demo to try.
Not so “harsh” sound as Serum,
Good for especially leads.
No dongle or other complicated registration shenanigans.
Easy on CPU would be very good

vitocorleone123 · Post by **vitocorleone123** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:16 pm

Dune3 and Hive2 come to mind.

Or go analog emulation with Repro and get a mono and a poly. Or Diva might be closer. These aren’t as easy on the CPU, though if it’s an older one.

surreal · Post by **surreal** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:22 pm

Have a look at Zebra too.. it has a modern sound that can be less sterile than Serum.. look also at serum presets from Swan audio or Joseph Hollo.. they have nice "softer warmer sounds" that they have done for serum

surreal · Post by **surreal** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:24 pm

If you wanted to go warmer analogue flavor you can also look at Rob Papens Blue 2, BIT or even Predator2

don_sook · Post by **don_sook** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:42 pm

I would recommend a sample synthesis vsti like TAL Sampler. It does include emulation concerning the DACs featured in 90s hardware samplers - can sound quite soft, warm and vintage.

claudedefaren · Post by **claudedefaren** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:45 pm

parawave · Post by **parawave** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:15 pm

Consider Rapid.

You can load up your existing Serum wavetables.
Our users report that they are very pleased with the CPU consumption.

Our latest 1.8.0 update introduced Granular Synthesis, which allows you to create very soft and atmospheric sounds.

Here is a Demo Version .

Wish you much fun testing it.

Tannaliini · Post by **Tannaliini** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:44 pm

Ana2 offers some nicely warm sounds. And there is demo to try if it's offering the sound you are looking for

https://www.sonicacademy.com/products/ana-2

stillshaded · Post by **stillshaded** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:50 pm

haha.. well, my advise would be don't get more synths. Learn the ones you have.

But if you really need something different, a more analog style one. Try this free one from the maker of Diva:

https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/

you can get soft sounds with anything, you just have to learn what makes a "soft" sound.

Suburst · Post by **Suburst** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 7:02 pm

Get some expansions for serum, presets

Dencheg · Post by **Dencheg** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:43 pm

claudedefaren wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 5:45 pm Sylenth or Dune3.

Hive is heavy on CPU, almost as bad as Serum.

Sylenth and Dune are super light. Dune is like Sylenth on steroids. Filters are excellent. Has that warmth you're after.

I'm not sure if it's true regarding Hive. It was designed with sparing CPU in mind.
May be it got more demanding with Hive 2 due to WT addition.

But it's true that Sylenth and Dune 3 are light.
Dune 3 has been "medical marvel" to me since I learned that it's as light as Sylenth (while being one of the top sounding instruments).
In other topic there was a hot discussion if it's "tightly coded" and what does this mean at all. But yeah, if something is tightly coded, it's Dune 3

But regarding original question: somehow I think that Spire is a great companion for Serum. I mean, Dune doesn't need companions, it's you who needs a companion if Dune has you (jokes aside - I think Dune and Serum overlap a bit more then Spire and Serum)
And yes, all (modern commercial) synths can do everything, but name your genres, brethren!

gondii · Post by **gondii** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:58 pm

While you're at it, give Phase Plant a shot.

claudedefaren · Post by **claudedefaren** » Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:17 pm

audiot · Post by **audiot** » Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:24 am

claudedefaren wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:17 pm I do know that the non-wavetable oscillators in Hive 2 are still very CPU heavy and near-Serum levels, even though u-he chopped off random high frequency content on every note it plays (non-wavetable oscs only) to try and reduce the CPU hit.

The wavetable oscs only use 1% more CPU on my system. U-he marketing plays up the "light on CPU" bit but they seem to be aware that it isn't. I felt a little deceived when I got it to be honest, but I don't care cause it's an amazing synth and my favorite.

Even if you play polyphonic with all voices and all fx enabled, Hive never exceeds a certain amount of processing power (and this is something around 10% on my i7-4470K from 2013). Would you be more happy if u-he said: "We've found a good compromise between sound quality, features and CPU usage"?

BTW: My recommendaton to the OP would be Zebra ... tons of features, very CPU-friendly and it can sound warm

Tannaliini · Post by **Tannaliini** » Sat Oct 10, 2020 7:31 am

How about Viper? What I've heard from it/tested it, it sounds quite nice. Not sure if fits for softer sounds, but at least I didn't find it sounding cold or harsh. Maybe that would be one option since if I remember correctly, it has easy registeration system + should be easy on CPU (owners of Viper can confirm or say if I'm wrong).
https://www.adamszabo.com/vstplugins/viper/

Serum & what else?