What are the best of these synths?

[Andrew189]

Hi friends, I've been reading the site for a while and I'm studying the world of synths.
I bought many synths (many free), but I would like to know which one is best suited to my projects.
I'm not going to spend any more money, so don't recommend expensive synths please.
I am a beginner, and I have read negative opinions about some of them.

My projects will be soundtracks, specifically
- Synth String
- Arp & Lead for sci fi bakground
- Bass
- Ambient
- I don't like presets, and I would like to build my sound from the beginning

Which of these synths are the best for my projects?
- Hybrid 3
- Vacuum Pro
- Waves Element 2
- Orb Synth
- Loom 2
- Kilohearts One
- Wa Imperfect
- Wa Babylon
- Uvi Digital Synsations
- Ni Analog Dream
- All CM Synth (Thorn Cm etc.)
- Mai Tai (Studio One)
- Iris 2
- Free Syntronix Ik Multimedia (only ob-xa Full)

Thank you very much!

[Passing Bye]

Use them and figure it out, how do you expect anyone else to know what you find the best for your own sound design.

[chk071]

The real question is whose opinion is the best. Might need another poll after you gathered all the replies in this thread.

[Andrew189]

I've tried them all but I'm confused, because they sound very similar to me (except Loom and Uvi).
I know everyone has a different opinion, and it would help me to read them all, I don't want to wage a war on who is right.

[sbj]

You should definitely check out CM Aalto. Very good for sci-fi stuff and many, many other sounds. The only limitation is you have one voice instead of 4 in the full version.

[alberto_balsalm]

I've tried them all but I'm confused, because they sound very similar to me

Sound is far from the only thing that matters. The UI and the user experience, scalability of the UI, preset browser, support and long term support, performance, stability, bugs, all of this stuff matters a great deal too.

[Andrew189]

Thanks for your answers.
I was expecting direct answers, but I think I was wrong to ask this question.
So synths don't have a specific musical genre? Aren't they created with a specific genre of music in mind?

@sbj
thanks for the advice, I'll try it today !!

@alberto
Thanks Alberto, I think they are things to consider.
Element gui for example is a square and I have some problems.
Another thing I hate the Wa Production system, after 3 activations (even on the same PC) you need to contact support.
By now I have spent money and I cannot discard it just for this.

[Passing Bye]

So synths don't have a specific musical genre? Aren't they created with a specific genre of music in mind?

Of course not, at least majority try to make great synth to be used everywhere, there's handful of vendors that cater to specific crowd, but those are mainly for hip hop, trap and variants and mostly romplers.

Hybrid 3 is great all around capable synth, Surge too, there's also new interesting Vital, see what clicks with you the most.

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
https://vital.audio/

[SneakyBeats]

Tbh you can use pretty much any of those synths to do any of those things

Challenge yourself.. Personal one synth challenge of "hey I'll build a track using only Iris2" or something. You'll learn alot. Or using only the stock synth(s) your DAW has.

[Gone soft]

If you click woth Surge it's recommended because it's got both the oldschool virtual analogue sounds and proper wavetable scanning oscillators and more. It requires you to kind of overlook what you find more advanced funtionality until it starts making sense of it and focus and what makes sense to you. This way you have what you would have had in a simpler synth yet the synth kind of continues to grow with you as you start figuring out more stuff.

If you find it distracting that that there's stuff in there you won't understand right away even though it can be safely ignored and you can start from an init patch and follow most patch tips for traditional subtractice synthesis to learn the basics it might not be for you. Worth a try?

Free and opensource, keeps beeing improved upon: https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/

[Polomo123]

surge too, there's also new interesting vital, see what clicks with you the most.

https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
https://vital.audio/

Totally agree here

vital is the best in visuals to see what you're doing. (very beginner-friendly )
Take the free one , you'll need the paid ones not really . (It helps the developer to make it better that should be considered)

Call me a smart ass but many on this list aren't really synths
vacuum Pro (analog subtractive )
hybrid 3 (wavetable)
waves element 2 (wavetable)
Orb Synth (wavetable ? never worked with it )
kilohearts One (subtractive )
All CM Synth (thorn Cm etc.) (thor spectral)
Mai Tai (subtractive)
Wa Imperfect (never worked with it)
Wa babylon (never worked with it)
loom 2 (additive)

- iris2 (well, complicated sample based synth )

- uvi digital synsations (Samples)
- Ni Analog Dream (Samples)
- Free syntronix Ik multimedia (only ob-xa Full) (Samples)

On this list Loom 2 would be my favorite because it's the most interesting IMHO .


Also try dexed
https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
because an FM synth is missing on your list

So synths don't have a specific musical genre? Aren't they created with a specific genre of music in mind?

Well, technically every synth can be used for every style of music

Some are a bit better for some styles . And if a synth missing stuff like modulation, comb filter or some other effects, some sounds can't be made .
dubstep without a modulation source is nearly to imposible . (but every synth and sample based instrument on your list got some sort of Modulation , )

[Andrew189]

Thanks for the explanation guys !

@Passing Bye
I didn't know these synths look really cool.
I have to try them!

@SneakyBeats
It would be a good challenge, good advice.

@Gone soft
I like Open Source projects, and I will try it for sure.
I read that it is the favorite of the KVR community, there must be a reason!

@Polomo123
This is very useful, it was another thing I wanted to ask (type of synth I own)
I love the Loom sound, especially the bell-like ones and the pads.
However, I find it very difficult to use, the manual does not explain very well.

[SneakyBeats]

I love the Loom sound, especially the bell-like ones and the pads.
However, I find it very difficult to use, the manual does not explain very well.

That's why we have this button called random

[telecharge]

My projects will be soundtracks, specifically
- Synth String
- Arp & Lead for sci fi bakground
- Bass
- Ambient
- I don't like presets, and I would like to build my sound from the beginning

Based on this list and what you have, I would start with IRIS 2 if your computer can run it well.

It has lots of sounds that would be great starting points for those kind of projects. The manual is good, and iZotope has some decent tutorials on their website.

But if you're looking to learn synthesis and make your sounds from scratch, then spend some time trying out what you already have and see which one(s) you like. Once you're better acquainted, it will be easier to ask questions and find what you're looking for.

[Teksonik]

My projects will be soundtracks

I would say for Soundtracks Wusikstation is hard to beat. You can get it for $10 now.

Also instead of Air's Hybrid 3 I'd say Air's XPand! 2 would be better suited for Soundtracks.

But the bottom line is we can only recommend synths. We can't possibly answer what's best for you, your needs, your style.

Only you can answer the question what is best for you. You have to put in the time, put in the work to find which tools suit you the best. There is no shortcut.

You'll get plenty of opinions including the one I just gave but the only opinion that matters is your own.