What are the best of these synths?

[Mathematics]

When I first started building my synth library, one of the first synths that ended up getting used the most was Sylenth1. I understand you're not into presets and not looking to spend much, but because there were so many presets made by the community is why I invested in it. That said...you claim to be a beginner, therefore I say there is value in loading synth presets to discover the sounds created by the parameters dialed in. This can help eliminate guesswork the longer you experiment with it. Just because there are thousands of amazing presets for that particular synth doesn't mean you have to load any of them, but as a beginner, I would suggest getting something similar to that synth and use it as a learning tool and stepping stone to more accurately understand its strengths and limitations. This may lead you down a path where you may find something like Omnisphere more practical. There is no "best" synth, as people have stated. You need to try all of them out. One tip is to stack synths and layer sounds. "Pro?"-tip: While you do that, perhaps layer synths that fill up the frequency band fully and not clutter a single band; meaning, one synth adds low and mids while the other adds highs. Careful with timbres. I think all the suggestions you've received are worthy contenders; maybe layer them to discover and sculpt a new sound.

[Andrew189]

That's why we have this button called random

@telecharge
Yes, I found Iris very interesting, different from everyone else.
There are dozens of samples, and intuitive modulations ... and yes ... the user manual is very long
I didn't know about the Tutorials, thanks for the advice!

@Teksonic
Thanks for the advice, I will try Soundtracks Wusikstation.
I also have xPand! 2, there are tons of sounds and I use it for quick projects. Unfortunately, I can't change the sounds, and not all of them are that good.

For my soundtracks I have already prepared some orchestra libraries (Sonnivox Film Companion, it's cheap but for now I think it's fine) and piano libraries.
I don't want to use only Synths, but I would like to combine them to create something new, and give a personal and non-traditional touch.

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

Or sure, that's for sure.
I'm getting a lot of interesting and Synth tips that I didn't know about.
Then I'll decide what's best for me

@Mathematics
Yes this is true.
I hadn't thought of this way to study.
I would like to create my own sound, sound design fascinates me, but maybe I'm skipping some studio steps
Omnisphere is a plugin I would like to have, but it costs a lot, and I would like to learn well first

[Teksonik]

I also have xPand! 2, there are tons of sounds and I use it for quick projects. Unfortunately, I can't change the sounds, and not all of them are that good.

Out of curiosity why can't you change the sounds in XPand!2 ?

[mixyguy2]

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)

- Iris 2 (well, complicated sample based synth )

I wouldn't call you a smart ass, but I would say you're incorrect Well I can't speak to WA stuff but the others are absolutely synths.

Agree w/those who said try some freebies that you haven't yet, there's so many good ones out there...the u-he stuff, others already mentioned like Vital and Surge, I'd add FB3300, on and on it goes.

[Polomo123]

The last 3 are non synths :

- Uvi digital Synsations (Samples)
- Ni Analog Dream (Samples)
- Free Syntronix Ik Multimedia (only ob-xa Full) (Samples)

For a better view I separated the synth the mixed and the non synths (Sample based stuff )

And for all others I gave the type of synthesis used .

the "on this list " was his (Andrew189) original Post

"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)
- iris2
- Free syntronix Ik Multimedia (only ob-xa Full)"

[BONES]

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.

OK, hopefully this will help without causing you any undue financial distress. First of all, if you want to do strings, you'll need something that can play samples. My suggestion is Zampler, which is now being looked after by Plugin Boutique but is still free - https://www.pluginboutique.com/meta_pro ... Expansions
There are plenty of sample packs for it that are either free or only $5 or so. Just do a web search for them.

While you are over at Plugin Boutique, check out Soundspot's Union - https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/ ... ion-Bundle
The bundle is only $7 more than the plugin by itself and for that money you get a brilliant sounding synth. The workflow isn't necessarily the best but the sound is incredible. It is easily my most used synth and it will handle any synth sounds you need. Sometimes you can pick it up for under $10, too.

Of the others in your list, Vacuum Pro is a stand-out. It's easily worth a couple of hundred and is capable of a huge variety of sounds. Babylon, Imperfect and Kilohearts One are all good, too, but more limited than Vac Pro.

Another good choice that's regularly under $20 is Sektor - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/sektor ... io/details
As a wavetable synth, you might find it good for long, evolving soundtrack type things and its sample oscillator makes for more realistic strings and stuff like that.

If you are a Studio One user, you also have Presence, which is an excellent ROMpler with loads of content available. ROMplers and samplers are pretty much essential tools if you want to do soundtrack work so don't overlook it.

[SneakyBeats]

Sektor - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/sektor ... io/details
As a wavetable synth, you might find it good for long, evolving soundtrack type things and its sample oscillator makes for more realistic strings and stuff like that.

This is one weird synth for me. I never use it, but every time I'm going to uninstall it and sell the license, I "test it one more time" to see if it's any use. Then I manage to make something very unique and good sounding and I'm like "omfg how come I never use this!" and then forget it again

[Polomo123]

First of all, if you want to do strings, you'll need something that can play samples.

Another good choice that's regularly under $20 is sektor - https://www.kvraudio.com/product/sektor ... io/details
As a wavetable synth, you might find it good for long, evolving soundtrack type things and its sample oscillator makes for more realistic strings and stuff like that.

Ok first I disagree on the Statement that he needs something that can play samples for string sounds.
With a bit of sound design knowledge every synth can make some pretty awesome string sounds.
Some of my fav. string sound from Synth:


Second sektor .

It's a strange beast . Tried it, lots of crashes. (circa .1 year ago )

[Andrew189]

Out of curiosity why can't you change the sounds in XPand!2 ?

I have seen that I can modify them a little, combining more sounds.
Are there more advanced options?

[Andrew189]

@BONES
Thanks for your help
I saw that they also give away samples with Beat magazine.
I need to see if I find the exact packages I need.

Regarding Union, I wanted to buy it but then I chose imperfect.

I like Vacuum, it has a particular analog sound.
But I wonder why many of these synths don't have a sine wave, I would use them for bass sounds.

I put Sector on the list to try.
Presence I'm studying it, but I can't find good sounds, and sometimes there are problems with the midi keyboard.

[Teksonik]

Out of curiosity why can't you change the sounds in XPand!2 ?

I have seen that I can modify them a little, combining more sounds.
Are there more advanced options?

Oh I thought you meant you couldn't change patches.

If you look at the 4 Parts as Oscillators in a larger synth you can build up some pretty cool sounds. Each Part exposes six parameters that can be edited like Cutoff, Release, etc.

There aren't the editing capabilities of deeper synths but it's still possible to make your own sounds.

Here's some I did early on after first getting XPand.

Xpand!2 Teksonik 01

[Andrew189]

sorry, i'm italian, i don't know english well, and i help with google translator.
I certainly expressed myself badly.
I'm curious to try your presets, I'll let you know

[BONES]

Ok first I disagree on the Statement that he needs something that can play samples for string sounds.
With a bit of sound design knowledge every synth can make some pretty awesome string sounds.
Some of my fav. string sound from Synth:

I stopped listening as soon as the first Zebra strings came on. He had obviously made it much louder so it would sound better. But the problem is that it's just one type of strings sound. What you get with any half-decent sample library is a broad range of options. e.g. How would Zebra go doing the part you can hear from about the 48 second mark here?



I use whatever tool is going to get the job done, I don't care if it's a V/A synth or a Kontakt instrument or an SFZ loaded into Zampler, as long as it gives me what I need with the least hassle. NOVO Essentials, for example, is awesome and it is every bit as much a synth as Zebra is. If you are so biased/blinkered/blind that you can't see that, just because it uses samples instead of single-cycle waveforms or wavetables or something, I feel sorry for you.

[zerocrossing]

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!

That list is really all over the place. Syntronix and Iris 2? Sure, both good but you could almost not get further apart.

If I were you and broke, I’d not buy anything and root around for the best freeware synths like Surge and Tyrell. Those both sound great and have decent amounts of features to keep you busy. In the meantime, save your pennies for something like Falcon or Omnisphere.

[Andrew189]

I'm back! I'm still looking for my Synth.
Someone had recommended Wusik Station, I saw it was on sale and I tried it.
I honestly don't like it, it has a lot of bugs, the GUI is small and I can't read: it looks like a very old pluygin.
I have a lot of difficulty using it
Have any of you tried it?
I also saw Union Synth on sale, what do you think? Can you resize the gui?