Spire Synthesizer

[briefcasemanx]

Yeah maybe it doesn't have all the features of others but I suppose I lumped it into the supersynths category because it's very often compared with those other synths.

And yeah I use septate instances for my synth layering. I prefer to use all the cool insert fx I've bought per layer. I bet some synths have ways to output the different layers to different tracks in your DAW but I just haven't looked into it because I haven't needed to as I don't have any complaints with my current workflow.

[BONES]

I don't really uderstand what people call "supersynths" tho. It seems that some say "supersynth" whenever they hear the presets massively layered, arpeggiated and drenched in effects (which can be found even in Sylenth lol)

I'd call something a supersynth (actually, I prefer the term ubersynth) if its features make it hard to categorise with other synths. e.g. You can't call Pigments a V/A because it does granular, so I'd call it an Ubersynth. But you can definitely call Vital a wavetable synth so it probably doesn't qualify. With DUNE, you have a 3-op FM sound engine, which makes it hard to see it as just a V/A synth. I don't see layering as a defining quality, simply because it's trivial to load up as many layers of any VSTi as you like and relatively simple Kontakt instruments like BasSynth have multiple layers (4) built in.

With Spire, it doesn't seem to have the variety of sound engines to qualify. It still looks like a V/A to me, albeit one with some pretty interesting oscillators. I'd put Thorn in the same category, both are maybe aspiring to Ubersynthhood but not quite getting there.

[recursive one]

I don't really uderstand what people call "supersynths" tho. It seems that some say "supersynth" whenever they hear the presets massively layered, arpeggiated and drenched in effects (which can be found even in Sylenth lol)

I'd call something a supersynth (actually, I prefer the term ubersynth) if its features make it hard to categorise with other synths. e.g. You can't call Pigments a V/A because it does granular, so I'd call it an Ubersynth. But you can definitely call Vital a wavetable synth so it probably doesn't qualify. With DUNE, you have a 3-op FM sound engine, which makes it hard to see it as just a V/A synth. I don't see layering as a defining quality, simply because it's trivial to load up as many layers of any VSTi as you like and relatively simple Kontakt instruments like BasSynth have multiple layers (4) built in.

With Spire, it doesn't seem to have the variety of sound engines to qualify. It still looks like a V/A to me, albeit one with some pretty interesting oscillators. I'd put Thorn in the same category, both are maybe aspiring to Ubersynthhood but not quite getting there.

I won't call Spire a supersynth either (whatever that means lol), but to be fair it also has an FM engine, even two different ones, and also an unique "vowel" oscillator. The VA engine is also quite advanced, with a possibility to morph between a saw and different complex shapes and also AM sync and saw PWM oscillators which may be seen as some kind of advanced extension of VA.

It can't import audio in any way, so no resynthesis, no granular, even no wavetables, but I'm fine with that, as I said I prefer synths that do few things really well to synths that try to do everything.

[BONES]

Me too. I'd much rather have half-a-dozen synths that each do one thing properly than one synth that does half-a-dozen different things, even if it does them just as well.

[chk071]

With Spire, it doesn't seem to have the variety of sound engines to qualify. It still looks like a V/A to me, albeit one with some pretty interesting oscillators.

It is, basically.

I still hope that it gets wavetable oscillators with wavetable import one day. That would bring its possibilities to a whole new level.

[BONES]

But how would that help you? Surely you already have a dozen wavetable synths? I sure as hell do and the last thing I need or want is another one.

[octaveup]

But how would that help you? Surely you already have a dozen wavetable synths? I sure as hell do and the last thing I need or want is another one.

^ extremely wise, though can think of an exception:

if the workflow, filters, etc. of a synth really suit a person, then if it gets a new feature, they can use all the stuff they already know about it in new and maybe even better ways

for me, it happened once: VPS Avenger (which i don't use any more because of the stupid licencing system) added granular synthesis, and within 10 minutes i had added that as a layer to a bunch of my pre-existing patches - it was a fun time

[chk071]

But how would that help you? Surely you already have a dozen wavetable synths? I sure as hell do and the last thing I need or want is another one.

^ extremely wise, though can think of an exception:

if the workflow, filters, etc. of a synth really suit a person, then if it gets a new feature, they can use all the stuff they already know about it in new and maybe even better ways

That's the point.

[BONES]

if the workflow, filters, etc. of a synth really suit a person, then if it gets a new feature, they can use all the stuff they already know about it in new and maybe even better ways.

Sorry, still don't see the point. Mostly I see that it's likely to ruin the workflow and make the synth harder to use and, ultimately, less enjoyable, so you're likely to stop using it. That's happened to me with both DUNE and Hive. Maybe it only happens with synths that have four letter names? If so, Spire may just manage to avoid the trap.

[Effectsworks]

I think Spire is a good synth... It's a shame that the devs have slowed down. I mean, when it was first launched it was getting regular updates, etc. Where's V2??

[buzz1]

Me too. I'd much rather have half-a-dozen synths that each do one thing properly than one synth that does half-a-dozen different things, even if it does them just as well.

Why? One synth would cost much less than six. Using six instances of a single VST would use much less CPU than six single instance separates. Also you could really concentrate on developing sounds in a single environment rather than having to find your way round six different ones.

[chk071]

I think Spire is a good synth... It's a shame that the devs have slowed down. I mean, when it was first launched it was getting regular updates, etc. Where's V2??

It still gets regular updates: https://reveal-sound.com/content/changelog.php?spire

"Where's V2??"

Good question. Where's Sylenth1 V2? Where's Zebra 3? Noone can tell.

[Reefius]

Where's Sylenth1 V2?

Sylenth1 is actually on V3 already

[Effectsworks]

Where's Zebra 3?

Well, it won't be here in a Spire thread!

Seriously tho', I would like to know where V3 Zebra is as well.

[recursive one]

That's happened to me with both DUNE and Hive. Maybe it only happens with synths that have four letter names? If so, Spire may just manage to avoid the trap.

IDK, I think Hive2 was a good example of how to add things without ruining the worklfow. If you don't need WTs or Shape Sequencers of Function gens you can just ignore them.

Actually I became interested in Hive only when it got wavetables.

I don't remember much of Dune1 (had the CM one installed years back but don't rememebr using it much) but I think Dune3 also has quite manageable worklow overall.

As for Spire, it covers enough sonic range as it is. There are few things I'd really like to see, such as audio-rate modulation and global unison. Other than that it's pretty complete.

If they come up with a WT oscillator emulating Virus' Formant Complex I wouldn't mind tho But they were making preset browser for like 2 years so it indeed seems that they have slowed down quite a bit.