Serum vs Synthmaster One for a beginner sound design student

[zzz00m]

To each his own, but... every time I try Synthmaster, or use SM One, the sound is so utterly uninspiring to me. Like picking up a guitar which has been played for 10 years without changing the strings.

Sorry Bulent, no offense meant. Just my opinion. The synths are great bang for the buck, if you happen to like the sound.

With all due respect, I have to wonder what you listened to? Sound is not the weak point of SynthMaster by any means, at least in the latest 2.9 version. Given good oscillators and filters, the sound is all in the sound designer's, or your hands. The tools are there to make great sounds.

And if you were not aware, the new zero delay feedback filters (ladder, diode, state variable, and bite) were added in more recent releases (back ported from SM One), but the original factory presets and expansions were not 'remastered' to use them. Using the new filters is mostly a DIY project at this point, except for a few more recent expansion banks that were created using them. For example Big Tone's Analog Basics & Basics 02 have the new filters, plus Tableworks 01 & 02 have the new filters, as well as the fully enabled wavetable oscillators in action. Very inspiring!

Take a listen to the factory presets in SM One and 2 by Kevin Schroeder, synthesizer sound design for Synapse Audio, u-he, Hans Zimmer, and more. Great examples.

Or listen to those by Big Tone. He has set all sorts of modulations in effect on many presets, with the mod and pitch wheel (acting like a 2nd mod wheel), as well as velocity and aftertouch.

There may be a few other ways these synths fall short, but IMHO it ain't in the sound department.

[chk071]

With all due respect, I have to wonder what presets you listened to?

I own Synthmaster One, and I used to own Synthmaster. I don't use or listen to presets. I always do my own sounds.

And, I don't consider presets as a good measure stick for the sound of ANY synth, especially when they're drowned in onboard effects. I much prefer to judge by the raw sound of the synth itself. And it's utterly uninspiring to me.

No point in discussing about it. If you think I'm wrong, hey... who am I to convince you of anything else? Synthmaster still is utterly uninspiring for me. If you allow me this opinion.

[zzz00m]

With all due respect, I have to wonder what presets you listened to?

I own Synthmaster One, and I used to own Synthmaster. I don't use or listen to presets. I always do my own sounds.

You were typing your reply as I removed "preset" from my first sentence. I realized after posting that 'p' word you would probably object to that, and that wasn't really my point in any case.

My point is that some well regarded sound designers can make inspiring sounds with this thing. Those inspiring sounds can then inspire one to learn how the synth really works, to make their own.

Obviously you don't think so and I'm fine with your opinion! I was just wondering if you had really listened to the version with the latest updates and was providing information about them. I was merely referencing presets as examples.

I understand your position, and I'm ready to move along.

[chk071]

With all due respect, I have to wonder what presets you listened to?

I own Synthmaster One, and I used to own Synthmaster. I don't use or listen to presets. I always do my own sounds.

You were typing your reply as I removed "preset" from my first sentence. I realized after posting that 'p' word you would probably object to that, and that wasn't really my point in any case.

My point is that some well regarded sound designers can make inspiring sounds with this thing. Those inspiring sounds can then inspire one to learn how the synth really works, to make their own.

TBH, I'd even disagree with that. But, we're really just arguing about taste here.

It's kind of a general thing here and elsewhere: You say you don't like a certain thing, and people will try to find arguments why you are wrong. There's no real argument when I say that my favorite colour is blue. (even though I think it's a bit more than that, but, let's forget that for now)

Anyway, no offense taken. I'm glad you understood why I think this is not really worth a discussion, and that it's just my opinion, and my taste in synths. I like some synths, and I dislike some synths. I think that's pretty normal.

[EnGee]

I think the weak point of Synthmaster One (don't know if it is the same for the big brother), is the effects. I was playing with the presets yesterday and when I disable the effects, I get a much nicer sound! Now, some presets are great, but most of them are better off without effects. It really shines though when I added some reverb from Valhalla. Anyway, IMO Synthmaster is not in the same group with Serum or Vital, but with the same group as Dune 3 (which has excellent effects) and maybe Hive 2.

Serum has a sharp edgy sound character and it is the same with Vital. I prefer Massive X here as it is more versatile than Serum or SynthMaster because it has more than one character and can do both the sharp and edgy from one side and the round, smooth sounds from other side.

[ecasasmusic2]

If you choose Serum, try Vital before. The free version is fully functional (only without all the presets and wavetables, but you can get free wavetables from the internet) and it is similar but even better than Serum for sound design.
If you choose Synthmaster I would buy Synthmaster 2.9 instead of Synthmaster One. You will have more options and less limitations. And it is on sale now in certain plugin store.

[FathomSynth]

I'll have to chip in for SynthMaster. I use it all the time. So clean and smooth. Mixes well. Plays well with other synths. Also the fact that it was one of the original super synths and its still one of the best speaks volumes for their game plan. I always like to buy a synth that I know will be around a long time and continually get upgrades. I've had some great synths over the years which ended up disappearing but SynthMaster is still going strong. They didn't set the bar, they are the bar.

[arkmabat]

I wouldn't start on a wavetable synth, seeing as most beginner's tutorials won't even cover that. I'm getting older though, and maybe Serum has whole year-long classes now, for all I know.

[digitalboytn]

I wouldn't start on a wavetable synth, seeing as most beginner's tutorials won't even cover that. I'm getting older though, and maybe Serum has whole year-long classes now, for all I know.

What's wrong with inserting some basic waveforms in the oscillators and starting from there ?

You can easily run SM2 as a VA synth....

A turbo charged one

[crickey13]

The FX section in Synthmaster is solid for the most part, I just rarely use it because the base sound engine and the unison sound so good it's no use spoiling it with the wishy-washy sound of FX.

[chk071]

I wouldn't start on a wavetable synth, seeing as most beginner's tutorials won't even cover that.

Normally, I would agree, if someone would suggest anything else than subtractive for a starter, but, wavetable is really not very hard, or vastly different to that. And, I also consider it a good idea to get a quality synth from the beginning, if you're sure that synths are your thing. So... green light for that from my perspective.

Enough tutorials for the synths mentioned available as well.

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

Download Synth1+Firebird +Vital and some of last free fx you are ready to make pro music by today standard
Cheers

[Biome_Digital]

Serum is an excellent synth for leaning sound design with it's super efficient modulation system and rock solid stability.

[Biome_Digital]

If you have an idea for a wavetable synth which is simpler and friendlier than both, please tell me.

Thanks in advance.

PIGMENTS! For what you want, you can't beat it!

[Biome_Digital]

I have Synthmaster One as well. Presets are really not a good measure for synthesizer sound.

Check out my audio demo for the bass expansion. This is how SM1 can sound:

https://newloops.com/products/synthmast ... -expansion