I concur but will add TyrellN6 to that basket. Here is what you need, rest is GAS and pedantry (which I somewhat suffer from myself, but it is under better control than 5 years ago).rob_lee wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 10:33 pm This is my favourite FREE synth, fantastic for all kinds of sounds.
https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker
Why do I seem to like free synths better ?
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- Banned
- 995 posts since 4 Feb, 2021
Tribe Of Hǫfuð https://soundcloud.com/user-228690154 "First rule: From one perfect consonance to another perfect consonance one must proceed in contrary or oblique motion." Johann Joseph Fux 1725.
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- KVRAF
- 35405 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Some basic 6/8 voice virtual analogs wouldn't be remotely enough "what I need", but, YMMV. Apart from that, I always found Tyrell N6 kinda cold. TAL-Noisemaker is more to my liking, but, it has some shortcomings as well, like the slow envelopes. I also think that Patrick did some better filters later, but, the filters in TAL-Noisemaker are pretty good.
I probably could do any sound I could imagine with something like Largo (or Massive X) though. But then, we talk about free synths here, which is why I wrote this earlier:
I probably could do any sound I could imagine with something like Largo (or Massive X) though. But then, we talk about free synths here, which is why I wrote this earlier:
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2388 posts since 28 Mar, 2007
I have a licence for Massive X, but I prefer to use Synth1. Massive X gives me a headache just to look at. Synth1 is simple. I like simple things.
And why do NI have to give such stupid names to everything ?
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- KVRAF
- 35405 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
I can relate to that. Synth1 doesn't sound nearly as good as Massive X, or other payware synths though. It's limited to 32 voices, which sucks when you use unison as well. It's filters aren't up to par with better payware, it sounds thin compared. The fx' suck. IMO.
Dunno. I think they have nice naming for their stuff. But then, I couldn't care less if the synth's name is "Pink Elephant from Wonderland", if it sounds decent.
I even use a synth called "Oberhausen".
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2388 posts since 28 Mar, 2007
And of course a Gibson guitar sounds better than a Strat.
And give me a Steinway over Bosendorfer any day !
Big Mac versus Burger King etc etc ad infinitum.
Last edited by dellboy on Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 35405 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
You know... I don't think any violinist would argue about a $50 violin from Amazon sounding worse than a Stradivari. 
That doesn't mean that cost is an indicator of quality, but, it's not like people like to throw money out of the window for the sake of it. I wasted so much time on inferior stuff (free- and magware)that I only can recommend every beginner who has at least a bit of motivation to start with a good payware synth (considering you demo'd thoroughly to find out what suits you). Won't really break the bank, and it will save you a lot of disappointement.
If you like freeware, then just use it. No need for insecure threads asking for confirmation.
That doesn't mean that cost is an indicator of quality, but, it's not like people like to throw money out of the window for the sake of it. I wasted so much time on inferior stuff (free- and magware)that I only can recommend every beginner who has at least a bit of motivation to start with a good payware synth (considering you demo'd thoroughly to find out what suits you). Won't really break the bank, and it will save you a lot of disappointement.
If you like freeware, then just use it. No need for insecure threads asking for confirmation.
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- KVRAF
- 35405 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
BTW, the (by far) best sounding free synth hasn't even been named yet. Blaukraut Charlatan. Shame it's so limited though. Which, again, is what I only can say about freeware: It either doesn't sound as good, or it's too limited.
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- KVRian
- 1384 posts since 12 Oct, 2012
Not strange, there is something really rewarding in being able to successfully produce with tools that are considered as "underdogs", I'm like that too. I use a combination of commercial tools but mostly the cheap/old ones, and the rest are freeware. I will never buy Serum for example, not because I can't afford it, but because it satisfies me more to accomolish things with cheaper underrated tools.dellboy wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 2:15 pm Its not that I do not have commercial synths. I have NI Komplete - SampleTank - etc, but I rarely use those, its nearly always free synths, or very cheap, almost free ones.
And the same goes for DAWs. I have a licence for Cubase Pro and Studio One Pro but spend most of the time in an obsolete DAW "Energyxt 2" which is almost free.
I just seem to feel more at home with free and very cheap stuff. Strange - eh ?
Am I the only one ?
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- KVRAF
- 35405 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2388 posts since 28 Mar, 2007
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- KVRist
- 111 posts since 11 Jul, 2020
For me free synths like Synth1, Tyrell, Noisemaker, Obxd, Vital, Hy-Poly, Odin2, Surge... sound as good as commercial one... the effect section is generally poor compared to overpriced commercial synths but who really care when you can use a tons of high end individual effects (some free effects include).
And yes they are easier to use, easy on cpu (most of the time).
You can do the music you want...
The good point of commercial synths is the numerous soundbank you can find (Diva, Zebra are very good examples)... but if you like to tweak synth, that's not a problem to make your own. Synth1 is also well served by the way.
But what really make me like free synths, is probably the fact that frequently it's the work of an independent/freelancer (synth1, odin2, obxd, charlatan..) man compared to a company. He do it for passion and not for money ! 100% respect. That's just fantastic that its little baby can compete with commercial one in several area.
And yes they are easier to use, easy on cpu (most of the time).
You can do the music you want...
The good point of commercial synths is the numerous soundbank you can find (Diva, Zebra are very good examples)... but if you like to tweak synth, that's not a problem to make your own. Synth1 is also well served by the way.
But what really make me like free synths, is probably the fact that frequently it's the work of an independent/freelancer (synth1, odin2, obxd, charlatan..) man compared to a company. He do it for passion and not for money ! 100% respect. That's just fantastic that its little baby can compete with commercial one in several area.
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- Boss Lovin' DR
- 12616 posts since 15 Mar, 2002 from the grimness of yorkshire
Are you from Yorkshire?
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- KVRian
- 823 posts since 27 Aug, 2020
Most of the time, free synths also come without effects, so it's fun processing them through complex multi-FX units like XY-Transfer or Zebrify, making the whole creative process more track-dependent. I wouldn't say I necessarily like free plugins better, but my paid plugins definitely do not make free plugins obsolete or lacking, they're just different and change the way you create sounds and the overall music-making dynamic.
Their simplicity is both inviting and forces you to use effects more creatively in order to arrive at more sophisticated stuff. Paid plugins are usually more complex and that allows me to embed all sound characteristics in the patch itself without even touching the FX all that much, which makes for a cleaner sound usually. Effects then constitute more like an appendage or a cherry on top. With free plugins, it's a completely different story and the architectural constraints actually force you to use the effects in the more creative context, as a consequence of which you come up with different sounds.
Their simplicity is both inviting and forces you to use effects more creatively in order to arrive at more sophisticated stuff. Paid plugins are usually more complex and that allows me to embed all sound characteristics in the patch itself without even touching the FX all that much, which makes for a cleaner sound usually. Effects then constitute more like an appendage or a cherry on top. With free plugins, it's a completely different story and the architectural constraints actually force you to use the effects in the more creative context, as a consequence of which you come up with different sounds.
