Sonik Synth 2...!!

[Kim Lajoie]

One final question, is the compressor going to be identical to that of ST2XL - only i find the ST2 one to have a very aggressive nature, easy to pump and so on - only with the SS2 engine in general being slightly tweaked from ST2, i was wondering whether you'd specifically made any tweaks to the compressor?

There are two compressors in ST2. The one as a separate effect, and the (one-knob) one in the channel strip. Personally, I find the channel strip compressor to be more aggressive and "pumpy", whereas the separate compressor is very smooth, and actually quite hard to pump.

Forever,




Kim.

[Squids]

Some info and perspectives here...

The compressors and the entire fx section is the same as ST2. You know the channel strip compressor was modeled after the 1176. The T-Racks compressor is a tube compressor (not sure which one). The limiter is modeled after a Fairchild though. Nice to have those kinds of quality fx to make patches with.

As for those looking for all kinds of acoustic instruments I have to remind you (what you know already) is that this is a SYNTH WORKSTATION. Considering that there is actually a pretty massive variety of acoustic instruments in there. But, it is there for two purposes:

1. To be used in conjuction with other sounds in combis to make composite "synth" instruments like you would find in hardware workstation synths (Motif, Triton, JVs). So, in a way, all of the sounds can be "elements" of new sounds and it is good to have a wide assortment of instrument timbres to choose from for this.

2. Like popular hardware workstations, Sonik Synth 2 offers a range of general compositional tools for getting you most of the way to all styles of music. But, remember it is not a dedicated orchestral module. If we were doing one of those you can bet it would be a very different sound set (and wouldn't have too many synths either!)

Think of it like a general workstation on STEROIDS and perhaps loaded up with vintage expansion boards inside (since it has that angle to it that is more than just your usual workstation sound set).


Both Pricer and Caleb have their names in patches. There's a patch called Calebrity Baked I think. Maybe it's a combi though. I forget which one was a Pricer named patch. I didn't go KVR crazy this time in the patch naming but if we do more patches I'll be sure to include the names of those that participate in our forum the most. I can't promise but we enjoy doing that when we think of it.

Pricer, there is a Tuba element that is the attack and the wave. There are other horn elements. They really COULD just be in the brass folder but since they are more basic versions (no vibrato, no cress env to it etc) I wanted it to be in the elements section and it can be brought into a horn section combi (and it was btw) or it can also be used as a Tuba in an arrangement too.

One thing you should do is get to know the library! (That could take a while but trust me the HARD part was putting it all together! This took us YEARS! So, a few days going through the sounds is a lot better than compiling it for years on your own if you were able to find these sources... and some are very hard to find too!).

If you have trouble recommending it to anyone (why???), recommend it for the SOUNDS if anything. True, if you want expandability and importability then it is SampleTank 2 that one should get. But, Sonik Synth 2 sounds are its own and it's really hard to get over 5,000 high quality sounds for that price anywhere. Plus there are the infinite possibilities of combining them with all of the tools in this particular powerful engine (more powerful than most of the rompler engines out there).

You have to think first and foremost about what someone will be able to do creatively and musically with this product. Then you can recommend it to ANYONE. Sure, coming from me that sounds like a bunch of sales talk. But, if you think about it that is what this product was designed for and it's unlike most other software products out there in terms of its content diversity, quantity and quality. However, all you are seeing is just a list. When you start using it I think you'll know what I mean even more. This is compositional POWER in your hands (like Desert Power.... good patch name actually, darn.).

Okay, mega post anyone? Got some more good news. You want horns? No problem. We're working on a new Expansion Tank for horns. So give us any requests you have. You want Euphoniums and Tubas? No problem. There's some on there (even though it is mostly for pop and jazz with trumps, trombone and saxes.... but there's a flugel, muted horns, French horns and other cool stuff on there).

Remember that SR has a LOT of sounds. We DID go nuts on Sonik Synth 2 but this is by no means all the sounds we have in one box. This is one product that is an overall monster workstation. But, when it comes to specific genres or instrument groups we have Expansion Tank and Sonik Capsule series to dig deeper... that and maybe a few other things. (just make sure you know someone going to NAMM is all I can say there ).

I'll tell you more about Sonik Synth 2. There's some tricks to it between the elements and the combis where there are actually much more patches in each area than you may think. It's deep.

[Meffy]

Any chance of a few oddball brass instruments in that Tank? I'm thinking of things like ophicleide, serpent, sousaphone, baritone horn... the ones you don't hear a lot but which have a different sound. I'd love to hear an extra-tubby sax too, the kind like two large balloons rubbing together.

I wouldn't call these terribly popular, and they might not be worth including in such a collection. But as mentioned in another thread, "what can it hurt to ask?" :-) Hey, for all I know you might've been wondering for years what to do with your collection of samples from an entire family of vintage Beauboeuf freres ophicleides...






... right? :-D

Meffy

P.S.: Serpents are typically made of wood but classified with the brasses, not the woodwinds, because they're played using trumpet-type mouthpieces instead of reeds. Yadda.

[Squids]

Any chance of a few oddball brass instruments in that Tank? I'm thinking of things like ophicleide, serpent, sousaphone, baritone horn... the ones you don't hear a lot but which have a different sound. I'd love to hear an extra-tubby sax too, the kind like two large balloons rubbing together.

I wouldn't call these terribly popular, and they might not be worth including in such a collection. But as mentioned in another thread, "what can it hurt to ask?" Hey, for all I know you might've been wondering for years what to do with your collection of samples from an entire family of vintage Beauboeuf freres ophicleides...


... right?

Meffy

P.S.: Serpents are typically made of wood but classified with the brasses, not the woodwinds, because they're played using trumpet-type mouthpieces instead of reeds. Yadda.

I've not yet sampled a Serpent but I've been wanting to (actually I want to buy one! I collect instruments from around the world and that's a FUNKY one!).

All the stuff you mentioned is totally worth sampling. I've sampled plenty of oddball horns and winds though. It wouldn't be in this library but perhaps you'll see it on something else. However, I am always on the hunt for unusual instruments like that from different eras or cultures. So, if I get the opportunity then... you never know where it will show up!

I do love to hear requests like that though. Thanks. I've made a note of them.

Another horn that one of our friends in the biz sampled is a Swiss Alp Horn. We have that on World Traveler. That's like a big Tuba meets French Horn. (Riccola!!!!). But, it's not on this horn library. It's mostly for pop really. EWF, SD, Chicago... with a little bit of classical flavors too.

[progfusion74]

The B-flat piccolo trumpet in "Penny Lane". That would be a great instrument to sample.

[7thsense]

is that SS2 video out yet?

[Kim Lajoie]

You know the channel strip compressor was modeled after the 1176. The T-Racks compressor is a tube compressor (not sure which one). The limiter is modeled after a Fairchild though. Nice to have those kinds of quality fx to make patches with.

Nice. I've got a one-knob 1176 on every channel.

Forever,




Kim.

[Squids]

The B-flat piccolo trumpet in "Penny Lane". That would be a great instrument to sample.

I agree. Also a bugle.

One cool horn I sampled was an old English hunting horn. I own it. I bought it from a shop going out of business. It's beautiful. But it sounds majestic too. It's a shame it only produces two tones although with sampling that is no longer the case!

[Derek up North]

One cool horn I sampled was an old English hunting horn. I own it. I bought it from a shop going out of business. It's beautiful. But it sounds majestic too. It's a shame it only produces two tones although with sampling that is no longer the case!

You should hold on to that - it'll be a collectors item soon. The UK government are banning fox hunting with dogs, which is what the hunting horn is used for (does that make it more an implement than an instrument?). I bet you've never seen an English fox anywhere near you when you've blown that horn have you

Regards,

Derek.

[Frunobulax]

You should hold on to that - it'll be a collectors item soon. The UK government are banning fox hunting with dogs, which is what the hunting horn is used for (does that make it more an implement than an instrument?). I bet you've never seen an English fox anywhere near you when you've blown that horn have you

Maybe he uses it to hunt the alligators that Squids wrestles in his spare time when he's not posting on KVR?

In looking at the list of presets for SS2, a couple of thoughts came to mind.

First, my favorite preset name is "Waldorf on Golf." Bravo.

Second, SR could probably have packaged this thing with only the elements samples and still had a winner. With all the instruments on top of the elements, along with the on-board effects, this thing has me drooling even more than my usual Homer Simpson-esque self.

Mmmmmm, SS2!

[Meffy]

Swiss Alp Horn

Cool. Did you know that in Switzerland they use those to deliver Ricola as well as advertise 'em?

As the hornist calculates the appropriate angle and pitch, a cannoneer loads a padded cloth bag packed with herb drops into the horn's muzzle (not "bell"). At a signal the appropriate note is played and the parcel is propelled across two, even three Alps in one blast.

First, my favorite preset name is "Waldorf on Golf." Bravo.

:-D "Knees up, Mother Brown."

This ties in with the above, since "Riiicolaaaaa!!!" is the Swiss French translation of the English golfing cry, "Foooore!!!"

Meffy

[7thsense]

is that SS2 video out yet?

[Kire]

Hi!

I bought "Sonic synth 1" a couple of years ago. My problem is, how am I going to prove it when I want to upgrade to "Sonic synth 2"? I can't find any serial-number.

Please help...

Best regards,
Kire

[Caleb]

to lack of expandability in the long run.
Now that I'm going to be able to purchase this as a sound module for the ST2 XL engine that I purchase fairly cheaply I don't mind really.

And you named a patch after me?
I'm shell-shocked.
Not quite so much as when I looked at the size of the patch list though.

I love the name Calebrity.
As some people seem to call me celeb instead of caleb the name is quite appropriate.

I would have to purchase this now just for that reason alone.

Caleb

[Kim Lajoie]

SR could probably have packaged this thing with only the elements samples and still had a winner.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing.

Forever,




Kim.