What is the new Absynth?

[Kalamata Kid]

[Introspective]

I've never actually used Absynth so no. I was looking for an up to date pad machine since it sounded dated on youtube.

Sorry, I didn't mean to pick on you. Just the people kowtowing to Abysnth on the thread. It was seriously putting me off.

Apologies.

You wanted "Synths with mad specifications, lots of envelopes, filters or multitimbral built in."

Did you get your answer? It doesn't seem so. :\ There are lots.

Omnisphere is the best of the bunch. Zebra is a close second. I'm not a Falcon user, but it's in the same league as those other two. I recommend looking at VPS Avenger, and looking past its "trance-o-matic" veneer (which can be very hard to do, but it's worth doing). There are, as others have said, some great modular options out there which are virtually endless. IMO, the best-sounding of the bunch is Softube's, but it's expensive and chews up your CPU.

I also recommend you look into NI's "Straylight" and "Pharlight" and "Ashlight" synths. They do not have the "lots of envelopes" you are looking for, but they definitely qualify as "not synths that typically make boring usable patches."

I submit that perhaps your desire for "tons of envelopes" may be getting in the way of finding the results you want, while I'm at it. You can get some very Absynth-like tones with Largo or Rapid or Serum or Pigments. Pigments is actually another great example for getting "Absynth-like", now that I think of it.

As other have suggested, a lot of the "sound" of Absynth actually comes from its effects. Picking up everything made by Valhalla will get you at least part-way there. Add a granular processor like Other Desert Cities or Output's Portal will take you into Absynth territory (and beyond). In fact, Granular-only synths may appeal to you: I'm a fan of Quanta, myself, and you'll end up with plenty of nigh-unsuable experimentations with it, which is great.

Hope that helps.

Sorry to be a downer earlier. People get pretty ... fanboy around here.

[Introspective]

There are more, of course, and I'm thinking of them now that I've hit "submit," of course. Unfiltered Audio Lion and Dawesome Abyss are another two that you should look into.

Massive X can also have some Absynthian vibes, if you dive into the deeper parts of it. It's got a weird UI, though, so it would take some doing to get there.

[Unaspected]

I'm sure Reaktor has been mentioned: Which has high level granular modules and low level (though prebuilt) ZDFs. Waveshaping will take a little extra work but you should be able to plug something together than meets your needs. Loads of modulation options, both at high (modular) and low (DSP) level.

There are plenty more granular options today, including those which operate on live audio streams. It should be feasible to construct something semi-modular in your DAW - which should provide all the modulation that you need.

[cptgone]

^^^
Please name the best of the synths you mentioned.

No. This is a trap. I'll say "Straylight" and you'll say "but it doesn't have multi-point envelopes." I'll say "Zebra," and you'll tell me it doesn't have proper wavetables or whatever. I'll say "Avenger" and you'll laugh about how it's a happy hardcore synth. I'll say "Omnisphere runs circles around Absynth" and you'll pull some kind of "but it doesn't have the same effects" bullshit.

You've put Absynth in a box. You need to take it out. It's old [...]

It's only 3 years older than Zebra though. How time flies...

[Introspective]

It's only 3 years older than Zebra though. How time flies...

Fair.

But if Absynth had an update like ZebraHZ, I wouldn't have carped at all and just have told the OP to use Absynth.

IMO, Zebra is (and always has been) a better overall synth than Absynth. It's interesting that (AFAIK) they both grew out of talented developers recognizing the potential for softsynths to rival modular synths. And, don't get me wrong. While I wouldn't recommend Absynth (at least not heartily) NOW, I used to very much be on Team Absynth. It was one of my go-tos! I loved it to pieces.

...FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.

Zebra seems to have aged much better. It's a great synth, and *still* one of my go-tos. Top ten synth for me. Perhaps it's ZHZ that makes me feel that way. I'm not sure.

I really do wish the best for Plasmonic, though. Brian Clevinger is a cool guy and a talented coder and I have absolutely NOTHING against him personally. I *only* think Absynth is no longer a synth one even needs to consider anymore. That's not his fault, to be fair. NI, as I understand it, really stifled Clevenger, and they let Absynth fester as a result. Bad decision on their part, IMO. Absynth has tons of potential and character and ... [sniff] I really do miss it.

...but I recognize that's nostalgia bias and I move on.

[dune_rave]

Absynth is history, just like sylenth.
both are still working in 2021, but only sylenth is "up to date".

[vurt]

There are more, of course, and I'm thinking of them now that I've hit "submit," of course. Unfiltered Audio Lion and Dawesome Abyss are another two that you should look into.

Massive X can also have some Absynthian vibes, if you dive into the deeper parts of it. It's got a weird UI, though, so it would take some doing to get there.

youve listed a lot of synths, that can do similar things, even have similar architecture, but absynth (like some of those you listed also) is more than the sum of its parts so to speak, those parts contribute to a unique sound, which imo can't be replaced by onnishpere anymore than onnishpere can be replaced by absynth.

so it depends what the person wants, is it something that is specific to absynths character, or is it something more open?

its not about nostalgia, it's about it being a very specific character synth, and it being the right tool "sometimes".

it is a shame it hasn't been kept more current, but that doesn't make it useless (yet...)

[nusound mind]

I love Absynth, there really is nothing else quite like it imo. Larger gui, oversampling option maybe and an updated Absynth would be the new Absynth. It's like a trip to another world.

ArcSyn is pretty cool in a similar way I guess? That'd be one option for the new Absynth off the top of my head, but Absynth is a unique piece of code for sure, irreplaceable imho. Absynth & Diversion are the two softsynths I wish updates for.

[midi_transmission]

Massive X can also have some Absynthian vibes, if you dive into the deeper parts of it. It's got a weird UI, though, so it would take some doing to get there.

I can't stop myself from getting upset everytime I read massive X. The sound and effects are so good, but the workflow and UI is super frustrating that I don't like using it.

[mholloway]

Apparently if something is very old we are dumb to want to keep using it? Coooool.
Absynth works just fine in 2021. And it still sounds amazing.
Plenty of great sound designers have figured out how to program it, believe it or not. Could the UI be better? Absolutely. Should we trash the whole thing and replace it with something different simply because it's old? Hell no.
Oh, but I must be a loathsome "fanboy," because I still use a synth I bought years back, specifically because it provides high quality sounds to use in my music....UNTHINKABLE!

[vurt]

Apparently if something is very old we are dumb to want to keep using it?

don't tell my missus that

[JerGoertz]

Absynth was the first synth I learned how to program. A vast rabbit hole to get lost in and I made literally thousands of patches; not only that, but this was during a very difficult time in my life, and finding joy in the sonic exploration it offered was a balm that helped me bear it all. So I'll always view Absynth through rose-colored glasses.

Really, for me it's the powerful, flexible MSEGs that can modulate just about anything. Incredible variety of timbres and textures possible.

[jancivil]

"You've put Absynth in a box."
It's your box, because this is your strawman. I use it in around 3/4s of projects, it isn't about anything but what I can do with it.

[Dirtgrain]

I need a straw man to fight. All of you who claim Harmor is the new Absynth are utterly wrong.