Instrument and Effects true gems?
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2335 posts since 5 Oct, 2003
I really think it's worth noting when something attains the "gem" level. For me this usually means meets a high level of competency and/or uniqueness and is also musically useful and something undeniably transcendant (so to speak). A real "whole is better than the sum of it's parts". There are probably too many of these to remember them all in one go and of course it kinda has to be subjective to a degree, but some that have attained that status for me:
Desktop:
Sonic Charge Permut 8
SPC Plugins ArcSyn
Rhizomatic Plasmonic
Dillon Bastan's Max4Live devices
EverythingTurns Reaktor instruments
Blinksonic Reaktor Instruments
Homegrown Sounds Kontakt instruments
Reaktor Cloudlab - Trevor Gallivan
FM8
Bazille
Reason Complex-1
Wolfgang Palm Wavemapper 2
NI Skanner XT
Forester (Max) - Leafcutter John
XLN XO
VCV Rack 2
Vital
there are some Twisted Tools gems
and some Glitchmachine gems
IOS:
Igor Vasiliev's Spacefields
Borderlands
ID700
Samplr
Spacecraft
TC-11
Would love to hear from others on this. I do think it could prove to be a valuable thread!
Desktop:
Sonic Charge Permut 8
SPC Plugins ArcSyn
Rhizomatic Plasmonic
Dillon Bastan's Max4Live devices
EverythingTurns Reaktor instruments
Blinksonic Reaktor Instruments
Homegrown Sounds Kontakt instruments
Reaktor Cloudlab - Trevor Gallivan
FM8
Bazille
Reason Complex-1
Wolfgang Palm Wavemapper 2
NI Skanner XT
Forester (Max) - Leafcutter John
XLN XO
VCV Rack 2
Vital
there are some Twisted Tools gems
and some Glitchmachine gems
IOS:
Igor Vasiliev's Spacefields
Borderlands
ID700
Samplr
Spacecraft
TC-11
Would love to hear from others on this. I do think it could prove to be a valuable thread!
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- KVRAF
- 2625 posts since 2 Jun, 2016
Too many to mention for me.
However, in addition to some of those you've mentioned above, nearly all instruments by Hollow Sun (RIP) and Synth Magic are golden imo.
However, in addition to some of those you've mentioned above, nearly all instruments by Hollow Sun (RIP) and Synth Magic are golden imo.
- KVRAF
- 5496 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
Oh boy! Another list thread!
Here's my complete list of Gems:
Gem Comp76
Gem EQ495
Gem TAPEDESK
Gem EQ84
Gem Dopamine
Gem Sculptube
Gem EQ550
Gem Comp G
Gem ECHOSON
Gem Comp670
Gem OTD-2
Gem Comp LA
Gem Voice
Gem Modula
Gem EQP
Here's my complete list of Gems:
Gem Comp76
Gem EQ495
Gem TAPEDESK
Gem EQ84
Gem Dopamine
Gem Sculptube
Gem EQ550
Gem Comp G
Gem ECHOSON
Gem Comp670
Gem OTD-2
Gem Comp LA
Gem Voice
Gem Modula
Gem EQP
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
- GRRRRRRR!
- 15940 posts since 14 Jun, 2001 from Somewhere else, on principle
Not all that many for me, really. Everything I use is worthy, but most of them don't really stand out in any way. The ones that do are:
Olga - for something that initially seemed so specific, I find it incredibly versatile.
Union - nothing sounds bigger and nastier. Nothing.
JP6K - this gets in because it does a creditable job as a Wasp replacement for us.
GR8 - for a freebie, this thing is amazing. Every time I use it, it makes what I'm working on better.
TRK-01 Bass - another freebie, this one is deceptively useful and I love the workflow/interface.
MonoFury - this is donationware but I think it's worth paying $20-$30 for. Great sound and really easy to work with.
There's nothing in my effects folder that I'd rate but that's probably because the effects in Orion were generally better, so having to resort to VSTs feels like slumming it. And also because I hardly use any effects these days.
Olga - for something that initially seemed so specific, I find it incredibly versatile.
Union - nothing sounds bigger and nastier. Nothing.
JP6K - this gets in because it does a creditable job as a Wasp replacement for us.
GR8 - for a freebie, this thing is amazing. Every time I use it, it makes what I'm working on better.
TRK-01 Bass - another freebie, this one is deceptively useful and I love the workflow/interface.
MonoFury - this is donationware but I think it's worth paying $20-$30 for. Great sound and really easy to work with.
There's nothing in my effects folder that I'd rate but that's probably because the effects in Orion were generally better, so having to resort to VSTs feels like slumming it. And also because I hardly use any effects these days.
Last edited by BONES on Mon May 16, 2022 2:47 am, edited 2 times in total.
NOVAkILL : Asus RoG Flow Z13, Core i9, 16GB RAM, Win11 | EVO 16 | Studio One | bx_oberhausen, GR-8, JP6K, Union, Hexeract, Olga, TRK-01, SEM, BA-1, Thorn, Prestige, Spire, Legend-HZ, ANA-2, VG Iron 2 | Uno Pro, Rocket.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2335 posts since 5 Oct, 2003
Thanks for this! Checking these out and was hoping you'd reply.BONES wrote: ↑Wed Apr 13, 2022 6:41 am Not all that many for me, really. Everything I use is worthy, but most of them don't really stand out in any way. The ones that do are:
Olga - for something that initially seemed so specific, I find it incredibly versatile.
Union - nothing sounds bigger and nastier. Nothing.
JP6K - this gets in because it does a creditable job as a Wasp replacement for us.
GR8 - for a freebie, this thing is amazing. Every time I use it, it makes what I'm working on better.
There's nothing in my effects folder that I'd rate but that's probably because the effects in Orion were generally better, so having to resort to VSTs feels like slumming it. And also because I hardly use any effects these days.
GR8 does sound amazing and is straight forward. Maybe I'll get to using this one.
Have had Union but not used it but going to give it another shot.
Olga sounds amazing and I do love the interface. I find I do better when there are not words I understand for the labels . But how do you access or save presets?
JP6K is windows only so no go for me...
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- KVRist
- 88 posts since 8 Jan, 2009
Some more gems in my humble estimation:
Instruments
Plasmonic
XO (agreed with OP on these)
DSP56300 emu (fairly obvious, but still...)
Sonic Academy Kick 2
Plogue Chipspeech
NI Razor
Effects & Utility plugins
Acustica Nebula 4 (particularly the Cupwise and Tim P libraries + Azzimov skins)
Output Portal
Output Thermal
Trackspacer
Audiodamage Other Desert Cities
Polyverse manipulator
Unfiltered Audio SpecOps
Plogue Chipcrusher
Fabfilter Pro-R
Polyverse Comet
IK Tapes collection
iZotope Tonal Balance Control
Logic Step Sequencer
NI Molekular
For me, each of these was a personal WOW! This is a game changer moment for me
Instruments
Plasmonic
XO (agreed with OP on these)
DSP56300 emu (fairly obvious, but still...)
Sonic Academy Kick 2
Plogue Chipspeech
NI Razor
Effects & Utility plugins
Acustica Nebula 4 (particularly the Cupwise and Tim P libraries + Azzimov skins)
Output Portal
Output Thermal
Trackspacer
Audiodamage Other Desert Cities
Polyverse manipulator
Unfiltered Audio SpecOps
Plogue Chipcrusher
Fabfilter Pro-R
Polyverse Comet
IK Tapes collection
iZotope Tonal Balance Control
Logic Step Sequencer
NI Molekular
For me, each of these was a personal WOW! This is a game changer moment for me
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2335 posts since 5 Oct, 2003
These are great ones and I totally agree about Plasmonic. I mean to include that. And Molekular and Razor as well. Portal too!DJDJ wrote: ↑Wed Apr 13, 2022 7:13 pm Some more gems in my humble estimation:
Instruments
Plasmonic
XO (agreed with OP on these)
DSP56300 emu (fairly obvious, but still...)
Sonic Academy Kick 2
Plogue Chipspeech
NI Razor
Effects & Utility plugins
Acustica Nebula 4 (particularly the Cupwise and Tim P libraries + Azzimov skins)
Output Portal
Output Thermal
Trackspacer
Audiodamage Other Desert Cities
Polyverse manipulator
Unfiltered Audio SpecOps
Plogue Chipcrusher
Fabfilter Pro-R
Polyverse Comet
IK Tapes collection
iZotope Tonal Balance Control
Logic Step Sequencer
NI Molekular
For me, each of these was a personal WOW! This is a game changer moment for me
- KVRist
- 494 posts since 9 Feb, 2019
Plogue OPS7 is a gem, as well as Acustica Ultramarine.
MSpectraldynamics - and I didn´t even really think of it until I got the full license instead of LE that I bought on an dumping-sale.
Maybe BC Patchwork.
The rest is just classy. But ok - the underestimated MChorusMB maybe. It really surprised me since it can sound completely different than all the 20 others.
MSpectraldynamics - and I didn´t even really think of it until I got the full license instead of LE that I bought on an dumping-sale.
Maybe BC Patchwork.
The rest is just classy. But ok - the underestimated MChorusMB maybe. It really surprised me since it can sound completely different than all the 20 others.
- GRRRRRRR!
- 15940 posts since 14 Jun, 2001 from Somewhere else, on principle
I save my Olga presets into Studio One. It's not ideal but it works well enough.killmaster wrote: ↑Wed Apr 13, 2022 12:05 pmOlga sounds amazing and I do love the interface. I find I do better when there are not words I understand for the labels . But how do you access or save presets?
NOVAkILL : Asus RoG Flow Z13, Core i9, 16GB RAM, Win11 | EVO 16 | Studio One | bx_oberhausen, GR-8, JP6K, Union, Hexeract, Olga, TRK-01, SEM, BA-1, Thorn, Prestige, Spire, Legend-HZ, ANA-2, VG Iron 2 | Uno Pro, Rocket.
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- KVRist
- 349 posts since 13 Oct, 2015
great thread, right up my alley. i wish twisted tools still made new stuff
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- KVRian
- 595 posts since 10 Oct, 2018
It's a good thread.
I won't list u-he, Synapse, TAL, NI and some others who are a gem, but well known.
(Yes, NI as a gem, cause I stay on Komplete 11 on purpose, occasionally getting new stuff. Ok, I'll list the new stuff)
Gems, which are a bit less known (or known, but possessing less momentum than the former)
Plasmonic
Viper by Adam Szabo
REFLEX-PRO-X by stw-audio - that's an amazing delay factory
ArcSyn - hope it will get more love by the dev (word on the street he's making something cool)
Dagger - please Beepstreet guy, may be you can update it or something for the sake of those who legally got it, as it's a great sounding (roaring) monosynth. Rumor has it he won't ever get back to the desktop
Noire and Straylight by NI are gems
Caliburn by Kuassa and F-59 by Fuse Audio are gems.
Recent models done by Audiority are gems.
I won't list u-he, Synapse, TAL, NI and some others who are a gem, but well known.
(Yes, NI as a gem, cause I stay on Komplete 11 on purpose, occasionally getting new stuff. Ok, I'll list the new stuff)
Gems, which are a bit less known (or known, but possessing less momentum than the former)
Plasmonic
Viper by Adam Szabo
REFLEX-PRO-X by stw-audio - that's an amazing delay factory
ArcSyn - hope it will get more love by the dev (word on the street he's making something cool)
Dagger - please Beepstreet guy, may be you can update it or something for the sake of those who legally got it, as it's a great sounding (roaring) monosynth. Rumor has it he won't ever get back to the desktop
Noire and Straylight by NI are gems
Caliburn by Kuassa and F-59 by Fuse Audio are gems.
Recent models done by Audiority are gems.
Last edited by Dencheg on Sat May 07, 2022 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Weapons of choice (subject to change):
Godin Redline, Kuassa, Fuse Audio, Audiority, Roland A-500pro, Dune, Dagger, TAL, Reaper for Rock & Synthwave pleasures; Viper and FL Studio for guilty EDM pleasures
Godin Redline, Kuassa, Fuse Audio, Audiority, Roland A-500pro, Dune, Dagger, TAL, Reaper for Rock & Synthwave pleasures; Viper and FL Studio for guilty EDM pleasures
- GRRRRRRR!
- 15940 posts since 14 Jun, 2001 from Somewhere else, on principle
I left one thing off my list that absolutely should be on it - TRK-01 Bass. It's really different and exactly the same all at once. I really like the GUI and workflow and it sounds fantastic. It's one synth I really don't think I use enough. I'm going to edit the original list to fix this unacceptable oversight.
NOVAkILL : Asus RoG Flow Z13, Core i9, 16GB RAM, Win11 | EVO 16 | Studio One | bx_oberhausen, GR-8, JP6K, Union, Hexeract, Olga, TRK-01, SEM, BA-1, Thorn, Prestige, Spire, Legend-HZ, ANA-2, VG Iron 2 | Uno Pro, Rocket.
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- KVRist
- 263 posts since 17 Jun, 2012 from East Coast US
VI's Gems would include:
Complex-1 by Reason Studios
Antidote by Synapse Audio
Sektor by Initial Audio
Algoritm by Reason Studios
VirtualCZ by Plugin Boutique
Glass Viper by Quick Quack
As far as effects, these are staples:
Spline EQ by Photosounder
TCS-68 by Fuse Audio Labs
Scream 4 Distortion by Reason Studios
Gain Reduction by JST
Magnetic II by Nomad Factory
Kaya by Fly-Fi
Sweetone by Sonimus
MV2 by Waves
Complex-1 by Reason Studios
Antidote by Synapse Audio
Sektor by Initial Audio
Algoritm by Reason Studios
VirtualCZ by Plugin Boutique
Glass Viper by Quick Quack
As far as effects, these are staples:
Spline EQ by Photosounder
TCS-68 by Fuse Audio Labs
Scream 4 Distortion by Reason Studios
Gain Reduction by JST
Magnetic II by Nomad Factory
Kaya by Fly-Fi
Sweetone by Sonimus
MV2 by Waves
Windows 10 PC. Reason. Cubase. Waveform. Reaper. Studio One Pro. Epiphone Les Paul Pro II. Nektar Panorama t4. Yamaha RBX Bass. Faderport 2. Eris E5 Monitors. SSL2 Interface. Audient Evo 4. AKG C214. Aston Origin. MXL 990.
- KVRAF
- 8826 posts since 6 Jan, 2017 from Outer Space
All Madrona Labs, all Unfiltered Audio