Arturia V Collection 9 - Official Thread

[noiseboyuk]

I personally would put the $399 toward Spectrasonics' Omnisphere if you don't already own it.

(excuse the snip for space)

I have a lot of sympathy with this. I'm primarily all about analog and cinematic, and the sheer range of options under a single unified roof in Omnisphere still can't be beat on those scores. I also think learning to use one synth well is an invaluable skill.

Some of V Collections analog stuff is terrific, and each has its own idiosyncracies. Recently I've been playing around with the Synthi V some more, and there's definitely uniqueness there. But for the most part I think it is the UIs that define the shape of the programming and sonics more than the actual sounds themselves. Given particular specific choices, the user will tend towards certain sounds. You may be able to make a very similar end result with a different synth, but its architecture would probably mean a similar programming journey would land somewhere a bit different.

All this to say that there is value in each different model and variation, and not all of that is the modelling. But if it came to just one - I'd agree to learn Omni.

Digital synths are another matter, and here there are much better options than Omni. It can still do a fair bit, it's not a pure digital synth.

I've been with V Collection since v4 I think. I've probably used it on about 1% of everything I've done in that time, vs Omni about 80%. (I've used the Repros, Avenger and Nexus all considerably more). But I wouldn't like to part with V Collection, I'm aware I'm grossly underusing its potential and I too often just reach for the more familiar.

[OllieBoi]

Why not learn one instrument like Omnisphere really well rather than 30+ in the V Collection all with their own idiosyncratic interfaces (that are usually, but not always, based on the original hardware instruments and thus often don't make a lot of sense presented the same way in software)?

Because it's fun

Even though I own 20 hardware synths, I still somehow managed to purchase practically every synth/sampler plugin there is (along with a good portion of the FX plugins). I have come to realize that I am a "plugin hoarder" (because I use almost none of them and instead rely on my hardware for almost everything).

It's just completely out of control (not the hardware synths which are almost all rack mount units and modules and thus don't take up as much space as you might think, just the software). I'm seriously thinking I should sell the bulk of the plugins - not because I need the money but because they are an endless time suck. I will waste 2+ hours going through a 1,000 presets on various plugins and then realize how ridiculous that was and just program a patch on one of my hardware units (which are a mixture of analog, hybrid, and digital synths).

I don't know if I can get anything for the plugins. Probably not. But at least they will be gone and no longer a major distraction.

[Septic Underground]

Friends tell me. I think to buy while discount. Before that, I did not use plugins from Arturia. I have a keystep 37 and Augmented STRINGS (I don't remember how I got it, it seems even for free).
Therefore, the price of the collection will be 399.
Is it worth it? For electronics / experiments with industrial, maybe even with atmospheric black mixed with electronics? Maybe even for the classics with an admixture of electronics.. What do you think based on your experience?

Of course, there are still a lot of cool digital/hybrid instruments in the V Collection like the SQ-80 V, Prophet VS V, DX-7 V, CZ-V and of course the Synclavier V, Fairlight V, and Emulator V. If those really interest you, then the V Collection might be worth it.

Well that listing you gave is why I use the Arturia synths, they are unique (hybrid) engines and very inspiring compared to the modelled bread and butter (poly)analogs.
But I am a sucker for (semi)digital sounds.

[OllieBoi]

Digital synths are another matter, and here there are much better options than Omni. It can still do a fair bit, it's not a pure digital synth.

I agree. I recently rediscovered Tone2 synth plugins (probably the only VSTs that I don't own). Their Nemesis "NeoFM" synth is great. I was never a fan of Yamaha-style FM synthesis even when I owned a TX802 rack. While Nemesis sounds purely digital, it's still really punchy, vibrant, and unique (and maybe even a little "organic"). However, I have been holding off purchasing it even though it is (or was) on sale. I've got to stop buying synth plugins! My Nord Rack 3 module is a great VA/FM hybrid that is a pure joy to program. I need to just stick with that.

[YoGuRTeLLo]

Anyway, sorry for the novella. I hope this helps.

Thank you very much for such detailed answers)

In general, I understand your point of view, since I was the owner of the moog matriarch. Sometimes it is better and more reliable to make (almost) any patch on such a device.
But now I'm interested in using the Arturia collection for electronic experiments.

As for the omnisphere - it has a huge abyss of patches and features that I will never use. My needs in this form are closed by Dune 3, Diva. Also I have collection of various vsts in Kkontakt Native Instruments (I have an ultimate and a bunch of everything on top). So I don't need an omnisphere. I need more inspiring features that I can use if they are of decent quality. And the experiments that I can do will fit into the styles that I indicated in my question.

probably something like that.

[EnGee]

I don't know how useful or inspiring the analog emulations because you already have Diva and Dune 3 (can sound analog) but if you like old digital emulations, then you'll be very inspired with DX7, CZ, CMI and other digital emulations.

If you like something digital and not an emulation then I suggest a synth like Phase Plant, Pigments 3, Massive X or Icarus 2. My favourite is Phase Plant because it has an excellent UI and sound. It encourages and insipres you to make your own presets and delving deeper and deeper into modulations. If it's still on sale, then it's a no brainer for synth enthusiasts

[Fleer]

Come to think of it, I guess my island software synth list would primarily contain the V Collection, Pigments, PhasePlant, and Omnisphere, plus the FabFilter and Slate Digital bundles for effects. Meanwhile, anxiously awaiting Zebra 3.

[Septic Underground]

Come to think of it, I guess my island software synth list would primarily contain the V Collection, Pigments, PhasePlant, and Omnisphere, plus the FabFilter and Slate Digital bundles for effects. Meanwhile, anxiously awaiting Zebra 3.

The arturia synth and fx suite is really good and worth its price.
I really like the korg natives and collection3 (m1, wavestation etc) And Model 72/84 from softube.
Ow and the TAL Audio offerings are great, their jp8 is imho the best and also the drum sampler they recently made is awesome. I also have the roland cloud, but I think in the end only the fully expanded Zenology Pro/FX is worth the cloud hassles, the rest is a bit meh. The drums from roland cloud are very good, but I opted to go to the TAL and Atlas2 route.

[DrGonzo]

All this to say that there is value in each different model and variation, and not all of that is the modelling. But if it came to just one - I'd agree to learn Omni.

Digital synths are another matter, and here there are much better options than Omni. It can still do a fair bit, it's not a pure digital synth.

As much as I am a great proponent of learning-just-one-synth, I just want to put in one little advice that will make all the difference in the world. While Omnisphere is also one of my desert island synths - I would start by picking out a handful of synths you like the sound of, then decide which one _really_ ticks your inspiration in terms of sound.

Making an "authentic" vintage analog sound in Omnisphere is absolutely possible, but it takes about five times longer than with Diva. Making wubwubs in Omni is also possible. But you need to jump around quite a lot among the sections to get there.

I really liked what you said about digital synths, and while not being a pure digital synth like an FM synth, the Arturia SQ80 does things that no other synth can do, not even Omnisphere.

But that all being said, I think going full in on Omnisphere is not a bad idea. Especially when seeing what kind of new stuff is being in the works, from the official expansion packs.

But I also have this feeling Zebra3 will be a total game-changer. It will probably fry most computers though

/C

[Tj Shredder]

But I also have this feeling Zebra3 will be a total game-changer. It will probably fry most computers though

That might be the reason why its postponed for so long…; - )

[YoGuRTeLLo]

I took the arturia collection. And it just has an infinite number of presets. I think I overdid it a little)
But I like everything.

[Fleer]

I’m sure this has been asked before but here goes (again). What happens with purchased sound banks when a synth gets updated ‘from the ground up’ ?
Take the CS-80V for example. Will the Vangelis sound bank still function on the new CS-80 V4 the way it did on its predecessor? Will it sound differently, i.e. better? If so, are the sound banks updated each time a synth is updated, in order to allow them to take advantage of the updated synth? And would this also apply to humongous sound banks like Patchworks and Synthopedia?

[waltercruz]

I’m sure this has been asked before but here goes (again). What happens with purchased sound banks when a synth gets updated ‘from the ground up’ ?
Take the CS-80V for example. Will the Vangelis sound bank still function on the new CS-80 V4 the way it did on its predecessor? Will it sound differently, i.e. better? If so, are the sound banks updated each time a synth is updated, in order to allow them to take advantage of the updated synth? And would this also apply to humongous sound banks like Patchworks and Synthopedia?

the patches will remain working on the older version of the synth, as both can coexist. The updated (rebuild) synths don't read patches from previous versions.

[Fleer]

Thanks, but doesn’t that seem odd, as they still sell sound banks like the Vangelis Tribute which focuses on the CS-80 V?

[aMUSEd]

Thanks, but doesn’t that seem odd, as they still sell sound banks like the Vangelis Tribute which focuses on the CS-80 V?

I guess it's because V4 has just come out, I'm hoping updates are in the works or at least planned, esp the Nori Ubukata one, which by all accounts is a good soundest even if only for V3 (also it's not just for the CS80V anyway but several of their synths, even the Piano V - meant to be used in Analog Lab as some are probably layered).