Which synthesizer is most suitable for ambient music?
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astralprojection
- Banned
- 365 posts since 30 Jun, 2019
Absynth is still a great thing for ambient.
+1 for alchemy. Even the old version.
+1 for alchemy. Even the old version.
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BBFG#
- KVRAF
- 7042 posts since 28 Apr, 2013
Can add Iris and Harbor to those as well for the discontinued or limited to one OS. I might suggest Biotek 2 for a current multiengine approach. Or the usual giants like HALion, Omnisphere, etc. Also, any of the sample/granular/spectral plugins like Padshop, Novum, Quanta, etc.astralprojection wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:19 am Absynth is still a great thing for ambient.
+1 for alchemy. Even the old version.
And the coming suggestions of adding effects to any plugin to achieve ambience...
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vurt
- addled muppet weed
- 98518 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
komplete 13.
if you don't want me to destroy you
take a leaf out of my book, turn it round and have a look...
take a leaf out of my book, turn it round and have a look...
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chk071
- KVRAF
- 33355 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Omnisphere and then Komplete 13?
Well, still less expensive than going hardware, I guess...
Well, it it'll be Komplete 13, I guess the OP is set for life with all that stuff in there...
Well, still less expensive than going hardware, I guess...

Well, it it'll be Komplete 13, I guess the OP is set for life with all that stuff in there...
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cthonophonic
- KVRian
- 593 posts since 1 Jan, 2018
FYI Largo is currently $29.99 at Audio Plugin Deals:chk071 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 3:04 am I guess it depends on the kind of sounds you're after. Some people can do Ambient music with a one oscillator monophonic analog synth.
As I figure you DO want to have more versatility, I would recommend Waldorf Largo, which is perfectly suited for most of the sounds typically associated with Ambient music IMO.
If you're quick you can still get Largo for half price on Waldorf Music's online shop with this coupon code: 50SPAREN
https://audioplugin.deals/largo-the-syn ... y-waldorf/
All the older Waldorf stuff regularly goes on sale for fire sale prices on that site.
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vurt
- addled muppet weed
- 98518 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
that's what i was thinking, covered for years to come, from all angles, synths, acoustic stuff, fx...
and im also thinking, due to the fact some folk are for no real good reason, pissed off at ni for being a business...
you might grab a 13 at a decent second hand price, and 13 gives you absynth, which while getting on, is hard to beat for ambient music, especially when paired with reaktor.
and yes, much cheaper than hardware, i recently dropped four hundred quid, on an oscillator.

if you don't want me to destroy you
take a leaf out of my book, turn it round and have a look...
take a leaf out of my book, turn it round and have a look...
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chk071
- KVRAF
- 33355 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Ah, nice.cthonophonic wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 12:39 pmFYI Largo is currently $29.99 at Audio Plugin Deals:chk071 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 3:04 am I guess it depends on the kind of sounds you're after. Some people can do Ambient music with a one oscillator monophonic analog synth.
As I figure you DO want to have more versatility, I would recommend Waldorf Largo, which is perfectly suited for most of the sounds typically associated with Ambient music IMO.
If you're quick you can still get Largo for half price on Waldorf Music's online shop with this coupon code: 50SPAREN
https://audioplugin.deals/largo-the-syn ... y-waldorf/
All the older Waldorf stuff regularly goes on sale for fire sale prices on that site.

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chk071
- KVRAF
- 33355 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Oof...
That's why I always was so hesitant with hardware (apart from other reasons). It's a money pit. I also know myself. If I have one piece of hardware, I would probably want more.

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vurt
- addled muppet weed
- 98518 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
yeah, it can be a bit expensive.
i only buy when ive saved the cash, won't use a credit card (too easy to get myself in debt) and now feel im done, my racks are filled and i have a monster of a machine, that i can do most things with that come to mind.
obviously, the future will hold some breakdowns and replacements, but at least im well past the "well it sounds great, but i really could do with..." stage.
and i do consider myself to be very lucky to have been able to do it, ive been where even largo at 29.99 would have been a luxury.
getting divorced helped too, she'd never have allowed it, id have been forced to buy gardening equipment

if you don't want me to destroy you
take a leaf out of my book, turn it round and have a look...
take a leaf out of my book, turn it round and have a look...
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Korg Supporter
- KVRian
- 559 posts since 4 Oct, 2016
Blue 3?
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wagtunes
- KVRAF
- 21013 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
The key things that need to be said have been said.
1. Omnisphere, as far as synths go, is all you need.
2. Get a damn good reverb because that is arguably just as important, if not more so, than the synth itself.
But if you just want to blow some cash, here are a few suggestions
Falcon
HALion
Pigments
1. Omnisphere, as far as synths go, is all you need.
2. Get a damn good reverb because that is arguably just as important, if not more so, than the synth itself.
But if you just want to blow some cash, here are a few suggestions
Falcon
HALion
Pigments
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Septic Underground
- KVRist
- 148 posts since 27 Dec, 2021 from Nederland
all, or if you have to pick one, piano
SEPTIC UNDERGROUND™
soundcloud.com/septicstudio
Full Albums here: https://www.jamendo.com/artist/349214/s ... und/albums
https://soundcloud.com/septicstudio/sets/zombi-ritual
soundcloud.com/septicstudio
Full Albums here: https://www.jamendo.com/artist/349214/s ... und/albums
https://soundcloud.com/septicstudio/sets/zombi-ritual
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onerob
- KVRian
- 577 posts since 28 Oct, 2014
Granular stuff is good for ambient. Padshop, Pigments, Quanta etc... But also this can be added to anything and it's pay-what-you-want: https://daniel-gergely.itch.io/emergence
And then put almost any sound source through PaulXStretch for harmonic explorations. Takes a lot of digging to get the most out of it though: https://sonosaurus.com/paulxstretch/
And then put almost any sound source through PaulXStretch for harmonic explorations. Takes a lot of digging to get the most out of it though: https://sonosaurus.com/paulxstretch/
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vestapol
- KVRer
- 23 posts since 13 Apr, 2010
If you're more inclined toward presets than patch creation you might checkout soundsets from The Unfinished and Tom Wolfe instead of another synth.