Surge vs top free/paid synths

[losangeles]

For those with more experience across the board with software synths: how does Surge compre with other big free and paid names (e.g., Vital, Pigments, Massive X, etc..)?

The fact that it’s open source makes me think it could be incredible since there’s so much potentially helpful and creative support available- but I don’t hear of it mentioned very often- so maybe it’s not?

Curious to your opinions on it

[chk071]

For those with more experience across the board with software synths: how does Surge compre with other big free and paid names (e.g., Vital, Pigments, Massive X, etc..)?

Do you own any of these or other payware synths? My advice would be to see for yourself. I tried Surge and Surge XT out a couple of times over the years, and never found that it gives me something sonically which is comparable, or even better than the payware I frequently use (Spire, Massive X, Largo, Pigments, Sylenth1).

By the way, what you will surely get with this thread will be a lot of people telling you how good it is, and that it's every bit as good as any payware out there. Which is fine, opinions and stuff. But, it won't get you a single step further with your question. Only you can decide whether or not it's worth to spend (or waste) your time with it. And, if you're intersted in heraing experience: I wished that I wouldn't have wasted my time with freeware when I started out seriously (I used to download warez 25 years ago, but, you can't really call that serious). My first payware, which isn't even ma favorite by any stretch, z3ta+, really opened up my times in terms of free stuff vs. paid stuff. Especially the stuff which is frequently mentioned as better payware is absolutely fantastic, and by far better than anything free I ever used.

Well, there you have it, an opinion. And what do you do with it now?

[vanerio]

In terms of capabilities, it is close to all commercial synths.
But I don´t use it because the gui is very uncomfortable to work with, for ME and my taste (sorry if a Surge developer reads this, I really appreciate your efforts).
Also remember that Vital is free too (you can buy a pro version for some presets and some more things though).

[uselessmind]

Some unsolicited advice: Go with what you like.

Surge and Vital are free to use, others have demo versions.

I think Surge is a fine synth, Vital is ok, Massive and Pigments i would not use unless i had no choice.

[Andreya_Autumn]

I think chk071 has a point. There are many cases where you get what you pay for, and when it's finally time to buy a pro-grade tool you'll know the difference.

However! Freeware has come a *long* way in 25 years. Some free stuff out there today is without question just straight up better than some payware stuff from that era. Valhalla Supermassive is an enormously capable and almost universally appreciated reverb for example, and it's free. I've tried *many* reverbs that cost way more that aren't necessarily way better.

So about the actual synths: It could be debated whether Surge XT is on a level with some of those payware synths. But without a doubt, it's fully capable quality-wise. Work with its strengths, and you get great quality results for sure. And if a tool is at least that good, the one thing that matters more than anything else is how well you know the tool.
I get way better results with Surge XT than with Pigments. That's not because Surge is better but because I know it so well, whereas Pigments I'm only beginning to explore now.

And btw, you say you don't hear it mentioned that often. That may be true, but Surge won the "best free softsynth" category of the KVR awards this year. So without a doubt it's very popular.

[Andreya_Autumn]

...the gui is very uncomfortable to work with, for ME and my taste (sorry if a Surge developer reads this, I really appreciate your efforts).

No reason to apologize. The UI is a really common criticism, and is going to be updated to make a bit more sense, in the eventual XT2 release. The "everything on one page" layout won't change though. That's one of the core ideas of the synth.

[chk071]

However! Freeware has come a *long* way in 25 years. Some free stuff out there today is without question just straight up better than some payware stuff from that era.

You're right. The improvements are surely noticeable when I think about what was available ten or twelve years ago, and what is available now. I still think payware has the edge though, otherwise I'd be happy to spend no money instead of quite a bit of money.

With DAW's, it's the same, if not worse. I looked into Cakewalk by Bandlab a few times now, and I'd be happy to switch to it if I could, because, frankly, I'm a bit tired of the "one paid upgrade a year or two, and lots of funny features to justify the upgrade, and bloat the DAW" thing, which is happening in both Studio One and Cubase, which are the main DAW's I've always used. But, Cakewalk is simply worse in about every regard, or doesn't have features I use, like full implementation of the HUI protocol my keyboard uses, so...

[vanerio]

...the gui is very uncomfortable to work with, for ME and my taste (sorry if a Surge developer reads this, I really appreciate your efforts).

No reason to apologize. The UI is a really common criticism, and is going to be updated to make a bit more sense, in the eventual XT2 release. The "everything on one page" layout won't change though. That's one of the core ideas of the synth.

Great!! looking forward to seeing it!

[k2006]

same topic discussed before
viewtopic.php?t=569720&hilit=surge
and
viewtopic.php?t=569739&hilit=surge

[kvotchin]

Personally, I haven’t got along with Surge. The UI (layout, really) is indeed my main bugbear there as well.

But then, I also don’t use any freeware synths at all these days. I’m familiar with many of them, and know of many more, but the synths I’ve ended up using, and feeling “right” about using - for whatever reasons - are all non-free.

Have tried to be as objective as possible, and that’s still where I’ve found myself to be. So be it then.

[Tj Shredder]

Don‘t forget, Surge was a paid for synth in the past. Its as capable as many others. Its quality is as high as many paid for synths. You certainly get infinite more than you pay for…
For me all is about inspiration. Does it invite you to create new sounds. Or does the presets already give you sounds that make you play. Both you have to find out yourself. Surge is free, the others have demos…
In the end your musical output is about skills and not about gear. When I was young most of the gear was unaffordable, now you can get what you need for free if you are happy with the top of the line of some years ago…

[syntonica]

Surge is a fine synth, but is many years old. If you like the sound, use it, but most of the payware out there arguably has better-sounding, newer filters and oscillators. If you find Surge too small and fiddly, check out Odin 2 as well. They share a number of components and the GUI is a little more open and usable.

[gentleclockdivider]

Surge as payware was good but it's filters were mediocre to say the least .
The surge team has tackled this by adding great filters which sounds miles better compared to vital an Sylenth .
Some of you should get rid of the mindset that payware equals better .
It all depends on the team and the talent , and this goes both ways .
Commercial companies trying to make a quick buck with inferior stuff and vice versa .

[Biome_Digital]

Surge is capable at what it does, but I wouldn't compare it to Pigments which has far more options - granular/multi-samples ect...

[yzcoruhT]

Surge is really best - in my opinion, even I prefer more simple/easier to use plugins.