Synthmaster 3

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

What i adore in SM1 is brilliant idea and ability to use sub osc as FM,PWM,RING modulator.
Could you make some kind of chain with multiple modulators one after another with more control or something similar - it will be really insane to have couple of modulation right after main osc and before filters.
Have a nice day

[dastewart]

Hi

This is a message for Bulent and although it may end up quite long I hope you get a chance to read it and think about what I’m saying.

First off a bit of context. I had very little experience of producing music with synths when I first came across synthmaster. I’d mixed plenty of songs with synths and played in bands which had synth players but when I decided it was time to improve my own synth abilities I was a relative beginner. I wanted to settle on one soft synth and really learn it properly and for various reasons (reviews, price, preset library) I decided to go with synthmaster.

That was over a year ago now and I am both hugely impressed and ultimately frustrated by synthmaster. I’ve been thinking for a while now about what could be done to remove my frustrations and I actually downloaded a trial of a rival product to see what I’m missing. This has really crystalised my thoughts on synthmaster and I’m now debating whether to jump ship or to stick with it. Either way, I thought you may be interested in what I have to say about it.

By the way, I’m not going to name the other product because a) it doesn’t matter and b) I don’t want this to be a synthmaster vs X discussion.

Let me start by talking about what impresses me about synthmaster: sound and features. I think the capability and functionality of synthmaster is just incredible. I mean, it really has pretty much everything and while there are a few things other synths can do which synthmaster can’t, synthmaster is surely the most complete product out there.
It does feel like you’ve been running a sweet shop where every request for additional features has been fulfilled.

So, I’m hugely impressed by its capability and, consequently, the sound. I think it sounds really good (or can sound really good!) and you’ve got every base covered in terms of functionality, presets, samples and so forth. So, what’s the problem?

Well, put quite simply the problem is the documentation and the UI. Oh my word this is so hard to understand because the manual is awfully written and doesn’t explain what many of the features actually do and how to use them. I think the manual may be fine if you already understand it all in the first place but for somebody who wants to learn how to use the software then it is almost useless. I realise that you may just say that if I knew more about synths then I would find it easy to understand but even that isn’t true because it isn’t written in a way that explains anything.

Take the section on algorithms for example. There’s a whole table showing what the different algorithm waveforms look like, a spectrum column (whatever that is) and then what parameters can be changed by the knobs below. That doesn’t help in the slightest. If you know what the different algorithms sound like and how to use them then you don’t need to read the manual, and if you don’t know then the manual hasn’t helped at all.

And the section on modulators clearly is written for an old version of synthmaster because there are various parameters which aren’t even mentioned.

Those are just a couple of examples but the whole manual needs to be written or proof read by somebody who's job it is to write manual.

As for the UI, then it is impressive in certain respects and, if the manual was better, may suffice. But with an incomplete and often incomprehensible manual it is a real problem that the UI doesn’t give any helpful tips for each parameter to explain what exactly it does. It also looks a bit dated and drawing in modulation and arp/seq patterns is much harder than it needs to be.

When you put together a synth with incredible depth and flexibility and a manual/UI which just doesn’t help you then synthmaster becomes an exercise in frustration which is only really useful for dedicated sound designers or synth experts. The sad truth is that I’ve had more “fun” with the synth demo that I downloaded because it is just easier to use and the manual explains those things which aren’t immediately obvious. I don’t think it sounds as good as synthmaster (subjective) and there are lots of features which are missing from it. But it’s more fun and I don’t feel like I’m constantly battling with the software which I do with synthmaster. In fact, I've worked out a few things which I never felt I understood on synthmaster by using the same features on the other product.

If any of this sounds like I’m having a go at you then I’m not. Synthmaster is an incredible product and probably deserves to be talked about as an industry standard. But I think the reason it hasn’t is because at the moment it’s a niche product and a bit of a curiosity because it’s just too hard to use.

I’m going to mention a couple of other things too. Why is this on sale for $39? I think you are devaluing your product because people will just assume you get what you pay for and that this isn’t as good as the competitors. This shouldn’t be costing less than the other synths - it can do more and sounds as good if not better.

The other thing I would mention is that the youtube videos are very amateurish. The production is poor and the only videos available explaining how to use it (which are essential given the manual) are very old and often not applicable to the latest version. This gives the impression of a product which isn't intended for professional use.

Thanks for reading. I am genuinely 100% supportive of what you are doing and wish you huge success because the product is amazing. But I think you need to take it out of the “specialist” camp and into the general consumer market. For me, if you spent your time/money on tutorial videos, documentation and the UI then that would be a hundred times more valuable than adding new features.

You can sell synthmaster 3 as a “coming of age” product with almost exactly the same features as now but with everything around it hugely improved. Then you really would have one synth to rule them all.

[kv331]

Well, put quite simply the problem is the documentation and the UI. Oh my word this is so hard to understand because the manual is awfully written and doesn’t explain what many of the features actually do and how to use them. I think the manual may be fine if you already understand it all in the first place but for somebody who wants to learn how to use the software then it is almost useless. I realise that you may just say that if I knew more about synths then I would find it easy to understand but even that isn’t true because it isn’t written in a way that explains anything.

Totally agree with you on the lack of documentation. Unfortunately, I'm the only person who updates the user manual and recently I've been swamped with multiple things. I wish my staff were skilled enough to update the manual...

I’m going to mention a couple of other things too. Why is this on sale for $39? I think you are devaluing your product because people will just assume you get what you pay for and that this isn’t as good as the competitors. This shouldn’t be costing less than the other synths - it can do more and sounds as good if not better.

The reason for the low price is we are basically trying to survive, seriously! Our sales have been going down since the beginning of 2021, and they keep getting worse. BTW, because of the global inflation, we are going to increase prices a little bit after our summer sale ends (Between 10%-20% increase for all prices)

The other thing I would mention is that the youtube videos are very amateurish. The production is poor and the only videos available explaining how to use it (which are essential given the manual) are very old and often not applicable to the latest version. This gives the impression of a product which isn't intended for professional use.

Again, I am the only person in the company who can shoot "tutorial" type of videos, and I'm lacking time. I've already contacted some youtubers, but most of them seemed to be busy to create videos for us. I think I should contact some again.

Thanks for reading. I am genuinely 100% supportive of what you are doing and wish you huge success because the product is amazing. But I think you need to take it out of the “specialist” camp and into the general consumer market. For me, if you spent your time/money on tutorial videos, documentation and the UI then that would be a hundred times more valuable than adding new features.

Thank you for taking the time for your suggestions, really appreciate them

Bulent

[kv331]

What i adore in SM1 is brilliant idea and ability to use sub osc as FM,PWM,RING modulator.
Could you make some kind of chain with multiple modulators one after another with more control or something similar

The purpose of SynthMaster One was to be a simple synth, so we won't add those features to SynthMaster One.

[Aliens]

Cheers for sticking with your vision

[kv331]

Guys, right now I'm working on new algorithms:

1. Direct disk streaming : This one is almost done already, essential for a "pro" quality sampler. the algorithm works on Windows, MacOS/iOS -yes iOS too-)
2. Pitch/Frequency analysis: This is also essential for analysis/resynthesis + detecting pitches of imported wav/aiff files.
3. Granular synthesis: I have the basic algorithm implemented offline in c#, will write a realtime c/c++ version in August

Then, there are further things I will implement. Mind you, they'll take time. I'm not expecting an alpha/beta version before december 2022.

1. Better sfz/multisample implementation: will add keygroups, crossfades in wav/aiff loops, crossfades between sfz regions.
2. Autosampling: This is gonna be a really useful feature to auto-sample your hardware/software synths. Like the one in Logic Pro.
3. sfz/sample regions editor: like the one in Logic Pro.
4. multiple layers, with modular architecture inside the layer modules: You'll be able to connect modules to each other and visually see the signal flow.
5. wavetable editor: I've got some ideas to write a useful wavetable editor, like the one in Vital/Phaseplant.

[hh2013]

If Synthmaster 3 is going to have Resynthesis, then please add this algorithm to the wavtable function, just like its is in Halion 6.
Allso, would be nice, if one could draw tones / overtones in wavetable editor.
I think the manual , say, Synthmaster 2 can create allmost all dx7 32 algorithm, could synthmaster really make the famours dx7 fm bass1 patch, or the epiano, that would be awsome, deffently we need more in deep synthmaster tutorials, who’s up for it ?.
I am allso hoping , synthmaster 3 would have a more dx7 algorithm programming style, way of doing things, perhaps even a osc, dedicated for the soul purpose of fm creation alone, which you could modulate or mix with anything, or every thing.

[hh2013]

Synthmaster, useless ???.
absolutely not, its the most versatile synth i have ever seen.
When synthmaster one came, i didnt like it at all, then the synthmaster came, and got better and better.
It was actually when kv331 audio released the. Ipad version of synthmaster , i got curious and , oh boy, what a synth.

Then i decided to buy Synthmaster on discount (39$,39$, 39$ ) mac / pc version, including all bundle expansion (discount) and did’nt regret it, and by the way, because Synthmaster is on discount, it doesn't mean is a bad piece of software, it’s not, it may not be as good as omnisphere, but then again omnisphere is getting old, nothing new happening to omnisphere.
If it was’nt for my small experince in modular / fm synth programming, i would not understand
Synthmaster, and synthmaster , believe it or not, is actually not that “diffcult”, shure , synthmaster can be very complex, but dont have to, you just have to remember, synthmaster modulators works as fm modulators, and the osc works as the operator, i hope i got this right.

[kv331]

Hi guys,

Here's the latest development update for SynthMaster 3: Working on Multi-Sample/SFZ features. Added support for many SFZ tokens that were not previously supported + added my custom tokens for loop crossfades, root key definition and playback quality. Still doing my changes on the prototype editor written with C#, pretty soon I'll start moving that to the plugin

SFZEditor.jpg

[Sleepwalker]

Me to will say that the greatest SM3 update for me would be just a polished UI! Because it sounds fantastic and has a ton of futures already. Make it sexy clean and clear. In my opinion thats even more important then new futures to get popularity.

I also got the iOS version first this summer for iPad and loved it. A few weeks later got the vst for pc/mac. The iOS UI seems cleaner and clearer, although the iOS synth has less futures ofc.

And regarding complexity: what about adding pop up help text like with Fabfilter plugs? This would help a lot, and increase attractiveness. Just short sentences explaining what it is and what it does.

Additionally to increase sales of Synthmaster 3 I would consider outsourcing someone to make an absolutely killer go-to preset package. For the very important first impression! These should be like the first 32 or 64 presets the new user meets. The first few of these should be instantly inspiring, like mega usable production ready leads etc. Im thinking of a couple of guys who could do this.

Great synth!

May I also applaud the very efficient computer resource usage! As an old pc nerd that cares about well written efficient vsti’s, this is a big selling point for me, and why I chose it over the other big wavetables. This in combination with sounding fantastic, better then some of the big ones and as good as the best.

[MTorn]

Hi guys,

Here's the latest development update for SynthMaster 3: Working on Multi-Sample/SFZ features. Added support for many SFZ tokens that were not previously supported + added my custom tokens for loop crossfades, root key definition and playback quality. Still doing my changes on the prototype editor written with C#, pretty soon I'll start moving that to the plugin

I wanted to chirp in and say that I find it very exciting that you are working on extending the multi-sample and SFZ capabilities. I'm on a never-ending quest to find the holy grail VST for porting my library of thousands of instrument and synth samples into.
You may already have done this, but just a reminder to make sure to include the SFZ token for tune=x, so we can separately tune all the individual samples within a multi-sample. Or, equally acceptable, perhaps make sure that the tuning data in the WAV header (two kinds, SMPL - MIDI Pitch Fraction, and INST - Fine Tune, please allow for both) is recognized properly.

Personally I really much prefer a single-screen synth interface, so if you were to also allow SynthMaster One to have the Multi-Sample/SFZ oscillator as an option, that would be AMAZING.

When importing samples, can you leave them in your preferred location, or do you need to import them into a specific SynthMaster folder? Ideally you can leave them in place, and just have the preset refer to the location.

[Huntmannn]

This is a message for Bulent.

As a possible feature of SM3, what do you think about having the ability to add effects and filters to oscillators (specifically to additive oscillators) instead of just limiting them to layers. I currently can work around not having this functionality by making samples in SM2 and loading them into additive oscillators. However, the effects and filter within each sample cannot be adjusted in real time to allow for better targeted sound design. I’m a huge fan of alchemy in Logic Pro which allows effects/filters to be added to individual samples/Oscillators. I really think having this functionality would make it better than alchemy (up to 32 stacked Oscillators per patch with each oscillator having its own filter/effects - Having all this on my iPad would be Insanely amazing ! ). These are just my opinions but I’d love to hear yours! P.s. it’s already better than alchemy in most respects, this would just blow it out of the water completely I think.

[rockmachine]

I'd love to see this implemented myself, as much for the standard oscillators as the additive myself. I've never been much into sampling so being able to do that with them is not very relevabt for myself at least.

[Huntmannn]

Yeah sampling synths is not an ideal method for creating rich tones from stacked oscillators. For example, recording a preset made from a single oscillator/filter/ with effects from SM2 into a DAW, exporting as a WAV file, and importing into a SM2 additive oscillator is a tedious process. And you lose your ability to edit that sounds effects and filter relative to the other samples, which leads to a loss of creative inspiration.

[Huntmannn]

Also, i didn’t mention this but having the ability to add wavetables to independent oscillators in additive mode would be really great and reduce the need for sampling synths as well.