Comparing Dune 3.5 With Hive 2

[fisherKing]

I've owned both for many years with Hive, in particular, being the longest from back in 2015 so I can be objective about their strengths and weaknesses.

seriously, tho: no. your opinion is not, by definition 'objective'. it's still an opinion, still subjective (even tho i also prefer dune3 to hive2)...

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

Both are nice synths,reading this topic i download and did play with both again for a few minutes trying to convince myself i may need some of them...
Imho for 5 min test i think Dune have better filters and fx,at least to my taste,BUT...
Mod matrix could be little bit more accurate and precise and should be developed little bit more further to give more flex abilities interconecting layers.
Osc section could be 1,2,3,4 - load wavetable and do whatever you like,even don't see real usage of VA part...
Anyway if i was old Sylenth1 user would go to Hive.
If Serum was my old synth would go to Dune.
If already know how to use Vital probably won't bother with neither of both
I prefer Thorn and Icarus instead of Hive.
Would consider Dune if see 50% off - spend over 200 euro for fx last week - if Dune was like 90-99 euro against Pigments and Phase plant will be immediately first buy,but developer do not offer such discounts.
Cheers:)

[chagzuki]

seriously, tho: no. your opinion is not, by definition 'objective'. it's still an opinion, still subjective (even tho i also prefer dune3 to hive2)...

Those are both relative and context-dependent terms, so his statement made perfect sense, i.e. that he'd been past the honeymoon phase and had time to explore both in depth.

[fisherKing]

seriously, tho: no. your opinion is not, by definition 'objective'. it's still an opinion, still subjective (even tho i also prefer dune3 to hive2)...

Those are both relative and context-dependent terms, so his statement made perfect sense, i.e. that he'd been past the honeymoon phase and had time to explore both in depth.

the 'honeymoon phase'? seriously? how long is that? and is it the same for everyone...?

[chagzuki]

the 'honeymoon phase'? seriously? how long is that? and is it the same for everyone...?

Anywhere between 10 seconds and a month. And then there's the sunk cost aspect where one can trick oneself into believing that the money wasn't a waste. Actually, Bones should comment; he changes his favourite synth every few weeks and decides the prior ones are rubbish.
I did it recently with the Arturia FX collection. I was convinced the delays were superior to Valhalla, but I went back to Valhalla (after a couple of weeks) I realised they were on par.

[fisherKing]

the 'honeymoon phase'? seriously? how long is that? and is it the same for everyone...?

Anywhere between 10 seconds and a month. And then there's the sunk cost aspect where one can trick oneself into believing that the money wasn't a waste. Actually, Bones should comment; he changes his favourite synth every few weeks and decides the prior ones are rubbish.
I did it recently with the Arturia FX collection. I was convinced the delays were superior to Valhalla, but I went back to Valhalla (after a couple of weeks) I realised they were on par.

ah. but wouldn't that put the intrancer's post in the 'used too long to have any meaningful perspective' space?

anyway, these comparisons never work. dune3 & hive2 are 2 very-different synths. and most of this is subjective anyway, fodder for endless discussion (and 'i'm right because', 'you're wrong because' posts).

it's all fun times on the kvr forums...

[susquash]

They both sound good imo.
Dune has the voice layers that can be edited within each separate layer, which is an advantage to sound creation that Hive doesn't have in the same way.
Hive has better filters. Cleaner resonance, and better comb filters too.
You can hear harsh noise like tones coming from Dune within certain sounds where resonance is at a high setting. At least on certain filters. Though it has many more filter labels, not enough differences among them to justify using any specific ones.
Dune has mseg's while Hive has that shape sequencer which can be used like mseg's .
The reason why they are both equally amazing is that one can obtain some truly great sounds from each one, regardless of their respective defects.

[chagzuki]

it's all fun times on the kvr forums...

I'm interested in people's views, particularly as Hive is on sale. I've had Dune for a short while and have only scratched the surface. I'm a big fan of what Synapse did with The Legend, so was intrigued to see if I could achieve something in that ballpark with Dune's filters, but so far the results have been very good-mannered and tidy... sterile would be too strong a word, but Dune does seem to have a precision about it.

[Korg Supporter]

I already own Icarus and Spire (which admittedly sound better), but I am tempted to get Hive because the filter input is useful for sine wave oscillation, I love the dirty mode, and the dissonant and sideband filter types are so fun to use.

[pdxindy]

Dune has the voice layers that can be edited within each separate layer, which is an advantage to sound creation that Hive doesn't have in the same way.

I suppose that is useful if one does not have a DAW that does it. But I use Bitwig which can layer synths and it is more capable and an easier workflow than doing it in the synth.

[SonicDimension]

My impression is that Dune 3 has a more ingratiating analog tone, with a variety of very pleasant-sounding filters. Hive 2 somehow sounds a bit harsh in comparison, with more sparkly high-end and sharp attack transients that remind me of Waldorf synths. Maybe it's better to appreciate Hive's distinctly digital VA and wavetable sounds, rather than expecting it to sound like a warm and gooey analog (or Sylenth1, Virus, etc.)

[pdxindy]

I love the dirty mode, and the dissonant and sideband filter types are so fun to use.

I think this one was the Dissonant filter... and a wavetable as exciter.

https://dandelionaudio.com/sound/hive21-10.mp3

[Korg Supporter]

Maybe it's better to appreciate Hive's distinctly digital VA and wavetable sounds, rather than expecting it to sound like a warm and gooey analog (or Sylenth1, Virus, etc.)

I am a sucker for overtly digital synths like that. I don't believe that most of Hive's presets do justice, but they still sound cold in a good way like NI Razor.

[Tobi MM]

But I imagine this thread is more about promoting someone's skins and not about the synths themselves.

No, it isn't. I, not being the threadstarter, just mentioned a different GUI i use because it helps me personally with Dune, which i love sound-wise, but the original GUI... not so much. So, an input in the conversation, not the reason of this thread.

[BONES]

A different skin only matters if it improves the workflow and none of them do. They just rearrange the controls that are already there, rather than allowing you to take things that are hidden and expose them on the front panel, etc.

What other aspects do find when comparing these two synths ?

There is really only one thing that matters and that is that DUNE sounds a lot better than Hive. When I decided to stop using Hive, it took me no time at al lot replace it in the half-a-dozen or so songs we were using it in. Mostly I could do it with freeware or sub-$30 VSTi. OTOH, trying to replace DUNE is a lot harder because only one or two very expensive synths in our arsenal come close to the same sound quality.

DUNE also has proper 3 op FM with multiple algorithms and a lot more choice when it comes to filter types. These are things that matter far more than the GUI when it comes to actually making music. Plus, of course, DUNE has layers and a sample oscillator, Hive does not. DUNE also has two separate effects chains, Hive has only one.

At the end of the day, Hive is a very poor option when compared to DUNE.

Hive has good wavetables with the Uhm scripts. The comb filters are excellent. The matrix modifiers give some extra capabilities that are useful. The wavetable interpolation is the best of any wavetable synth I've tried. It's fast and efficient to use.

That's not been my experience. I find Hive every bit as annoying to use as DUNE. e.g. Both put the sequencer in the tiny central window, when it makes way more sense to have it down the bottom, where the keyboard is. To me they are both best suited to people who use presets, in which case Hive definitely wins, having the best preset browser I have ever used. It's just a shame it doesn't sound as good. But for people trying to finish songs, neither are really all that helpful most of the time.

You can hear harsh noise like tones coming from Dune within certain sounds where resonance is at a high setting. At least on certain filters.

Yes, that's what gives a specific filter character, it is a desirable trait.