UAD PolyMAX - This thing is Sick

[zvenx]

Then for me more or less the same as Funkybot's evil twin:
u-he (repro), tal (j8), gforce (sem,ob-e) and softube (model 72, 80,82 and 84 so far).

rsp

[pdxindy]

It really depends on what you're talking about. If you're talking about a plugin that's trying to pass itself off as an analog synth, that's one thing. If you're talking about a synthesizer in general, that's a totally different thing. The truth is, almost all software synthesizers sound good these days. Whether or not they have the kind of character you like, well that's another story.

I think it's ridiculous for software synths to have such limited featuresets when analog hardware developers would jump at the chance to add more flexible capability to their analog synths if they could do so for the same cost.

[zerocrossing]

Ok, so from my perspective, here's where they fall a little short as instruments:

1. No MIDI Learn

2. Hardwired MIDI assignments - this is even worse than having no MIDI learn

3. Not all GUI parameters are automatable. There are quite a few things on the Minimoog at least that can't be automated or controlled by a control surface.

4. Plugins sound "good" but not "best in class" good. Example: the Rhodes isn't great. The Hammond doesn't even stack up to the IK version. Neither IMO stack up to Acoustic Samples VTines and B5 respectively. I've never even bothered to try their piano. Have that well-covered.

5. audiouser720 says the VCA in Polymax saturates when pushed. Great! Now where's the clean output volume trim to dial the volume back after boosting the VCA? Oh right. There isn't one! You'd need to use another plugin afterwards.

6. Opening the browser, moves the GUI to the right. That's just weird and just bothers me.

They're pretty good instruments overall, and sound good, but they're not as good at being instrument plugins as their FX are at being FX plugins if you get what I mean.

I also don't agree that PolyMax has the same level of character as the new Prophet Rev 4's. I have both and PolyMax is much more refined (which was a good word choice) sounding. Nowhere near as sloppy as the Rev 4 from a voice variation perspective. Nowhere near as much drive at normal output levels.

What are genuinely best in class sounding plugin synths in your opinion? Genuinely asking

It really depends on what you're talking about. If you're talking about a plugin that's trying to pass itself off as an analog synth, that's one thing. If you're talking about a synthesizer in general, that's a totally different thing. The truth is, almost all software synthesizers sound good these days. Whether or not they have the kind of character you like, well that's another story.

The first scenario, definitely. Pass itself off as an analogue synth.

In that case… (I’m no particular order)

Repro
The Synapse Audio emulations
The newer Arturia emulations
The Softube emulations
Knifonium
Strobe II
Cypher II
Polymax
The newer GForce emulations
Roland Cloud emulations

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Me personally: I LOVE The Legend, but I can never get anything I like out of Obsession. At all. I've tried so hard to like that synth and make it work for me and have just come to the conclusion that I hate it. Didn't the original use the same Curtis chips as the Rev 3? I love RePro-5, and my Prophet Rev 4, but not Obsession. I have no idea why I dislike that particular softsynth so much but it does absolutely nothing for me.

[pdxindy]

The first scenario, definitely. Pass itself off as an analogue synth.

PolyMAX doesn't sound analog to me. For example, doesn't sound anything like the raw tone of the Behringer Pro-1.

PolyMAX sounds like a smooth and precise digital synth that has some built-in drive/saturation in the VCA's. I think it sounds pretty good and makes some pleasing tones... but why make such a limited software synth? Even my analog synths have more modulation possibilities.

[zvenx]

Yes the OBX-A did use the Curtis chip (was just watching a on this ironically..)

I don't love the Legend, more like, but yeah Obsession to me has been my greatest disappointment on software synths I was looking forward to vs what they were like when they were actually released... though for me part of it has to do with its GUI. I have had sounds made for it by a sound designer I really admire (I definitely don't consider myself a sound designer), and bought a lot of third party banks for it, and even then, I didn't love it..
rsp

[audiouser720]

Ok, so from my perspective, here's where they fall a little short as instruments:

1. No MIDI Learn

2. Hardwired MIDI assignments - this is even worse than having no MIDI learn

3. Not all GUI parameters are automatable. There are quite a few things on the Minimoog at least that can't be automated or controlled by a control surface.

4. Plugins sound "good" but not "best in class" good. Example: the Rhodes isn't great. The Hammond doesn't even stack up to the IK version. Neither IMO stack up to Acoustic Samples VTines and B5 respectively. I've never even bothered to try their piano. Have that well-covered.

5. audiouser720 says the VCA in Polymax saturates when pushed. Great! Now where's the clean output volume trim to dial the volume back after boosting the VCA? Oh right. There isn't one! You'd need to use another plugin afterwards.

6. Opening the browser, moves the GUI to the right. That's just weird and just bothers me.

They're pretty good instruments overall, and sound good, but they're not as good at being instrument plugins as their FX are at being FX plugins if you get what I mean.

I also don't agree that PolyMax has the same level of character as the new Prophet Rev 4's. I have both and PolyMax is much more refined (which was a good word choice) sounding. Nowhere near as sloppy as the Rev 4 from a voice variation perspective. Nowhere near as much drive at normal output levels.

What are genuinely best in class sounding plugin synths in your opinion? Genuinely asking

It really depends on what you're talking about. If you're talking about a plugin that's trying to pass itself off as an analog synth, that's one thing. If you're talking about a synthesizer in general, that's a totally different thing. The truth is, almost all software synthesizers sound good these days. Whether or not they have the kind of character you like, well that's another story.

The first scenario, definitely. Pass itself off as an analogue synth.

In that case… (I’m no particular order)

Repro
The Synapse Audio emulations
The newer Arturia emulations
The Softube emulations
Knifonium
Strobe II
Cypher II
Polymax
The newer GForce emulations
Roland Cloud emulations

Don’t even start with fxpansion. Those 2 were the absolute best. Always makes me so angry. Never gone forgive for abandoning them

[Septic Underground]

Then for me more or less the same as Funkybot's evil twin:
u-he (repro), tal (j8), gforce (sem,ob-e) and softube (model 72, 80,82 and 84 so far).

rsp

I really love arturias OB XA, I got some nice patches that are massively analogue sounding.

My others;

TAL J8 (well for everything I suppose)
TAL U NO (bread and butter, superdry bass-sounds, raveleads)
Gforce Odyssey (just great)
Softube 72 (best mini ITB to me)
U He RePro ( Diva is okay, but repro sounds so much more alive to me)
Cherry Audio Surrealistic MG1(for real)
DiscoDSP OB-Xd (why not)


These are my goto for analogue sounds

[pdxindy]

In that case… (I’m no particular order)

Repro
The Synapse Audio emulations
The newer Arturia emulations
The Softube emulations
Knifonium
Strobe II
Cypher II
Polymax
The newer GForce emulations
Roland Cloud emulations

ACE

[martinjuenke]

ACE is ace!

[dune_rave]

UAD simply came quite late to the vsti market. They are famous for their effects anyway. those who are interested in synth plugins, already have a bunch of superb stuff from other devs... on the other hand i will check the uad synth stuff later if there's some unique feature.
BUT IMHO it's Soniccharge Synplant3 that will show some real innovation

[Septic Underground]

ACE is ace!

So is Bazille, but they are a bit hard to edit imo, the others are just quicker. Soundwise Ace and Bazille are among the best ones out there. Those 2 are the ones I select if I want modular synth tones ITB. They are really cool for that kinda sounds. Very organic.

[vitocorleone123]

The first scenario, definitely. Pass itself off as an analogue synth.

PolyMAX doesn't sound analog to me. For example, doesn't sound anything like the raw tone of the Behringer Pro-1.

PolyMAX sounds like a smooth and precise digital synth that has some built-in drive/saturation in the VCA's. I think it sounds pretty good and makes some pleasing tones... but why make such a limited software synth? Even my analog synths have more modulation possibilities.

PolyMax sounds great - better than many analog synths. Since it isn't actually emulating anything, who cares how analog it sounds if it sounds great? I sure don't. I easily choose PolyMax over several analog emulation synths I have based on sound quality... but I'd choose it more easily if it had just a touch more modulation (e.g., even 2 modulation slots like Repro).

Having "phat" and "raw" synths for every instrument would be pretty awful, in my opinion.

[pdxindy]

PolyMax sounds great - better than many analog synths. Since it isn't actually emulating anything, who cares how analog it sounds if it sounds great? I sure don't. I easily choose PolyMax over several analog emulation synths I have based on sound quality... but I'd choose it more easily if it had just a touch more modulation (e.g., even 2 modulation slots like Repro).

Well, yeah... PolyMAX is ridiculously limited for modulation. I'd be bored with it in 2 hours.

If you think it sounds great, have at it. I think it sounds very good but a bit on the bland side and I've got half a dozen synths+ that sound as good in their own way and which are sonically far more flexible and interesting.

There's no reason for a software synth that, as you say, isn't even a specific emulation, to be so limited. It's a weird affectation.

[TS-12]

The unison “effect” sounds amazing, but it only works in solo mode