End of development: There will be no new Tone2 products

[WordClock]

So I found myself disappointed with Synplant 2, not being enough quality to justify the price tag. And so that's when Icarus caught my eye. It can do resynthesis so much better. But it's not just that, the sound is very very current (as compared to another synth named current). I think it may be something special, but of course, I want the development to continue and improvements made, because it costs a lot of money (as are all the additional sound banks).

I just listened through all the Freelance Soundlabs 3rd party previews of Icarus 2 in Komplete Kontrol 3. Icarus 2 is a party in a box. Not all life revolves around techno, however. God doesn't WANT ME to BELIEVE in him. He wants me to believe in ME. That's the only reason. The gods are
beleaguared because of things the equivelent of the silver bullet theory. It's like a butterfly theory regarding causal reality of one of the most fragile boys you ever find who's passivity was repeatedly misdiagnosed. I am like an Icarus with a white sun that blackened my hair and with the cats hiss that turned me into a wildcat. I know I'm not the most beautiful but I just want someone out there to know I even love pan drums and ambient music.

[chk071]

I don't currently use any Tone2 products, even though I still have a licence for the Saurus. But it's good that there is at least still support. But I'll be honest... Personally, I'm not very interested in Tone2 products and even if development were to stop completely, I wouldn't really care.

Me neither. They always had flaws for me, which made me dislike to use them after a while. I owned Electra2 and Saurus, and used the free Firebird. Also, the fact that you can basically forget to sell them, because of the high license transfer fee, and that they become NFR after the resale, and that the plugins are quite expensive speaks against them for me.

I also proposed Markus one or two things to improve the workflow. E.g., I argued that Icarus should have a parameter to set the stereo spread of the unison oscillators. But, nooo, the answer was something along the lines of "Icarus does it smarter than other synthesizers, that's why I implemented a smart algorithm which takes care of that for the user". And that wasn't the only time I read something like that from him. Basically happens the whole time. Either that or "Well, there's a workaround for it: Do this and this and that, and you have it", which usually isn't a workaround at all, but does something different.

I know, I know, very toxic behavior from me to say something like that. But, I think a lot of the problems in this thread are rather homemade.

[EnGee]

IMO Tune2 synths are there with the very best soft synths. The only problem is the marketing. Maybe if Markus does like some other developers and give free NFR licensed to some 'influencers' in YouTube, the sells would increase and he would be motivated to hire others to take of some daily tasks he is doing leaving him to concentrate on development and how to expand it or stay current with new technologies. I don't know for sure! Just assuming!

I also believe it is an economic decision first. The music software market is just not that profitable enough for some to continue. A daily steady job might be way better for the mental health as you are not so worried about sells and other headaches.

[_leras]

This thread makes me sad. It's very unfortunate that talented people like Tone 2 feel they can't continue.

Hopefully a break will help.

There is only so much one person can do though, and man this forum, and others, are full of very entitled and rude comments. Some people get very affected by this type of negativity, even if it is a vocal minority.

I hope he comes back stronger. Few people maintain as many things as he does though, perhaps some consolidation can help, plus the outsourcing that others have mentioned.

[chk071]

I also believe it is an economic decision first. The music software market is just not that profitable enough for some to continue. A daily steady job might be way better for the mental health as you are not so worried about sells and other headaches.

I'm sure it is. Especially when you have to do all yourself when you own a business. Loads of work, I imagine.

[egbert101]

I think Serum set the standard for GUI and workflow, and so others were left to catch up. There is no perfect workhorse synth (until Zebra 3 anyway) and so I may have to make compromises, because the resynthesis and sounds make up for it in Icarus2.

But it could be perfect... If you know what I mean.

[WordClock]

I think I would enjoy a random patch feature in Icarus and Electra but a more flexible one than in Warlock. Warlock has random and it can be a nice creative boost to generate sounds. I'm going to make a request on a post for companies to design a patch randomizer. I figure Tone2 might not evolve more but if Electra had the morphing/genetic/random features like Absynth it would be the way to go. Selection of which parameters to randomize/Amount of random/cross hybridization. Stuff like that.

[egbert101]

Random or mutation would be brilliant, especially for such a powerful synth with so many presets.

[Syngularity]

All the Best Markus -
I purchased Warlock after release, and it still shines for me! I noticed that John Lehmkuhl gave much appreciation for it, so this is more important than all the negative vibes. You can be proud!
I've also given up for being wordy in the www, so I really agree - that's the way.

[WordClock]

Random or mutation would be brilliant, especially for such a powerful synth with so many presets.

When I think about the concept of owning the whole "Everything" preset bundle for things like Electra it's brilliant what a really good random engine could do with all the 5867 some sounds that the $!99 sale bundle includes. PLEASE Tone2 consider building the morphing/genetic into Electra it's like the Absynth of electronic music! I was mostly thinking of the prospect of making my own samples but I love mixing and matching as an activity just as much as originating like a special kraft dj. Electra doesn't need major revisions except it needs the random perfection.

[Syngularity]

I think I would enjoy a random patch feature in Icarus and Electra but a more flexible one than in Warlock. Warlock has random and it can be a nice creative boost to generate sounds. I'm going to make a request on a post for companies to design a patch randomizer. I figure Tone2 might not evolve more but if Electra had the morphing/genetic/random features like Absynth it would be the way to go. Selection of which parameters to randomize/Amount of random/cross hybridization. Stuff like that.

Icarus has it. Look around 5:50

[WordClock]

I think I would enjoy a random patch feature in Icarus and Electra but a more flexible one than in Warlock. Warlock has random and it can be a nice creative boost to generate sounds. I'm going to make a request on a post for companies to design a patch randomizer. I figure Tone2 might not evolve more but if Electra had the morphing/genetic/random features like Absynth it would be the way to go. Selection of which parameters to randomize/Amount of random/cross hybridization. Stuff like that.

Icarus has it.

I was testing Icarus 2 in Komplete Kontrol 3 so I didn't note the random but I must say genetic mutation or mutation/hybridization by varying amounts for particular parameters are a dream feature for a deluxe sound designer or mix and match sound editor. I just did a few tests of the random in Icarus. Almost there just need the additional features that I asked for in Icarus, Electra, etc.

The concept of genetic mutations/hybridization is that you can select the settings from one patch and apply them in different amounts to the other patches to make both patches meld in ways. It's a way to blend layers like DNA splicing. I don't own ALL the plugins but I know that in ways Tone2 is better than Absynth that was a total game changer for me in a few songs. Absynths presets for one are better for textures and soundscapes. Electra and Icarus have loops with the "quality" of Absynth they're neck in neck in the loop quality.

[EnGee]

I think Serum set the standard for GUI and workflow, and so others were left to catch up. There is no perfect workhorse synth (until Zebra 3 anyway) and so I may have to make compromises, because the resynthesis and sounds make up for it in Icarus2.

But it could be perfect... If you know what I mean.

Serum is not very original IMO, it took the basic design from Massive. Anyway, I agree it is very well maintained and well developed (although I would never buy it for some reason). However it is one synth that the developer concentrates on which is a very good idea.
The problem is Markus has several synths to take care of! If he concentrates on one synth, that would be better IMO. One super synth instead of several, is a good solution.

[egbert101]

Expensive but I bought it. The random feature produced something useful within a few clicks. Agree a mutation like Absynth would be a dream come true. All the other factors such as GUI and workflow problems are valid, but I remain optimistic that at some point development will continue with Icarus. Anyway, off to enjoy my new toy.

[WordClock]

Icarus is a little too EDM/Techno/Raunchy bass for me but I love that Electra and Icarus was a bargain so I don't mind the buy. There's no demo for Icarus but who bloody cares because Icarus has more telephone poles than Jerry the racecar driver and Primus combined.