VPS Avenger 2.4 [RELEASED - FAQ in OP]

[Lbdunequest]

This company has always overpriced things IMO, but still somehow I was surprised by the 99 euro upgrade fee. Zero chance I'm paying that much for what the new features are.

I'll just buy Current instead probably since if I'm gonna pay big bucks I might as well get an entire synth, instead of a few modules and "upgraded" onboard effects that I likely won't use.

You are forecasting the future you dont know. There is no price yet set, you dont know if t here will be just few modules, how many new presets. Maybe those modules are worthy of the upgrade price to some? just wait for the product and then rable

[Jac459]

This company has always overpriced things IMO, but still somehow I was surprised by the 99 euro upgrade fee. Zero chance I'm paying that much for what the new features are.

I'll just buy Current instead probably since if I'm gonna pay big bucks I might as well get an entire synth, instead of a few modules and "upgraded" onboard effects that I likely won't use.

on the other hand, dont forget if you buy avenger, you will get quite some updates in the future for your money. and in avenger, you have top notch presets, imho current is weaker in presets.

I agree on the presets, no discussion.

On the updates, minimal audio is hinting that they will provide updates (even without RTO) for as long as they can.

To me Current beats Avenger in the UI. It is a no contest.

Overall power I think Avenger stays more powerful even if Current has some very nice features.

Kind of a draw... Depends of your priorities...

[Caine123]

im really interested what Avenger 2 brings new to the table to Avenger 1. looking forward.

[HallowedHouse]

On Avenger and Current -I spent today demoing Current. The GUI is amazing as is the workflow. I keep reading that it is an easy-entry solution for those musicians who are not Synth-savvy - in terms of both Phase Plant and Avenger. I am not convinced by this sales argument as those extra features ultimately provide a richer musical choice. Sometimes less is more,I agree, but there is no competition between Current and either of those synths - both outclass Current in terms of sound possibilities, presets and, consequently, modulation options. I also prefer the sound quality in Avenger - but this is subjective. The effects in Current are amazing, particularly the filters, but there are far more possibilities with Phase Plant and Avenger in terms of effects - and if you consider Snap Heap and Multipass - absolutely no competition. To sum up, Current is an amazing synth for it's GUI and effects but not in the same league as Avenger (or Phase Plant). I haven't mentioned "Stream," because personally, I don't like the idea of my creativity linked in that way to the internet (same with Synthmaster) but that is just a preference and of course, you can always turn it off. Yes, I probably will buy Current at some point but not for now. When I read that people are making comparisons with Avenger, it just makes me smile (Avenger: 8 Oscs, Granular, Wavetable, FM, Sampler, Drum Machine, 8 sequencers, Step Sequencer, FFT, 8 Mod Env, 8 Pitch Eng )and incidentally, the sequencer in Current is extremely limited. As far as Black Friday is concerned, I literally cannot wait for the 24th of November and version 2.

[Stan Navi]

On Avenger and Current -I spent today demoing Current. The GUI is amazing as is the workflow. I keep reading that it is an easy-entry solution for those musicians who are not Synth-savvy - in terms of both Phase Plant and Avenger. I am not convinced by this sales argument as those extra features ultimately provide a richer musical choice. Sometimes less is more,I agree, but there is no competition between Current and either of those synths - both outclass Current in terms of sound possibilities, presets and, consequently, modulation options. I also prefer the sound quality in Avenger - but this is subjective. The effects in Current are amazing, particularly the filters, but there are far more possibilities with Phase Plant and Avenger in terms of effects - and if you consider Snap Heap and Multipass - absolutely no competition. To sum up, Current is an amazing synth for it's GUI and effects but not in the same league as Avenger (or Phase Plant). I haven't mentioned "Stream," because personally, I don't like the idea of my creativity linked in that way to the internet (same with Synthmaster) but that is just a preference and of course, you can always turn it off. Yes, I probably will buy Current at some point but not for now. When I read that people are making comparisons with Avenger, it just makes me smile (Avenger: 8 Oscs, Granular, Wavetable, FM, Sampler, Drum Machine, 8 sequencers, Step Sequencer, FFT, 8 Mod Env, 8 Pitch Eng )and incidentally, the sequencer in Current is extremely limited. As far as Black Friday is concerned, I literally cannot wait for the 24th of November and version 2.

What the point for 8 Oscs etc, if after 2 oscs Avenger is becoming CPU hog with constant spikes? On the paper both Phase Plant and Avenger is no competition. But in fact Current is well balanced synth with great possibilities. It has all the most used Osc types and modulations to make wide pallet of sounds. And about the presets. Phase Plant factory presets and additional libraries sucks. Avenger presets is great, but each cost as high as new synth or good effect. And again with such CPU consumption, there is no much point to use it. In that case Phase Plant, Rapid, Current wins by a mile. Current presets are modern and i must say, sound designers did a great job!

[HallowedHouse]

Current is a great synth but has nowhere like the same feature set as Avenger. I usually use four Oscs in a patch - so you have a point although I choose which sound engines to use - four of each type of what I want and you can't do that with Current. Current' GUI is amazing, a mixture between Vital and Pigments. However, personally I think once thei initial "Wow," factor wears off - it always comes back to the sound - and in so many ways the visuals can be a misleading distraction - it's about ears not eyes. Current is a great synth, no doubt, but for me it does not compete with Avenger in sound possibilities but is a great way to learn about sound design visually - and Currents effects, though more limited, are just brilliant - I would probably buy it just for that the and the speedy work flow.

[Jac459]

Current is a great synth but has nowhere like the same feature set as Avenger. I usually use four Oscs in a patch - so you have a point although I choose which sound engines to use - four of each type of what I want and you can't do that with Current. Current' GUI is amazing, a mixture between Vital and Pigments. However, personally I think once thei initial "Wow," factor wears off - it always comes back to the sound - and in so many ways the visuals can be a misleading distraction - it's about ears not eyes. Current is a great synth, no doubt, but for me it does not compete with Avenger in sound possibilities but is a great way to learn about sound design visually - and Currents effects, though more limited, are just brilliant - I would probably buy it just for that the and the speedy work flow.

On the possibilities of Current, I think one thing which is overlooked is all the modifiers attached to the wavetable oscillators. I don't know any synth with these features (in particular as much spectral treatment, I could name DS Thorn or Vital but current is even better). On that aspect it is the synth with more possibilities today. I think flexibility of oscillators matters as much if not more than the number of oscillators.

Also on what you said earlier I think phase plant remind anyway the king. The UI is as good as Current and the overall possibilities are crazy, even better than avenger.
Avenger suffers from an average UI imho. The features are good though and they have awesome presets.

[HallowedHouse]

Yes, I agree with all that, I did notice the spectral possibilities in Current and I am excited that Avenger 2 is implementing this too. Actually, although I already have far too many synths I only really use three - Phase Plant, Avenger and Dune 3 (although Dune doesn't have so many features less is somehow more - it has the best sound I have heard until now - but that's another story!). So, Avenger 2 - let's see what they do with the version - can't wait!

[Jac459]

Yes, I agree with all that, I did notice the spectral possibilities in Current and I am excited that Avenger 2 is implementing this too. Actually, although I already have far too many synths I only really use three - Phase Plant, Avenger and Dune 3 (although Dune doesn't have so many features less is somehow more - it has the best sound I have heard until now - but that's another story!). So, Avenger 2 - let's see what they do with the version - can't wait!

Your Dune 3 is my Spire... Maybe it is just the presets but I love the sound of them. Most of the time I end-up heavily modifying them...
But yet, Avenger, Phase Plant, when you want the work done...

[Trancit]

nevermind

[pizzatime1]

Current is a great synth but has nowhere like the same feature set as Avenger. I usually use four Oscs in a patch - so you have a point although I choose which sound engines to use - four of each type of what I want and you can't do that with Current. Current' GUI is amazing, a mixture between Vital and Pigments. However, personally I think once thei initial "Wow," factor wears off - it always comes back to the sound - and in so many ways the visuals can be a misleading distraction - it's about ears not eyes. Current is a great synth, no doubt, but for me it does not compete with Avenger in sound possibilities but is a great way to learn about sound design visually - and Currents effects, though more limited, are just brilliant - I would probably buy it just for that the and the speedy work flow.

On the possibilities of Current, I think one thing which is overlooked is all the modifiers attached to the wavetable oscillators. I don't know any synth with these features (in particular as much spectral treatment, I could name DS Thorn or Vital but current is even better). On that aspect it is the synth with more possibilities today. I think flexibility of oscillators matters as much if not more than the number of oscillators.

Also on what you said earlier I think phase plant remind anyway the king. The UI is as good as Current and the overall possibilities are crazy, even better than avenger.
Avenger suffers from an average UI imho. The features are good though and they have awesome presets.

Having loads of options is great but wavetable wise I have never heard anything better than Rapid with its per voice fx.. a bit of detune on the oscillators and the per voice overdrive then chorus-x and the sound is totally psychedelic.. sounds a tiny bit generic to me Current, a bit like Vital but then the granular and sample part is much more advanced than Rapid.

[zvenx]

Once again, demonstrating how taste is always personal.
Rapid sounds 'vanilla' (generic) to me.. not bad, I can use it, but I don't really use it.. it doesn't somehow inspire me, whereas Current seems like it will and Avenger definitely does..
Different stroke different folks.
rsp

[Jac459]

Once again, demonstrating how taste is always personal.
Rapid sounds 'vanilla' (generic) to me.. not bad, I can use it, but I don't really use it.. it doesn't somehow inspire me, whereas Current seems like it will and Avenger definitely does..
Different stroke different folks.
rsp

Which is good ....

[Jac459]

Having loads of options is great but wavetable wise I have never heard anything better than Rapid with its per voice fx.. a bit of detune on the oscillators and the per voice overdrive then chorus-x and the sound is totally psychedelic.. sounds a tiny bit generic to me Current, a bit like Vital but then the granular and sample part is much more advanced than Rapid.

Mmm... Please don't scratch my GAS....

[Stan Navi]

Yeah Rapid is great, light on CPU, great sounding, much faster to make sounds from your head than Avenger IMHO. And i use Rapid fx all the time, as it has such a great effects. Hope Parawave guys will continue to develop it.

Still i have hopes for Avenger 2. Teaser videos of new features are tempting. But need to check, how usable will be Avenger 2 in terms of CPU.