Minimal Audio Current…subscription

[Aiynzahev]

I wouldn't consider current before having Phase Plant and Avenger 2. They are all 3 on the same "I am a modern digital synth and I don't try to be a VA" market segment but both Phase Plant and Avenger 2 are way way more powerful than Current...

Nevertheless, Current is a well done, fun wavetable synth with many tricks up its sleeves. Definitely worth it at 99 (if you already got pigments in this price range, that is, I don't see any reason to pick Current before Pigments).
At the 200USD price range, well PP and Avenger all the way, no contest.

I disagree though, I have pigments and phase plant, but I think the engine of current is quite different from those two, like it's filters are drastically different and there's a lot more available with morphing etc. Its FM is very good too as are its wavetable manipulation capabilities. On paper it looks like a SERUM clone but its approach to how it does it sounds very different to me.

EDIT - What's missing from the $200 synth compared to the demo? I imagine a lot of the wavetables?

Good we disagree , that's the essence of a good forum.

Actually you are right, the modifiers of Current are awesome, I like the spectral processing and the wave shaping you can put. Also the filters are quite good.
But that's all go to my mention of "fun wavetable synth with many tricks up its sleeves".

But if you take for example Phase Plant, the architecture is totally open, in terms of FM, AM, RM, PM, it beats Current to a pulp, you can modulate everything at audio rate, once you start playing with that, you are in a different world.
Then talking about the effects. Sure, Current use minimal audio effects that are quite nice. But actually they are not that practical to do simple things. Then you only have one effect bus. In phase plant you have 3. Then in Phase Plant you can also set your effect bus to be ... polyphonic !!! That is just nuts... You can nest effects inside your bus with band passing. It is a night mare to do that in Current.
Overall, I personally feel than the amount of power and potential at your finger tips is just on another level.

Well, there's on paper abilities and then there's what the synth actually outputs in terms of it's sonic character etc. That's where I think Current is really impressive. I'm not saying it just sounds magically better, it's just different. I perceive it as doing the modern clean sound in a really impressive way.

Now, whether "one" should prefer phase plant (as you mentioned it) because of it's capabilities on paper, that's for the end user to decide. There are certainly strong reasons to not dip into Current, but for me the fact that another synth can "do" more isn't one.

[Jac459]

Well, there's on paper abilities and then there's what the synth actually outputs in terms of it's sonic character etc. That's where I think Current is really impressive. I'm not saying it just sounds magically better, it's just different. I perceive it as doing the modern clean sound in a really impressive way.

Now, whether "one" should prefer phase plant (as you mentioned it) because of it's capabilities on paper, that's for the end user to decide. There are certainly strong reasons to not dip into Current, but for me the fact that another synth can "do" more isn't one.

Well of course, I can't disagree with you on that. It is a matter of individual preferences and choices. On my side I would still go to the synth with the most feature packed provided that the UI allows me to feel comfortable with it. I have Falcon 3 and was never able to feel at home with it. Same for Diva. I see you created sound packs for it, kudos to you.

But tbh, I didn't say "don't go to current", I said "don't go to current before you have these more powerful synths". On my side for example, I purchased recently Dune 3 even if the overall value of a wavetable synth when I already have serum, current or Avenger is limited. As you said, Dune 3 doesn't sound magically better but for me it has enough differences to justify a purchase .

Anyway, I got what you mean mate, at each its own... Current is a good synth anyway, just not in my top 5 .

[Aiynzahev]

I like this synth quite a lot on first demo. Lots of cool features and they sound really good, however is there really no mod-matrix and no random note on source?

Edit - never mind I found the random LFO option.

Still Idk if I'd do this at $200, it's a little bit much. On sale though I think I might pick this up.

They’re a catch that’s not immediately obvious. You think you’re buying the synth your are demoing for $200. You are not. A lot of what is in the demo is not included unless you subscribe. I had my credit card out and ready to pay, and they hit you with the options page, then you find out the real deal. No thank you. That’s some shady shit.

Yes, I forgot to mention that... With Phase Plant and Pigments, you got companies with awesome track records in terms of customer support. VPS is not far behind.
Minimal Audio hasn't this reputation...

Yes that's a concern too. It also seems to get pretty CPU intensive at times. But I will say, the more I explore the effects section just for example, it's got a hell of a lot of features and they fundamentally sound great.

I really dislike the approach they have taken with this though, like some modern video game approach where the game is just a skin for a micro-transaction machine.

Actually, I see you are a sound designer (which I am not) so don't you feel that the FX section of Phase Plant is just way way more powerful? (provided that you have the ultimate pack with snapheap and multiples)

Maybe in some areas. I don't mean this as a proper analogy, but to give you the gist of how I see things: sometimes with things like this is like asking if you gave me 10 different economy cars, could I build a Ferrari.

Though I should add I'm fairly new to Phase Plant, I immediately see a very big difference in the depth of what's available in Current, the behind the scenes programming that's wrapped in a nice UI, I think there's a lot of very good stuff going on in the background.

Phase Plant's approach seems to be more of basic building blocks, which is also fine, but it reminds me of DMG audio's compassion, with all its parameters Vs DMG's track comp which is much simpler but there is a ton going on in the background with modeling etc. which gives it a very different character, or multiple different characters.

[Jac459]

I like this synth quite a lot on first demo. Lots of cool features and they sound really good, however is there really no mod-matrix and no random note on source?

Edit - never mind I found the random LFO option.

Still Idk if I'd do this at $200, it's a little bit much. On sale though I think I might pick this up.

They’re a catch that’s not immediately obvious. You think you’re buying the synth your are demoing for $200. You are not. A lot of what is in the demo is not included unless you subscribe. I had my credit card out and ready to pay, and they hit you with the options page, then you find out the real deal. No thank you. That’s some shady shit.

Yes, I forgot to mention that... With Phase Plant and Pigments, you got companies with awesome track records in terms of customer support. VPS is not far behind.
Minimal Audio hasn't this reputation...

Yes that's a concern too. It also seems to get pretty CPU intensive at times. But I will say, the more I explore the effects section just for example, it's got a hell of a lot of features and they fundamentally sound great.

I really dislike the approach they have taken with this though, like some modern video game approach where the game is just a skin for a micro-transaction machine.

Actually, I see you are a sound designer (which I am not) so don't you feel that the FX section of Phase Plant is just way way more powerful? (provided that you have the ultimate pack with snapheap and multiples)

Maybe in some areas. I don't mean this as a proper analogy, but to give you the gist of how I see things: sometimes with things like this is like asking if you gave me 10 different economy cars, could I build a Ferrari.

Though I should add I'm fairly new to Phase Plant, I immediately see a very big difference in the depth of what's available in Current, the behind the scenes programming that's wrapped in a nice UI, I think there's a lot of very good stuff going on in the background.

Phase Plant's approach seems to be more of basic building blocks, which is also fine, but it reminds me of DMG audio's compassion, with all its parameters Vs DMG's track comp which is much simpler but there is a ton going on in the background with modeling etc. which gives it a very different character, or multiple different characters.

Sorry I think I may be missing the point on the Ferrari analogy .
Is it better to have a Ferrari or 10 cars ? It depends of your usage I guess.

But for Phase Plant, you are right to say it is a set of building blocks, compare to prebuilt advanced features in Current.
Except that the amount of freedom in Phase Plant is just nuts! And you don't need a Phd in sound design. You try to play by connecting stuffs with each others and it just works, immediately the way you want. And at the end, the amount of things you can do is truly limitless. In particular with the polyphonic effect bus. You can assign any complex effect to your notes, INDIVIDUALLY !!!

The only thing I see more powerful in Current is what you said about the oscillators, wave shaping and spectral processing are really really excellent.

Anyway, I think we all have different tastes, and I want to say "FORTUNATELY !"

Yet, I (friendly) really advise you to give Phase Plant more chances , it is really a gem...

[zerocrossing]

I like this synth quite a lot on first demo. Lots of cool features and they sound really good, however is there really no mod-matrix and no random note on source?

Edit - never mind I found the random LFO option.

Still Idk if I'd do this at $200, it's a little bit much. On sale though I think I might pick this up.

They’re a catch that’s not immediately obvious. You think you’re buying the synth your are demoing for $200. You are not. A lot of what is in the demo is not included unless you subscribe. I had my credit card out and ready to pay, and they hit you with the options page, then you find out the real deal. No thank you. That’s some shady shit.

Yes, I forgot to mention that... With Phase Plant and Pigments, you got companies with awesome track records in terms of customer support. VPS is not far behind.
Minimal Audio hasn't this reputation...

Yes that's a concern too. It also seems to get pretty CPU intensive at times. But I will say, the more I explore the effects section just for example, it's got a hell of a lot of features and they fundamentally sound great.

I really dislike the approach they have taken with this though, like some modern video game approach where the game is just a skin for a micro-transaction machine.

Look at the purchase options page and you’ll find that many of those effects are for subscribers only.

[zerocrossing]

Yet, I (friendly) really advise you to give Phase Plant more chances , it is really a gem...

I have Phase Plant. It’s actually one of my go-to instruments for general sci-fi sound effects, plus it generally sounds great, but I was still going to buy Current, because I liked the combination of wavetables in it’s filters, which are really interesting and sound great. I love the offset and morphing abilities. It’s kind of like having Twin 3’s filters on a wavetable synth.

But I won’t rent it, and I won’t get a gimped synth for $200 while subscribers get the full deal. I’ll wait for Zebra 3, which I’m sure will kick its ass.

[Jac459]

Yet, I (friendly) really advise you to give Phase Plant more chances , it is really a gem...

I have Phase Plant. It’s actually one of my go-to instruments for general sci-fi sound effects, plus it generally sounds great, but I was still going to buy Current, because I liked the combination of wavetables in it’s filters, which are really interesting and sound great. I love the offset and morphing abilities. It’s kind of like having Twin 3’s filters on a wavetable synth.

But I won’t rent it, and I won’t get a gimped synth for $200 while subscribers get the full deal. I’ll wait for Zebra 3, which I’m sure will kick its ass.

Well I bought current (with the 1 year sub + the discount, it is about 150USD). Still I can't say I love it, because of its limitation in the architecture and effect bus. The oscillators and filters are great though.
In the past 2 months I have spent my time with Avenger 2 more than any other synths and I just finished a new song and I don't think I have any instances of Current in it.
Actually I did a check recently and the synths I used for the song are (7*Avenger2, 3*Falcon3, 5*Reason Rack, 1*Punch2, 2*Phase Plant, 1*Diva, 1*Hive2, 1*Predator3)... 0 times Current .

For Zebra 3... No question... I think it will be a massive hit. But will it be a 2024 hit or a 2025 hit is another question hehe.

[swilow11]

I've just not been able to get deeply into Current, mainly because of its open GUI literally disabling my second monitor. It's actually the same with some of their FX, they seem to eat up a lot of graphics processing. No other plugin does this. But I do like the FX a lot, and will probably use my post sub voucher to purchase those. The synth is great but the trade-off is a significant decline in the usability of my system. The synth would have to be absolutely amazing for this to be worth it but at this stage it just isn't.

[Trancit]

...the more I explore the effects section just for example, it's got a hell of a lot of features and they fundamentally sound great.
...

Look at the purchase options page and you’ll find that many of those effects are for subscribers only.

But afaik that´s just true for the stand alone versions...
If you buy Current the effects are all included inside of it, aren´t they??

[swilow11]

...the more I explore the effects section just for example, it's got a hell of a lot of features and they fundamentally sound great.
...

Look at the purchase options page and you’ll find that many of those effects are for subscribers only.

But afaik that´s just true for the stand alone versions...
If you buy Current the effects are all included inside of it, aren´t they??

It's a very confusing RTO model but afaik buying outright gets you the synth with the FX inside it, whereas subscribers also get stand-alone versions of the FX.

[db3]

That's right. Subscribers get access to standalone effect plugin versions in addition. Integrated effects in Current aren't affected in any way. The confusing aspect is with perceptual presets/samples given the 1 year full access to Stream when purchasing a perpetual license.

[Stan Navi]

Does 1-year subscription include Rift plugin?

[db3]

Does 1-year subscription include Rift plugin?

According to the compare plans page no...

Current All Access
Additional effect plugins: Fuse Compressor, Morph EQ, Cluster Delay, Hybrid Filter, Swarm Reverb
Coming Soon: Flex Chorus, Ripple Phaser, Polar Distortion

[Aiynzahev]

I've just not been able to get deeply into Current, mainly because of its open GUI literally disabling my second monitor. It's actually the same with some of their FX, they seem to eat up a lot of graphics processing. No other plugin does this. But I do like the FX a lot, and will probably use my post sub voucher to purchase those. The synth is great but the trade-off is a significant decline in the usability of my system. The synth would have to be absolutely amazing for this to be worth it but at this stage it just isn't.

No issue here with current, but phase plant makes my screen flicker.

[Aiynzahev]

...the more I explore the effects section just for example, it's got a hell of a lot of features and they fundamentally sound great.
...

Look at the purchase options page and you’ll find that many of those effects are for subscribers only.

But afaik that´s just true for the stand alone versions...
If you buy Current the effects are all included inside of it, aren´t they??

It's a very confusing RTO model but afaik buying outright gets you the synth with the FX inside it, whereas subscribers also get stand-alone versions of the FX.

I think that’s perfectly acceptable. But $120 for all the wavetables, on top of the $200! Sure you don’t have to have them but then there’s plenty of good competition out there.