Sonik Synth 2...!!

[Frunobulax]

I would like to modify a statement I made a few pages back, where in comparing SS2 to Atmosphere I said something to the effect that SS2 did not equal Atmosphere when it came to one-note atmosphere patches (which was the only area where I felt that Atmosphere held a clear advantage).

I've spent the past hour or so coming up with my own one-note atmosphere combi's on SS2 and I must say that the combi's I'm coming up with do in fact sound like they could have come straight out of Atmosphere. So I retract any comment that would suggest that SS2 cannot compare to Atmosphere when it comes to one-note atmosphere patches. Clearly it can compete fairly well with Atmosphere in this regard if you do a little programming.

The factory presets in SS2 do not come close to exhausting the possibilities with this instrument. When I got my hands on it last week, yeah I was wowed by a lot of the presets and the vastness of the sample library, but it wasn't until I started programming my own sounds on it that I really started to glimpse its potential. And this is it's real advantage over Atmosphere. Atmosphere sounds great out of the box, but the programming options are limited when compared to SS2. I suspect the next incarnation of Atmosphere will be more flexible than it currently is, though who knows whether it will ever be as flexible as SS2, particularly when I get ST XL2 and the Chicken Systems Translator to convert my Kontakt and Giga libraries into ST format. Then I will truly have a massive, personalized workstation that will allow me to combine sounds to my heart's content.

[Squids]

Whoever said there was going to be a next incarnation of Atmosphere? But, currently it layers only two sounds and has no effects. I didn't want to refute your last statement but I am glad you retracted it yourself because you definitely at the very least have the tools to do exactly the same thing and to an even greater degree of timbral variation. The only thing you don't get is Eric's patch programming (which is very good). But, you get YOUR patch programming which allows you to get it even closer to what YOU want it to sound like (instead of everyone just sounding like Eric because he's so good at it).

It's funny that you mention that we've only scratched the surface of what can be done with Sonik Synth 2. I agree. I didn't want to stop programming as there are tons of ideas I have for patches I wanted in it. But, I will still do them and release them over time. We took at look at it and said "Woah! It's HOW many patches already?????" So, we had to wrap it up and release it even though I think it could go one for a long time developing patches. Some of that is for you guys to do for yourself too though.

I think you get a nice amount of presets but a massive amount of elements (all of the sounds can really also be considered elements) to make your own sounds either as combis or child variation presets.

[Frunobulax]

Whoever said there was going to be a next incarnation of Atmosphere?

I think both Eric and Glenn O. have made mention of it in the past here at KVR, unless their plans have somehow changed since then.

I'm looking forward to the presets from users, and if all goes well, I may share my own as well.

[Squids]

Whoever said there was going to be a next incarnation of Atmosphere?

I think both Eric and Glenn O. have made mention of it in the past here at KVR, unless their plans have somehow changed since then.

I'm looking forward to the presets from users, and if all goes well, I may share my own as well.

Really? I hadn't heard that. But, I can't say I am surprised. Maybe they'll have it at NAMM but that doesn't say when it will be released. I do have a lot of respect for Eric and Glenn (even though technically they are competitors). Eric and I have a friendly rivalry. Glenn is just a super nice guy and quite a talented programmer. I wish he was working with me! Oh well. I like people who are like Glenn in terms of talent and the right attitude. It makes things fun and smooth (which they should be when work is otherwise very tedious).

Atmosphere isn't likely to have all of the same kind of sounds as Sonik Synth 2 though. I don't think that's what they're going for. Also, that is a lot of work sampling all of those instruments. Honestly it took me about 7 years or more to collect these.

I used to license sounds to Eric when he was at Roland. I'd even license sounds to him now and I think I offered to work on a product together. Spectrasonic Reality But, well, there's no news on that front I am afraid. We do our own thing. But, we share some of the same distributors around the world and of course see each other at trade shows every year since we're right next to each other. It's all good.

[Frunobulax]

Really? I hadn't heard that. But, I can't say I am surprised. Maybe they'll have it at NAMM but that doesn't say when it will be released.

I'm guessing they may have turned to Atmosphere after they finished Stylus RMX. I think they will revamp both Atmosphere and Trilogy to use their own in-house developed engine. I wouldn't be surprised if they do what they did with RMX and offered some of their libraries as expander packs for Atmosphere (SOV would certainly be interesting).

But yeah like you said it's probably a ways off. Fortunately I have SS2 in my sweaty little paws right now, and I am having a blast with it. It's probably the best $199 I've ever spent.

[Squids]

I should clarify to anyone else reading this that $199 was the upgrade price from Sonic Synth 1 to Sonik Synth 2 (not the normal price which is $399 , minus whatever store discount you can get).

Glad to hear it. Yeah, you're probably right even though that would be predictable.

[dgkenney]

It's probably the best $199 I've ever spent.

Ain't that the truth!

SS2 is incredible

Dan

[Zoing]

Ah, all this talk is making me want to get it even more.... damn this lack of discretionary spending!!!

Is there any info on how long the cross-grade from ST2 XL will run for? And whether it applies to people who qualified for the free ST2 engine-only upgrade then purchased the XL sounds separately?

cheers

[Beardedone]

I await the mail

[Squids]

Ah, all this talk is making me want to get it even more.... damn this lack of discretionary spending!!!

Is there any info on how long the cross-grade from ST2 XL will run for? And whether it applies to people who qualified for the free ST2 engine-only upgrade then purchased the XL sounds separately?

cheers

As long as you are a registered ST2 XL or L users (even the engine only counts) then you qualify for the crossgrade. How long? A couple months probably but I don't know for sure. To plan on buying it in January is safer. We'll know more toward the end of the month. Maybe it will go on for even longer than a few months. Maybe it'll just be an introduction thing. The upgrade discount from SS1 is an introduction thing though. A really good price for a limited time there. Plus it even qualifies for the free shipping. It's probably the best deal we have on www.esoundz.com

[Caleb]

As long as you are a registered ST2 XL or L users (even the engine only counts) then you qualify for the crossgrade.

Can you reconfirm this statement Squids?

The reason I ask is that this came up in earlier discussion where you said that the discounted crossgrade did not apply to the engine-only ST2 - that it only applied to ST2 XL users specifically.

I think it might have come up in the SR Drum Combo group buy thread. Can't be bothered hunting for it, but I think I remember advising someone to get the ST2 engine-only upgrade with the Combo Drums deal and then get a crossgrade for SS2 and I believe you said that this wasn't possible because the crossgrade didn't apply to the ST2 engine-only upgrade.

I'm pressing my memory a bit on this, but in light of my hazy recollection could you reconfirm the crossgrade policy?

Caleb

[Squids]

Right. I did say that but actually at that time it was only going to be for ST2 XL users. Since it became also good for ST2 L users I think it is pretty much just anyone who is registered for the full version of the ST2 software (including the engine only). This is for the crossgrade and the way it works is that it authorizes the normal way IK verifies that you qualify by your registration of the ST2 software. So, if you'r registered for the full version regardless of it being XL, L or engine only then you're good for getting the crossgrade discount while it is being offered.

[Mighty_Hero]

Hey Dave, I bought my ST2XL from turnk..com
How do you want proof from me that I have it?
Want me to take a photo of all my stuff and post it here?

[Mush]

I'm looking forward to getting ss2.

Remember me Squids? You sent ss1 to Pingtung [Taiwan ].

Anyway. I'm looking forward to this one even more. I still think the pads in ss1 are the best ever. Use them all the time. Are there more pads like that in ss2?

cheers

Mush

[Chugga Chugga]

I'm looking forward to getting ss2.

Remember me Squids? You sent ss1 to Pingtung [Taiwan ].

Anyway. I'm looking forward to this one even more. I still think the pads in ss1 are the best ever. Use them all the time. Are there more pads like that in ss2?

cheers

Mush

SS1 = Way cool!!!

SS2 = Way way way cool!!!

You ain't heard nothin yet. Mine just plopped through the box today....