Vital - Released

[Jac459]

It's been a long time since I checked up on Vital but I seem to remember that some people were having issues with 1.5.5 since it was released and those issues had not been addressed. So to them it may not be "perfectly usable".

The only thing I've used Vital for in the last year and a half or so is the Text to Wavetable feature which I export to use in other synths or render to audio. Other than the TTWT feature I have a folder full of alternative synths that can do the same and do it better. So I don't care if it ever gets updated or fixed as long as the TTWT feature continues to work. If it stops working then Vital will be deleted.

The great advantage of soft synths is that they can be updated and upgraded by motivated developers unlike most hardware such as the Oberheims and Moogs mentioned above. That was the point of my response to the post above. They "haven't been updated for over 40 years" because they can't be for the most part. Are they still great synths? I suppose but then so are many of the synths released since then both hard and soft. Progress marches on and leaves boot prints on those who can't or won't keep up.

Vital is open-sourced, update it yourself: https://github.com/mtytel/vital

It's ridiculos how people get a cool synth for free (most of us use it for free, absolutely) and then whine: "no updates! abandoned... "

Fretful children press hard for new toys.

Let's be grateful. It makes sense.

Vital had great promise but life is too short and the market too saturated to faff about with synths that are by all intents and purposes abandoned.

No, the market isn't saturated by free synths of such a tier. I can name a few.

I don't think Teksonik is being ungrateful or fretful here.

It seems you are not reacting to the situation, or if you are, you are overreacting like ... Big time.

You may not know but vital is a very very loved synth which received a ton of praise and Teksonik is not insulting the creator at all.

What he is saying is that the situation where we are now with vital not supported anymore is a bit sad and vital lost its mojo. It is a fact, not a critic. I myself use it also only for text to voice.

Now, as you are speaking about open source. You can search my pseudo on GitHub. You will see that I have about 30 repositories and a few hundred regular users of my products. It is not much and certainly not comparable to vital. But since I started to slowdown my developments (no time with music), a lot of my users are complaining on our telegram. I don't feel offended by that. As long as people are polite.
I am providing a product that a few people like and use, now it doesn't evolve, people are frustrated, it's normal. It is not childish or insulting. It is mechanical.
And the fact that a program is free has no link to that (and to be honest, I received 5 figures in "coffee" donations, so freeware is a question of point of view).

[digitalboytn]

Some of those old Oberheims and Moogs haven't been updated for over 40 years....
So I'm kinda worried about them too

Certainly you can understand the difference between updating hardware and software.

I was just jivin'....

I know the differences all too well

[Fannon]

Well, the open-source link is actually outdated (3 years ago), this is not the latest 1.5.5 version.
Probably also the reason why no one seems to have picked it up, because people know that there's also a newer version released with a lot of features that would then be missing on the older open source version.

Version 1.5.5 was released 22 month ago, though. Since then, I think the dev has done some minor bugfixes without increasing the version number, but I'm sure there hasn't been much updates since about a year. I think the dev needed some out-time and also some distance from nagging online forum users. I mean, if you are a dev and you put your products out there in the open, it's really hard to not let the negativity of forums like KVR affect you negatively. If you are not very robust in some senses, I think it can even be clearly bad for your mental health and happiness.

[Jac459]

Well, the open-source link is actually outdated (3 years ago), this is not the latest 1.5.5 version.
Probably also the reason why no one seems to have picked it up, because people know that there's also a newer version released with a lot of features that would then be missing on the older open source version.

Version 1.5.5 was released 22 month ago, though. Since then, I think the dev has done some minor bugfixes without increasing the version number, but I'm sure there hasn't been much updates since about a year. I think the dev needed some out-time and also some distance from nagging online forum users. I mean, if you are a dev and you put your products out there in the open, it's really hard to not let the negativity of forums like KVR affect you negatively. If you are not very robust in some senses, I think it can even be clearly bad for your mental health and happiness.

Yes on that I agree of course. We have a few keyboard warriors who feel brave enough to criticize the work of others from their couch.

Somehow even when it is donation some people feel they own the dev.
But there is a difference between criticising the dev and saying that vital being abandonware is sad. Such a great product...

[lobanov]

It seems you are not reacting to the situation, or if you are, you are overreacting like ... Big time.

And I think, Teksonic is overreacting. We have the good working synth and can use it. Freely.

We are spoiled by "constant groundbreaking revolutionary game changing updates". No, in most cases things should just work. In a predictable way. No more, no less. It's sufficient.

...polite

Is Teksonik polite? I don't think so. He doesn't care what is going on with Matt. We don't know it. May be, he is tired (and I understand it, Matt made an exceptional synth, created infrastructure for it, it is a big amount of work). May be, he is ill. May be, he has some problems. May be, he has been forced to get additional job to make some money. No, it all isn't important. "This synth is abandonned, no update at all, we all should not use it, we should go and search for new shining toys". No, in most cases things should just work, it's sufficient.

What he is saying is that the situation where we are now with vital not supported anymore is a bit sad and vital lost its mojo. It is a fact, not a critic.

No, Vital didn't loose its "mojo". It lost its novelty. These are different things. The "mojo" of Vital is still the same as it was in its first days.

I am providing a product that a few people like and use, now it doesn't evolve, people are frustrated, it's normal. It is not childish or insulting. It is mechanical.

OK. Agree. Let's not be mechanical. Let's be consious. Let's use what we have. Or not use it if we don't like / don't need it.

[ffx]

This is a really good synth, very modern and high quality, with an outstanding gui system. It deserves further, constant development.

I would not mind, if it would cost money by default. Or the 1.55 code was released and the community, e.g. the usual suspects, could continue here. Ideas for improvements:

- Per note fx
- up to 6 filter slots, with variable routings
- more actual filter types
- 3 osc fxs at once
- Simply a bit more of everything, no limitations, if you want

[k2006]

last update added spectral filters,I thought that's a major addition feature wise.comparable commercial synths (like Serum,Rapid) also don't get frequent updates.

[Jac459]

It seems you are not reacting to the situation, or if you are, you are overreacting like ... Big time.

And I think, Teksonic is overreacting. We have the good working synth and can use it. Freely.

We are spoiled by "constant groundbreaking revolutionary game changing updates". No, in most cases things should just work. In a predictable way. No more, no less. It's sufficient.

...polite

Is Teksonik polite? I don't think so. He doesn't care what is going on with Matt. We don't know it. May be, he is tired (and I understand it, Matt made an exceptional synth, created infrastructure for it, it is a big amount of work). May be, he is ill. May be, he has some problems. May be, he has been forced to get additional job to make some money. No, it all isn't important. "This synth is abandonned, no update at all, we all should not use it, we should go and search for new shining toys". No, in most cases things should just work, it's sufficient.

What he is saying is that the situation where we are now with vital not supported anymore is a bit sad and vital lost its mojo. It is a fact, not a critic.

No, Vital didn't loose its "mojo". It lost its novelty. These are different things. The "mojo" of Vital is still the same as it was in its first days.

I am providing a product that a few people like and use, now it doesn't evolve, people are frustrated, it's normal. It is not childish or insulting. It is mechanical.

OK. Agree. Let's not be mechanical. Let's be consious. Let's use what we have. Or not use it if we don't like it.

In the world of technology, not moving forward is moving backward.
You can run around it and pretend it is wrong but it is a "mechanical" fact.
The only exception is when a technology is not used anymore, or not available like for analog synthesis for example where some people can try to have the original product. But you will have hard time to transpose this to software world.

So yes, Vital is definitely losing (or has lost) its mojo. It isn't a top synth anymore.

Does it mean that you can't use it ? No it doesn't. You can perfectly use it and be happy with it, not everybody needs latest synths technology.

Does it reduce the quality of this synth ? Not at all, Vital is an absolute masterpiece of a software and it will take years for this synth to be forgotten.

Is saying that a software is aging a critic of the developer ? I think obviously not. I still don't really get why you are so triggered.

[EnGee]

Teksonic and some others (including me) have paid either for the plus or pro version. So, we expected some continuous development.
Personally, I don't mind for a paid upgrade for a future v2 of Vital.
Although, the Pro version wasn't that cheap but it wasn't that expensive either. IMO it worth the money even without updates. It works on three OSes and I'm using it especially on Linux. So, it absolutely worth it for me

[Jac459]

Teksonic and some others (including me) have paid either for the plus or pro version. So, we expected some continuous development.
Personally, I don't mind for a paid upgrade for a future v2 of Vital.
Although, the Pro version wasn't that cheap but it wasn't that expensive either. IMO it worth the money even without updates. It works on three OSes and I'm using it especially on Linux. So, it absolutely worth it for me

Yes exactly, 100%.
I paid also the 80 bucks version. And when I paid, it was to reward the developer work.
Not to be entitled for any further updates.

So I don't feel cheated at all. I am perfectly fine with the developer not willing to upgrade (for whatever his reason, this is not me to judge).

BUT
That doesn't forbid me to feel that it is a great potential lost... Nothing more, nothing less.

[mcnelson]

I feel like the pricing model for Vital maybe doesn't encourage the kind of development people expect from other synths.

[Igro]

- up to 6 filter slots, with variable routings
- more actual filter types
- 3 osc fxs at once
- Simply a bit more of everything, no limitations, if you want

6 filter slots? 3 ocs fxs at once? What's the point? Unbelievable....

[Teksonik]

It's ridiculos how people get a cool synth for free (most of us use it for free, absolutely) and then whine: "no updates! abandoned... "
Fretful children press hard for new toys.
Let's be grateful. It makes sense.

I was one of the first people to purchase Vital with the "In The Mix" pre order so no it's never been free to me. But the fact that it is free to you makes you a "fretful child pressed hard for new toys".

I'm sorry that you're a broke little kid who can't afford to pay even $25 for a synth you claim to love.

I don't know what part of "I don't care if Vital gets updated' is giving you problems. Apparently reading compression is not your forte but jumping to conclusions apparently is your speciality.

No, the market isn't saturated by free synths of such a tier.

And that right there my blind friend is why Vital never took off like it should have. Vital is not free....and pay attention to this part....it is a commercial synth with a free version.

I have been the most vocal opponent of people calling it a free synth and not supporting the developer by purchasing it.

All you cheap guys sucked up the free version instead of supporting Matt and that is almost certainly why development stopped on a synth that had so much promise but failed to progress.

So you claim to love something but are responsible for killing it at the same time. Congratulations.

[Teksonik]

Some of those old Oberheims and Moogs haven't been updated for over 40 years....
So I'm kinda worried about them too

Certainly you can understand the difference between updating hardware and software.

I was just jivin'....
I know the differences all too well

I know your post was made in jest but I just wanted to clarify that the power of soft synths is their ability to be updated and upgraded while most hardware is stuck at a certain point. Yes there are things like the Gli Gli or E! boards that can be added to hardware but they are the exception rather then the rule.

[lobanov]

In the world of technology, not moving forward is moving backward.
You can run around it and pretend it is wrong but it is a "mechanical" fact.
The only exception is when a technology is not used anymore, or not available like for analog synthesis for example where some people can try to have the original product. But you will have hard time to transpose this to software world.

So yes, Vital is definitely losing (or has lost) its mojo. It isn't a top synth anymore.

Does it mean that you can't use it ? No it doesn't. You can perfectly use it and be happy with it, not everybody needs latest synths technology.

Does it reduce the quality of this synth ? Not at all, Vital is an absolute masterpiece of a software and it will take years for this synth to be forgotten.

Is saying that a software is aging a critic of the developer ? I think obviously not. I still don't really get why you are so triggered.

Yes, music must be made only with the most current versions of the most top synth for the very moment. If you don't use them your music costs nothing.

Are you sure? Are you serious? Why this marketing bullshit? Why do you beleive in it? All this garbage was invented to divert our attention and palm off new shiny toys. And soon they will be superseded by new ones. Again and again.

For me, "mojo" is individuality of an instrument rather than its presence in "tops". Vital has that "mojo". But even this isn't important. Many synth has "mojo" but differencies so vague and subtle that talks about them hardly make sense.

I should agree, Vital is usable but more or less buggy. And these bugs weren't fixed. If you didn't pay for it, may be, you may not demand anything. Just let developer know about bugs. But if you paid you paid for a fully working synth. If you demand you are right.