I don't really have any software synths that I LOVE !

[Touch The Universe]

I own quite a few synths, Pigments, Diva, Synthmaster 2.9, Quanta 2 and Phoscyon 2. I find myself reaching for UA PolyMAX and Surge XT the most as they fit me and over time I've probably come to love their sound and UI. I think sometimes it's more difficult to truly engage with (a) more complex synths and (b) expensive synths you might feel "owe" you something vs. their cost. Just my view anyway.

Surge is seriously under-appreciated.

+1
Surge XT became a "monster" synth. I need to delve into it more as I begin to like it more than Vital.

You've picqued my interest

[machinesworking]

But seriously, OP isn't using their plugins properly. Iridium is a great synth but the only thing different about it is the interface and presets. Layer Massive X with Repro and you'll get similar, if not better, sounds. Use PluginGuru Unify if you want all the layering and effects to happen in one place.

One of my favorite things to do is layer hardware analogs with virtual samplers and synths. I love Unify, but I just wish he would implement patch changes and arrow keys to change patches.

That's now more than it probably should be what draws me to a softsynth, can I run through the patches with the arrow keys? It's such a simple convenience but too many developers miss it. Thorn, U-He, Arturia, get it right.

[BONES]

I just ran through mine and it's mostly only those instruments with a drop-down preset list that you can't use the arrow keys on. Pretty much anyone with a browser has implemented it, though, except maybe Softube.

[Amberience]

Brian Eno at some Time had 7 DX7.

https://www.youtube.com/clip/Ugkxh38iCG ... W3yoEh3fdz

True Story.

LOL

But seriously, OP isn't using their plugins properly.

[twal]

Pigments is probably the most interesting synth and most fun for me. One of the best sounding synths for making keys and stranger, more interesting sounds (just mentioned this in other post). Prob best synth for subtler productions imho, gui, simple yet complex, seq/arp is a real joy, modern feel/look, I get where Arturia is going with it. Most other synths don't have the same creative team. Pigments only real synth I feel is a desert island synth for me honestly... (Edit: Avenger is a close 2nd and really fun too...)...

[Gam456]

My fav synth is an hardware, my Novation Summit
Then few of my soft synth like Omnisphere, Halion, Falcon, Softube 80 and 84, Obession, Spire, Ostirus, ANA. I wish the Montage M vsti for everyone. I miss my Montage 7.

I don't like few of my soft synth
Phase Plant
Avenger
Thorn
MSoundFactory
F''em
and more

Hardware wise I own. I don't like
Micromonsta 2
Jupiter XM

[WackyZoundz]

Surge XT became a "monster" synth.

It was already a monster before it turned into the XT version. Now it's like a monster riding on a bigger monster. It can be challenging to tame it. If it keeps developing further it will end up devouring all other synths.

[Uncle E]

Hardware wise I own. I don't like
Micromonsta 2
Jupiter XM

Sad to hear about Jupiter-XM. JD-800 + Jupiter-8 in one seemed like a dream come true. My JD-XA isn't the fattest or warmest analog out there but it's wonderful for those evolving, cinematic Roland pads.

[EnGee]

Surge XT became a "monster" synth.

It was already a monster before it turned into the XT version. Now it's like a monster riding on a bigger monster. It can be challenging to tame it. If it keeps developing further it will end up devouring all other synths.

It is from my favourite 'digital' synths (together with Bazille and Polymer) when I'm on Linux especially. It has more options for oscillator's manipulating than Hive, but Hive has a nicer filter and effects (It is also easier and faster to come up with any bread and butter sound).

[Gam456]

Hardware wise I own. I don't like
Micromonsta 2
Jupiter XM

Sad to hear about Jupiter-XM. JD-800 + Jupiter-8 in one seemed like a dream come true. My JD-XA isn't the fattest or warmest analog out there but it's wonderful for those evolving, cinematic Roland pads.

It's not about the sound, the workflow is awfull. I can accept short cut like shit + function on a workstation, but not on a synth. I'm not even talk about menu diving and scroll forever.

[BONES]

Hive2 is a real grower ime. Got it last BF and was initially underwhelmed but it's grown on me to the extent that it's probably my most used synth. I think I like the simplicity.

Really? I think it is the most complicated synth I ever bother to use and I mostly just tweak presets. There's no way I could be bothered patching sounds from scratch on it.

[swilow11]

Hive2 is a real grower ime. Got it last BF and was initially underwhelmed but it's grown on me to the extent that it's probably my most used synth. I think I like the simplicity.

Really? I think it is the most complicated synth I ever bother to use and I mostly just tweak presets. There's no way I could be bothered patching sounds from scratch on it.

Interesting. I found it confusing at first but decided to try and make as many patches as possible using the factory wavetables (which often come with a few sentences description of how best to use it) and now feel very comfortable. With that said, I rarely use things like the shape sequencer or the function generator but beyond that, it's just a basic wavetable host for me with really nice filters and FX.

[BONES]

Yeah, I don't use the wavetables. I've never understood people's interest in them. They just seem overly complicated for no benefit for what we do.

Hive2 is a real grower ime. Got it last BF and was initially underwhelmed but it's grown on me to the extent that it's probably my most used synth. I think I like the simplicity.

Really? I think it is the most complicated synth I ever bother to use and I mostly just tweak presets. There's no way I could be bothered patching sounds from scratch on it.

Interesting. I found it confusing at first but decided to try and make as many patches as possible using the factory wavetables (which often come with a few sentences description of how best to use it) and now feel very comfortable. With that said, I rarely use things like the shape sequencer or the function generator but beyond that, it's just a basic wavetable host for me with really nice filters and FX.

[swilow11]

Yeah, I don't use the wavetables. I've never understood people's interest in them. They just seem overly complicated for no benefit for what we do.

Hive2 is a real grower ime. Got it last BF and was initially underwhelmed but it's grown on me to the extent that it's probably my most used synth. I think I like the simplicity.

Really? I think it is the most complicated synth I ever bother to use and I mostly just tweak presets. There's no way I could be bothered patching sounds from scratch on it.

Interesting. I found it confusing at first but decided to try and make as many patches as possible using the factory wavetables (which often come with a few sentences description of how best to use it) and now feel very comfortable. With that said, I rarely use things like the shape sequencer or the function generator but beyond that, it's just a basic wavetable host for me with really nice filters and FX.

Yeah gotcha. They are fundamental to my own musical works, mainly to create sort of evolving atmospheric timbres and pseudo random patterns. It's psytrance in the nighttime styles which I'm sure everyone on KVR f**king hates

That said, the factory tables are intended to do a lot of the things Hive simply can't- like "FM" bells/basses/pads, or additive stuff. It feels slightly like cheating but I worked with those tables mainly as a way to get used to the architecture of the synth which I was determined to "like" and learn because I can throw almost unlimited instances in a song with negligble CPU hit. And again, with the genre's I mainly make, there can be an obnoxiously high track counts. One must be judicious or use synths that do "the thing" well without burning my pc up.

[Uncle E]

Any recommended listening for psytrance in the nighttime styles?