Current Launch v2 - A new instrument platform by Minimal Audio

[swilow11]

I don't know, I think MA have actually burnt a few bridges with their subscription debacle and some of the weirder pricing choices they made.

But really, all can be forgiven to an extent because the products are all premium grade. Current is just a wonderful synth, a perfect intermediate between something simple like Sylenth or Hive2 and a monstrosity like Falcon or Phase Plant. Rift is great too (but Coldfire is better!)

[Touch The Universe]

Celestial Shores is $12 (50%off) with code TTUBF

[vanerio]

The companies that offer free number-version upgrades are a pretty small minority. For companies that guarantee it in perpetuity I can only name Image Line off the top of my head (who take care of their FL Studio customers but actually screwed their VST plugin customers quite badly - ask me how I know).

As far as I'm concerned, "upgrades will probably be free for a long time, maybe forever if we feel like it" is a more generous policy than 99% of the companies I've supported, even if it's a bit uncertain

But hey, to each his own

It is not about being generous, but about not being deceptive in the sales conditions. No one says that charging for updates is bad or ungenerous. What is bad is saying that if you buy their product, you will not pay more, while knowing deep down that the sales information is just bait to get more sales and gain a privileged position over the competition.

... which they to date have never done or shown any indication of doing.

The indication is an email message in which it is explicitly stated.

[Igelhaft]

Since I've been loud in my displeasure of Minimal Audio's choices relating to sales prices and all access credits I think it's only fair that I share an update they're making that helps to address parts of them.

Hey there — Jake from Minimal Audio here,

I’d like notify you about some important updates to the All Access annual plan.

Bonus Credit Adjustment:
Annual bonus credits have changed to match our best sale price. (30% → 50% off).

Annual Plan at sign up:
120 / yr - 120 credit + 60 bonus credit

Annual Plan now:
120 / yr - 120 credit + 120 bonus credit

This change is retroactive and applies to previous credits of all annual subscribers.

As we recently updated our everything bundle discount, and we’ve moved from 30% sales to 50% sales, this only makes sense.

I think they'd save a lot of pain by just not giving bonus credits for yearly subscriptions and making credits work 1-to-1 with dollars including for sales prices, but hey, they're listening and making some improvements so maybe they'll get there eventually.

[plexuss]

I decided to pick up Current in the last sale for some "retail therapy". It's a nice synth! It does have a unique sound but its subtle. I also picked up Touch The Universe's soundset bundle for it. These patches really bring out the character of Current more-so than the factory patches. I also appreciate all the small UX details like the over-all navigation architecture, vu meters in the module tabs, etc. Nice synth!

[kraster]

I decided to pick up Current in the last sale for some "retail therapy". It's a nice synth! It does have a unique sound but its subtle. I also picked up Touch The Universe's soundset bundle for it. These patches really bring out the character of Current more-so than the factory patches. I also appreciate all the small UX details like the over-all navigation architecture, vu meters in the module tabs, etc. Nice synth!

Current is what I reach for when I'm not sure what kind of synth part I'm looking for. which is a lot of the time!

It's featured enough to go in multiple directions without feeling too bloated or overwhelming.

There's something about the more fixed architecture in Current vs the more modular supersynths that feels less unwieldy.

Also the effects are outstanding so it's quite easy to get Current to sit in a mix without having to resort to other plugins.

[Caine123]

hmmm i also bought current, it has so many options im not sure yet with the workflow, there are a lot of clicking involved for many steps what i kinda dislike so far.

[Rastkovic]

Since there is no proper demo/trial version, I would never think about to buy this plugin.

The FX stuff looks good to me, but other than that, it seems to be, that Phase Plant is by far the better choice.

[vertibration]

I think Current, as a user for almost a year, is quite nice, but the UI imo fails to address ease of use scenarios. Its seems overall logical, but tends to get lost for me because of the color choice of the UI. My biggest gripe is gimmicky UI's. While trying to make the synth look futuristic, they miss the mark on simplicity, or the Apple factor. Negative space can be useful to make important things stand out. Phase plant is utterly perfect. Empty canvas. Add only what you need. Pure freedom to build like Legos.

Serum also has what I think is a perfect UI. Serum 2 I hope will improve on that.

I think Current is a great synth, I do. Im still not so sure about the "Play Series" style of the UI in V2. Others may love it, or hate it. So much Purple....its too much

[c0nsilience]

Current is a very capable synth and I’ve found its workflow more intuitive than say, Phase Plant, but to each their own. Personally, I like the UI and think there was a lot of thought put into it. I’d be happy if Waldorf would enlist the MA folks on Largo 2’s UI, tbh.

[plexuss]

Since there is no proper demo/trial version, I would never think about to buy this plugin.

The FX stuff looks good to me, but other than that, it seems to be, that Phase Plant is by far the better choice.

Current is different than Phase Plant. Mostly in the over-all sound. I wont go into my subjective analysis but I think most agree they sound different. Both are good sounding synths. Current is more like Avenger or Pigments etc with a fixed set of sound sources in the usual analogue signal flow. Current just does something nice sounding with its oscilators. It has capable filter types with a decent enough sound. The effects really help to bring the synth alive and are good enough to build them into the sound vs using external effects. In some ways Current compliments Phase Plant. Also they have their 30 days trial thing. I did that, cancelled it so I wouldnt be rebilled and got a sense of Current. It wasnt untilt he last minute I decided to get it. I think Current is a good contender on its own and is a compliment to a diverse software synth toolbox.

[Caine123]

Current seems to be very nice for aggressive basses, sequences etc. really love it for this so far. for soundscapes, pads etc. the Reverb seems very bad, very metallic? need to further test. but yeah you can of course use an external verb.

[xx JPRacer xx]

Yes, I also think the Minimal Audio reverb is very metallic and pretty bad. Also I find the filter to have some resonance in it even at 0 resonance. Current is very digital sounding but still I like the sound, UI and workflow.

[zerocrossing]

Since there is no proper demo/trial version, I would never think about to buy this plugin.

The FX stuff looks good to me, but other than that, it seems to be, that Phase Plant is by far the better choice.

There's definitely a demo.

Phase Plant is great, and I use it a lot, but what I really like about Current is all the filter types. All of them sound very good and have things like stereo offset and morphing. Other than that, it's a fairly basic synth, but I looked at the per-year cost to rent and when you factor in all the other effect plugins that come with it, it's a good deal and I find myself using them a fair bit. If it were just the synth, I'd probably pass, but the full package is really good.

[Rastkovic]

Since there is no proper demo/trial version, I would never think about to buy this plugin.

The FX stuff looks good to me, but other than that, it seems to be, that Phase Plant is by far the better choice.

There's definitely a demo.

Yes, with subscription/cancel subscription, or did I miss something? Thank you, no.

They want to sell something, so they have to offer an easy and hassle free way to try before buying. Anyway, it doesn't really bother me. I just use something else.