Absynth 6

[dune_rave]

Maybe MassiveX is the one synth for Native Instruments that gets the free updates, so its similar to Arturia....

[LoveEnigma18]

I have Komplete 15 Standard with Absynth 5 etc.
I want Absynth 6!
Absynth 6 may not be included in Komplete 16 Standard???

So I decided to buy Absynth 6 this week.
Too bad the $25 voucher may not apply to the Absynth 6 purchase.
I will very likely have no reason to update my Komplete 15 to V16.
$99 is a little high for the Version 6 update in my opinion.
I may change my mind and not buy Absynth.

Absynth 6 should be included in Komplete 16 Standard, as it has been one of their key/flagship/base products that go to Komplete Standard. For example, Kontakt, Reaktor, etc.

I agree that $99 is on the higher side, but as I was able to use a $25 voucher, I went for it. So, try it out on both full and update versions and see if it still works.

[ksandvik]

Voucher not working? Uh huh. My Zebra 3 upgrade is 30 euros and it has new features. Absynth 99 and few new features outside the ARM compilation, browser and new UI skins/vectors... No upgrade for me just now. It should have been 30 similar to Zebra 3.

To be fair the initial cost of Zebra was always higher than Absynth. Mentioned it before but that seems to be the way smaller VS larger companies deal with upgrades, Absynth has always been around $200 Zebra 2 was around $300 15 years ago. U-He is still one of the better deals in town but perspective drops the difference a bit.

Yes, but I got the Zebra long time ago based on the 'show what HW synth will replace Zebra' image campaign with a big discount. And then I got Dark Zebra and all the patches for that for free from u-he. So it has been a great deal over all the years. u-he takes care of their customers.

[machinesworking]

Yes, but I got the Zebra long time ago based on the 'show what HW synth will replace Zebra' image campaign with a big discount. And then I got Dark Zebra and all the patches for that for free from u-he. So it has been a great deal over all the years. u-he takes care of their customers.

Sure, but some of use bought Dark Zebra for $99 to get the upgrade for free, then it turned out to be 25$. I don't' feel gypped or anything, people gotta eat. We're spoiled that we complain about $99 for an upgrade to Absynth after what? a decade? and the same of course with Zebra, owned it since 2005 or so when it was AU only, and I don't think I've broken $300 in total? I did get the original AU only 1.0 for free though or dirt cheap don't remember.. Basically my two favorite VI's.

[fuse]

Version 6.0.2 is available.

[perox]

Yes, but I got the Zebra long time ago based on the 'show what HW synth will replace Zebra' image campaign with a big discount. And then I got Dark Zebra and all the patches for that for free from u-he. So it has been a great deal over all the years. u-he takes care of their customers.

Sure, but some of use bought Dark Zebra for $99 to get the upgrade for free, then it turned out to be 25$. I don't' feel gypped or anything, people gotta eat. We're spoiled that we complain about $99 for an upgrade to Absynth after what? a decade? and the same of course with Zebra, owned it since 2005 or so when it was AU only, and I don't think I've broken $300 in total? I did get the original AU only 1.0 for free though or dirt cheap don't remember.. Basically my two favorite VI's.

Problem is that Absynth 6 does not bring practically anything new. During that more then decade many things happened and we have so many synths which go far beyond of what Absynth uniqnes was that time ago. Zebra 3 is completely new synth, which is by the way stunning. They are pushing the whole industry to the next level.

[Funky40]

vs. Preset Explorer / Sound selection:

- is there a setting where i can make a sound to switch immediatedly when i select it ?

as is right now i have to press the enter key to make a sound switch.



I understand that this is a good thing vs. some usecases. Anyway, is there said Switch somewhere ?

[SLiC]

Yes, but I got the Zebra long time ago based on the 'show what HW synth will replace Zebra' image campaign with a big discount. And then I got Dark Zebra and all the patches for that for free from u-he. So it has been a great deal over all the years. u-he takes care of their customers.

Sure, but some of use bought Dark Zebra for $99 to get the upgrade for free, then it turned out to be 25$. I don't' feel gypped or anything, people gotta eat. We're spoiled that we complain about $99 for an upgrade to Absynth after what? a decade? and the same of course with Zebra, owned it since 2005 or so when it was AU only, and I don't think I've broken $300 in total? I did get the original AU only 1.0 for free though or dirt cheap don't remember.. Basically my two favorite VI's.

Problem is that Absynth 6 does not bring practically anything new. During that more then decade many things happened and we have so many synths which go far beyond of what Absynth uniqnes was that time ago. Zebra 3 is completely new synth, which is by the way stunning. They are pushing the whole industry to the next level.

Have to disagree on Zebra, Zebra 3 is very similar to Zebra 2 in terms of the UX which is very outdated and surpassed by newer plugs like Phaseplant for both routing, modulation and FX...everything moves on. Absynth is still very different to most synths, I'm happy its alive again with a much nicer UX/UI - I wish Zebra had been given a completely new UI/UX rather than working like Zebra 2 which seems outdated against todays more modern architecture.

I guess most of us will get Absynth 6 as part of a Komplete update which makes it free/cheap to may users who update periodicity. Also makes me think FM and maybe even Reaktor will gte a re-boot and come back to life...they don't need a lot of 'new' stuff strait in my opinion other than the GUIs, just keep developing!

Massive X has alms been improved massively (excuse the pun) since launch- it is one of the very best VSTs available now- no reason to think now Absynth is on a new codebase it won't get the same love.

[darrenr]

[delete]

[EvilDragon]

Have to disagree on Zebra, Zebra 3 is very similar to Zebra 2 in terms of the UX which is very outdated and surpassed by newer plugs like Phaseplant for both routing, modulation and FX...

I disagree with your disagreement.

[faxinadu]

Nice post launch update, looks like the issues with presets are trending in the right direction.

[faxinadu]

Jeez why do these threads devolve by default. What if I told you..... you can enjoy both Absynth and Zebra... wait for it... at once! ..... plot twist: you can even enjoy additional synths.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Yes, but I got the Zebra long time ago based on the 'show what HW synth will replace Zebra' image campaign with a big discount. And then I got Dark Zebra and all the patches for that for free from u-he. So it has been a great deal over all the years. u-he takes care of their customers.

Sure, but some of use bought Dark Zebra for $99 to get the upgrade for free, then it turned out to be 25$. I don't' feel gypped or anything, people gotta eat. We're spoiled that we complain about $99 for an upgrade to Absynth after what? a decade? and the same of course with Zebra, owned it since 2005 or so when it was AU only, and I don't think I've broken $300 in total? I did get the original AU only 1.0 for free though or dirt cheap don't remember.. Basically my two favorite VI's.

Problem is that Absynth 6 does not bring practically anything new. During that more then decade many things happened and we have so many synths which go far beyond of what Absynth uniqnes was that time ago. Zebra 3 is completely new synth, which is by the way stunning. They are pushing the whole industry to the next level.

Have to disagree on Zebra, Zebra 3 is very similar to Zebra 2 in terms of the UX which is very outdated and surpassed by newer plugs like Phaseplant for both routing, modulation and FX...everything moves on. Absynth is still very different to most synths, I'm happy its alive again with a much nicer UX/UI - I wish Zebra had been given a completely new UI/UX rather than working like Zebra 2 which seems outdated against todays more modern architecture.

Absynth also didn't significantly change it's layout though, it stayed with the same design of structure on one page, envelopes on another, effect on another, patches on another etc. Big facelift and some cool new stuff but the overall layout is the same. Zebra is the same. Same concept of major sections but there were huge updates in how those works and has some very unique workflows. It's quite different from other synths, but different is good. It lends itself to different approaches to sound design. I'm not a current user but respect the uniqueness of it and then changes they've brought in for v3 that I know of so far.

I guess most of us will get Absynth 6 as part of a Komplete update which makes it free/cheap to may users who update periodicity. Also makes me think FM and maybe even Reaktor will gte a re-boot and come back to life...they don't need a lot of 'new' stuff strait in my opinion other than the GUIs, just keep developing!

Yeah I hope so too. I think they are in a good position where they don't really need to wow people with new synths, they can ride on the nostalgia and reputation they used to have and bring back beloved old synths in a refreshed modern form that will have a market largely from the brand name and history. Absynth obviously is an example. But they could easily do the same with FM8 even though I'd say that one has many more competitors that can and did replace it. But there's room for an updated fm9 with fun features to help with patch design (or mutation like absynth). And Reaktor of course will always have a market, it's a beast, but who doesn't want a single product that is an endless source of synths, samplers, grooveboxes, fx and modular racks.

[machinesworking]

Problem is that Absynth 6 does not bring practically anything new. During that more then decade many things happened and we have so many synths which go far beyond of what Absynth uniqnes was that time ago. Zebra 3 is completely new synth, which is by the way stunning. They are pushing the whole industry to the next level.

We're talking about a 15 year process almost to Zebra 3 VS a plugin that was depreciated a couple years ago that is now back. Vastly different pricing models, and completely different synths. Zebra might be the most unintentionally analog sounding wavetable etc. synth out there, whereas Absynth is gloriously about delays, distortion and feedback. There's not really any granular synthesis in Zebra for instance.

Plus "practically anything new" if you don't include the browser, GUI, MPE, and filters.
I'm obviously excited to have it back, and if you don't need the sort of feedback landscapes Absynth brings, then I get being more into Zebra, personally I'm pretty happy both are here for 2026.

[enossified]

- is there a setting where i can make a sound to switch immediatedly when i select it ? as is right now i have to press the enter key to make a sound switch.

If you are navigating by your computer’s cursor keys, that’s the way the browser works in 4 and 5, so no surprise it’s the same in 6. I don’t know of any way to override that browser behavior.

If you use a mouse or trackpad instead, a double click loads the patch.