Does anyone NOT like Diva?

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vitocorleone123 wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:25 pm No one needs Diva, either, because there's cheaper software synths that sound better -
Can you post at least two examples of similarly targeted products (analog emulation) that can do all Diva can in a way Diva can, cheaper, and sound better? I'm genuinely interested.

Edit: never mind, I see you posted. I think Softube can not compare, but it's fine. Thanks.

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xmstkvr wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:30 am
vitocorleone123 wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:25 pm No one needs Diva, either, because there's cheaper software synths that sound better -
Can you post at least two examples of similarly targeted products (analog emulation) that can do all Diva can in a way Diva can, cheaper, and sound better? I'm genuinely interested.

Edit: never mind, I see you posted. I think Softube can not compare, but it's fine. Thanks.
To be fair I think the Softube synths are some of the best sounding emulations around, although arguably (and probably what you're getting at) a lot less flexible than Diva because of the modulation possibilities and the ability to mix for example modelled Moog oscillators with MS20 filters and so on... But I think I'm preaching to the choir here!

When Diva came out it was a bit of a landmark moment in terms of sound quality, it raised the bar in my opinion, and to me it still sounds good. But ultimately to answer the original question, it's not that I dislike it, but I never got on very well with the interface, and so rarely use it because as others have said there are many great sounding options available.

But the fact that it hasn't stopped sounding good, is very flexible in terms of all the different flavours it can bring, and the sheer amount of sound banks available for it makes it a very useful tool even now

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grandmasterbird wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:36 am
xmstkvr wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:30 am
vitocorleone123 wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:25 pm No one needs Diva, either, because there's cheaper software synths that sound better -
Can you post at least two examples of similarly targeted products (analog emulation) that can do all Diva can in a way Diva can, cheaper, and sound better? I'm genuinely interested.

Edit: never mind, I see you posted. I think Softube can not compare, but it's fine. Thanks.
To be fair I think the Softube synths are some of the best sounding emulations around, although arguably (and probably what you're getting at) a lot less flexible than Diva because of the modulation possibilities and the ability to mix for example modelled Moog oscillators with MS20 filters and so on... But I think I'm preaching to the choir here!

When Diva came out it was a bit of a landmark moment in terms of sound quality, it raised the bar in my opinion, and to me it still sounds good. But ultimately to answer the original question, it's not that I dislike it, but I never got on very well with the interface, and so rarely use it because as others have said there are many great sounding options available.

But the fact that it hasn't stopped sounding good, is very flexible in terms of all the different flavours it can bring, and the sheer amount of sound banks available for it makes it a very useful tool even now
Mona by Plugmon was recently on sale for $10. It makes the interface much easier imo.

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Examigan wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 1:09 pm
Mona by Plugmon was recently on sale for $10. It makes the interface much easier imo.
Yep..ordered it. Fantastic, I really dig it. Recommended.

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+1 on MONA.

That said, I don't really love Diva. Sounds great, but needs the modulation, mod assignments, and FX sections need to be modernized for me to want to use it more regularly. I also find it kind of unpredictable when sound designing or preset tweaking, which is why I rarely use it. Still sounds great despite it's age tho.

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billinder33 wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:20 pm Still sounds great despite it's age tho.
Just like the vintage hardware she's modelled after :oops:

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Replacing the scratchy pots is a PITA though. :D
What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. - Emerson

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I tend to follow this cycle with Diva:

1) Be impressed with how good it sounds
2) Wonder what Rectify and StackIndex do
3) Get annoyed at the modulation workflow
4) Not use it for ages
5) Remember it exists
6) Return to step 1

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Vortifex wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:39 pm I tend to follow this cycle with Diva:

1) Be impressed with how good it sounds
2) Wonder what Rectify and StackIndex do
3) Get annoyed at the modulation workflow
4) Not use it for ages
5) Remember it exists
6) Return to step 1
May I cordially suggest that next time you add this to your cycle.

3.5) Read manual.

:)

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No.

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Vortifex wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:39 pm I tend to follow this cycle with Diva:

1) Be impressed with how good it sounds
2) Wonder what Rectify and StackIndex do
3) Get annoyed at the modulation workflow
4) Not use it for ages
5) Remember it exists
6) Return to step 1
I was informed by KVR that there is nothing wrong with modulating something by add, and I should shut up, or feel the wrath of U-He devotees.
Zerocrossing Media

4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~

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Examigan wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 1:09 pm
grandmasterbird wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:36 am
xmstkvr wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 7:30 am
vitocorleone123 wrote: Tue Apr 22, 2025 10:25 pm No one needs Diva, either, because there's cheaper software synths that sound better -
Can you post at least two examples of similarly targeted products (analog emulation) that can do all Diva can in a way Diva can, cheaper, and sound better? I'm genuinely interested.

Edit: never mind, I see you posted. I think Softube can not compare, but it's fine. Thanks.
To be fair I think the Softube synths are some of the best sounding emulations around, although arguably (and probably what you're getting at) a lot less flexible than Diva because of the modulation possibilities and the ability to mix for example modelled Moog oscillators with MS20 filters and so on... But I think I'm preaching to the choir here!

When Diva came out it was a bit of a landmark moment in terms of sound quality, it raised the bar in my opinion, and to me it still sounds good. But ultimately to answer the original question, it's not that I dislike it, but I never got on very well with the interface, and so rarely use it because as others have said there are many great sounding options available.

But the fact that it hasn't stopped sounding good, is very flexible in terms of all the different flavours it can bring, and the sheer amount of sound banks available for it makes it a very useful tool even now
Mona by Plugmon was recently on sale for $10. It makes the interface much easier imo.
Oooooh thank you I was unaware of this. I might just try that out, although it's back up to full price... guessing that was a Christmas sale...?

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zerocrossing wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 3:00 pm
Vortifex wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:39 pm I tend to follow this cycle with Diva:

1) Be impressed with how good it sounds
2) Wonder what Rectify and StackIndex do
3) Get annoyed at the modulation workflow
4) Not use it for ages
5) Remember it exists
6) Return to step 1
I was informed by KVR that there is nothing wrong with modulating something by add, and I should shut up, or feel the wrath of U-He devotees.
Lol, the whole Modifier section was originally meant to become our version of the MS-20's patch panel, cables and all. I still think it contributed a good deal to Diva's success that we did not go the geeky route and made it just an obscure little set of modifiers that someone sometimes might need a user guide for.

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Zipede wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:54 pm
Vortifex wrote: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:39 pm I tend to follow this cycle with Diva:

1) Be impressed with how good it sounds
2) Wonder what Rectify and StackIndex do
3) Get annoyed at the modulation workflow
4) Not use it for ages
5) Remember it exists
6) Return to step 1
May I cordially suggest that next time you add this to your cycle.

3.5) Read manual.

:)
Reading the manual will never let you know what modulating something by "Add" is doing, without going to the Modifications pane, which is annoying. You could get rid of that pane entirely if you had a nested drop down menu for mod sources (LFO1/Invert, Quantize, etc), and a secondary control for mod amount next to the modulated parameter, like many other plugins do. The label would then read something like "LFO1-Inv." or "LFO1-Qt." I once started to mock this up, but the fanboys were so hostile to the idea that their baby might need an improvement that I abandoned it.
Zerocrossing Media

4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~

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