What are your favorite instrument plugins?

[E_Anderson]

Pianoteq
...
Kontakt... though resorting to it feels like defeat.

1) Pianoteq is amazing, I want to buy it at some point, maybe this BF. Not sure how the Felt model sounds next to LABS/Noire or whatever the NI Felt Piano is, but it’s probably great and Pianoteq itself is amazing.
2) If you mean resorting to Kontakt for like a pad or something, yeah, I feel you there. But for some things it’s the only option. I.E. Audio Ollie orchestral libraries, Performance Samples etc. And if you mean you protest the lack of development, I also feel you there.

[jamcat]

2) If you mean resorting to Kontakt for like a pad or something, yeah, I feel you there. But for some things it’s the only option. I.E. Audio Ollie orchestral libraries, Performance Samples etc. And if you mean you protest the lack of development, I also feel you there.

Both are fine interpretations. But what I really mean is I'm a big proponent of physical modeling (as you might tell from EVERY other VSTi I listed), and it's a big letdown when I have to resort to common, vulgar samples.

[BONES]

Possibly a valid concept 20 years ago but these days samples shit all over anything else. The things you can do with them are almost mind-bogglingly creative. I used to think using samples was sort of cheating, or admitting defeat in some way, but once you try a proper Kontakt instrument, you have to change your mind. The one that changed mine was Output's Substance, which is probably the most inspiring and creative instrument I own. I still mostly use V/A type VSTi but whenever I get stuck or want something a bit different, I load up Kontakt and start looking for Substance or one of my Heavyocity instruments to do something wonderful for me. They rarely disappoint.

[E_Anderson]

I agree with Bones here, honestly. My goal isn’t to synthesize everything myself, even though I used to think so. Otherwise I would have made my own oboe! I want to write cinematic psychedelic orchestral postrock music and I would die 100x before getting what I wanted if I didn’t use a sample of a violin. It’s satisfying, very much, to capture a sound with synthesis. I love synthesis and I do a lot of sound designing constantly, but I also use sample libraries for the appropriate instruments religiously. Strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion from all over, choirs, 10 kinds of flutes, an electric guitar, acoustic, uke... But also a crapton of synthesis.

Pianoteq is great though! And I think modelling is the future, but we’re not there yet. And I have to spend my time not modelling instruments lol

[Prototech]

TC Powercore Virus

[alexey_m]

Native Instruments do the work for me at list for the most part

Thinking about Addictive Drums Studio Rock ADPak, PM please

[XorXisT]

[alexey_m]

Also love Native Instruments, and want to whish them all the best, because of recent news

[audiojunkie]

[CrystalWizard]

... ...

That commenter got their five posts "Welcome to KVR buy and sell thread."

Favorite instrument plugin?
Insert synth name here.

[BONES]

Sort of on the most recent topic, I just bought Heavyocity's new CONVERGENCE Kontakt instrument and it's a f**king beast! I can't wait to start using it in the new album songs we're currently working on.

[syntonica]

Hey. Pinhead LOVES kittens. But only when he's alone...

[DCrown]

At the moment Korg M1 and Dexed I use a lot and Pianoteq I rather use for weird, unique instrument sounds, presets I created myself. I prefer sampled pianos ,they feel more realistic and there is also something about playability and response I generally dont like about physical modeling, for example the e-pianos of Pianoteq just don't get me perform funky, my fav sounds I get from my Yamaha S90 anyway. ITB I am fine with Mini Grand, I don't make classical music or trios with a piano, where piano could be the main instrument.
I think Zebra 3 will be the next great softsynth release, I doubt my system will be able to handle high cpu consumption, though.

[felis]

Analog:
Moog - Mariana
Oberheim - GForce and from Arturia-SEM V3 and Matrix 12V

FM:
FM Instrument section and FM lab in Halion

Additive:
ImpOscar3 and Loom 2

Wavetable:
Steinberg Flux, Korg ModWave, and N.I. Massive X

Drums/Percussion:
N.I. Battery
Steinberg Groove Agent

Sampler:
Steinberg Halion

Granular:
Steinberg Skylab

Acoustic Modeling:
Applied Acoustics Systems

Virtual Modulars:
I have a few, but none rank among my favorites.
Not my thing, I guess.

[DJDJ]

Right now it's...

Analog:
Acustica Thing 8 & Expanse 5

Wavetable:
Ultra - I'm smitten with the damn thing.

Additive:
Razor - still the GOAT additive.
Zebralette 3 - I'm not even sure if I want to upgrade to zebra 3. This is plenty, my go-to for pads and FM.

Physical Modeling:
Plasmonic - so compelling to play with, I keep coming back to it

....Lets see how long this lasts