How many soft synths do you really use?

[kelvyn]

I have a lot of synths and use them all in a very random haphazard way. Although I fully understand the philosophy behind minimalism and the idea of understanding one synth forwards and backwards, I fear that such knowledge inhibits spontaneity and takes away the element of surprise when creating. An architect needs a clearly defined refined structure based on knowledge of mathematics, science, physics etc as do doctors, car manufacturers and a whole host of other professions. We as composers/musicians aren't tied into that way of being (unless you are playing in an orchestra or the like) so working off the grid is where surprises and innovation happen (especially for me). The idea of reducing myself to four tracks or one instrument is very limiting to me as is the idea that a pop song has to be under three and a half minutes or that some musical theorists won't accept that some unmusical stuff works. I love surprises and having a bunch of different synths and plugs that I don't really know that well always leads to an interesting sound that I probably wouldn't have found had I been focussed on just trying to emulate what was in my head. After the initial burst of creativity it's time to refine things.

[palebluedun]

Six.

I use Logic's own instruments most because they are very hard to beat. When I want a particular unique sound I'll use one of these; Zebra, Alpha, Albino, Absynth, FM8, and the amazing, tiny little whisper, Element P. For what they do, which is a lot, they can not be beat either.

I'm sure each person has their own tools and methods for using them. One really good thing about these synths is that you'll be exposed to some of the best sound programmers there are; Big Tone, Howard Scarr, and a few others. I mention these two fellows in particular because if you study the way they make presets you'll learn how to make sounds, very good sounds, without wasting a lot of resources. There is a elegance in simplicity these guys alway have.

Well, it probably doesn't matter. I get a sense from quite a few people here that the only thing wanted is novelty and are more interested in what the next version of "BlowHard Analog" will bring just as soon a the current one is released. It's as if music were an ancillary thing. So, I wonder, do people actually use these things or just collect them to show the other boys who has the biggest… collection.

Sorry. I'm way off topic!

joji

[KevWestBeats]

I always hear people say

At some point you transition from listening, to knowing and
utilizing your strengths, and then you budget your life
to enjoy doing what you love.

The number of instruments is less important, than the number of hours
using 'something', in an enjoyable or productive way. Reject partisan arguments,
based on somebody elses mismanaged reality. Some use 50, some 10, some
start from scratch on the one. None are wrong, none should brag.

Ask yourself what you are doing, and what you hope to be doing
in ten years. The wider the gap between the two,
the more you need to change.
Cheers

I understand that this was just the means to spark a conversation. Its all in fun and in no way am I planning on buying a ton of stuff. I already have too much going on and only plan on now buying what interests me mainly Komplete Standard and Maschine Mikro. Maybe a Reason RE or Kontakt library here and there but I already have a very very complete rig.

[KevWestBeats]

I get a sense from quite a few people here that the only thing wanted is novelty and are more interested in what the next version of "BlowHard Analog" will bring just as soon a the current one is released. It's as if music were an ancillary thing. So, I wonder, do people actually use these things or just collect them to show the other boys who has the biggest… collection.

Sorry. I'm way off topic!

joji

I get the sense of that a lot all over the net. I have been on various music production forums for years. I am just new to KVR

[myrna]

tons of instrument plugins and just a few selected personal presets for each (apart samplers and omnisphere, usually after n. 100 presets tend to repeat themselves). If I need something "new" I just modify some parameters, without having 100 useless "supersaws" or "trance plucks" (ehm... sorry to sound designers reading)

In this way you can notice the REAL difference in sound among vst instruments.

[Numanoid]

I get a sense from quite a few people here that the only thing wanted is novelty and are more interested in what the next version of "BlowHard Analog" will bring just as soon a the current one is released. It's as if music were an ancillary thing. So, I wonder, do people actually use these things or just collect them to show the other boys who has the biggest… collection.

But are we really just using instruments to make music? I think I use instruments more like computer games now, that is why getting new stuff and trying it out is so fun.

Looking at how advanced instruments and DAWs have become now, music can basically make it self anyhow. Don't need me to do that anymore

[Uncle E]

Only about 10, some of which I've been using for a decade (Minimax, Pro-12). I collect more Kontakt sample libraries than instruments these days.

[zerocrossing]

I have a lot of synths and use them all in a very random haphazard way.

I'm the same way. I know enough about synthesis to get around most any synth to a fair degree. Enough to tweak a preset I've come across that I like. Some synth I know really well... it's funny I tend to know my hardware synths really well, yet not take the time to learn my software as deeply, though there are a few I know really well.

Either way, I love plucking a VST out of my synths folder and throwing it into a track and randomly picking though presets until I find something inspirational. Tweak to taste, and go. No need to go really deep. It feels more collaborative and often I'll find myself using a preset that's not really something I'd make myself and then have to bend the rest of the track around it. I love this type of thing. I also view "no-brainer" deal synths as "entertainment." If I get a few evenings of fun messing around with something I paid $50 or so for, I consider it money well spent even if I don't go back to it much.

[ghettosynth]

I get a sense from quite a few people here that the only thing wanted is novelty and are more interested in what the next version of "BlowHard Analog" will bring just as soon a the current one is released. It's as if music were an ancillary thing. So, I wonder, do people actually use these things or just collect them to show the other boys who has the biggest… collection.

I'm sure that there's some truth to this. Also, that it seems to trigger a sense of incompleteness when a new synth comes out that has some feature that your current crop doesn't have.

Personally, I have a very small library compared to many here and I don't often use many of the synths that I own. I have maybe 30 installed, not including Reaktor ensembles, and many of those are free, most came with either a host or Komplete. Some, for example Waldorf Attack/Pro53, came with hardware/software that I purchased for other reasons and they've never been used on a track.

I suspect that many, however, observe something of a Pareto distribution of usage, that is, a few synths are used very frequently, and the long tail of infrequently used synths still see some occasional use.

I really like FM8 and I'm not crazy about Live's synths, for example, but if I need a basic FM sound and I'm in Live I'll probably just use Operator, I'm not religious enough about FM8 to favor it in that environment. Similarly, I don't rave about the simple Tal SH101 looking synth (see, I can't even remember its name), but I'll grab it if I need a basic analog sound that I want to craft in a few seconds. In these cases, as far as I'm concerned, convenience drives the decision more than any significant love for the synth's sound. But the point is, many of them get used, but they're out there in the tail.

The list of synths that I "go to" for a particular sound, however, is VERY short, Reaktor, Ace, Diva, FM8, Kontakt, Battery, and, if push came to shove, I only "need" Reaktor.

[SuitcaseOfLizards]

I deleted a pile of VSTi that I don't use and I'm down to:

- Alchemy (full version)
- Tatoo
- Rapture
- Orion 8.5 Sampler
- Orion 8.5 Ultran
- Orion 8.5 drumrack

.. and that's IT! I used to have Korg M1, Korg Wavestation, Synthmaster, Dimension LE, Z3ta, Pentagon, and a few freebies - but either never used them or used them to jam once or twice but never in a composition.

Alchemy is my go-to instrument, with Orions Sampler and Ultran up second, and Tatoo when the Orion drumrack doesn't do it.

For me, less is more.. I've been a lot more productive lately.

[Trakstar]

I deleted a pile of VSTi that I don't use and I'm down to:

- Alchemy (full version)
- Tatoo
- Rapture
- Orion 8.5 Sampler
- Orion 8.5 Ultran
- Orion 8.5 drumrack

.. and that's IT! I used to have Korg M1, Korg Wavestation, Synthmaster, Dimension LE, Z3ta, Pentagon, and a few freebies - but either never used them or used them to jam once or twice but never in a composition.

Alchemy is my go-to instrument, with Orions Sampler and Ultran up second, and Tatoo when the Orion drumrack doesn't do it.

For me, less is more.. I've been a lot more productive lately.

Orions synths and FX are top quality, I find the reverbs are as good as any you can buy elsewhere. Ultran is one of my favorites as well as the wavefusion, they really do have a sound. At the minute Im into toxic 3, its what I used for the synth sounds on the track I did for soundcloud.

[KevWestBeats]

I get a sense from quite a few people here that the only thing wanted is novelty and are more interested in what the next version of "BlowHard Analog" will bring just as soon a the current one is released. It's as if music were an ancillary thing. So, I wonder, do people actually use these things or just collect them to show the other boys who has the biggest… collection.

But are we really just using instruments to make music? I think I use instruments more like computer games now, that is why getting new stuff and trying it out is so fun.

Looking at how advanced instruments and DAWs have become now, music can basically make it self anyhow. Don't need me to do that anymore

Instruments to make music? Since when? I don't even use instruments I use intricate imaginary hand signals that I think should make music in my mind and translate on a multi platium album lol

[KevWestBeats]

I deleted a pile of VSTi that I don't use and I'm down to:

- Alchemy (full version)
- Tatoo
- Rapture
- Orion 8.5 Sampler
- Orion 8.5 Ultran
- Orion 8.5 drumrack

.. and that's IT! I used to have Korg M1, Korg Wavestation, Synthmaster, Dimension LE, Z3ta, Pentagon, and a few freebies - but either never used them or used them to jam once or twice but never in a composition.

Alchemy is my go-to instrument, with Orions Sampler and Ultran up second, and Tatoo when the Orion drumrack doesn't do it.

For me, less is more.. I've been a lot more productive lately.

I always hear amazing things about Alchemy. I may research this more I am in the mood for another wave table synth Z3ta is great but I want a 2nd for diversity and I may or may not end up with it or Massive.

[Arglebargle]

I have a ton but only use 2-4 regularly. Wish I could sell the other ones but most of em are NFR.

[BERFAB]

I use 'em all. Though not at the same time, of course.

It keeps things fresh for me. If I start using the same palette of instruments all the time, I try to make a effort to change it up just to get some fresh perspective.

Current faves:
Prism (Reaktor)
Razor (Reaktor)
Padshop Pro
FM8
Massive
Fabfilter Twin
Absynth
Alchemy
HalionSonic

I've got plenty of others that will be on my radar again soon. But the above instruments are imbedded in my circuitry at the moment.

2 others circling my universe:

DUNE CM - I'm really knocked out by this one. I'd probably be very content with this freebie if it were x64, but it's not. I will probably wind up buying the pro version just for that reason.

DCAM Synth Squad - I've spent quite a bit of time with this one by now, and I must admit that I just can't wrap my head around it. Maybe the 3 synth combo and 'Fusion' option are just too much for me to handle, but I really can't seem to harness its power in any really useful way.

Cheers
-B