Vital - Released

[zvenx]

or pay them so you can still end up doing some of the design yourself
But sure

The topic started when someone asked about people's opinions of the sound bank that comes with it.
I am not sure how many actually responded to that question.

I do think in general there are many standouts in the vital factory libraries, like whywhy's for instance, which I have mentioned before, and yes I can play his patches as they are, without having to remap modwheels etc.
rsp

[WasteLand]

I feel like I should address the filters since it seems to be a point of debate.
There is one main criticism that I feel is valid and should comment on.

Resonance/Self-oscillation:
This is probably the biggest difference between Vital and some analog (and analog-modelled) filters. Many have noted that Vital's self-oscillation is pretty quiet compared to other synths. This is true and it's by design. If you don't like this, you can lower the level of the oscillator going into the filter and turn up the master volume to make it have louder resonance.

Why would I do this by design? This requires a little background in how filters work.

The cutoff in many analog filters is interestingly slightly modulated by the input level. This is most obvious with a ladder filter, try sending a really low freq sine wave (something like 2hz) into a self resonating ladder filter and you'll hear some vibrato in that resonance. Effectively the input level does cutoff FM, and the louder the signal the stronger the FM is. I think this really adds a lot to the character of ladder filters and other models. I really enjoy this self-oscillating driven sound and wanted more of it so I designed the filters in Vital to be more driven by default. A side effect of that design is that it lowered the resonance/signal ratio and I actually prefer that. If you don't, as I said above lower the osc input and raise the overall volume


I'm assuming that a lot of the complaints are because Vital's filters don't behave like some other synth and not that there aren't interesting sounds you can make with Vital's filters.
There are a lot of unique blending options (Ladder: Notch Spread is my favorite) and tools (like audio-rate key-tracked lfos) that I feel I've opened some new synthesis options just with the filters. I made a short video a while ago doing some Fitler FM with key-tracked LFOs. Might be a little harsh for some people out there but I think it creates some really interesting tones



PS I was hoping the spectral oscillator warping would 'drive' more of this conversation..

i bought vital for the spectral warping, with those two words you have me. i know what i get, o well not the whole instrument, but how the character of the synth will be, more or less. it has more to offer, audio rate LFO's! for filters, and WT pos, and other stuff. scratching only the surface.

and i like the filters!

and i think i like the wavetable editor, perhaps i am to used to those timeline markers from some known other programs, that i don't see it yet, how it works.. o well, this day, the first time, that i spend some hourse with vital. and those hours were fun. i know my stuff, but sometimes, i can't see not the simple things, only the complex things, or the other way around...

vital is for me a "character" synth, as you also described, you seem to have adapted the filters for the overall sound"experience". that i like, some idiosyncrasy, or more than some.
you made a synth that is developed as a whole, as (me hungry, i can't write precise anymore..) a "character" synth.

just wanted to say this, and digging up the post from pages back.

[i had written here something about expression possibilities, but it is my own choice, to have a range of expressive controllers, i have no breath controller, is that the only thing missing?? no, so many stuff.]

o well back to vital, the vital sound.

that was what i expected. and i have gotten it. so i am very pleased.

[pdxindy]

Vital has my favorite wavetable oscillators. Really easy to get good results and so flexible.

[Saffran]

Hey!
I just went thru 50 posts in 10 seconds and didn't miss any Vital thing.
New record for KVR?

[Teksonik]

I have not gone thru them and say wow, couldn't they modulate it some?

You have not gone through them and said "wow, couldn't they modulate it some".

Someone trying to be the next Skrillex might find them lacking in modulation madness.

That was my point, it's subjective.

I agree that patches should have common modulators assigned, MW, AT, Velocity, I just don't think every patch has to modulate into fifty different sounds. But then that's my subjective opinion so there you go.

Anyway all this has nothing to do with Vital in particular. I'm looking forward to hearing what patches are released when people get a chance to spend more time with it and get their heads around all its features.

Should be some interesting results coming in the future.....

[zvenx]

..........

Someone trying to be the next Skrillex might find them lacking in modulation madness.

That was my point, it's subjective.

I agree that patches should have common modulators assigned, MW, AT, Velocity, I just don't think every patch has to modulate into fifty different sounds. But then that's my subjective opinion so there you go.

.......

We are at one there......And people tend to congregate to what they like.

rsp

[zvenx]

So this is an example, which ties in with Vital.
I mentioned earlier one of my favourite sound designers sent me a few of his patches in Vital...

I did a simple four track, textural piece a short while ago, with four of his patches.... No Automation, all played live first take.

Only a DMGAudio Track Limiter is on the master Bus....

All the real time modulations are achieved by just using, velocity, modwheel (I have a foot pedal that is also mapped to my modwheel so I can play two hands and still do modwheel modifications) and aftertouch in real time as I played... I did not have to 'touch' his patches.... Yes of course these won't work for everyone, but for me they are perfect.
They just move me and inspire me just as they are.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p882czt0zd3v0 ... l.mp3?dl=0

So far he, @soundauthor, has sent me six of his patches...

rsp

[The Nerdy Music Guy]

Sounds great!

[Sound Author]

I'm honored. Vital is incredible for complex cinematic textures. Still can't believe how much modulation you can pile onto this sucker without pulverizing your CPU. Audio-rate modulated spectrally warped wavetables modulating each other in all kinds of crazy ways...and the meter is only peaking at 10%?! This is madness I tell you-- MADNESS!

[zvenx]

Sounds great!

Thanks.
Clearly Vital isn't just for EDM
rsp

[zvenx]

I'm honored. Vital is incredible for complex cinematic textures. Still can't believe how much modulation you can pile onto this sucker without pulverizing your CPU. Audio-rate modulated spectrally warped wavetables modulating each other in all kinds of crazy ways...and the meter is only peaking at 10%?! This is madness I tell you-- MADNESS!

You are the man!!!
I think we should all 'cajole' you into doing a Bank for it.
rsp

[ThomasHelzle]

I'm honored. Vital is incredible for complex cinematic textures. Still can't believe how much modulation you can pile onto this sucker without pulverizing your CPU. Audio-rate modulated spectrally warped wavetables modulating each other in all kinds of crazy ways...and the meter is only peaking at 10%?! This is madness I tell you-- MADNESS!

Awesome work Sound Author and zvenx!
Looking forward to a full bank from you - please go crazy with the mods and hopefully with full MPE support

[Whywhy]

I'm honored. Vital is incredible for complex cinematic textures. Still can't believe how much modulation you can pile onto this sucker without pulverizing your CPU. Audio-rate modulated spectrally warped wavetables modulating each other in all kinds of crazy ways...and the meter is only peaking at 10%?! This is madness I tell you-- MADNESS!

Awesome work Sound Author and zvenx!
Looking forward to a full bank from you - please go crazy with the mods and hopefully with full MPE support

+1, great job!

[zvenx]

Thanks Thomas and Whywhy..Bryan's work is to me indeed outstanding.
rsp

[Sound Author]

I've not yet seen a modulation system quite as capable as Vital's. Until now, Bazille has been one of the only plugins I could really go nuts with audio-rate modulation. The only thing you can't really do in Vital that you can do in Bazille is recursive modulation via feedback loops, but I won't rock the boat too much. I'm still happy as a clown modulating the living daylights out of Vital's wavetables.