If you could have only one synth, what would you choose?

[dionenoid]

ONE
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+ 1

[rj0]

Narrowing it down, but haven't decided. Qualities?

- Modular
- Wavetables
- MSEGs
- Cross synthesis (FM/AM/RM)
- Great filters/sound
- would love to add true (not simple cross-fading) Morphing, maybe too greedy

-> What should I put here?

[jamcat]

It’s not that serious.
You don’t actually have to limit your synths to just one.

[BONES]

Samplers/ROMplers certainly have their place and I use them all the time. They excel at traditional sounds, pads, bass sounds, pianos, guitars, etc. But you can't get the range of sounds that you can with a synth

Of course you can. You still have all the same things you use in a synth - filters, envelopes, LFO and effects. Only instead of having a few basic waveforms to work with, you can have anything you like.
But even with just basic waveforms, we used to use Orion's Sampler all the time to do synth stuff because using simple waveforms turned it into a decent enough V/A synth with a great filter. Every synth sound in this song, for example, comes from Orion's Sampler, using a couple of different CS-20 waveforms that are just a few kilobytes each. Actually, the strings were sampled and looped from a CS1x (by Kriminal/Anx), but the other synth patches are based on simple wave cycles.




BTW, I tried out Spire last night. I like the sound - big fat oscillators and nice filters. They seemed to have packed a lot into it without overwhelming the user interface. I think it is a synth I would enjoy using. I've got a few things on eBay at the moment so I'll probably buy it when those things have been paid for.

Narrowing it down, but haven't decided. Qualities?

- Modular
- Wavetables
- MSEGs
- Cross synthesis (FM/AM/RM)
- Great filters/sound
- would love to add true (not simple cross-fading) Morphing, maybe too greedy

-> What should I put here?

I find that a really strange way to assess a synth. I see little or no value in wavetables over other options. I'm just as happy with Thorn's Spectral (additive) oscillators or the analogue morphable waveforms in my hardware Uno Pro. Similarly, MSEGs have their uses but there are other ways of doing the same kinds of things. e.g. You can do amazing things with Thorn's Glitch Sequencer. I get that you're choosing wavetables because of the range of options they offer but I'd suggest Thorn's spectral oscillators are at least as versatile, probably moreso, so it makes no sense to exclude them on principle.

[christian f.]

SW : Falcon
HW : Moog One

[tony10000]

Samplers/ROMplers certainly have their place and I use them all the time. They excel at traditional sounds, pads, bass sounds, pianos, guitars, etc. But you can't get the range of sounds that you can with a synth

Of course you can. You still have all the same things you use in a synth - filters, envelopes, LFO and effects. Only instead of having a few basic waveforms to work with, you can have anything you like.

But even with just basic waveforms, we used to use Orion's Sampler all the time to do synth stuff because using simple waveforms turned it into a decent enough V/A synth with a great filter. Every synth sound in this song, for example, comes from Orion's Sampler, using a couple of different CS-20 waveforms that are just a few kilobytes each. Actually, the strings were sampled and looped from a CS1x (by Kriminal/Anx), but the other synth patches are based on simple wave cycles.

Samplers/ROMplers work well in a pinch, but I would still rather have several sources of sound generation including waveforms, wavetables, FM, and samples.

That is why Dune 3 is my favorite desert island synth. Other synths with sample playback capabilities such as Phase Plant, Rapid, Falcon, MSoundFactory, ANA2, Omnisphere, etc. also fit that bill. I would take any of them over Kontakt for synthesis.

BTW, I tried out Spire last night. I like the sound - big fat oscillators and nice filters. They seemed to have packed a lot into it without overwhelming the user interface. I think it is a synth I would enjoy using. I've got a few things on eBay at the moment so I'll probably buy it when those things have been paid for.

It would be a great addition. The effects are also very good.

[Uncle E]

That is why Dune 3 is my favorite desert island synth. Other synths with sample playback capabilities such as Phase Plant, Rapid, Falcon, MSoundFactory, ANA2, Omnisphere, etc. also fit that bill. I would take any of them over Kontakt for synthesis.

Kontakt is far from perfect but it does do wavetables and granular on top of sampling and its library dwarfs every other synth or sampler in existence, even Falcon. Listen to the lovely Soundethers demos, none of those synths have those sounds.

With that said, I completely agree that Native Instruments needs to take synthesis further with Kontakt. FM and basic oscillators to begin with. Considering all that Yamaha has done with FM + samples, it's an obvious next step.

[BONES]

I think samplers are criminally under-rated around here. Hexeract is one of my favourite and most used synths and I love some of my Kontakt instruments, like Output's Substance or Heavyocity's Mosaic series. Spend 15 minutes with Mosaic Pads and you'll forget you're using Kontakt at all.

[machinesworking]

I think samplers are criminally under-rated around here.

Not by me. Synths are cool but samplers really open things up. Plus the total superiority of computers is an unmitigated fact IMO when it comes to samplers. Unlimited memory for samples for starters. Kontakt and Falcon are my two most commonly used VI's whether for sampled sounds or as 'synths'.

[mixyguy2]

Kontakt is far from perfect

Ya think?

but it does do wavetables and granular on top of sampling

No it doesn't. Some VIs/synths which work within it do though...

and its library dwarfs every other synth or sampler in existence, even Falcon.

Debatable, but that doesn't mean they are good enough. Of course the devil's in the details and it's all subjective.

With that said, I completely agree that Native Instruments needs to take synthesis further with Kontakt. FM and basic oscillators to begin with.

You realize that Kontakt is just a shell right? A plugin that hosts other plugins? It doesn't "take synthesis" at all. It does come with some synths but they are separate from Kontakt itself.

[mixyguy2]

Kontakt and Falcon are my two most commonly used VI's

Neither are VIs.

[Uncle E]

but it does do wavetables and granular on top of sampling

No it doesn't. Some VIs/synths which work within it do though...

No, that's incorrect. Anyone can do it with Kontakt. No special scripts required. Wavetables are especially easy.

and its library dwarfs every other synth or sampler in existence, even Falcon.

Debatable

Literally not debatable. Quantifiably true.

With that said, I completely agree that Native Instruments needs to take synthesis further with Kontakt. FM and basic oscillators to begin with.

You realize that Kontakt is just a shell right? A plugin that hosts other plugins? It doesn't "take synthesis" at all. It does come with some synths but they are separate from Kontakt itself.

I actually don't understand what you mean. When you say "It does come with some synths", what synths are you referring to? Maybe that would help me understand you.

[Uncle E]

Kontakt and Falcon are my two most commonly used VI's

Neither are VIs.

Are you trolling?

[whassup]

Thanx for posting. Great track.

[machinesworking]

Kontakt and Falcon are my two most commonly used VI's

Neither are VIs.

yeah? only if you're an anal pedant that doesn't think a sampler is an instrument.