I'd like to know this too.danspic wrote:How many lisences per synth copy can one have ? (ie for how many computers)
FXpansion D-CAM: Synth Squad for sale now!
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- KVRist
- 144 posts since 5 Nov, 2005 from Los Angeles, California
This is a quote from the FAQ section on the FXpansion site: DCAM: Synth Squad features a challenge-response authorization system, with three installs on your own machines allowed simultaneously.rouge wrote:I'd like to know this too.danspic wrote:How many lisences per synth copy can one have ? (ie for how many computers)
The Sleeper Must Awaken
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- KVRist
- 89 posts since 3 Jun, 2009
Was just thinking yesterday that with TransMod it would be pretty easy to do morphing between 2 presets (or more), and as it turns out it's already implemented 
(for those interested it's page 56 in the manual...)
(for those interested it's page 56 in the manual...)
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- KVRian
- 598 posts since 3 Aug, 2006
I've been spending about 90% of my spare time on these synths since i got them heh. Its a masterpiece! While i've only dived deeply into Strobe yet, i'm beginning to enjoy the modulation system and the common layout these widely different synths features. I've also been playing a bit with Fusor, and i'm enjoying the workflow and interoperability. I haven't even launched Cypher or Amber for more than 15-20 minutes (or used Fusor for more than adding effects), only to roll through a few presets (forcing myself to learn one thing at a time instead of the usual running around), but i guess from the comments here that if i am impressed of Strobe, i'll kill for Cypher. Also looking very much forward to Amber & more Fusor. I can't wait till i get back to my studio in 2 weeks so i can start using them in the productions. But until then there are certainly enough to learn (luckily i have a well powered laptop and a midi keyboard with me so i can practice until i get back).
To sum up my thoughts: exceptionally well designed and sounding. Both original and usefull at the same time, with a quality thats hard to overlook.
Back to Strobe!
To sum up my thoughts: exceptionally well designed and sounding. Both original and usefull at the same time, with a quality thats hard to overlook.
Back to Strobe!
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- 12517 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
Yep. Everytime I make a preset I'll use the P1 and P2 wheels to create different variations on that sound for patch morphing. Sometimes I'll hit upon something that sounds better than my starting point by using different amounts of those controls. Needless to say: these synths + a good controller make for a lot of fun.scnnr wrote:Was just thinking yesterday that with TransMod it would be pretty easy to do morphing between 2 presets (or more), and as it turns out it's already implemented
(for those interested it's page 56 in the manual...)
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- KVRist
- 380 posts since 30 Aug, 2001 from Pyrlandia
i think he meant 'load to modslot' feature. it works particularly well with Strobe, which has some hardwired modulation routings. just create a bunch of presets that don't use modslots and sound cool and then have a mix&match partyFunkybot's Evil Twin wrote:Yep. Everytime I make a preset I'll use the P1 and P2 wheels to create different variations on that sound for patch morphing. Sometimes I'll hit upon something that sounds better than my starting point by using different amounts of those controls. Needless to say: these synths + a good controller make for a lot of fun.scnnr wrote:Was just thinking yesterday that with TransMod it would be pretty easy to do morphing between 2 presets (or more), and as it turns out it's already implemented
(for those interested it's page 56 in the manual...)
"Dont mistake your inability to understand how this happens for it actualy being imposible. " - nollock
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- KVRian
- 1313 posts since 3 Aug, 2008 from where the streets have names
To answer your question of yesterday, I can't say that I was as much impress as I should be if we judge by the hype surrounding it. Its really well design but the sound is not that great if it is not up sample. In fact I was quite surprise by the sound difference up sampling it just by 2...from cold to smoother silkier sound. The thing is that when you up sample too much it just kill the CPU. In fact it's the first time I was literally out of CPU power with my present machine (up sampling it by 16, I was checking the limits). It was at maximum of one core, it seems that it just act on one core, too bad for me because I'm on a Quadcore.ultramike wrote:I think I'm gonna break down and buy it today... Everything I see online makes me pretty sure that I'm gonna love these synths!!
But I think there is a lot to go through and it's the type of synth I will discover things for a long time I think, things I didn't get in a first reaction.
It is now hard for me to say it's better than all VA I already have, but it seems to be capable of doing different sounds. It still has to be use in a job before I get a real "positive" opinion. For now it's more like a : "ummm...cool!" kind of reaction.
If you forget about the hype, it will be a better experience IMO. You know it's like when everyone is talking about a film and make you believe it's the best film they ever saw, it's always scary because it's easier to be deceived. I personally had too many expectations on this one, but that's me.
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Echoes in the Attic Echoes in the Attic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=180417
- KVRAF
- 12068 posts since 12 May, 2008
mm_FX wrote:The first in a series of quick tip videos for DCAM: Synth Squad
I'm hoping the next one will be about the audio rate Sample& Hold control of Cypher's oscillators section. I think I get, but would be cool to have that demonstrated a bit. I found it's a good way to get an exact square wave actually, which sounds a bit different than the square wave position of the waveform knob (at 75%).
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- KVRian
- 687 posts since 29 Nov, 2002 from Finland
Today I visited the studio to install Logic 9 & test Synth Squad. Just briefly, since I'm still on holiday. At some point I had to force myself to leave.
We have a 8*3HGz Mac Pro at studio. My first impression was that it can easily handle everything SS can throw into it, with even some more complicated Fusor patches consuming about 40-50% of a single core. Then I remembered the oversampling setting, which was at 1 (and which can't be changed directly from Fusor due to a bug in the current version). Setting it to 4 on all synths and then loading a complex Fusor patch easily consumed all avaiblable CPU juice. I even managed to crash Logic a couple of times when oversampling was set to something like 8 and I tried to load a patch. 4 seemed to work OK in single synths, and 2-4 in Fusor, depending on patch.
About using multiple cores: my understanding is that multicore processing inside a single plugin is not that straightforward, and can actually make things worse. I know only two plugins that attempt to do this (Kontakt & Independence), and at least in Independence keeping multicore processing on just causes cracks'n'pops.
Now, I must say that I'm definitely not one of those "it must be analog and no digital can ever come close, period" -types. I have used some real analog synths back in the days, but never actually owned one. A good sound is a good sound, I don't care how it's being generated. That being said, my absolute favourite type of synth sounds are of pure old-school subtractive kind, with layered saw/square waves and lowpass filters. Can never get enough of those.
I don't seem to like most of the presets in Synth Squad that much, but usually I make my own sounds anyway (and I have feeling the current presets explore only a small percentage of what can be done with SS). Even so, listening to some of the better presets through a proper Genelec setup really made a big difference, and they sounded absolutely great. I have used only headphones so far, and while Fusor's "1970 Space Arps" is OK with those, it sounds _huge_ with good monitors and a subwoofer. I sat there just playing chords with it for maybe ten minutes.
I didn't have much time, so I quickly recorded a simple synth bass sequence and played it through Strobe, Omnisphere (using its great and probably underrated synth engine) and Sylenth1. Probably the biggest problem in comparing the sounds of different synths is the amount of variables (that vary from synth to synth) even in the simplest of sounds. Here, I tried to get a simple percussive saw-filter-bass from all the plugins, but it took some work to match the envelopes and everything as closely as possible. I guess comparing something more complex is pretty much impossible, since you can't sometimes be sure if the difference you hear is due to the other synth being somehow "better", or just some knob you touched or didn't touch.
Anyway. I managed to tweak the sound in all three pretty close to each other. Sylenth1 & Omnisphere suddenly sounded a little static and machine-like compared to Strobe. I had to double-check many times to make sure there's no modulation going on in Strobe. There wasn't - its sound is just very much alive by nature. Even a simple one-oscillator bass sequence seems to be changing all the time, with little things happening here and there. You could possibly try to imitate that by adding some random modulation in the other synths, but I didn't have that much time.
Back at home, I did a similar test between Strobe & Minimonsta. Now, I was able to get their sound match each other much more closely (probably due to the filter being more similar). However, I have only headphones here, plus the compared sound is so ridiculously simple that I don't know if I'm just wasting my time with comparisons like this.
I'll continue my experiments with Synth Squad next month when I get back to work, but for now, the conclusion is: uses potentially a lot of CPU, but there are ways to get around that - use lower oversampling settings, or forget about really complex patches (which usually waste some CPU into reverb and other FX that can be added externally and possibly using other cores). Sounds great and "alive" (analog?). Presets not that good, at least for me (although there are really nice ones too, and I'm sure more good ones will follow), but the synths are perfect for someone who likes to tweak, tune and make their own sounds.
We have a 8*3HGz Mac Pro at studio. My first impression was that it can easily handle everything SS can throw into it, with even some more complicated Fusor patches consuming about 40-50% of a single core. Then I remembered the oversampling setting, which was at 1 (and which can't be changed directly from Fusor due to a bug in the current version). Setting it to 4 on all synths and then loading a complex Fusor patch easily consumed all avaiblable CPU juice. I even managed to crash Logic a couple of times when oversampling was set to something like 8 and I tried to load a patch. 4 seemed to work OK in single synths, and 2-4 in Fusor, depending on patch.
About using multiple cores: my understanding is that multicore processing inside a single plugin is not that straightforward, and can actually make things worse. I know only two plugins that attempt to do this (Kontakt & Independence), and at least in Independence keeping multicore processing on just causes cracks'n'pops.
Now, I must say that I'm definitely not one of those "it must be analog and no digital can ever come close, period" -types. I have used some real analog synths back in the days, but never actually owned one. A good sound is a good sound, I don't care how it's being generated. That being said, my absolute favourite type of synth sounds are of pure old-school subtractive kind, with layered saw/square waves and lowpass filters. Can never get enough of those.
I don't seem to like most of the presets in Synth Squad that much, but usually I make my own sounds anyway (and I have feeling the current presets explore only a small percentage of what can be done with SS). Even so, listening to some of the better presets through a proper Genelec setup really made a big difference, and they sounded absolutely great. I have used only headphones so far, and while Fusor's "1970 Space Arps" is OK with those, it sounds _huge_ with good monitors and a subwoofer. I sat there just playing chords with it for maybe ten minutes.
I didn't have much time, so I quickly recorded a simple synth bass sequence and played it through Strobe, Omnisphere (using its great and probably underrated synth engine) and Sylenth1. Probably the biggest problem in comparing the sounds of different synths is the amount of variables (that vary from synth to synth) even in the simplest of sounds. Here, I tried to get a simple percussive saw-filter-bass from all the plugins, but it took some work to match the envelopes and everything as closely as possible. I guess comparing something more complex is pretty much impossible, since you can't sometimes be sure if the difference you hear is due to the other synth being somehow "better", or just some knob you touched or didn't touch.
Anyway. I managed to tweak the sound in all three pretty close to each other. Sylenth1 & Omnisphere suddenly sounded a little static and machine-like compared to Strobe. I had to double-check many times to make sure there's no modulation going on in Strobe. There wasn't - its sound is just very much alive by nature. Even a simple one-oscillator bass sequence seems to be changing all the time, with little things happening here and there. You could possibly try to imitate that by adding some random modulation in the other synths, but I didn't have that much time.
Back at home, I did a similar test between Strobe & Minimonsta. Now, I was able to get their sound match each other much more closely (probably due to the filter being more similar). However, I have only headphones here, plus the compared sound is so ridiculously simple that I don't know if I'm just wasting my time with comparisons like this.
I'll continue my experiments with Synth Squad next month when I get back to work, but for now, the conclusion is: uses potentially a lot of CPU, but there are ways to get around that - use lower oversampling settings, or forget about really complex patches (which usually waste some CPU into reverb and other FX that can be added externally and possibly using other cores). Sounds great and "alive" (analog?). Presets not that good, at least for me (although there are really nice ones too, and I'm sure more good ones will follow), but the synths are perfect for someone who likes to tweak, tune and make their own sounds.
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- KVRian
- 1313 posts since 3 Aug, 2008 from where the streets have names
Good post Captain!Captain wrote: - use lower oversampling settings, or forget about really complex patches (which usually waste some CPU into reverb and other FX that can be added externally and possibly using other cores). Sounds great and "alive" (analog?). Presets not that good, at least for me (although there are really nice ones too, and I'm sure more good ones will follow), but the synths are perfect for someone who likes to tweak, tune and make their own sounds.
Smart tip on use of effects outside to be able to use other cores.
It is my feeling too that this synth is more about tweaking it to match your own taste. I did saw that potential, but didn't took the time yet.
Obviously, first reactions for me are often based on presets, trying to find a vibe or something that will inspire me to play with it. I did fund some nice analog percs and stuff like that. but I do have to explore a lot more.
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funkychickendance funkychickendance https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=78609
- KVRAF
- 2097 posts since 19 Aug, 2005 from Where Sheep May Safely Graze & They're Using A Chicken 2 Measure It
My temptation to buy this is increasing. Won't be this month, though. So you brave post-beta-testers, keep on picking away!ozmoz2008 wrote:Good post Captain!Captain wrote: - use lower oversampling settings, or forget about really complex patches (which usually waste some CPU into reverb and other FX that can be added externally and possibly using other cores). Sounds great and "alive" (analog?). Presets not that good, at least for me (although there are really nice ones too, and I'm sure more good ones will follow), but the synths are perfect for someone who likes to tweak, tune and make their own sounds.
Smart tip on use of effects outside to be able to use other cores.
It is my feeling too that this synth is more about tweaking it to match your own taste. I did saw that potential, but didn't took the time yet.
Obviously, first reactions for me are often based on presets, trying to find a vibe or something that will inspire me to play with it. I did fund some nice analog percs and stuff like that. but I do have to explore a lot more.
Every Potemkin village needs its idiot savant
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- KVRAF
- 5948 posts since 19 Jun, 2008 from Melbourne, Australia
Thanks for the detailed post Captain. When you say Mac Pro - do you mean the 2009 revision running dual i7's Extreme Edition?Captain wrote:We have a 8*3HGz Mac Pro at studio. My first impression was that it can easily handle everything SS can throw into it, with even some more complicated Fusor patches consuming about 40-50% of a single core.
Peace,
Andy.
... space is the place ...
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- KVRian
- 687 posts since 29 Nov, 2002 from Finland
We got it in 2007, so I guess the answer is no.ZenPunkHippy wrote:When you say Mac Pro - do you mean the 2009 revision running dual i7's Extreme Edition?
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- KVRAF
- 7795 posts since 20 Jul, 2004 from Clearwater
The i7's are in the new Mac Pro's now?!ZenPunkHippy wrote:Thanks for the detailed post Captain. When you say Mac Pro - do you mean the 2009 revision running dual i7's Extreme Edition?Captain wrote:We have a 8*3HGz Mac Pro at studio. My first impression was that it can easily handle everything SS can throw into it, with even some more complicated Fusor patches consuming about 40-50% of a single core.
Peace,
Andy.
Wavsen.com - Professional mix delivery platform with client approval, watermarking, and portfolio page builder.
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- KVRAF
- 5948 posts since 19 Jun, 2008 from Melbourne, Australia
Yes, the i7 is the "Nehalem" processor architecture, and the top of the line 2009 Mac Pro uses the i7 Extreme Edition.djanthonyw wrote:The i7's are in the new Mac Pro's now?!
I've been wondering if Synth Squad can max out even these very latest CPU's. Sounds like the answer is yes, at higher oversampling rates ... although as Andrew pointed out these modes are really included for off-line rendering rather than live use.
My first generation CoreDuo is looking rather tired these days
Peace,
Andy.
... space is the place ...