Omnisphere - worth $500?

[chk071]

Is someone arguing that it's unpopular?

No, only if it's price makes it not as popular as it might be.
Apparently that is the case made the most here concerning the OP's question.
With only the people that paid that price agreeing with it being worth that.

Without anyone knowing the amount of people who bought it, that argument isn't worth anything. Threads like these are no measures either. And tbh, i don't understand the motivation to talk Omnisphere bad anyway, especially with some people here really trying hard to do so. Just because it's expensive? You don't have to buy you know.

[zerocrossing]

I bought Nexus and haven't touched my Omnisphere for a while Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of sounds in Omnisphere that can be used in EDM, but I didn't enjoy using it while creating EDM tracks.

I bought Nexus 2 for much the same reason, Omni's presets are lacking some solid authentic EDM cliches. That's what Nexus 2 gives me really - a bunch of cliches, and sometimes I need them. I don't like working in Nexus much - although the basic front page controls are useful and simple enough, the other controls are much more fiddly and the patch browser is just awful.

But I think Omni is, given the right knowledge, perfectly capable of producing most of these sounds too. Pluginguru's Toxic expansion was a real eye-opener regarding what Omni is capable of at the aggressive end of EDM, that bank really sounds absolutely nothing like anything in the factory library or anyone else's banks. But that's dubstep / trap, we're still lacking some solid trance stuff. Although there are lots of EDM third party banks out there, they're not authentic (some are very poor imo). If someone releases a killer bank - and it's almost inevitable that they will one day - they'll clean up.

Hm, interesting. What I find most refreshing about Omnisphere's presets is that, unlike so many other modern software synths, it's not clogged with the same old EDM style presets. If all you really want is a great sounding synth with lots of EDM presets and expansion packs, get a Tone2 synth.

Also, it's got a super clean and intuitive UI. Right click on basically anything and assign a mod source. So easy to program your own great sounds in moments. But... frankly I think it would be more worth your time to stop looking at what it doesn't have and look at what it does have and find interesting ways to use it in what ever genre of music you do. Remember, those trance and dubstep sounds were once new on the scene. Now they're tired.

[BBFG#]

Is someone arguing that it's unpopular?

No, only if it's price makes it not as popular as it might be.
Apparently that is the case made the most here concerning the OP's question.
With only the people that paid that price agreeing with it being worth that.

Without anyone knowing the amount of people who bought it, that argument isn't worth anything. Threads like these are no measures either. And tbh, i don't understand the motivation to talk Omnisphere bad anyway, especially with some people here really trying hard to do so. Just because it's expensive? You don't have to buy you know.

It's just a matter of whether it's worth the expense. Even some here that bought it say it is worth what they paid for, but 'weren't stupid enough to pay full price for it'.
As for my last 'argument', I qualified it properly as not an absolute, even within the context of just this thread.

[noiseboyuk]

Hm, interesting. What I find most refreshing about Omnisphere's presets is that, unlike so many other modern software synths, it's not clogged with the same old EDM style presets. If all you really want is a great sounding synth with lots of EDM presets and expansion packs, get a Tone2 synth.

Also, it's got a super clean and intuitive UI. Right click on basically anything and assign a mod source. So easy to program your own great sounds in moments. But... frankly I think it would be more worth your time to stop looking at what it doesn't have and look at what it does have and find interesting ways to use it in what ever genre of music you do. Remember, those trance and dubstep sounds were once new on the scene. Now they're tired.

I think there's a number of holes in that argument. Firstly, there are currently around 5,000 factory presets. A hundred up to date EDM style is barely going to make a dent overall. Secondly, there are already a lot of EDM patches, but they're all of a certain vintage - I don't think there's bragging rights for being a bit out of date. Thirdly, as I've repeatedly said, I want Omni to do it all. Sometimes I'll have the time and luxury of programming, but typically I need to call on it super-quick for things that often just don't call for breathtaking originality (hey, I work in TV). The broader that pallette the better. And there's no down side - you don't want or need patches, no problem at all - that great editing platform will still be there for you.

I don't need Omni to do up to date EDM - I have Nexus2. But I still would much prefer to use Omni, every time. It's quicker to find stuff, quicker to edit and much more versatile.

[BBFG#]

Actually, if all you want it for is EDM, there is a whole list of cheaper solutions available.
Starting with SynthMaster and all the freebie synths you can pick up for the price of the download.

And yeah, Tone 2 has a lot of EDM sets available too (which for the price, I couldn't recommend with any clear conscience). But it's not to my liking, so I haven't bought it anyway. Even going through Omni presets I've found many that were really boring and/or redundant anyway. I buy the synths for their underlying character and somewhat for what they academically imply though. In some regards, Omni does what it implies, in others it does not.
That is why research and demoing is paramount in making a decision.
Which is difficult to glean with Spectrasonics.
(Back to the old 'pig in a poke' analogy).
Whether its a tactic of elitism or higher authority, those sales tools are not good enough to get me.
Bottom line weakness for me has been urgency and price.

(I don't have GAS, I have a bundle disorder.)

[neverenoughfunk]

Actually, if all you want it for is EDM, there is a whole list of cheaper solutions available.

starting with Reason 8... $349...

[noiseboyuk]

Actually, if all you want it for is EDM, there is a whole list of cheaper solutions available.
Starting with SynthMaster and all the freebie synths you can pick up for the price of the download.

And yeah, Tone 2 has a lot of EDM sets available too (which for the price, I couldn't recommend with any clear conscience). But it's not to my liking, so I haven't bought it anyway. Even going through Omni presets I've found many that were really boring and/or redundant anyway. I buy the synths for their underlying character and somewhat for what they academically imply though. In some regards, Omni does what it implies, in others it does not.
That is why research and demoing is paramount in making a decision.
Which is difficult to glean with Spectrasonics.
(Back to the old 'pig in a poke' analogy).
Whether its a tactic of elitism or higher authority, those sales tools are not good enough to get me.
Bottom line weakness for me has been urgency and price.

(I don't have GAS, I have a bundle disorder.)

Yay, keep these silly posts coming, two more pages to 20! Exciting times.

I love KVR debate. I say "I love Omni cos it's so broad and has the best interface in town - would love it to also have some more up to date EDM patches as a cherry on the cake". BBFG counters with "if you all you need is EDM then buy Synthmaster".

Breathtaking.

BBFG - I have no clue why you're interested in Omni at all, for any price. I think it will just make you angry for some reason or other. You go through presets and find many boring and redundant, yet are still desperate to demo it more. Why bother? Look elsewhere.

Incidentally, I've never found any presets that are actively bad (well I have, but they're all third party, none in the core library). They're all high quality but not all appropriate for what I'm looking for at any particular moment.

[BBFG#]

I consider it due diligence according to the second nature that happens from working multiple music stores.

[chk071]

It's just a matter of whether it's worth the expense. Even some here that bought it say it is worth what they paid for, but 'weren't stupid enough to pay full price for it'.

Yes, that's what is called an opinion. Others will have a different opinion about it. Best to make up your mind, and demo it, if you can find a shop where they let you do that.

[BBFG#]

It's just a matter of whether it's worth the expense. Even some here that bought it say it is worth what they paid for, but 'weren't stupid enough to pay full price for it'.

Yes, that's what is called an opinion. Others will have a different opinion about it. Best to make up your mind, and demo it, if you can find a shop where they let you do that.

It is the topic of the thread, so opinions about the price are all that's asked for.

[danbroad]

I like it. SO, the TL;DR answer from me is yes. Whatever the question was.

[valerian_777]

I like Software with a value like U-he and to be on topic Spectrasonics which don't have any sales. I hate it (last example is Xils and Synthmaster) when they throw their stuff out of the window.. ..only of course when i bought it full price before.

[chk071]

It's just a matter of whether it's worth the expense. Even some here that bought it say it is worth what they paid for, but 'weren't stupid enough to pay full price for it'.

Yes, that's what is called an opinion. Others will have a different opinion about it. Best to make up your mind, and demo it, if you can find a shop where they let you do that.

It is the topic of the thread, so opinions about the price are all that's asked for.

Ok, then we have 18 pages of opinions now. For what- or whoever that is relevant. Seriously, would you shell out $500 because others state that it is worth it or not? Even if i couldn't demo it, i wouldn't buy it based on opinions i read on the internet. The several demos on YouTube are much more relevant for a potential buyer.

[BBFG#]

I like Software with a value like U-he and to be on topic Spectrasonics which don't have any sales. I hate it (last example is Xils and Synthmaster) when they throw their stuff out of the window.. ..only of course when i bought it full price before.

I somewhat agree with this reasoning, even though I've question the initial price of Spectrasonics from the beginning. I mention Synthmaster as an EDM alternative because of its price. I was also annoyed at KV331 throwing it out the window (especially through on-line dealers cutting it even more). Also became aware that SM was headed in a direction of becoming EDM geared in sales and sounds as its main customer base. Same thing with Wusik. Priced dropped, EDM directed and the developer asking others to do the work for completion while asking for more money from those that already paid for it to get what was promised under another name. We all know this relates to IK also in their Group Buy frenzies...

Spectra only needs to upgrade the product to keep its asking price at this point. But a reasonable alternative at this point to not alienate those that paid full price (however many years ago) would to simply give a great no-brainer bundle price like NI does with Komplete and with the same limitations on selling it. And of course, kill the NFR!

[BBFG#]

Let me ask this...

If Spectrasonics gave a bundle price of
Omni/Trilian/RMX for say,
$649.00 MSRP with a MAP at $599.00
In Cart pricing becoming $539.00
(Noting they would be bought as a bundle and couldn't be sold after except as a bundle.)

Who would jump on that?
I might.