Sonik Synth 2...!!

[Squids]

Oh, right -- I wouldn't want to give up the ST2XL samples. There's a good deal of overlap but not all that much. SS2 is synth-strong, with lots of eccentric extras (I am myself an ecc. ext., so like those in a sample library too); ST2XL has a more conventional line-up.

Only bad part: that's a heck of a lot of material to rescan! *yawn* *jeopardy theme* *checks watch* I'll just have to suffer with that... hem...

Meff

Yes, exactly. That's the only drawback. When it relists go get a cup of coffee! The very first save of a child preset in a session will take a LONG time because it does a relist that first time. However, all saves after that are practically instant. Nature of the beast. Also, when you first load up SS2 is maybe the longest loading plug-in you've ever seen (unless you have ST2 with all of the libraries installed!). It's database driven so it wants to see all of your sounds. You can turn relist on start up off in your preferences for a faster load but I like to leave it on so it is refreshed (don't want it to miss anything). It's worth the wait!

I suspect there will be a lot of repeated questions about ST2 XL and Sonik Synth 2. I think a lot of you guys know the good answers to give on that too (especially if you have both yourself). The short version is that ST2 XL has an emphasis more on acoustic and electric instruments and Sonik Synth 2 has an emphasis on synths. But, as a "synth workstation" (ala Triton, Motif etc) Sonik Synth 2 has multi-timbral meat & potatoes instruments like pianos, guitars, drums etc. too. They can be used as elements for more complex combi sounds or they can be used for multi-timbral songwriting, arranging and producing. We really didn't hold back (as you can see). It's almost like a "best of Sonic Reality" in there really. Why not?

But, remember, even where there is cross-over of instrument "types" the actual samples are different in SS2 vs. ST2. Most of the samples in ST2 were done in Europe by IK. I did a few of them and some programming but most of it was done by this brilliant engineer they have named Davide and other IK guys. They sampled some EXCELLENT stuff for ST2 like the pianos, vocals, brass etc. So, sound-wise those are totally worth having IMO. Then you have another overall grab of who knows what for your session. (that's what is so great about workstations... you never know what you might need and having a true LIBRARY allows you to pull from a MASSIVE source such as what you'd have if you had ST2 XL -AND- Sonik Synth 2).

However, the other side of ST2 XL is the additional features it has to enhance Sonik Synth 2 since it can play its sounds. You can mix SS2 sounds with other sounds in a session if you run it under the ST2 GUI. You can also add your own samples imported with ST2 (no sample import on SS2). Effects lock and multifx patch saving and loading on ST2 which I use all the time is nice. Loop sync selectively on different things, importing samples to stretch, changing colors of the screen, seeing all 16 parts at once... there are a lot of reasons to have ST2 XL around as well as Sonik Synth 2. It's a nice flexible system. You can repoint it any time you want and revert to using Sonik Synth 2 as its own self contain plug-in (so you can still share combi patches with others and not lose any referencing).

This is just the beginning! Wait until you see what's next!

[Frunobulax]

That is an awesome quote. Can we use it on the site?

Fine by me, although I'm not sure those statements are my best work.

How about some of these?

1. "It's the most magnificent contraption devised by humankind since the wheel, and twice as useful."

2. "SS2 is the amazing miracle cure for the uninspired music coming out of your DAW. It will also grow hair where you want to have hair, and remove hair where you don't want to have hair. Buy it today for the low, low price of $399, or 4 easy payments of $99.25."

3. "Chicks dig a man with an SS2 tattooed on his hard drive."

I think all of these statements are kind of true, in that none of them have been conclusively disproven yet.

[Kim Lajoie]

It will also grow hair where you want to have hair, and remove hair where you don't want to have hair

Forever,




Kim.

[Squids]

A little hairy and scary. I prefer the one before where you were being more REAL!

Speaking of "easy payments", I think you upgraders got yourself a nice little deal there. You know, when we came up with that price it was only supposed to be 5 gigs. But, then when it ended up being 5,800 sounds and 8 gigs we were saying "wait a sec... that's like 20 discs for the same price as one SR Akai library. Hello???? What??????". But, since it is a limited time thing I guess it's okay. (so, after it is 20 discs for the price of 2 Akai libraries anyway? No matter how you slice it you DO get a lot for your money with this one.)

You know how we ended up with 8 gigs? Actually, at one point it was 20 gigs! (I still have a version that is this size). I was narrowing it down to what was going to be in the release version and I just stopped at around 8 gigs (actually 8.5 gigs) and we called a meeting and I said "Anyone have a problem with us just releasing it with all of these sounds at this size instead of what we've been advertising?" and the response was "Sure, why not?". We sort of went overboard because I had collected so many samples ideal for a super synth workstation (the one I had always wanted to make in the first place... before there even WERE any sample-based virtual instruments).

I had to cut out about a ZILLION Serge, Emu and Steiner Parker modular synth waveforms (each with subtle variations of pulses, sync sweep stages and other tones). Maybe it will make its way back some day. The element section was over twice the size (and it is over 1 gig as it is!).

There are some unexpected surprises you'll find in there. Check out the vocal element section (and the vocal textures as well). Did you read the sound manual I did? There are a lot of tips in there (maybe I'll post the PDF of it). You might not expect it but there are some really cool synthetic percussion, drums and fx in there too (not just pads, leads, basses etc.). Some really wacked out stuff (not just analog beatboxes... but there's plenty of that too and then a nice assortment of very real sounding acoustic drum kits as well... WAY more I-Map kits than the previous SS1 had).

Dig deep!

[midinut]

For those of us that have received SS2 can we get a link to download a users manual (we got the sounds manual on our CD)? In the meantime I'm just wandering aimlessly around asking myself "where was this product 25 years ago?" - Fricking amazing!

[Squids]

For those of us that have received SS2 can we get a link to download a users manual (we got the sounds manual on our CD)? In the meantime I'm just wandering aimlessly around asking myself "where was this product 25 years ago?" - Fricking amazing!

The user manual is on there too in PDF. There's a sound manual and a user's manual on the installer CD.

[[absurd]]

I had to cut out about a ZILLION Serge, Emu and Steiner Parker modular synth waveforms (each with subtle variations of pulses, sync sweep stages and other tones). Maybe it will make its way back some day. The element section was over twice the size (and it is over 1 gig as it is!).

Future group buy!

As for SS2, what really strikes me is the playability and useability of all these sounds; I'm trying to get through each preset just so I can hear each one, but I end up stopping to play! Great work!

[pricer]

Are those missing 11.5 gigabytes going to be put forward to the expansion slots or will they become a bit of SR folklore and turn up in a group buy, such as that Powerhouse drum machine. Well, as i jumped on to the EWQLSO Gold group buy at the last minute, I believe I have 23.5 gig on the way. I expect it'll be 2005 before either of them get to here - it's lucky too as i fortunetly just acquired a new external hard drive too.

One final thing for current owners of SS2 relating to pads, how does it compare to Atmosphere, could you create a Sonik Atmospere, so to speak. How about some JD-800 patches...the suspense is killing me here.

For me, 2004 will be known for Group Buys and SS2!
Well done Squids - hope you've had a happy and peaceful Xmas!

[Squids]

I knew mention of the unreleased material would catch your attention Pricer. Actually, no Powerhouse was in that batch. I do have plans for that separately though. I had a lot of my 8 track tapes transfered. As for what is going to happen with all of that extra material... who knows? But, I think this is going to be a great year for sounds and music making! (btw, thanks for the warm sentiments guys)

One thing to point out when it comes to synth and pad sounds is that within Sonik Synth 2's sound set it does have the same quantity or more of just those Atmosphere kind of sounds. So, over 1,000 for sure. Maybe over 2,000 of just synth sounds. In a way, you could say it has a sort of Atmosphere/Ultrafocus library within it but then it also spans across other territory that typically only hardware workstation synths do. They key is having it all in one place so each instrument can be used on its own or as part of another sound. You never know when a piano can become a sound effect or a guitar can become a pad!

[Frunobulax]

One final thing for current owners of SS2 relating to pads, how does it compare to Atmosphere, could you create a Sonik Atmospere, so to speak.

As for Atmosphere, the main area where I would say that it exceeds what SS2 does would be the single note evolving atmospheres. SS2 can do some of this, but not of the same length, complexity and magnitude of Atmosphere.

However, with Atmosphere you're limited to only two layers, whereas with SS2 you have 16 to work with. Plus in Atmosphere the effects including reverb are burned into the samples, and sometimes you really wish you could cut some of the reverb from a patch. Plus you don't have as much flexibility in programming other aspects of the sounds, or the wealth of raw material at your disposal that is contained in SS2. And SS2 is also simply a much bigger soundset.

There are a lot of pad sounds I'll still go back to Atmosphere for, because it has some great ones. However, SS2 is now a viable alternative for pads that I think rival those found in Atmosphere. But for basses and leads, I find SS2 to be superior, and of course you also have all of the other instruments in SS2 that are not in Atmosphere.

So SS2 and Atmosphere are not really direct competitors, but anyone who really likes pads is gonna want both because both are great for pads, and each supplements the other nicely. Hopefully Spectrasonics will release the sequel to Atmosphere in 2005, and when they do, I'll be all over it.

So they're both great at what they do, but Atmosphere has a narrower focus, and is more of a preset machine with limited tweaking, but that's ok because it has a lot of great presets. SS2 on the other hand is comprehensive in its focus with a far greater capacity for tweaking.

It's a great time to be making music.

[Meffy]

My vote for must amusing SS2 sample set so far:
I Elements B...
F Vocal Elements...
Misc Vocal Elements...
Grunt

:-D

Who is the vocalist???

[Squids]

My vote for must amusing SS2 sample set so far:
I Elements B...
F Vocal Elements...
Misc Vocal Elements...
Grunt



Who is the vocalist???

Amusing stuff like that could be my old partner, Gene. (TAF). He is a multi-instrumentalist and in sessions (besides vocal sessions- excellent singer) he'd make weird noises. This'd be but one of them! He also did something interesting with a Ricky 12 string where the pick up was getting his voice so we did a sound called "opera star trapped in TV set". I don't know if that ever made it onto a library ever but I have it around (probably on the SS2 cutting room floor). It's an operatic male vocal with sympathetic string resonance! It has only comic value though I'm afraid.

Hey, there's another cool patch in SS2 and fortunately it's only one out of many thousands more useful. It's the sound of a soda being opened. Ironically someone is going to use that for a snare and it'll be the coolest sound! But, there are a few things in there (someone munching on chips too perhaps... never underestimate the power of CHEESE). But, actually, a lot of workstation synths in hardware have these sort of sounds too and you'd be surprised how they become elements of a combi sound that blows your mind.

Think of SS2 as both a massive preset machine but also a source for MANY sounds waiting to happen depending on the particular tweaker. The mathematical possibilities of processing and combining are for all practicality LIMITLESS. You can really make it your own customized instrument.

[Meffy]

I thought of SS1 in terms of elements, too. Some of the bits and pieces could stand on their own though.

[edit] I noticed the funny sounds first. Haven't played 'em all but the names caught my eye. (OW!)

One very large project that's lying around my hard drive in about a one-quarter-completed state is going to benefit a great deal from SS2. Finally able to fit actual playable sounds over the tunes and arrangements in my head. I'll enjoy letting off some of the brain pressure and clearing up the shameless clutter of my musical past.

So far, so good. But!

While browsing other sounds, lots of little tunes are getting started... the "when did I record this?"... the "what will I do with that?"... the shameless clutter of my musical future! :-D

Meffy

[Squids]

When I cook sometimes I lay a bunch of ingredients on the table and sort of improvise. One thing makes me think of another. While I love scrolling through presets as much as the next person, one of the ways I use Sonik Synth 2 is to make the sounds the way the song suggests.

For instance, I am experimenting playing on this jazz record with Joe Beck and Danny Gottlieb. They laid down these tracks with just the two of them (guitar, bass and drums) and there's room for some keyboard stuff. Now, I am not a really great jazz musician because I don't fully know my music theory like I should. But, I can fake it pretty good if I am overdubbing in the studio. I have a Steely Dan approach to jazz (ie. from a pop/rock angle). Anyway, it's MUSIC so as I listen to what they do I "hear things" and then I'm using Sonik Synth 2 to sculpt what I hear so I can lay it down the fastest way possible. This is AWESOME because the time from being inspired to getting a result is QUICK! That keeps the flow going which is very important. You know how when you're on a roll you can be very prolific? Well, for me Sonik Synth 2 promotes that possibility with having so many sounds in one place as well as so many building blocks.

I am not only the sound club president I am also a member! (for those that know that commercial). Seriously though, you know we make these products for ourselves to use too. Because of that we put some extra good stuff in there that makes no commercial difference at all but perhaps pleases someone with esoteric tastes.

[Kim Lajoie]

You never know when a piano can become a sound effect or a guitar can become a pad!

That munching chips sound is great! It made me hungry!

Another cool/funny sound:
Jellysquid (in vocal Textures). Is that you Squids? I laugh my head off playing four-finger chords around middle-C!!!

By the way, can you explain what some of the "code letters" are? I know MW is ModWheel and 2D/3D are dynamic layers, but what are things like TAF, NTFL, SM, etc?

And how come the vocal vowel elements are male-only, and don't work with STRETCH?

Forever,




Kim.