LinPlug Spectral - your opinions wanted

[BBFG#]

Its price of course, is set on what they think the market will bear.
And its not reasonable to think one 'gets a dollar for a dollar' because that is not how capitalism operates.

By design, a developer wants XX (or XXXX) amount for every X amount put into it. A hard premise in itself, as if there were a standard of X amount for time spent, then it becomes a subject of what the developer wants as they set their own subjective standard for time.

I have no doubt there will be quite a few that think it is a fair price according to other synths in the price range. But many of those I are ones I feel are over-priced too. For me, a price to keep me interested was $99.00 to maybe $129.00 max with a real sale getting me to jump on it. At this point, I'll wait is all. Especially since I've seen a couple of other developers lately that have dropped their pants on their 'great synths' and start selling them for far under half of their original MSRP.

Much of the market is in question at this point and we'll see this question come up more and more.

Linplug has some synths that definitely interest me. I just see that in the market place, they don't seem to hold their value and they also seem hard to move. So the market decides, and even though Spectral is not in its frenzy opening stage, it still is on the watch list for many of us. Just not at that price.

[ezelkow1]

+1

I was really really tempted with the intro price but just couldnt justify it at the time. If it does drop below 99 (which I think was the intro) I would definitely jump on it though

[Robmobius]

Linplug has some synths that definitely interest me. I just see that in the market place, they don't seem to hold their value and they also seem hard to move. So the market decides, and even though Spectral is not in its frenzy opening stage, it still is on the watch list for many of us. Just not at that price.

We'd all like to see cheaper stuff it has to be said... But $149 is actually kinda' cheap, because I do consider it in the upper strata of soft synths. And even cheaper if you don't have to pay VAT. It's probably about 20 bucks cheaper then most. Which tend to be around the $169 (or more) mark.

I bought this synth a while back. In my opinion, it's one of the best synths around. It can pretty much do anything you want.

What really stumped me was the lack of, well... anything from Linplug. It's supposed to be their flagship synth, and not a jot... They've let it completely slip under the radar. I only discovered it by accident while trawling through youtube.

Not tutorials... Barely any reviews... And it's been out quite a while now.

There's not even a groove 3 tutorial about it!!

it is peter's way. he likes to keep a low profile, which means you won't see any aggressive advertisments from linplug or too early announcements of new products and so forth. this also means that one can get the impression that they do not support their products well enough (i think there was even a discussion about this on the linplug forum some time ago). imo, i prefer their way of doing business compared to some other competitors. if you want to be up to date on what's going on at linplug then subscribe to their newsletter (if you haven't already done so). you won't get spammed and you receive some valuable information like for example the release of ian boddy's new preset bank for spectral (which can be found here: http://www.linplug.com/sounds.html). it also never hurts to drop peter an e-mail since he is always friendly and helpful.
cheers

Cheers for the info’… I totally respect his marketing decision, but at the same time it would be nice to see such a great synth being used and grow (like the way U-he do it). Even just a few tutes up on youtube just to get people started. And show what it’s capable of.

I think it’s the only time I’ve ever used the instruction manual (that and Xils). Not because it’s difficult as I previously stated but just a bit different.

it’s defitely in my top 5!

[jc_vt]

Thanks, Simon, good advice. I've started to do what you suggest and can begin to see the uniqueness of each. I also tried the same approach with another very unique synth, GlassViper, and it hangs right in there with the others.

I know you like both, but if forced to choose, Spectral or Diversion? I can probably only afford one right now, and like the demos of both. I ask because I continue to be impressed with the sounds you get out of each...

Not sure anyone can tell you a clear winner as tone and sound is subjective.

I came up with this way to compare synths using their demos:
Find the best bass preset on each, optimize until it sounds as good as you can make it, then compare.
Then do the same for the best piano-ish preset, the best pads preset and the best effects preset.

It will take some time, but by the end, you should be very clear which one you prefer.

[BBFG#]

Diversion was on sale last month for $89?
If I saw Spectral at that price, I would have a hard time passing on it.

But now it gets subjective to which one you like better.

For me, if they both were suddenly $89.00, I would pick up Spectral.

[Robmobius]

Diversion is great and is very capable too. It's filters and effects are class. As well as its waveform shaping.

Big on the CPU hit tho'...

If it's still at $89, then it's a total steal.

[Integratron]

I do recall a special price during product launch.

[Phase47]

Amazing synth. Some of the sounds you can coax out of this thing... Just listen to Simon's demos. I heard those and +1 Spectral sale.

[Gosh]

if i remember correctly linplug is doing a regular christmas sale (just a hint for those who think about getting spectral at a reduced price).

[dermichl]

if i remember correctly linplug is doing a regular christmas sale (just a hint for those who think about getting spectral at a reduced price).

yeah, at least last year they did a xmas sale - keeping my fingers crossed and learnng the ropes until then

[BBFG#]

I do recall a special price during product launch.

Yeah, and it seemed like that should be its standard MSRP.
The 'special' price during launch was $69.00 and only for Albino owners?
I would have jumped on that price as a no-brainer purchase.

[Integratron]

I do recall a special price during product launch.

Yeah, and it seemed like that should be its standard MSRP.
The 'special' price during launch was $69.00 and only for Albino owners?
I would have jumped on that price as a no-brainer purchase.

I would pull the trigger at the $69.00 price point.

[ezelkow1]

I do recall a special price during product launch.

Yeah, and it seemed like that should be its standard MSRP.
The 'special' price during launch was $69.00 and only for Albino owners?
I would have jumped on that price as a no-brainer purchase.

I would pull the trigger at the $69.00 price point.

+1

I believe the non-albino price was 99-120ish. If it had been 69 for everyone I definitely would have bit then

[jsp1979]

If only there was a site that cached plugin news....


Oh yeah, just search KVR:

http://www.kvraudio.com/news/linplug-re ... ffer-24128

$99 was the intro price

[Synchanter]

I came up with this way to compare synths using their demos:
Find the best bass preset on each, optimize until it sounds as good as you can make it, then compare.
Then do the same for the best piano-ish preset, the best pads preset and the best effects preset.

It will take some time, but by the end, you should be very clear which one you prefer.

Oh I missed maybe the most important point! Try comparing lead sounds.
The ability or lack thereof to make a compelling one-note lead can set synths apart fast.
It takes really beautiful oscillators/filters/sound engine and/or sound mangling features to make a lead stick out.
Many times I was on the fence whether to get a synth then I compared the leads and no-brainer decision.