Can anything compete with DIVA or Repro in 2020?!

[zvenx]

If sound quality (which is subjective I know) is way more important than features, I am with the OP.
Nothing to this day to me sounds as good as Repro and Diva.......and yep I know the Synapse trio will disagree vehemently.

And Repro-1 is the best synth (software or hardware) that I have heard.
rsp

That's the way I feel about Monark. U-he is great though, no doubt. It's rather the geek factor which mostly doesn't really apply to my needs. If I take a look at Diva's GUI, and see all those tedious analog behavior controls, or the half dozen modules, it just doesn't make me want to make music with it. Hive is more appealing, but, I just don't like its sound.

Interesting, it is those 'half a dozen modules' (is it really six modules?) that makes me like to experiment with Diva. Switch one module for another as it holds the parameters across modules.
They are indeed other really good sounding Virtual Analog synths (I am mid 50's so my ear candies tend to be analog synths still), but none with the vast amount of great presets like u-he, ease of use like u-he..... Personally I just 'connect' with them.

rsp

[layzer]

seriously, if you are any good at all at producing music,
lots of synths compete, even some free ones.

nonsense

If you compare a house with a pool and one without, you can live in both, but only swim in one!

houses and synths are entirely different things and
you must lack production skills because you think owning the most expensive
synths will make your music sound better. dream on.

[audiot]

I think Divas concept is to unique for direct comparisons.

And the Diva Moog can seamlessly blend over between different waveforms. Neither The Legend, nor Monark can do that

To all the Dune fanboys: Why does Dune have to be recommended over any other synth in every thread like this?

[Effectsworks]

PS - Obsession is up there at the top too.

[FapFilter]

regarding the “Dune fanboys“:
same could be asked when it comes to the “u-he fanboys“
Don't get me wrong, i love u-he and it's definetly my most favorite “big name brand“ on the VST(i) market, but the constant clamoring that only Diva and the Repros can be the pinnacle of current analog modeled synth behavior is not just ignorant, but imo also factually wrong.
Nothing against these synths though, they are awesome, but so are others from other companies. Of course not every single one of the others is at that level, but there are definately enough that can compete easily.

[GRUMP]

regarding the “Dune fanboys“:
same could be asked when it comes to the “u-he fanboys“
Don't get me wrong, i love u-he and it's definetly my most favorite “big name brand“ on the VST(i) market, but the constant clamoring that only Diva and the Repros can be the pinnacle of current analog modeled synth behavior is not just ignorant, but imo also factually wrong.
Nothing against these synths though, they are awesome, but so are others from other companies. Of course not every single one of the others is at that level, but there are definately enough that can compete easily.

I'd mainly add that neither nor sound like a Doepfer, a Polysix or maybe a Juno, while everybody has different Targets and Meaures.

And in the End everything sounds the same. We can hear that already. We call it "Einheitsbrei" here.

My +25yrs Experience tells me that most People don't really want/need Analog. Just take a Look at the FX Market or listen in @Soundcloud - and "supraanalog" is not realistic.

I have learned that I like Dune + Blue better - for what they are and not for what they try ... to be.

[FapFilter]

Definately true. In the end, it mostly depends on personal preferences, especially nowadays when there are so many great tools available.
It doesn't help you if there is “the factual best Moog emulation“(tm) on the market, when you are in fact a Roland type of guy, or prefer more modern sounds like from Serum.

[audiot]

regarding the “Dune fanboys“:
same could be asked when it comes to the “u-he fanboys“
Don't get me wrong, i love u-he and it's definetly my most favorite “big name brand“ on the VST(i) market, but the constant clamoring that only Diva and the Repros can be the pinnacle of current analog modeled synth behavior is not just ignorant, but imo also factually wrong.
Nothing against these synths though, they are awesome, but so are others from other companies. Of course not every single one of the others is at that level, but there are definately enough that can compete easily.

Okay, you got me And to be true ... i'm more than a u-he fanboy. I'm a U-Hooligan We all have our favorite tools BUT i find it a bit strange, that Dune gets mentioned that often here. Diva vs. Dune That doesnt work for me

[AnX]

seriously, if you are any good at all at producing music,
lots of synths compete, even some free ones.

nonsense

If you compare a house with a pool and one without, you can live in both, but only swim in one!

houses and synths are entirely different things and
you must lack production skills because you think owning the most expensive
synths will make your music sound better. dream on.

Totally missed the point

[chk071]

regarding the “Dune fanboys“:
same could be asked when it comes to the “u-he fanboys“
Don't get me wrong, i love u-he and it's definetly my most favorite “big name brand“ on the VST(i) market, but the constant clamoring that only Diva and the Repros can be the pinnacle of current analog modeled synth behavior is not just ignorant, but imo also factually wrong.
Nothing against these synths though, they are awesome, but so are others from other companies. Of course not every single one of the others is at that level, but there are definately enough that can compete easily.

Okay, you got me And to be true ... i'm more than a u-he fanboy. I'm a U-Hooligan We all have our favorite tools BUT i find it a bit strange, that Dune gets mentioned that often here. Diva vs. Dune That doesnt work for me

Neither does Diva vs. Serum, Hive, Sylenth1, ANA, Spire or anything else mentioned in the OP. Hence I said that this is totally pointless. It's poop in pants, so to speak.

[SLiC]

I have both Diva and Repro (in fact all of the UHE synths), they are technically great but I don't think I have used either in a song this year. Maybe I'm just over VA, most of what I do is now with Falcon, Rapid, Omnisphere and they also cover my VA needs (but offer a lot more sonic possibilities)

[Niowiad]

I don't feel like saying synth-X can't even compete with Y or Z, past a certain level of quality.

I bought and/or tested the "best regarded" commercial analog-style synths and they're all awesome, as far as I'm concerned.
Clear differences in character and behaviour (thankfully), but they can all sound more than good enough for me. Same goes for sound processors.

The biggest difference always comes down to composition/arrangement/sound-design/production/mixing skills. That's where I really feel like artist-X can't even compete with Y or Z. Not saying anything new.

Anyway in terms of subjective taste on the pure sound and feeling for analog/subtractive style synths... my personal favorites are PolyM for polysynths and Repro-1 for monosynths.

[Effectsworks]

Some nice synths in the Roland cloud too. And you can actually buy a perpetual license now, instead of their crappy sub model.

I think Dune 2 overall is my favorite vst. It does it all.

[audiot]

regarding the “Dune fanboys“:
same could be asked when it comes to the “u-he fanboys“
Don't get me wrong, i love u-he and it's definetly my most favorite “big name brand“ on the VST(i) market, but the constant clamoring that only Diva and the Repros can be the pinnacle of current analog modeled synth behavior is not just ignorant, but imo also factually wrong.
Nothing against these synths though, they are awesome, but so are others from other companies. Of course not every single one of the others is at that level, but there are definately enough that can compete easily.

Okay, you got me And to be true ... i'm more than a u-he fanboy. I'm a U-Hooligan We all have our favorite tools BUT i find it a bit strange, that Dune gets mentioned that often here. Diva vs. Dune That doesnt work for me

Neither does Diva vs. Serum, Hive, Sylenth1, ANA, Spire or anything else mentioned in the OP. Hence I said that this is totally pointless. It's poop in pants, so to speak.

Exactly! And most of them complement each other very well. I love Serum for it's fast and intuitive workflow, but sometimes i reconstruct Serum patches in Diva or Repro ... subtractive sounds without complex modulation, because i feel that something is missing (some call it mojo). The versus-question isn't something i'm asking myself very often.

One day there may be a synth that has it all: superb sound with unlimited possibilities and an intuitive workflow (maybe Zebra 3) but for now i'm using the tools that i like. And features vs. usability is always a thin line. I dont know if we'll ever get the perfect synth.

[e-crooner]

Diva's reverb is better and some Repro effects are also very interesting, but beyond that I am still happy with Sylenth1. With good programming its sound quality can achieve 90-95% of Diva's, at a much lower CPU load, and without the limitations and issues of Diva. Diva has so many things I don't need, while it's missing things I really need. I have many Sylenth1 sounds Diva just can't make.

I don't think of a synth as an isolated solo instrument, but as a background instrument. There the slight sound quality edge of Diva disappears.

If I had to buy a synth with the latest, best sound quality, it would be Tal's Mod, whose features are much more in line with what I need, and its price is also much more affordable.