Massive X 1.6.1 update (September 2025)!

[HTT]

NI are also no longer at the cutting edge of technology when there’s heavyweights like Falcon, Serum, Avenger, Rapid, Zebra, Dune and Pigments.

I don't agree. IMO Massive X sounds better than all above.

It sounds good but it’s not a flagship synth. You can argue that Falcon has more better tech because it has more features. Massive X doesn’t even have a browser and it feels unfinished.

I agree, Massive X is a second-tier synth that is unfinished and has been for months and months. I think Massive X is not without merit, but Serum is still head, shoulders, and knees above Massive X for a wavetable synth. Not to mention that Serum is much easier to work with. Massive X is unique and charming, but there are better overall alternatives. Falcon, Avenger, Halion 6, Zebra, and now Rapid can go far beyond what Massive X can do sonically. It isn't even close. Falcon has far superior chorus and reverb. Now if if NI rolled FM8, Absynth, Super 8, and Straylight into Massive X then we could talk about Massive X being a true flagship synth. Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

[liv]

Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

If/when MX incorporates a proper browser for third party preset development, I'd like to try prove you wrong.

[EvilDragon]

Indeed, DSP in Massive X is unsurpassed. Just count how many waveetable readout modes and submodes are there in MX - no other wavetable synth comes even close! The goalpost in this particular regard was set by MX, in fact.

[Sinisterbr]

Indeed, DSP in Massive X is unsurpassed. Just count how many waveetable readout modes and submodes are there in MX - no other wavetable synth comes even close! The goalpost in this particular regard was set by MX, in fact.

Exactly. The competition may have more features, bells and whistles, but when it comes about the core sound, MX is still the one wavetable to be beaten (although, regarding wavetable synths, I'd say Factory sound quality is up there as well. IMO).

[aMUSEd]

Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

If/when MX incorporates a proper browser for third party preset development, I'd like to try prove you wrong.

Can't wait - I keep telling NI their slowness in fixing the woeful browser issues is costing them the development of a thriving third party library market, they are really shooting themselves in the foot over this.

[Sinisterbr]

Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

If/when MX incorporates a proper browser for third party preset development, I'd like to try prove you wrong.

Can't wait - I keep telling NI their slowness in fixing the woeful browser issues is costing them the development of a thriving third party library market, they are really shooting themselves in the foot over this.

Indeed, I guess you're totally right. It's really a shame

[perpetual3]

Agreed that MX has the best core sound of all the above mentioned synths.

[pixel85]

For me sound quality of MX is way ahead of the others. Majority of other synths require support from addition processing to make them sound full/powerful. MX mostly require only EQ to make space for other sounds in the mix.
Super8 for me is on the same level: powerful sound out of the box.
Serum sound imo is flat. It doesn't have a "soul". Same like few other synths which have way more features yet their sound is boring. There's no vibe in them and when I hear demos for me many of them doesn't sound different than Synth1. Features are not everything (oh well, MiniMoog is still considered as great and it's very basic synth).

Ps. just because synth has enormous amount of features means nothing because after all, all the music ilthat is produced, is made from the same basic synth sounds. So it looks like nobody is taking advantage of those "superior" features.

[vertibration]

I think Surge is quite more pleasing to me for sound quality. Something Surge absolutely smashes at are tape machine pads. Wide chorus half mix, lush reverb with the width narrow, and those tape machine effects with wow and flutter turned up. Absolutely killer. MX has insane sound quality, but its just a chore for me to do sound design in it, while Surge and Serum are just so efficient.

[faun2500]

Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

If/when MX incorporates a proper browser for third party preset development, I'd like to try prove you wrong.

Is there still no proper browser??!! ffs.

[gentleclockdivider]

NI are also no longer at the cutting edge of technology when there’s heavyweights like Falcon, Serum, Avenger, Rapid, Zebra, Dune and Pigments.

I don't agree. IMO Massive X sounds better than all above.

It sounds good but it’s not a flagship synth. You can argue that Falcon has more better tech because it has more features. Massive X doesn’t even have a browser and it feels unfinished.

I agree, Massive X is a second-tier synth that is unfinished and has been for months and months. I think Massive X is not without merit, but Serum is still head, shoulders, and knees above Massive X for a wavetable synth. Not to mention that Serum is much easier to work with. Massive X is unique and charming, but there are better overall alternatives. Falcon, Avenger, Halion 6, Zebra, and now Rapid can go far beyond what Massive X can do sonically. It isn't even close. Falcon has far superior chorus and reverb. Now if if NI rolled FM8, Absynth, Super 8, and Straylight into Massive X then we could talk about Massive X being a true flagship synth. Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

None of the synths you mentioned can handle feedback routings like massive x does .
It seems you don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about .

[vertibration]

NI are also no longer at the cutting edge of technology when there’s heavyweights like Falcon, Serum, Avenger, Rapid, Zebra, Dune and Pigments.

I don't agree. IMO Massive X sounds better than all above.

It sounds good but it’s not a flagship synth. You can argue that Falcon has more better tech because it has more features. Massive X doesn’t even have a browser and it feels unfinished.

I agree, Massive X is a second-tier synth that is unfinished and has been for months and months. I think Massive X is not without merit, but Serum is still head, shoulders, and knees above Massive X for a wavetable synth. Not to mention that Serum is much easier to work with. Massive X is unique and charming, but there are better overall alternatives. Falcon, Avenger, Halion 6, Zebra, and now Rapid can go far beyond what Massive X can do sonically. It isn't even close. Falcon has far superior chorus and reverb. Now if if NI rolled FM8, Absynth, Super 8, and Straylight into Massive X then we could talk about Massive X being a true flagship synth. Other companies' advancements have moved the goalposts and Massive X has not come close to catching up.

None of the synths you mentioned can handle feedback routings like massive x does .
It seems you don’t have the slightest idea what you’re talking about .

When you say feedback routings, can you explain?

[gentleclockdivider]

Check out the routing window

[Dencheg]

OH MY GOODNESS, to avoid Serum sounding soulless just don't make it sound soulless, make it sound soulful, that simple! That will also reduce the amount of remarks about no soul in Serum

[recursive one]

I agree, Massive X is a second-tier synth that is unfinished and has been for months and months. I think Massive X is not without merit, but Serum is still head, shoulders, and knees above Massive X for a wavetable synth. Not to mention that Serum is much easier to work with. Massive X is unique and charming, but there are better overall alternatives. Falcon, Avenger, Halion 6, Zebra, and now Rapid can go far beyond what Massive X can do sonically.

I think comparing MX to Avenger, Serum or Falcon is aboslutely pointless. MX is not supposed to be yet another "do it all" synth, it's something different, with some unique features and awesome characterful sound. And this is great, yet another Serum clone, or yet another "supersynth" having any imaginable feature and boring software-ish sound, is the last thing the world needs imo.

If Serum or Avenger approach appeals to you more, just buy Serum or Avenger.

Now if if NI rolled FM8, Absynth, Super 8, and Straylight into Massive X then we could talk about Massive X being a true flagship synth.

Thank goodness they didn't