AAS Ultra Analog VA-2

[JerGoertz]

I own VA-1, and since (as I understand it) the sound engines between 1 and 2 are essentially the same, here are my impressions of 1:

This is a synth whose basic sound isn't quite up to standard with the ZDF modern cutting-edge VA's. However, it is a synth which rewards tweaking and can get some surprisingly "strong" sounds if you take the time to find its sweet spot. Some amazing basses if you know how.

[Harry_HH]

I get a real kick out of all the whining and complaints this synth receives. Typical of a certain mentality. Meanwhile, I usually prefer NOT to talk about this synth. Today is the only rare exception, just 'cause the stink constantly raised over it is beyond logic.

Why don't you all just go a use Zebra? Seems most want cookie-cutter looks and sounds anyway. You can just leave this UA-2 to me and the few others who know awesome sounds when we hear them and can comprehend the abilities and potential in this particular synth. Apparently many others cannot. And that is so totally fine with me!

AAS decided to deliver a shitty GUI, so they have to live with complaints.

It's really funny: Do synth GUI designers use the synths they are 'designing'?

I wouldn't call AAS GUI "shitty". Yes, AAS has their own style and philosophy in their products which differs from many other "synths" (I would call these rather audio modelling instruments). Its great that we have different kind of approaches - too many similar sounding mediocre noicemakers in the market, I find AAS easy to use, great sounding tools. And their customer service is super friendly, they get my thumbs up.

[braj]

Yep, they have been nothing but cool with me over the years. They bend over backwards for you.

[2ZrgE]

Well "shitty" was a bit harsh, right.

Soundwise AAS is completely ok for me (though I use Live's Analog not that often - rather sad that they haven't implemented the new filters from Cytomic in Live 9.5, but it's understandable - why would AAS a deliver a better synth for Live users than for Ultra Analog buyers? Also Cytomic doesn't work free.)

It's just synth companies have to realize that the times where "sound" was everything are over - more and more people also want a confortable user experience when patching a synth, so you cannot expect to make a lot of people happy with a synth designed for 90's desktop 800x400 resolution any more.

[masterhiggins]

It is in no way a bad synth, mind you. I like its basses and leads most of all.

It's funny. I love almost every sound of VA-2 except for the basses. I have never heard any earth-shattering low end sounds without massive amounts of processing after the synth engine/filters. They all sound way too farty, no matter who designs the sounds. I have yet to hear a beefy low end similar to simple VAs like TAL U-NO-LX, Bassline, A.C.E, Twin 2, or OBXD.

[fluffy_little_something]

It is in no way a bad synth, mind you. I like its basses and leads most of all.

It's funny. I love almost every sound of VA-2 except for the basses. I have never heard any earth-shattering low end sounds without massive amounts of processing after the synth engine/filters. They all sound way too farty, no matter who designs the sounds. I have yet to hear a beefy low end similar to simple VAs like TAL U-NO-LX, Bassline, A.C.E, Twin 2, or OBXD.

Well, earth-shattering low end is not what I am looking for I try to avoid bass frequencies that can't be reproduced by cheaper speakers and devices, anyway.
And I suppose it has a pretty good equalizer for a reason. Like with Waves' Element, which also sounds a bit flat and boring without using the EQ. So, there is nothing wrong about using the EQ to make the synth sound the way you want it to.

[ghettosynth]

I own VA-1, and since (as I understand it) the sound engines between 1 and 2 are essentially the same, here are my impressions of 1:

This is a synth whose basic sound isn't quite up to standard with the ZDF modern cutting-edge VA's. However, it is a synth which rewards tweaking and can get some surprisingly "strong" sounds if you take the time to find its sweet spot. Some amazing basses if you know how.

I almost don't think that's either strong, or specific, enough though. I too have VA-1, I got it in the famous no-brainer sale. It wasn't even competitive with non ZDF "character" filters of the time, e.g., the filters in Massive. It is a very sterile and straightforward filter. I can see that being appealing to some, but I never saw very much, or really, any, value in the synth when I had other options.

A lot of people like to have many different VA synths, I don't see much point to that when they are generic. I mean if you are simulating some specific hardware an you simulate its features well, that's valid. But if it's just a generic two oscillator synth with generic filters, how many of those do you need?

For me, Reaktor has replaced anything that isn't excellent and specific. At a basic level, 2-Osc and Carbon2 can pretty much do anything that AAS can do. Synths like Diva, ACE, Bazille, Monark, Arturia's SEM clone, and even Massive, are what are would call excellent and specific. Massive isn't in the same class as Diva as far as modelling, but it has character and can do things that those synths can't do.

So, because sometimes memories can be wrong, I installed AAS-UA, probably for the first time since 09 when I purchased it. While it's every bit as average as I remember it, there is good programming in there. It's unfortunate that the programming is held back by such a mediocre filter.

As far as trusting people who gush over something, AAS-UA was one of my personal teaching moments. KVR folks were gushing over it at the time and so I picked it up based on that. Even back then I was disappointed with it. I thought that it wasn't very good and, consequently, learned that it's probably not a good idea to trust excessively positive recommendations from KVR users. As a joke, I tried selling it for $99 some time after the sale had ended, of course, no takers. That's because it isn't/wasn't worth that, ever.

[Numanoid]

Well "shitty" was a bit harsh, right.

Yeah, who said that?

With VA-2 I don't need Poly-Ana for sure

[fluffy_little_something]

Some of the Orchestra patches are nice, brass in particular, not least thanks to the reverb, which seems better than Sylenth's.

But really, patching is exhausting. After a quarter of an hour of clicking back and forth, I just feel like running back into the merely two arms/panels of Sylenth

[Michael L]

But really, patching is exhausting.

Yep, it has like 250 knobs, buttons and dropdown menus! However, that variety can be good. I had a sequence going and kept it continually changing with a tweak here and there. Perhaps that's its unique quality?

[db3]

I actually find VA2 pretty convincing for many analoguesque tones, it has a real organic quality. Diva has its strengths, but in comparison I sometimes find it too sterile without additional saturation.

[JerGoertz]

I own VA-1, and since (as I understand it) the sound engines between 1 and 2 are essentially the same, here are my impressions of 1:

This is a synth whose basic sound isn't quite up to standard with the ZDF modern cutting-edge VA's. However, it is a synth which rewards tweaking and can get some surprisingly "strong" sounds if you take the time to find its sweet spot. Some amazing basses if you know how.

I almost don't think that's either strong, or specific, enough though. I too have VA-1, I got it in the famous no-brainer sale. It wasn't even competitive with non ZDF "character" filters of the time, e.g., the filters in Massive. It is a very sterile and straightforward filter. I can see that being appealing to some, but I never saw very much, or really, any, value in the synth when I had other options.

A lot of people like to have many different VA synths, I don't see much point to that when they are generic. I mean if you are simulating some specific hardware an you simulate its features well, that's valid. But if it's just a generic two oscillator synth with generic filters, how many of those do you need?

For me, Reaktor has replaced anything that isn't excellent and specific. At a basic level, 2-Osc and Carbon2 can pretty much do anything that AAS can do. Synths like Diva, ACE, Bazille, Monark, Arturia's SEM clone, and even Massive, are what are would call excellent and specific. Massive isn't in the same class as Diva as far as modelling, but it has character and can do things that those synths can't do.

So, because sometimes memories can be wrong, I installed AAS-UA, probably for the first time since 09 when I purchased it. While it's every bit as average as I remember it, there is good programming in there. It's unfortunate that the programming is held back by such a mediocre filter.

As far as trusting people who gush over something, AAS-UA was one of my personal teaching moments. KVR folks were gushing over it at the time and so I picked it up based on that. Even back then I was disappointed with it. I thought that it wasn't very good and, consequently, learned that it's probably not a good idea to trust excessively positive recommendations from KVR users. As a joke, I tried selling it for $99 some time after the sale had ended, of course, no takers. That's because it isn't/wasn't worth that, ever.

I would have agreed with your criticisms of the filter before I managed to find its sweet spot. Very bland, I thought. And truth be told, maybe the filter is fundamentally kind of bland, but with the right programming it can sound good. Maybe it's more about the programming, as I was able to do the same with Absynth (make strong bass patches) despite its (IMO) weak filters.

[fluffy_little_something]

Felt like playing around in MS Paint, hence the pixel mess

With this alternative layout (exactly the same GUI size) there are only four tabs, namely two for switching between the two oscillators, and two for switching between the two synth lines, of which the oscillators are not part, else I would have reduced the whole GUI to just two tabs. But I think it is still a big improvement as there are no more detailed panels.

The noise color knob is now on the osc panel, where it belongs.
And the red LED lights indicating activity have gone onto the tabs themselves as those are always visible. I have added two LED's for the oscillators as well.

https://app.box.com/s/xggsbztg2mv38pfa1jf75oxn9l2wid7c

[BasariStudios]

Diva has its strengths, but in comparison I sometimes find it too sterile without additional saturation.

lol...

[ghettosynth]

Diva has its strengths, but in comparison I sometimes find it too sterile without additional saturation.

lol...

Yeah, you're mirroring my thoughts, but, perhaps parent has some samples? I try to keep an open mind about these things.