What are the best of these synths?

[BONES]

Hybrid 3: 74 pages; XPand2!: 19 pages; Vacuum Pro: 22 pages; Loom 2: 25 pages. Is this what you mean?

That sounds about right to me. It's not rocket science, I can't remember the last time I had to consult a manual for any VSTi. What is it, exactly, that you need help with?

[zzz00m]

Vacuum Pro (analog subtractive )
Hybrid 3 (wavetable)
Waves Element 2 (wavetable)
Orb Synth (wavetable ? never worked with it )
Kilohearts One (subtractive )
All CM Synth (Thorn Cm etc.) (Thor spectral)
Mai Tai (subtractive)
Wa Imperfect (never worked with it)
Wa Babylon (never worked with it)
Loom 2 (additive)

- Iris 2 (well, complicated sample based synth )

- Uvi Digital Synsations (Samples)
- Ni Analog Dream (Samples)
- Free Syntronix Ik Multimedia (only ob-xa Full) (Samples)

On this list Loom 2 would be my favorite because it's the most interesting IMHO .


Also try dexed
https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
because an FM synth is missing on your list

Agree with your assessment of the OP's list, with the exception of Elements 2. I have that and it's a pure VA synth. You were probably thinking of Waves Codex, their wavetable synth.

[zzz00m]

Hi friends, I've been reading the site for a while and I'm studying the world of synths.
I bought many synths (many free), but I would like to know which one is best suited to my projects.
I'm not going to spend any more money, so don't recommend expensive synths please.
I am a beginner, and I have read negative opinions about some of them.

My projects will be soundtracks, specifically
- Synth String
- Arp & Lead for sci fi bakground
- Bass
- Ambient
- I don't like presets, and I would like to build my sound from the beginning

Which of these synths are the best for my projects?

Well your list has a lot of duplication of synth types. I would start by narrowing your list down to one of each major synth type: VA subtractive (Virtual Analog); Wavetable; FM; and Additive.

I would also suggest a sampler to round things out for some real instrument sounds, but since you stated that you already have some orchestral and piano sounds from Sonivox Film Companion, that should be plenty to start with. Getting into advanced sample libraries can get very expensive quickly!

The synth categories can each have a sound character of their own, so work with them until you find one of each that fits your style and workflow. More can follow later as you see the need, but no point getting bogged down with so many at the start.

And as far as your list goes, I think you would find Loom II (Additive) and Iris 2 (sample based spectral filtering) ideal for ambient soundtrack work, because additive and spectral can sound so different from VA, Wavetable, and FM. Because additive synthesis is entirely made up of sine wave partials, it can be the most FM sounding of the non-FM synths. Dexed as suggested is free, and a decent emulation of the Yamaha DX7 FM synth. Learn a few that you like. Trust your ears.

Here is your list as notated by Polomo123. I revised the comments for Elements 2 and Iris 2:

Vacuum Pro (analog subtractive )
Hybrid 3 (wavetable)
Waves Element 2 (analog subtractive)
Orb Synth (wavetable ? never worked with it )
Kilohearts One (subtractive )
All CM Synth (Thorn Cm etc.) (Thor spectral)
Mai Tai (subtractive)
Wa Imperfect (never worked with it)
Wa Babylon (never worked with it)
Loom 2 (additive)

- Iris 2 (sample based spectral filtering synth)

- Uvi Digital Synsations (Samples)
- Ni Analog Dream (Samples)
- Free Syntronix Ik Multimedia (only ob-xa Full) (Samples)

On this list Loom 2 would be my favorite because it's the most interesting IMHO .

Also try dexed
https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
because an FM synth is missing on your list

[Polomo123]

Agree with your assessment of the OP's list, with the exception of elements 2. I have that and it's a pure VA synth. You were probably thinking of waves codex, their wavetable synth.

Yes my bad .
But exactly like you thought I mixed it with Codex

[BONES]

Well your list has a lot of duplication of synth types. I would start by narrowing your list down to one of each major synth type: VA subtractive (Virtual Analog); Wavetable; FM; and Additive.

Why? A lot of V/As sound way more different to one another than many V/As to wavetable synths, for example. Similarly, a lot of V/As can do FM, too, so I don't see the point in a standalone FM synth at all. And additive synths are rare for a reason, they aren't very useful.

I've actually been thinking about this for a while now and come up with what I think is really sound advice for those just starting out. Choose a host application you think will work for the kind of music you want to do, maybe Live or Bitwig if you're looking at any dance genre or Cubase/Studio One if you are going to be doing more "traditional" stuff. If you don't know yet, then start with Studio One because it's easy to learn and Gregor's videos are an excellent way to get into it. Whichever you choose, start with the free version, so Studio One Prime, Live Lite, etc.

When it comes to synths, ignore everyone. We all have our biases and our favourite things. So instead, what you do is you download Komplete Start, which gives you a good set of basic tools to get started with. On top of that, you will want at least one "big" synth to get your head around and a few other things to fill out your arsenal. So get Vital - the free version has all the features, just not as many extras, so you can learn how to use it and expand it as you go. I think it is the perfect place to start your journey. On top of that, get Tyrell Nexus 6 and Zampler. Find a few free/cheap sound sets for Zampler and, with all the other stuff, you'll be set-up to do top-notch production work. Don't worry about effects, the stuff that comes in your host application will be fine to get you started.

The only thing I can see that's missing from this set-up is a decent drum machine but most hosts will have something you can use. e.g. S1 Prime comes with Presence XT, which has plenty of GM drum sets. It also comes with lots of loops and stuff.

[ReleaseCandidate]

Well your list has a lot of duplication of synth types. I would start by narrowing your list down to one of each major synth type: VA subtractive (Virtual Analog); Wavetable; FM; and Additive.

Why? A lot of V/As sound way more different to one another than many V/As to wavetable synths, for example. Similarly, a lot of V/As can do FM, too, so I don't see the point in a standalone FM synth at all. And additive synths are rare for a reason, they aren't very useful.

No offense, but that's the typical reaction of persons that don't like/can't patch anything but subtractive synths. That's also why there are less FM (there's the DX7 at least, so people are at least somehow used to it) and much less additive ones. Nothing wrong with that, but if I'm a vegan I wouldn't comment in a "what's the tastiest meat" thread .

[BONES]

All very well but you're conversing with someone who owned a DX9 for many years, as well as a Kawai K5000 (many years later) and used both extensively. Honestly, the very thought that there is something tricky about patching any synth, that it's not something any idiot can do, I find laughable. Patching a synth might make you feel clever but most of us can do it without breaking a sweat. Sure, the DX was not something that was easy to learn, and Dog knows I had little interest in doing so, but it wasn't hard to take a preset and bend it to your own ends or to make something relatively simple from scratch. It just wasn't the kind of synth you could just noodle around with until you found something you liked. So try a little harder and stop feeling smug about nothing.

[ReleaseCandidate]

All very well ...

Many words for "I can patch anything, I just don't like anything else". As I said, perfectly fine. But that's something else than saying "if you can FM your OSC, you don't need a FM synth" and "additive synths aren't very useful" (no, they aren't useful if you want to get an 'analog' sound). The biggest advantage is that nowadays you don't need to test (that alone was a major PITA 30 years ago) or buy pricey hardware any more (but you you can if you want to), but can get almost a synth with almost any form of synthesis that you can imagine (or can't imagine for free or cheap or at least have the chance to try it.

[BONES]

No, additive synths aren't very useful for basslines or a dozen other things 90% of us use in our music every day. OTOH, there is not much an additive synth can do that a subtractive synth can't do well enough to get you by. You have to really want to use that additive engine and actively seek out things for it to do. And sure FM in a two oscillator subtractive synth isn't going to match a DX7 but what does a DX7 do that can't be done easily with a ROMpler these days? Again, you have to really want to use that kind of thing to make it worthwhile, where a subtractive synth is more a jack of all trades that will get you by in most situations without the need to call on specialist synths, especially if it's a subtractive synth with wavetable oscillators.

[zzz00m]

things 90% of us use in our music every day.

Without context, that phrase is meaningless.

There is no "us", unless you intended for that to be a reference to VA synth programmers only...

[Echoes in the Attic]

If I don't need something then nobody should need it!

[BONES]

Seriously, that's all you have? No factual argument, just a personal attack? Pathetic. But in a way you're right, I don't really need those things because I actually know what the f**k I am doing. I suppose I made the mistake of assuming the rest of you do, too, which is something I really should have known better than to do.

[zzz00m]

I actually know what the f**k I am doing.

The majority of your comments do not support that assertion. But in all fairness, you occasionally do contribute a gem.

[BONES]

That's right, in 40 years I've not managed to pick up anything of value from any of the time I've spent in front of my equipment, on stage with dozens of very successful artists or in various different studios, both locally, nationally and internationally. I've just let it all go in one ear and out the other, learning absolutely nothing along the way. Meanwhile, you've sat in your mother's basement and learned all the secrets there are to know by watching nobodies on YouTube try and convince you to subscribe to their worthless channels. I'm sure it's been are far better education than I could ever hope to have had.

[PatchAdamz]

The real question is whose opinion is the best. Might need another poll after you gathered all the replies in this thread.

It always comes down to personal opinion and each individuals musical style and taste.

Developing your own opinion is one of the keys to developing your own production style.