KVR Audio

Firebird · Post by **Firebird** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:47 am

Uncle E wrote:
@midnight wrote:How do you guys rate this with the other top tier VA synths like Diva, Lush, Synth Squad, etc... ?
Not as high. The good thing is it uses a lot less power than those do.

I have to agree but it seems to be priced about right.

4damind · Post by **4damind** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:08 am

After playing with "Element" some days... Yes, it sounds a bit different has not this sharp sometimes a bit bright sound of other VAs. But IMO the difference to other synth is not big enough (for me) and I miss a lot of features. I don't like the GUI and the fader physics...
It's not bad for Waves and the first synth but IMO this synth needs some improvements to stay on top with other VAs and that people will buy it for $200 (IMO Waves should make the introductory price the permanent price... for $70 it would be a good first synth)

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:14 am

4damind wrote:I miss a lot of features.

could you give examples?

Only thing i found is maybe additional Unison controls and a few more for the FXs. I also thought about a small switch for different wavefoms for the SubOsc.
I would not call this "a lot". Anyway IMO they should not sacrifice the one page GUI for adding more controls.

If you talk about additional waveforms you could already get those with e.g. the "Sine Mod" which is nothing else than another Sine Osc that adds FM to OSC1.
With "PhM" (= Phase modulation) in OSC2 you could get Phase modulation of OSC2 by OSC1. You could even modulate the SineMod, PhM and FM knobs.

If you look close it got a lot more than e.g. luSH-101 (except for FXs and layers maybe).

Ingo

Sendy · Post by **Sendy** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:22 am

Ingonator wrote:I could be wrong but in both Cypher and Strobe i have not found Sine waveforms like in Element.

There is a sine wave in Strobe. Sure, it's in the suboscillator bank, but since you have four suboscillators and you can set their octaves independantly, I often find myself ignoring the main saw and square oscillator and using the subs for everything.

Sadly, no sine in Cypher which would have been nice as I'd like to hear what the thru-zero FM sounds like on it.

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:30 am

Ingonator wrote:
If you choose e.g. Cypher + Fusor it is quite close to element in terms of features.

Cypher + Fusor surpasses Element in all regards. Cypher on its own only misses the step-sequencer (hence the need for Fusor). However synthesis-wise Cypher has all that Element has (plus much more besides). It can do all you have highlighted Ingo. The only compromise is that sine wave. To get a sine wave-like sound you need to edit the triangle wave and lower the cutoff of one of the filters and perhaps further lower the LPF in the waveshaper.

Also the Phase modulation feature of Element (OSC1 modulates phase of OSC2) seems to be quite unique.

Not unique, I'm afraid. Cypher does it too.
Looking at your quote from Element's manual I can say that Cypher does all the FM and Phase modulation which Element can do.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:31 am

Ingonator wrote:Anyway it looks like this Video review is from the same person.

I agree with the comparison he made to Korg's, although I'm hearing more OASYS/Radias than vintage analog Korg's.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:33 am

Ingonator wrote:If you look close it got a lot more than e.g. luSH-101 (except for FXs and layers maybe).

I guess a VCS3-style modulation matrix is no longer enough for people.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:38 am

himalaya wrote:
Ingonator wrote:
If you choose e.g. Cypher + Fusor it is quite close to element in terms of features.
Cypher + Fusor surpasses Element in all regards. Cypher on its own only misses the step-sequencer (hence the need for Fusor). However synthesis-wise Cypher has all that Element has (plus much more besides). It can do all you have highlighted Ingo. The only compromise is that sine wave. To get a sine wave-like sound you need to edit the triangle wave and lower the cutoff of one of the filters and perhaps further lower the LPF in the waveshaper.

Also the Phase modulation feature of Element (OSC1 modulates phase of OSC2) seems to be quite unique.
Not unique, I'm afraid. Cypher does it too.
Looking at your quote from Element's manual I can say that Cypher does all the FM and Phase modulation which Element can do.

I know that Cypher is quite powerful but somehow it never "clicked" with me like several other synths (e.g. Strobe, Saurus, Element, TAL U-NO-LX, Oxium etc.) did.

it's all about the combination of sound, features, GUi etc. which seems to be just right in Element. It also seems to sound different enough to use it with my other favorite synths.

Ingo

Sendy · Post by **Sendy** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:40 am

I also noticed the FM and phasemod features of Element alias quite badly. What I really liked most in Element were the oscillators (raw sound), filter and envelopes. Indeed I'd have bought the synth on the strength of those alone if it weren't for those knobs.

I honestly can't believe some of you guys aren't moaning about the knobs. Do you have WRISTS of STEEL or something?

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:42 am

Uncle E wrote:
Ingonator wrote:If you look close it got a lot more than e.g. luSH-101 (except for FXs and layers maybe).
I guess a VCS3-style modulation matrix is no longer enough for people.

Did i miss something in LuSH v1.0.1? The modualtion sources/destination seemed to be quite limited last time i tested it.

BTW i also got XILS 3.

Ingo

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:43 am

Ingonator wrote:I know that Cypher is quite powerful but somehow it never "clicked" with me like several other synths (e.g. Strobe, Saurus, Element, TAL U-NO-LX, Oxium etc.) did.

Personally, I think the patches I ported to Cypher from my Andromeda are the best I've heard Cypher sound. However, creating those patches was so tedious that I never recreated them after they got lost. I mostly just use Strobe these days.

4damind · Post by **4damind** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:44 am

Ingonator wrote:
4damind wrote:I miss a lot of features.
could you give examples?

The FX department is not very good, only a mix knob for the reverb or the chorus is not enough. Unison is IMO not very usable this time. It needs a stereo spread, tuning and stacking/count option.
If I compare this to other synth like FXPansion, Massive... we will find some more options... Anyway, I think it's a good easy to use entry level VA synth with "vintage" character but not for $200.
TBH for such a "first synth" I would also more recommend synth like Sonic Acadamy "Ana" which is very cheap and has a lot options for a modern VA.

raikard233 · Post by **raikard233** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:46 am

I could be a dumbass, but i didn't have found the way to install the demo.
Went to the demo downloads page, clicked on Element, nothing happened but now i have a message that say "you've already downloaded"...

Anyway i'll pass, too much complicated the procedure to download a demo.
A simple download link on the product page no?
If the download is corrupted how i can redownload?

I don't get all this paranoid system that Waves adopt..

himalaya · Post by **himalaya** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:49 am

No probs Ingo. 'Taste' is one thing and that is unquestionable.

However, very often a new synth comes out and people say it has a 'unique' feature, whereas the same feature has been implemented in other synths for many years.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:53 am

raikard233 wrote:I could be a dumbass, but i didn't have found the way to install the demo.
Went to the demo downloads page, clicked on Element, nothing happened but now i have a message that say "you've already downloaded"...

Anyway i'll pass, too much complicated the procedure to download a demo.
A simple download link on the product page no?
If the download is corrupted how i can redownload?

I don't get all this paranoid system that Waves adopt..

First you have toregister your account which it look you already did.
I had posted this at page 30 of this thread:

Ingonator wrote:
imprint wrote:Is it just me, or does WAVES have a problem?

I signed up for the One Knob freebie on black Friday, and never received an e-mail back to download it.

I wrote an e-mail asking why and if the offer was still available. No response.

When Element came out last week, I eventually went through all the sign up nonsense (Creating accounts, downloading installers, etc) and at some point I'm sure I clicked must have clicked the 'Get Demo' button - but it never downloaded. I went back in last night to download it and it said I had already auditioned it.
If you click on "get demo" it means it is inside you Cloud. If you have not activated the demo it will still be available for the full time.

You have to download the Waves v9 software first (either the online or offline version):
http://www.waves.com/content.aspx?id=96

This includes installers for all waves plugins. at the installation you have to choose the Waves License Center (first entry) and eleemnt from the single plugins list.

After installation you open the Waves License Center and enter your login data (same as for your account). Then you could move the license from your Cloud to a hard disk or an USB flash drive (no dongle, a usual drive).

If you get the license code for the full version you'll have tzo register that with your account and the license will appear in the Cloud. You could then send the demo license back to the Cloud and send the full license to the drive you like.

Ingo

Oh boy, another VA synth. This time from Waves!