Is Omnisphere 2 still worth it?

[bmanic]

Omnisphere 2 soundsource showcase (Google Drive, 74mb mp3 32minutes)

That's cool man, thanks for sharing your favorite presets.
I know I am taking a risk here with a lot of Omnisphere fans, but I also want to balance a bit the opinions. I am really surprised that you praised so much the presets of Omnisphere, I find the ones of Falcon (even the default ones) very much better... Am I the only one with this opinion ?

You didn't seem to read my whole post or misunderstood it.

Just to be 100% clear about this. The sounds in that above audio example, those are not presets, those are sampled sound sources loaded into one single oscillator. They were also not my favorites, they were RANDOM samples.. covering about 0.01% of the total amount.

So, in essence, that is one single oscillator without any effects or any filtering at all. No synthesis at all. I'm doing the same in the above example as you would do in any other synth where you can quickly change from one oscillator type to another (Saw to Square etc). It's a demonstration of a single simple raw oscillator. Now imagine that you have 4 of those available, each with it's own rather full featured synthesis capabilities (except LFO/ENV modulation as discussed earlier). That's why I think that demonstration is so powerful.

[noiseboyuk]

I was going through some of the Moog Tribute soundsources earlier. There’s a ton of wild stuff there that I’m not sure was even used in patches. So much good stuff.

[Dirtgrain]

I am really surprised that you praised so much the presets of Omnisphere, I find the ones of Falcon (even the default ones) very much better... Am I the only one with this opinion ?

I've only recall people complaining about the stock presets in Falcon. But it's about individual tastes. Rock on.

[syntonica]

I am really surprised that you praised so much the presets of Omnisphere, I find the ones of Falcon (even the default ones) very much better... Am I the only one with this opinion ?

I've only recall people complaining about the stock presets in Falcon. But it's about individual tastes. Rock on.

Omni has that 90s rompler sound. Falcon has a crisp, clean sound. They both have lovely presets, depending on your taste.

I just wish I could navigate the Omni presets better. There's a huge majority that I cannot use. The classifications are weird and annoying and the presets put in them don't necessarily belong.

[noiseboyuk]

That 90s Rompler sound.

[Jac459]

Omnisphere 2 soundsource showcase (Google Drive, 74mb mp3 32minutes)

That's cool man, thanks for sharing your favorite presets.
I know I am taking a risk here with a lot of Omnisphere fans, but I also want to balance a bit the opinions. I am really surprised that you praised so much the presets of Omnisphere, I find the ones of Falcon (even the default ones) very much better... Am I the only one with this opinion ?

You didn't seem to read my whole post or misunderstood it.

Just to be 100% clear about this. The sounds in that above audio example, those are not presets, those are sampled sound sources loaded into one single oscillator. They were also not my favorites, they were RANDOM samples.. covering about 0.01% of the total amount.

So, in essence, that is one single oscillator without any effects or any filtering at all. No synthesis at all. I'm doing the same in the above example as you would do in any other synth where you can quickly change from one oscillator type to another (Saw to Square etc). It's a demonstration of a single simple raw oscillator. Now imagine that you have 4 of those available, each with it's own rather full featured synthesis capabilities (except LFO/ENV modulation as discussed earlier). That's why I think that demonstration is so powerful.

No I actually read it well. I just didn't express myself well. The first time I said presets I should have said (base sounds) (and ok I get it, randomly chosen).
The second time I said presets I meant... presets. it was more generally, as I saw a few of you in aww about the sound, the fact that it didn't happen to me and I was thinking what I missed.
But anyway I have already been answered to this question so all good.

Sorry for the confusion, as I am not native English speaker and I try to go too fast it gets messy.

[daily patcher]

Omnisphere has many reasons to not be someones cup of tea, but gotta hand it to Spectrasonics. They have invested a hell of a lot into their products over the years (and sure, not necessarily in all the right ways). Also, the YouTube productions for content release have been nothing short of epic.

[legendCNCD]

That 90s Rompler sound.

Yeah I'm here like

[Synthman2000]

I think the original question has to be asked when having Xpand!2 and Hybrid 3 on offer for as little as $20 if you catch the sales right often at Pluginboutique. I have both of them for about $25.. yes $25 !!!! I am not saying everything in those 2 synths is a hit but there is some very usable sounds in both. And some are incredible, I would have Hybrid 3 just for one of the sounds in there alone.

I flirted with the idea of Omnisphere but did not go ahead. I have Trilian and also many other synths I am fairly sure I am covered with anything Omni can do.

I believe they should drop the price for 2023 I am not convinced it is worth the money personally.

[noiseboyuk]

I think the original question has to be asked when having Xpand!2 and Hybrid 3 on offer for as little as $20 if you catch the sales right often at Pluginboutique. I have both of them for about $25.. yes $25 !!!! I am not saying everything in those 2 synths is a hit but there is some very usable sounds in both. And some are incredible, I would have Hybrid 3 just for one of the sounds in there alone.

I flirted with the idea of Omnisphere but did not go ahead. I have Trilian and also many other synths I am fairly sure I am covered with anything Omni can do.

I believe they should drop the price for 2023 I am not convinced it is worth the money personally.

There's absolutely no doubt you can get great synths for little in sales and there's a ton of great free stuff out there.

The reason why Omnisphere and the others still sell well at their relatively high price despite this is a mix of several factors - depth, breadth, consistently high quality and musicality. To add to that you have many years of free updates, like the extra 250 patches that Omni and Keyscape users have just had. An Avenger expansion is around 130 patches for 70 euros, so that's not inconsiderable value on its own (and from top designers). And with 10,000 patches to start with and 60gb soundsource library to plunder, you're already massively more loaded than competitors. Nexus 4 with 10 expansions is about the same price as Omni - Omni is an infinitely more flexible synth, and has twice the patches. It's hard to compare like-for-like, but it isn't true that Spectrasonics are more expensive than anyone else.

I doubt prices will fall from Spectrasonics, but instead you get a behemoth and are showered with new stuff for free over many years. That works for a lot of people.

That said, most people don't need Omnisphere. Some have said they don't get on with it. But for many of us, we tend to gravitate to it consistently because it always delivers, and so we tend to really need little else.

Also because I know may round it pretty well and it's so versatile, it's a quick way to get a great end result.

[LFO8]

An Avenger expansion is around 130 patches for 70 euros, so that's not inconsiderable value on its own (and from top designers).

That's what I personally dislike about reFX and Vengeance.. you just keep paying and paying and paying. Nexus I think is terrific in terms of workstation use and so light on computer recourses. But if you want new and fresh sounds; you can't really roll your own and you're stuck buying expansions for ever (if you want to keep up with a contemporary sound).

I'd be in the hole for about $1200 for Nexus if I'd get the sounds that cover enough for me atm. Then in prob 2 years time it's into the wallet we go for expansions.

So, I personally think that, although the initial sum is higher than the rest, spread out over the years it's great value with Omnisphere.

[Synthman2000]

I think the original question has to be asked when having Xpand!2 and Hybrid 3 on offer for as little as $20 if you catch the sales right often at Pluginboutique. I have both of them for about $25.. yes $25 !!!! I am not saying everything in those 2 synths is a hit but there is some very usable sounds in both. And some are incredible, I would have Hybrid 3 just for one of the sounds in there alone.

I flirted with the idea of Omnisphere but did not go ahead. I have Trilian and also many other synths I am fairly sure I am covered with anything Omni can do.

I believe they should drop the price for 2023 I am not convinced it is worth the money personally.

There's absolutely no doubt you can get great synths for little in sales and there's a ton of great free stuff out there.

The reason why Omnisphere and the others still sell well at their relatively high price despite this is a mix of several factors - depth, breadth, consistently high quality and musicality. To add to that you have many years of free updates, like the extra 250 patches that Omni and Keyscape users have just had. An Avenger expansion is around 130 patches for 70 euros, so that's not inconsiderable value on its own (and from top designers). And with 10,000 patches to start with and 60gb soundsource library to plunder, you're already massively more loaded than competitors. Nexus 4 with 10 expansions is about the same price as Omni - Omni is an infinitely more flexible synth, and has twice the patches. It's hard to compare like-for-like, but it isn't true that Spectrasonics are more expensive than anyone else.

I doubt prices will fall from Spectrasonics, but instead you get a behemoth and are showered with new stuff for free over many years. That works for a lot of people.

That said, most people don't need Omnisphere. Some have said they don't get on with it. But for many of us, we tend to gravitate to it consistently because it always delivers, and so we tend to really need little else.

Also because I know may round it pretty well and it's so versatile, it's a quick way to get a great end result.

A well stated case. I really dislike Trilian's interface so would not want more of the same with Omnisphere. That was way overpriced as well when I look back.

Well.... presets.. I don't know... they don't swing it for me. Avenger preset packs are a quite poor comparison, hyper over priced IMO in a so so synth. No way I would ever entertain buying them.

Big name ? If I want presets I listen and buy them irrelevant of the name of who made them. Big name's anything usually suck.

[noiseboyuk]

Big name ? If I want presets I listen and buy them irrelevant of the name of who made them. Big name's anything usually suck.

I didn't say big name - I said top designers. They are.

[Jac459]

Big name ? If I want presets I listen and buy them irrelevant of the name of who made them. Big name's anything usually suck.

That's a surprising reasoning. You never go to theatre for a specific film maker ?
You never buy an album from an artist you liked the precedent album ?
You never read a book from an author you liked the previous books ?

On Rob Papen synths, Jomal is an excellent preset maker and before getting explorer I got a few synths from rob papen just to get Jomal's presets... If a guy was good once, you have more chance he continue to be good... Same for Expanse from Blamsoft... Their Zero Hybrid FM synths have the best presets of the FM synths I know... Because of him...

[Synthman2000]

Jac I can honestly answer no to all 3 of your suppositions. noiseboyuk wrote top designers.. in recall.. I said big names in error, same difference really.

If presets were good and made by the homeless I would buy them.I make my 95pct of my own sounds and only recently have purchased some presets so buying presets is a new thing for me personally.

Significant big name stuff really sucks for a variety of reasons. Price, over rated, slow, bad taste, low quality etc. Food is a great example. I could name many things in life, especially brands.. that follow this trait but I know you know this anyway. You learn it to be so as life progresses.

There are exceptions but in modern times, especially the last decade or so, brand and name means diddly squat in many instances.