Omnisphere 2.5: Hardware Synth Integration and double voice architecture

[SLiC]

What could possibly be more limiting than a mouse ?

I dunno really. It seems like this just limits Omnisphere to what controls are available on the HW synth. I know he showed adding some extras like the orb but really why limit yourself this way and at the same time you lose the distinct sound of the hardware. Perhaps I just don't get it

That was not my point - with a mouse and keyboard you can control any softsynths parameters but my understanding of this HW integration is that each nob/control on the HW can only control 1 parameter

That's a bit like saying anytime you use a hardware synths as a software synth controller its pointless? You can (currently) map any function in Omni to any midi controller to do anything....these of 'pre-mapped' hardware templates are great if you own the hardware as everything works 'as labelled' so assuming you know your way around your hardware will be fast and creative with Omni! That's pretty cool and you will of course be able to change the sounds/functions away from how it would normally sound in the hardware (they have just set it up with waveforms that initialy sound a bit like the synth it is mimicking) + we get all those new sounds and patches free + more layers and a load of other new stuff

[Keith99]

Basically you have a hardware synth acting as a controller for a software synth which is emulating the hardware synth!

Well I think I am going to have a brain-meld now I cant figure out your logic at all- but hey it is obviously not something for me.

I am really looking forward to the new sound making capabilities in 2.5

[SLiC]

Yes, but the emulation could turn your mini moog in to a poly moog (emulation) but with with the same moog controls.

[tomwolfe]

This could be a great feature when used with the software as well - for instance it could let you use the Orb on screen with your mouse while tweaking parameters manually with your hardware, which you couldn't do before unless you'd mapped your keyboard (which was quite laborious, and I found my mappings would periodically disappear). Might be time for me to get a second hand system 1 or bass station!

Got to be honest though, more excited about the extra layers, double mod matrix and extra LFO and envelopes. The sound design possibilities on this thing are just going to be crazy! Great for a free update.

[DocAtlas]

This could be a great feature when used with the software as well - for instance it could let you use the Orb on screen with your mouse while tweaking parameters manually with your hardware, which you couldn't do before unless you'd mapped your keyboard (which was quite laborious, and I found my mappings would periodically disappear). Might be time for me to get a second hand system 1 or bass station!

Got to be honest though, more excited about the extra layers, double mod matrix and extra LFO and envelopes. The sound design possibilities on this thing are just going to be crazy! Great for a free update.

Agreed. I'm interested in the hardware integration (I'm hoping that the Roland System 1 being on the list means the System 1m will work), but the new synthesis features are a bit more interesting to me. I'm especially looking forward to checking out the new wavetables and the SEM filter emulation. And the new presets; they will work even if you don't have any of the hardware on the list.

[zvenx]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... aLDetoDYXQ

Please forgive me if someone else has already posted it.

How some don't think omnisphere is an awesome sounding synth, I don't know.

rsp

[iPlogger]

This news sure made my day. It sounds like a terrific update. The extra layers alone would have made a nice update for me. But to add new wavetables, filters, envelopes, HW integration, etc. and an open beta. It packs in WAY more than I would have expected. As for the HW integration, I'd guess they are using SysEx so they can specifically tie an exact piece of hardware to a profile.

[Touch The Universe]

In that case, I wonder if the patches made in the HW profiles in omni of a particular synth could actually open on the real thing? that would be cool!

[iPlogger]

The sounds are still all Omnisphere. There is no compatibility between the two. In the video, Eric points out this is not an emulation, they are providing the character of the synth. And it was pretty cool. As he switches from synth to synth the available presets change and definitely provide the character of whatever synth he is playing. But yeah, could you imagine creating the sound in Omnisphere and the patch parameters being sent back to the synth?

I just watched the video and have to say, the hardware integration is extremely impressive. It is not something you can duplicate with a standard MIDI controller and MIDI learn. The profiles are tailored to handle things in multiple ways SPECIFIC to that synth. For example, selecting the correct wavetable/soundsource that only makes sense for that synth. Or using specific filters to best give the character of the synth. They added in the new filter specifically for the OB-6. Another example Eric showed distortion where pressing a button on the synth automatically added the distortion effect in Ominsphere, and turning a distortion amount knob would increase the distortion AND lower the effect's master knob slightly at the same time. It looks very deep.

[Touch The Universe]

dx7 patches can be opened in fm8 because they share corresponding parameters. It seems feasible they could be exchangeable if they can open/save with sysex. I'm not a hardware buff so good chance I might be way off mark.

[Richard deHove]

Now we need someone to design the ultimate hardware synth - but just as a beautiful, deep and logical arrangement of knobs and sliders. No sound circuitry required. Then pair to Omni with a range of differently flavored profiles! Mmmmmm

In the meantime what's a cheap mono synth that has lots of knobs that could make a good Omni-poly?

[Introspective]

Fscking awesome. I can't wait.

...Okay, call me sacrilegious here, but: will Urs be doing something like this for U-He synths? Or is this whole concept now locked via patent to Omnisphere?

(Not that Omnisphere isn't awesome! It's the best. ...but still... I would just *love* (!!!) to see this for Zebra...)

[noiseboyuk]

Fscking awesome. I can't wait.

...Okay, call me sacrilegious here, but: will Urs be doing something like this for U-He synths? Or is this whole concept now locked via patent to Omnisphere?

(Not that Omnisphere isn't awesome! It's the best. ...but still... I would just *love* (!!!) to see this for Zebra...)

I don’t think I see anything patentable here, so nothing to stop u-he doing their own dedicated mapping from a Prophet 6 to Repro or what have you.

[Sjefke]

Fscking awesome. I can't wait.

...Okay, call me sacrilegious here, but: will Urs be doing something like this for U-He synths? Or is this whole concept now locked via patent to Omnisphere?

(Not that Omnisphere isn't awesome! It's the best. ...but still... I would just *love* (!!!) to see this for Zebra...)

I don’t think I see anything patentable here, so nothing to stop u-he doing their own dedicated mapping from a Prophet 6 to Repro or what have you.

In the end, its still just a very very intelligent way of mapping midi cc vallues..

But all these omnisphere discussions have me wondering more about the Omnisphere
The sample format is still very closed to me..
I tried to find more about the multilayer sample capabilities of omnisphere..
But there is not much to find online, except the fact that its supported..
Is there only vellocity switching, or are there more advanced options in the sample format..


I think the omnisphere instand alone mode could make the perfect live host for any keyboarder..
And it would be even more awesome if they made the omnisphere a VST engine...
Allowing to add VST sounds to the multi’s
Or even better allowing to use VST sounds as input for an oscilator..

Having 4 oscilators/samples is a huge step also,...

[noiseboyuk]

But all these omnisphere discussions have me wondering more about the Omnisphere
The sample format is still very closed to me..
I tried to find more about the multilayer sample capabilities of omnisphere..
But there is not much to find online, except the fact that its supported..
Is there only vellocity switching, or are there more advanced options in the sample format..


I think the omnisphere instand alone mode could make the perfect live host for any keyboarder..
And it would be even more awesome if they made the omnisphere a VST engine...
Allowing to add VST sounds to the multi’s
Or even better allowing to use VST sounds as input for an oscilator..

Having 4 oscilators/samples is a huge step also,...

It's not really set up for multi layer user samples, to do it you need to fudge with multiple layers and parts in a multi. I don't think it makes sense to build multisample instruments in Omni, the user samples are primarily for stuff like granular and sound design.

It's funny, every time Spectrasonics do some new advances, everyone immediately thinks of another 50 things they'd like Omni to do! Mine is that I'd love them to do UIs for each of the Hardware Profiles like they do with the Trilian patch controls at present, so you could tweak the profiled synths in a way that is consistent with the hardware (given that there's clearly a lot more than 1-1 mapping going on). Would be great for the SH-101, but might get awfully busy with a Voyager...