KVR Readers' Choice Awards 2021: Top 5 nominations for 'Favorite Virtual Instrument'

By KVR Audio on September 13th, 2021

The nominations for the 2021 KVR Readers' Choice Awards are in, as voted for by the KVR community. Voting is now open so make yourself heard here.

We present to you the top 5 nominations for 'Favorite Virtual Instrument'.

During this phase KVR members can choose their preference from the shortlist in each category (or stick with their previous selection, or choose another if they prefer, who are we to judge?) Spread the word, tell your friends, tell your enemies, tell your mum, #kvrrcas. All categories are optional. Please note that Freeware and Donationware products should not be voted for in any categories except Favorite Free Virtual Instrument and Favorite Free Virtual Effect Processor. Everyone can change their nominations / votes at any time until the voting closes.

NOTE: If the product you wish to vote for isn't in the KVR Product Database yet please contact the developer and ask them to add it.
Who won last time? Find out at kvraudio.com/2020-kvr-rca-winners

Diva's oscillators, filters and envelopes (which can be mixed and matched) closely model components also found in some of the great monophonic and polyphonic synthesizers of yesteryear. "But, " says Urs, "what truly sets DIVA apart is the sheer authenticity of the circuit emulations – at the cost of a relatively high CPU-hit, DIVA is the first native software synth that applies methods from industrial circuit emulators (search for "PSpice") in realtime. Especially the authentic behaviour of DIVA's zero-delay-feedback filters, when pushed to the limits, demonstrates the advantages of this groundbreaking approach."

u-he describes the available filters as "famous transistor ladder", "screaming Sallen-Key", "classic OTA ladder" and "OTA state-variable" (and similar for the oscillators), and owners of classic analogue synths will already know how best to apply these models – they are easily differentiated in the gorgeous user interface.

Since Version 1.3 Diva also features a Digital Oscillator, an "Uhbie" filter and a vintage-style Arpeggiator.

YouTube.com/watch?v=-PO84tYA6mA&list=PLNx8ODC0um5t9dJtVbSvcwnyeinXztM3q

Pigments combines hugely powerful, cutting-edge wavetable synthesis alongside Arturia's award-winning virtual analog technology. Pigments offers exceptional sound thanks to its hugely powerful architecture and lightning-fast workflow that makes complex modulations easy, fast, and fun. It is truly a 21st century instrument that will become the go-to choice for all producers, sound designers, and synth-fans alike thanks to its extraordinary features and tempting price.

Benefits:

Scale quantized pitch modulations to build complex melodic sequences.
Continuous unison controls that can be modulated, with classic and chord modes.
Extensive waveshaping options for the wavetable oscillator, with great aliasing control.
The usual modulation sources and some more unconventional ones like the Turing and Binary random generators.
Powerful gate/retrig handling for modulators. Perfect to inspire unusual rhythmic sequences or self-generating patches.
Polyrhythmic sequencer with a strong emphasis on randomness, with scale control to remain musical.

Key features:

Two engines in parallel: the best of both worlds.
Virtual Analog triple oscillator engine.
Complex Wavetable engine with morphing and import.
Twin filters: dozens to choose from.
Classic filters from V Collection instruments.
Modern filters like surgeon and comb.
Continuous series/parallel routing.
Powerful effects section: an all-in-one solution.
13 stunning effects, including wavefolder, overdrive, parametric EQ, and delay.
Insert or Send routing options with drag and drop for easy switching.
All the essential parameters can be modulated.
Advanced modulation system: modulate anything with anything.
Graphical editing, source-based or destination-based.
Envelopes, LFOs, Function generators, Random sources.
4 assignable Macros to control multiple parameters at once.
Visual interface: understand your sound.
Graphical representation of the most important modules.
Living, moving waveform to see your sound come alive.
Polyrhythmic Sequencer and Arpeggiator: get creative.
Create complex, custom and evolving sequences or arps.
Extensive factory preset library: learn from the masters.
Hundreds of presets from awesome artists and experienced sound designers, including Jeremy Savage, Starcadian, Cubic Spline, Mord Fustang, and Jörg Hüttner.
Highlighted "notes" to show which parameters are recommended to tweak.

YouTube/0HZbJJQfJLw

Serum is a wavetable synthesizer with a high-quality sound, visual and creative workflow-oriented interface, with an integrated wavetable editor for creating your own unique wavetable sets.

Features:

Two wavetable oscillators, consisting of up to 256 frames each.
'Analogue' styled Sub Oscillator.
Noise Oscillator (.wav based with HQ resampling, one shot 'attack' option).
Comprehensive wavetable editor:
Import audio directly from audio files - Serum has a variety of methods and options for importing + analyzing audio (WAV or AIFF) for breaking it apart into individual waveforms. You can import single-cycle wavetables of course, as well as many at once (with in-built sorting options, or manual re-ordering).
Draw directly on the waveform, with optional grid-size snapping and a variety of shape tools.
Generate or modify/process waveforms using FFT (additive).
Create or even process waveforms using formula functions.
Morph between various wavetables using standard linear interpolation (crossfading) or via harmonic/spectral morphing.
Processing menus allow you to do the other tasks you would want, such as apply fades, crossfades, normalize, export, and much more.
Ultra-clean/low-aliasing, aggressively optimized SSE2 oscillators.
Manipulate the waveforms in realtime in a variety of ways (including FM/RM/AM/Osc Sync/custom warp modes/user-definable remaps).
Mod Matrix and drag-drop mod sources directly to destination knobs/controls.
89 filter types (Flangers/phasers/ladder/svf/zdf/combs/morphing/dual types, and more).
Integrated effects rack with 10 re-orderable / modulator effects.
Advanced unison parameters for custom tuning/stack/warp/depth/spread and more.
Hundreds of factory presets and default wavetables made by many industry-acclaimed sound designers.
Flexible break-point style LFOs.
Visual feedback for modulator depths directly on knob destinations.

Omnisphere is the flagship synthesizer of Spectrasonics - an instrument of extraordinary power and versatility. This award-winning plugin brings many different types of synthesis together into one amazing-sounding instrument that will inspire a lifetime of exploration.

Omnisphere 2.6 Features:

Template for all major controllers.
Now includes over 14,000 inspiring sounds for all types of music production.
Ground-breaking Hardware Synth Integration allows hands-on control of Omnisphere.
Audio Import - Use your own audio file as a soundsource.
Over 500 DSP Waveforms for the Synth Oscillator.
Sound Match feature instantly locates any related sounds in the library.
Hardware Library with distinct 'classic analog' flavor.
Spotlight - EDM library with next-level, modern sounds.
Powerful Granular Synthesis for amazing transformations.
57 incredible FX Units, which are fully integrated and can be modulated.
Creative "Psychoacoustic" sounds from the renowned Spectrasonics sound design team.
Sound Lock feature gives endless useful variations by locking sound aspects while browsing.
Wavetable Synthesis - Each waveform is a Morphing Wavetable.
ORB circular motion interface allows infinitely-shifting variations.
Deeper FM/Ring Modulation capabilities for aggressive timbres.
Dual Filter architecture includes more than 34 Filter algorithms in series or parallel.
Performance-oriented Live Mode allows for seamless patch layering on the fly.
Flex-Mod modulation system allows powerful, modular-style matrix routing.
Stack Mode interface allows for complex patch-layering, splits, and crossfades.
Mini-Browser available at all times plus larger Full Browser design.
Up to 20 oscillators per patch can be either DSP synth or sample-based.
High Resolution resizable Interface with "Zooming" into deeper synthesis levels.
Eight independent Arpeggiators with unique Groove Lock feature.
Polyphonic Timbre Shifting/Crushing, Waveshaping and Reduction.
Eight full-featured LFOs per patch, with syncing and complex waveforms.
Twelve Envelopes with both simple ADSR-style or advanced multi-breakpoint interfaces.
Easy Sound/Project Sharing for collaborators and third-party libraries.
Sample-based soundsources can be processed with synthesis features.
...and much, much more.

YouTube.com/watch?v=BypwhO0IDy0

Vital is a spectral warping wavetable synthesizer.

Discover how warping the harmonic makeup of a wavetable can completely create a new set of sounds. Stretch, shift, smear and skew harmonics up, down and around the spectrum to explore new timbres and create sounds you didn't think possible with wavetables.

See how everything works while you play in this visual synth. Vital has animated graphical displays when you need them. Everything moves in real-time so you can see what's going on behind the scenes.

Quickly design sounds with an optimized drag-and-drop modulation workflow. The modulation preview gives you an idea of what things will sound like before you drop the connection. With this, you can try modulating different destinations by dragging around the screen.

Discover new design techniques using Vital's unique features like stereo-modulation. Stereo split an LFO to have the left channel's modulation delayed from the right or give slight stereo time differences to an envelope to create wider stereo effects.