Sytrus

THIS SYNTH NEEDS A SEQUEL.

This is a super old plugin that has definitely stood the test of time. This plugin has a high skill ceiling due to it's many features and poor outdated UI, but sounds crystal clear and is still very useful for producing just about anything a producer of today would want. I still use Sytrus alongside with newer VSTs such as Serum/Pigments, and will continue doing so as this synth is unique in the way it produces sounds. I really hope we get a Sytrus 2 one day that fixes all the outdated problems Sytrus currently has.

This synth has a fixed modulation setup that cannot be altered, and can be viewed by one of the icons in the top right corner. First a waveshape is generated additively through an Oscillator's wave editor. You can choose between analog sine/tri/square waves, and then edit those waves by shaping them with the tools provided. The real unique and amazing part of Sytrus is that you can then add non-Sine harmonics based on the waveshape you created. You can even wave-edit a 4 harmonic oscillator and then "convert to sine-harmonics" to further edit the spectrum, however this process becomes laggy with more than 4 harmonics (imagine if Sytrus 2 allowed for endless harmonic edits). No other additive synth I've seen can do this while ALSO being able to FM/RM between the 6 oscillators. After FM/RM, you can further edit the sound through 3 subtractive filter oscillators which are each equiped with a powerful editable Waveshaper. Unfortunately the modulation ends with filters and FX, so you cannot FM a filtered wave (FM8 and most other FM synths can do this). The FX are limited to a metallic reverb, a decent 3 layer delay, and a decent chorus. I personally don't care for VST fx as I usually use other fx anyways, but others might find this limitation a problem for sound design.

Sytrus really needs an update, after 10 more years this plugin probably should deserve 4 stars instead of 5. For now it certainly deserves 5 stars.

Great VST, great price.

Has a bit of everything and controls to modify/manipulate to the users desire in order to create an abundance of musical yumminess :).

i love this synthesizer so much that i automatically reach for it first.
Light on system resources, great modulation system, rich FX section, intuitive overall design, adaptable oscillators (operators)... by far my most treasured synthesizer plugin.

My workhorse. Period. One of the best if not most underrated FM synths out. There's so much potential if you spend a little time to get to know it. Ask Seamless.

The sounds of Sytrus are a 10, the variety ditto. Tho many have complained about the small-size GUI my Sytrus issue is that the product does not have a browser. Any synth without a good browser--like Tone2'a Rayblaster or Electra 2--is not something I can work with. Clicking on "Presets" and having a large "spreadsheet" (in small font) splattered on the screen is NOT GOOD. After selecting a preset the screen retracts. I need a browser that stays put so I can audition presets properly, without working backwards. People praise Image-Line products, but IMO the company policy evinces a sort of arrogance, unresponsiveness or indifference to their captive market, and a disregard for user or would-be user criticism.