Absynth 6

This review depends on whether you owned Absynth 2-5 or not.

If you owned old Absynth, and don't care for MPE, this is a 1/5 terrible update. $100 skin with no new features.

If you never used Absynth, this is an amazing revival to the old beautiful synth! 5/5


I've used Absynth 5 extensively both before and after the discontinuation. After demoing Absynth 6, I can confirm that there are basically no changes other than GUI. This update is almost like a very intricate skin. The work flow is the same, but with more graphical features such as replacing number sliders with rotatable knobs. The modulation is still a slow work flow, as you need to swap to the modulation tab and use drop down menus to assign modulation, almost like a modulation matrix.

non-GUI changes:

-You can now create waveforms by drawing them, which is okay.

-Modulation has more features, but the same slow workflow as Absynth 5.

-New "analog filters", but they are basically the same HP/LP/BP/notch that was already present in Absynth 5. Honestly not really a new feature as a user could just use saturation on the old filters to mimic the "analog" feel.

-The MPE support is new and a great feature for performers and Kontakt users! Personally I don't care for this, but if you use MPE, then this is a good update for you.

-Graphical Preset selection, technically a GUI feature, but strikingly different from Absynth 5's old library.

-32 Grain density adds a bit more smoothness to the sound of granular synthesis, the only change involving synthesis.

The real selling point of this synth are the unique effects. Each are very detailed physical-modeling /reverb/echo type effects that add extreme depth and ambience to any sound design. My biggest problem with this was that you could only select 1 effect per instance, and they never fixed this Absynth 6. Still, I would highly recommend this synth to new users just for the effects.

Absynth was always a king of creating ambient sound design, and the update does not take that crown away. If you need a high quality Ambient synth, this is perfect for you. I am happy that the synth has been showed love and revived for new users to enjoy. I am just sad that I cannot justify upgrading my Absynth 5 just for a GUI make-over.