View Full Version : Software Synths?
CactusArm
11-25-2001, 01:20 PM
I'll soon be running the new Digital Performer program and I'm looking for a synth program that can give me an almost true analog synth sound.. I'd also really like to be able to use orchestral sounds... a drum machine would be nice--- some have recomended Reason to me... are there any others I should consider?
thanks, steven
squidpop
11-26-2001, 09:50 PM
Consider Metasynth, Absynth and Waldorf's PPG. I really like Metasynth and it is big on sampling, so you can get whatever sounds you want. It is not MIDI, but can be purchased as part of a package, which includes Xx, a MIDI sequencer for informing Metasynth and for translating to MIDI from Metasynth. The other parts of the package are Metatracks, an Acid-like compositional tool for arranging presets from Metasynth. Metasynth is not real-time, tho.
I have Kyma and it is without a doubt the best and most revolutionary music-sculpting software. It is somewhat expensive but worth far more than its cost. It is a MIDI monster, a real-time blast, with all sorts of toys within toys (eg. looping far surpassing hardware such as the Echoplex, mouth-dropping vocoders, and every kind of synthesis you can think up).
Bob
squidpop
11-26-2001, 09:55 PM
woops. I left-out the Artmatic part of the Metasynth package. This is a killer software for developing fractal videos and stills. It is something to behold. The whole idea here is to combine music and light. An idea that is really big in some of our minds.
Squid
Squidpop is right. Metasynth is really cool--its difficult to appreciate it unseen. If you look under reviews at www.keyboardmag.com, (http://www.keyboardmag.com,) they have a review and some sound files. Reason is probably a good all around choice.
Use DP as your centerpiece and make sure that you will be able to make everything work together on your system. Not all sequencers work perfectly with the various softsynths. If you are getting DP, check out the search feature on www.unicornation.com. (http://www.unicornation.com.) Its a great resource of info from pro users (the list is a little better than the forum). Also keep in mind that if you are running Digital Performer, softsynths and maybe doing audio down the line (if you are going to invest in DP the audio interfaces are reasonable and powerful), you will need a fast Mac (a decent G4 anyway)--I thought that I could wait on the audio interface but it was just too tempting.
I'm only using my hardware synths now because my G3 would have problems with much more than the audio recording and DP.
CactusArm
11-27-2001, 09:21 PM
I really like the sounds on the Juno-160... and the old moogs... but I also want smppling integration... can any of these let me do that, or would I need to go with Reaktor or Reson? I just hope that for so much money I can get some really good synths... I'm much in love with the Juno sound...
Rimmer
12-01-2001, 08:13 AM
Did someone not mention the Pro-52??? That's a classic analogue sound done very very well... Try the B4 as well as it's an excellent Hammond emulator (it's analogue I suppose).
Absynth is one of the most original synths I have heard in software or hardware form. All the programs I have mentioned are available in demo form so go and check them out...!
Steve...R
Rimmer
12-01-2001, 08:17 AM
Did someone not mention the Pro-52??? That's a classic analogue sound done very very well... Try the B4 as well as it's an excellent Hammond emulator (it's analogue I suppose).
Absynth is one of the most original synths I have heard in software or hardware form. All the programs I have mentioned are available in demo form so go and check them out...!
Steve...R