Your top 2015 synthesizer list?

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After having purchased both Wavemapper 2 and Wavegenerator recently, no question they're going to do dominate my synth time for quite awhile. Better together, and thus better than practically anything else in their synth specialist area.

I have to give a shout out to Codex as well, I foolishly went by that Computer Music magazine awhile back and basically ignored it. This is an excellent synth. It badly lags behind Serum and Largo in terms of its matrix, and it can be very cpu heavy, at least for me, but the oscillators are superb and so is the sound. I give it four out of five, easy. Well worth...well, about 99 US, tops. Until they maybe add another page to the matrix, perhaps.
Ha ha suck it!

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Reading most of the lists here explains perfectly why so many members here and why so much new music containing synths sounds so SAME-Y, so boringly alike. I guess it has to be inevitable -- a handful of very popular and good-sounding-working softsynths ... and they are certain to be name-dropped and raved over often ... and very seriously overused.

Other Observations: As good and great as practically all of the top whatever truly are, I avoid using some because they do really have a certain trademark sound to them ... and I really do not want to sound like you. Zebra 2 almost always sounds like Zebra 2 on any track where I have ever heard it.

I see Monark mentioned. Now, there's a fine MONO synth. I used to own it but was unwilling to put up with having all that baggage of NI junk (which I used only very sparingly) on my harddrive. I consider most of NI stuff as junk, with only a few exceptions. Someday, if Monark ever becomes free of that NI rubbish and can do poly as an option without me needing to mod it, I will buy it again. Until then, I can surely wait forever.

I've got to a point that I seriously dislike mentioning which synths I use regularly. As unlikely as it expect it would be, I don't want to get something started. People get on these threads, rave away, next thing you know everybody is using the raved-of softsynth, next thing you know everybody sounds just like everyone else. Worse, too many of you don't realise you sound just like everyone else -- that's the scarier part.

If you are getting incredible sounds out of some softsynth, best thing to do is keep on using it but also shut up about it, so you won't hear 100 bad copies of your sound the following week or month.

We talk about the same 20 or so softsynths constantly at KVR. No wonder most of what I hear on YouTube, SoundCloud or anywhere else sounds so boringly similar. It's much like the monotony of all those distorted amp sims being played on YouTube. Same awful rubbish, over and over again.

I've been getting much better results by 'taking the synth less traveled'. There's a good selection of VSTi synths that just aren't being used as much. For example, I'll use Iris 2 almost every time before I'll reach for Omnisphere. Let everyone else play Omni to death, as is going on right now. At least Omni has enough sounds so that it isn't always immediately recognized -- got to give them credit for that! Otherwise, think about it, how many of these top synths can you recognise within a few seconds when you hear them? Far too many of them.

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MarlaPodolski wrote: I'll use Iris 2 almost every time before I'll reach for Omnisphere. Let everyone else play Omni to death, as is going on right now. At least Omni has enough sounds so that it isn't always immediately recognized -- got to give them credit for that! Otherwise, think about it, how many of these top synths can you recognise within a few seconds when you hear them? Far too many of them.
Oh no, you and I have started a trend! Iris 2 is a sound design monster.

Good points, and you basically gave one of the best reasons why I haven't bought Omnisphere (despite a financially flush period). Everyone's raving about the presets...bad sign there.

However, I do believe that if a person's personal musical vision is truly, individually expressive, you won't have an easy time telling what he or she is using. Especially if things are mixed well. But that's just my opinion.

Gary Moore sounded like Gary Moore, no matter what guitar he used. Same with Jeff Beck. There are times you honestly can't tell which guitar those two are using.
Ha ha suck it!

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MarlaPodolski wrote: I'll use Iris 2 almost every time before I'll reach for Omnisphere. Let everyone else play Omni to death, as is going on right now. At least Omni has enough sounds so that it isn't always immediately recognized -- got to give them credit for that! Otherwise, think about it, how many of these top synths can you recognise within a few seconds when you hear them? Far too many of them.
Spectrasonics does have a 'tell', and once you know it, it can never be 'unheard'.

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MarlaPodolski wrote:Reading most of the lists here explains perfectly why so many members here and why so much new music containing synths sounds so SAME-Y, so boringly alike. I guess it has to be inevitable -- a handful of very popular and good-sounding-working softsynths ... and they are certain to be name-dropped and raved over often ... and very seriously overused.
I don't share that view at all. Good synths tend to offer a broad spectrum of sounds. When music sounds all the same, it is because people use the same sounds (just go to the sound design forum where they ask all the time, how do I make a specific sound from a specific track/artist) and make the same type of music.

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Enzyme
Glitchmachines Polygon
Synplant
The Mangle
ACE
Bazille
Circle 2

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My list:

Sylenth1
Spire

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MarlaPodolski wrote:Reading most of the lists here explains perfectly why so many members here and why so much new music containing synths sounds so SAME-Y, so boringly alike. I guess it has to be inevitable -- a handful of very popular and good-sounding-working softsynths ... and they are certain to be name-dropped and raved over often ... and very seriously overused.
So i guess you are in top 0.99% of people who claim they can hear what software was used in a production? Also sounding "SAME-Y" maybe isn't such a bad thing for the average listener out there because they can relate to it better? Sure it's nice to sound completely different, but in the end most people enjoy listening to stuff they can relate to. Have you actually listened to the music people make here in the music cafe? I do and i think most peoples music here does not sound very similar. You could listen to the OSC challenges too and clearly hear that the tool makes no difference when you get creative enough.


MarlaPodolski wrote: Other Observations: As good and great as practically all of the top whatever truly are, I avoid using some because they do really have a certain trademark sound to them ... and I really do not want to sound like you. Zebra 2 almost always sounds like Zebra 2 on any track where I have ever heard it.
Again can you really tell in a blind test what synthesizer was used? If you can, then that is quite a gift. Sure some synthesizers have a trademark sound to them, but the same can be said about famous hardware synthesizers.
MarlaPodolski wrote: I see Monark mentioned. Now, there's a fine MONO synth. I used to own it but was unwilling to put up with having all that baggage of NI junk (which I used only very sparingly) on my harddrive. I consider most of NI stuff as junk, with only a few exceptions. Someday, if Monark ever becomes free of that NI rubbish and can do poly as an option without me needing to mod it, I will buy it again. Until then, I can surely wait forever.
Monark is a great synthesizer, and it's modeled quite nicely on a vintage minimoog. If you consider NI stuff junk you must be hard to please because they make some very well thought out tools for making music.
MarlaPodolski wrote: I've got to a point that I seriously dislike mentioning which synths I use regularly. As unlikely as it expect it would be, I don't want to get something started. People get on these threads, rave away, next thing you know everybody is using the raved-of softsynth, next thing you know everybody sounds just like everyone else. Worse, too many of you don't realise you sound just like everyone else -- that's the scarier part.
Again, sounding like everyone else isn't always a bad thing, but yes i agree it's nice to sound unique.
MarlaPodolski wrote: If you are getting incredible sounds out of some softsynth, best thing to do is keep on using it but also shut up about it, so you won't hear 100 bad copies of your sound the following week or month.
I like sharing my techniques, because i think it's fun to learn with others. Each to their own of course :shrug:
MarlaPodolski wrote: We talk about the same 20 or so softsynths constantly at KVR. No wonder most of what I hear on YouTube, SoundCloud or anywhere else sounds so boringly similar. It's much like the monotony of all those distorted amp sims being played on YouTube. Same awful rubbish, over and over again.
So what would YOU like to hear? What kind of stuff do you find interesting?
MarlaPodolski wrote: I've been getting much better results by 'taking the synth less traveled'. There's a good selection of VSTi synths that just aren't being used as much. For example, I'll use Iris 2 almost every time before I'll reach for Omnisphere. Let everyone else play Omni to death, as is going on right now. At least Omni has enough sounds so that it isn't always immediately recognized -- got to give them credit for that! Otherwise, think about it, how many of these top synths can you recognise within a few seconds when you hear them? Far too many of them.
Do you even program your synthesizers or do you just play presets?
:borg:

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1. XILS-Lab - Minisyn'x
2. XILS-Lab - PolyKB II Player
3. Xhum Audio - LittleOne
4. Memorymoon - ME80
5. LinnPLug - Octopus
6. KORG - M1
7. Togu Audio Line - TAL-U-No-LX
8. Digital Suburban - Dexed
9. Elektrostudio - Odsay
10. KX77FREE - KX-Synth-x16

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MarlaPodolski wrote:Reading most of the lists here explains perfectly why so many members here and why so much new music containing synths sounds so SAME-Y, so boringly alike. I guess it has to be inevitable -- a handful of very popular and good-sounding-working softsynths ... and they are certain to be name-dropped and raved over often ... and very seriously overused......etc
So, we are sounding the same because we use the same synths. I'm sorry but I disagree completely. It is not because of the sound you hear the same, it is because of the content (same melodies, arrangements ..etc). The variety of the synths now is mind blowing, but what good is that if it is the same melody (if there is a melody!) and arrangements?!

The Piano (and all other classic instruments) have been 'overused' but although hundreds years passed by, still you can come with something new. Again, it is not the sound, it is the content/melody/words/arrangements what make the songs different. The sound is accessory thing IMO, but nowadays kids are so obsessed about the sound that they think it is the 'key' for good music!

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MarlaPodolski wrote:long
Dumb opinion. NI stuff isn't junk. Using the same synths doesn't even imply the same sound unless you're talking about unusual and identifiable synthesis methods (Enzyme, for example). Software gives the opportunity for many developers to enter into the market because of very low minimum overhead. Hardware required much more funds to produce a synthesizer and bring it to market. As such the software market is comically oversaturated. Can be kind of fun, but let's not fool ourselves. There aren't any secret weapon instruments.

Maybe you've fooled yourself otherwise, but right now if every software developer dropped off the face of the planet, we would still have enough to produce music with forever. Without worrying about someone else "sounding" just like you. What does that even mean? Is your song writing so bland? Do you really assume your production technique necessitates head-turning diversity/unique-ness? Do you even think such a thing is much more than a silly fairy-tale?

Anyhoo. This is tough because there's no immediate answer and all answers are subject to change. I'll say I've been liking Saurus 2 and Electra 2 a lot. Hive is fun. Looking forward to Spire 1.1 Nave is a good plugin.

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EnGee wrote:
MarlaPodolski wrote:Reading most of the lists here explains perfectly why so many members here and why so much new music containing synths sounds so SAME-Y, so boringly alike. I guess it has to be inevitable -- a handful of very popular and good-sounding-working softsynths ... and they are certain to be name-dropped and raved over often ... and very seriously overused......etc
So, we are sounding the same because we use the same synths. I'm sorry but I disagree completely. It is not because of the sound you hear the same, it is because of the content (same melodies, arrangements ..etc). The variety of the synths now is mind blowing, but what good is that if it is the same melody (if there is a melody!) and arrangements?!

The Piano (and all other classic instruments) have been 'overused' but although hundreds years passed by, still you can come with something new. Again, it is not the sound, it is the content/melody/words/arrangements what make the songs different. The sound is accessory thing IMO, but nowadays kids are so obsessed about the sound that they think it is the 'key' for good music!
Such wise words. I think about all the piano music that has been passed down over the last 500 years and it boggles my mind how many different "sounds" you can get out of that very same instrument.

Yes, it's the music and not the instrument. In the hands of a master, almost anything can be made to sound good.

Just ask Alexander Courage and his Theremin.

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MarlaPodolski wrote:Reading most of the lists here explains perfectly why so many members here and why so much new music containing synths sounds so SAME-Y, so boringly alike. I guess it has to be inevitable -- a handful of very popular and good-sounding-working softsynths ... and they are certain to be name-dropped and raved over often ... and very seriously overused.

Other Observations: As good and great as practically all of the top whatever truly are, I avoid using some because they do really have a certain trademark sound to them ... and I really do not want to sound like you. Zebra 2 almost always sounds like Zebra 2 on any track where I have ever heard it.

I see Monark mentioned. Now, there's a fine MONO synth. I used to own it but was unwilling to put up with having all that baggage of NI junk (which I used only very sparingly) on my harddrive. I consider most of NI stuff as junk, with only a few exceptions. Someday, if Monark ever becomes free of that NI rubbish and can do poly as an option without me needing to mod it, I will buy it again. Until then, I can surely wait forever.

I've got to a point that I seriously dislike mentioning which synths I use regularly. As unlikely as it expect it would be, I don't want to get something started. People get on these threads, rave away, next thing you know everybody is using the raved-of softsynth, next thing you know everybody sounds just like everyone else. Worse, too many of you don't realise you sound just like everyone else -- that's the scarier part.

If you are getting incredible sounds out of some softsynth, best thing to do is keep on using it but also shut up about it, so you won't hear 100 bad copies of your sound the following week or month.

We talk about the same 20 or so softsynths constantly at KVR. No wonder most of what I hear on YouTube, SoundCloud or anywhere else sounds so boringly similar. It's much like the monotony of all those distorted amp sims being played on YouTube. Same awful rubbish, over and over again.

I've been getting much better results by 'taking the synth less traveled'. There's a good selection of VSTi synths that just aren't being used as much. For example, I'll use Iris 2 almost every time before I'll reach for Omnisphere. Let everyone else play Omni to death, as is going on right now. At least Omni has enough sounds so that it isn't always immediately recognized -- got to give them credit for that! Otherwise, think about it, how many of these top synths can you recognise within a few seconds when you hear them? Far too many of them.
I hope this is a joke?
Last edited by Astralp on Sun May 31, 2015 1:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

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When I compare my list with most others here I realize that you guys are really professionals with all those very advanced and expensive synths. Myself I'm only an amateur hobbyists. In case any one wonder why I added some freebies.

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sfd wrote:When I compare my list with most others here I realize that you guys are really professionals with all those very advanced and expensive synths. Myself I'm only an amateur hobbyists. In case any one wonder why I added some freebies.
Nothing wrong with freebies, I actually sold my Phoscyon because I like Venom better. I run my X16 nearly as much as my XILS 4.

True, there are freebies that are nowhere near their paid for counterparts, but more often than not you'll find a one trick pony that does that one trick fantastically well. And it seems the freebies get better all the time.
Ha ha suck it!

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