Best new synths for EDM?

[SOUND7]

I always thought Serum sounded quite sterile.

Hideously sterile. Unmusically sterile.

As a sound designer it is not my favourite synth at all.

But since EDM especially in the traditional 'main stage' guise relies on big, brash, clean sounds I can see why it reigns supreme in the EDM circle. Thus its weakness becomes its strength for that role.

I think the sterile sound is a result of the waveforms and people generally use combined with the generous overuse of OTT.

You can get more organic sounds out of it by using some of the less perfect waveforms/wavetables, adding some randomness with LFO and some of the functions (sync, bend, asym), experimenting with different filters (or no filters) and using internal and external processing and EQ.

It's inherently sterile. Which works for EDM.

[tony10000]

I always thought Serum sounded quite sterile.

Hideously sterile. Unmusically sterile.

As a sound designer it is not my favourite synth at all.

But since EDM especially in the traditional 'main stage' guise relies on big, brash, clean sounds I can see why it reigns supreme in the EDM circle. Thus its weakness becomes its strength for that role.

I think the sterile sound is a result of the waveforms and people generally use combined with the generous overuse of OTT.

You can get more organic sounds out of it by using some of the less perfect waveforms/wavetables, adding some randomness with LFO and some of the functions (sync, bend, asym), experimenting with different filters (or no filters) and using internal and external processing and EQ.

It's inherently sterile. Which works for EDM.

I disagree. Check out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaLCDutcQUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2eoc6k8NEU

[chk071]

It's inherently sterile. Which works for EDM.

Sylenth1 and Spire aren't sterile at all, and they are THE EDM synths since years. Prejudices.

[SLiC]

Best 'new' synth I would say 'Zone' and 'Pigment', most of the rest have been mentioned have been around for at least 5 years....Pigment and Zone under a year, they are new and both are interesting.

Zone is £89 https://www.audiaire.com/
Pigments was on sale cheap from Arturia and can still be puicked up cheap in buy and sell....

[SOUND7]

I disagree. Check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2eoc6k8NEU

Your prerogative, naturally. But it still sounds inherently sterile. Detuning a waveform to me does not change that underlying characteristic.

Inherent; adverb
in a permanent, essential, or characteristic way

[SOUND7]

It's inherently sterile. Which works for EDM.

Sylenth1 and Spire aren't sterile at all, and they are THE EDM synths since years. Prejudices.

Thanks. Though don't entangle my words "Which works for EDM" as "thus anything outside of sterile won't work for EDM." As that seems to be your implication, which would be wrong.

[chk071]

So, sterile works for EDM. As does not sterile. What's your point then?

I'd generally disagree with you, by the way. I think not sterile works the best for EDM kind of sounds. I mean apart from that BZZ BZZ RRAAA RRAAA dubstep crap sounds.

[hivkorn]

Spire , Avenger , Pigments , Serum , Repro-5 , Audiaire Zone , Hive ...

if you're looking for a very cheap synth take a look at fabfilter One , it is very basic , but low for the cpu and it sound really good and if you use the Vengeance FX bundle 1 or/ and 2 you can achieve a lot of things....

[SOUND7]

What's your point then?

Serum is inherently sterile.

[djanthonyw]

I always thought Serum sounded quite sterile.

Hideously sterile. Unmusically sterile.

As a sound designer it is not my favourite synth at all.

But since EDM especially in the traditional 'main stage' guise relies on big, brash, clean sounds I can see why it reigns supreme in the EDM circle. Thus its weakness becomes its strength for that role.

I think the sterile sound is a result of the waveforms and people generally use combined with the generous overuse of OTT.

You can get more organic sounds out of it by using some of the less perfect waveforms/wavetables, adding some randomness with LFO and some of the functions (sync, bend, asym), experimenting with different filters (or no filters) and using internal and external processing and EQ.

It's inherently sterile. Which works for EDM.

I disagree. Check out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaLCDutcQUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2eoc6k8NEU

It really doesn't sound vintage at all.

[VELLTONE MUSIC]

Serum is exceptional synth,no doubt and i like it.
But i wouldn't rely faking analog to work well in my mix if the goal is analog sound.
Not big fan of vintage analog,prefer to have such touch and some VA Synths like Sylenth1,Spire,Synthmasters and Dune3 definitely have it in their DNA,other like Serum don't.
Not big deal, if you are not into analogish stuff.
If need analog emu take Dive,AAS so on,if need clean sound Serum(what else could be defined as clean probably Rapid),it's personal preference.
If you have enough time and money take them all and combine whatever you like hahahha.Cheerz

[tony10000]

You can make Serum sound very analog if you take the time to learn the synth and all of its tools. The weakest point is the filters which do not replicate traditional analog designs. However, you can coax some analog- like sounds out of them with a bit of tweaking. For those who want analog emulations, there are plenty of other choices out there like Repro, Diva, The Legend, Monark Sylenth, Hive, Zebra, etc. However, I don't agree with the assessment that it is sterile and un-musical.

[djanthonyw]

From everything I’ve heard from it, it’s always sounded sterile to me. I’d love to hear examples if you have them.

[Mushy Mushy]

How can something with so many modulation sources/destinations sound sterile?

[tony10000]

From everything I’ve heard from it, it’s always sounded sterile to me. I’d love to hear examples if you have them.

Take a listen to what Aiyn Zahev (Sami Rabia) has done with the instrument. A great combination of analog and digital sounds. Certainly not sterile or non-musical:

https://youtu.be/YggsGUd0EBU

https://youtu.be/tlPcSXa3Pok