Compared to Ultrabeat, Stix offers ZDF analog modelled filters, morphing analog oscillators, more advanced FM @ audio rate possibilities, but also AM/RM/CrossSynthesis etc, complex LFOs, R-Clap envelopes, PolyStep modulators, Sequencer Micro Position, per step divisi, custom number of steps per beat to name a few. Let's be clear : Ultrabeat offers things StiX can't do as well. Also, overall, the workflow and GUI/UI are well ... very different. Then, StiX is PC and Mac (makes no diff for mac only users but ..)mxbf wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:33 amlets be honest... nothing comes close. taking all drum synths and drum samplers together...:
-Xils Stix is nice but it doesn't sound too great and it lacks as many features. it's runner up. I mean... frankly Ultrabeat actually is basically the same thing, just uglier. So... how does Stix significantly improve upon Ultrabeat? (for logic users)
-Tremor is better than Stix ultimately but I also kind of think the sound range is limited and kind of tinny. I think it's better than Stix but they're both good. The thing is, Tremor gives more modulation options. Tremor is pretty damn good but if you use it alone, you'll be let down imo.
-Ultrabeat is good but when it comes down to it, the factory sounds are just downright f**king worthless if youre a serious producer.
-Ableton DrumRacks are pretty good. The factory sounds are not good. Using the piano roll as a sequencer is not good. Modulating things using the envelopes is not good. Editing velocity is not good. No probability. Drum chopping is not good. Sequencing variations is not good. It's good but I just find that getting great results out of it is just too much work for me, better to get something that is fun and sounds good from the start.
-Drumvolution/Revolution from WavesAlchemy: I personally feel these are probably runner up. I just grabbed Revolution on the sale at PluginBoutique. I look forward to trying it. I have found that with drums, sampling is adequate. It just sounds better. I like tremor and I like Stix but on their own they lack the oomph that you really need in my opinion.
-Drumspillage: nah.
-Reaktor/Drumlab: Massive/Polyplex... these are nice sound toys. But using them in a full production is not fun, I haven't figured out how to route sounds in an effective way. Controlling them is too confusing. I could try to figure it out, and I have before, but I don't recall ever being able to figure it out. They sound excellent but actually using them from a production standpoint is difficult.
Regarding strictly samples, StiX can use them, import them etc. With the forthcoming extensions, tons of unique & exclusive samples, drumpads and drumkits material will be available. Oomph will certainly be there, but not only. Until this, you can simply (mass)import your own samples and process them the way you like (hundreds of parameters), or use the factory library samples, wich include a good variety of 15 'legendary drum machines' for example, and other more adventurous ones as well. StiX is still very young, v1.5 was released a few months ago, and it will continue to evolve and offers more and more over time.
In short, Ultrabeat and StiX are quite different, and more than better/more/less I prefer to see them as : They could compliment each other rather well imho. Same with other DM mentioned.