How many synths do you need?

[BBFG#]

With synths it's similar to soccer stick albums. Goal is to have a full collection, you want to have all popular players in the album, but also the less famous - you want a complete album.

Naaah... It's rather that you notoriously think the next purchase will actually finally ignite and unleash your creativity.

Or patch a hole you haven't been able to cover with what you have.

[chk071]

Or an imaginative hole.

[BBFG#]

Or an imaginative hole.

Sure. Why not?
Aren't patch holes most often a lack of programming ability? With a very small percentage due more to a difference in synth character?
Sometimes the time/cost of programming far exceeds the cost of a plugin with factory sounds that meet the need.

[Uncle E]

Naaah... It's rather that you notoriously think the next purchase will actually finally ignite and unleash your creativity.

Can it double as a good MIDI controller? Does it provide performance features (MPE, polyphonic aftertouch, ribbon, joystick, x-y pad, etc.) that will make you play differently? If it adds nothing but a new sound source, then creativity will probably not be ignited or unleashed.

[kevinkvr]

Do whatever you want, hardware/software, just use at least ANALOG FILTERS AND ANALOG OUTBOARD GEAR.

Or you will never be on level with pro's

[Trancit]

Do whatever you want, hardware/software, just use at least ANALOG FILTERS AND ANALOG OUTBOARD GEAR.

Or you will never be on level with pro's

Good joke!

[Synthman2000]

Do whatever you want, hardware/software, just use at least ANALOG FILTERS AND ANALOG OUTBOARD GEAR.

Or you will never be on level with pro's

Good joke!

Use vari mu otherwise success is impossible.

The question which I have answered is essentially the same as.. how long is a piece of string ? A single good one or as many as can afford are both valid answers.

For a beginner one decent one is enough to start with of course, unless you plan not to learn synthesis and just play with presets which is also enjoyable/fine.

For a specific genre that you plan making 2-3 can be helpful to add a little textural variations from the outset.

[soundmodel]

One of each category you need. More when you know what you need.

Or then just get Omnisphere and Trilian. Or Roland Cloud. Or NI Komplete. Or any other complete pack.

One good (enough parameters, enough algorithms) per type will suffice.

E.g. my stack is:

-Reason Subtractor (mild basses and pads, simple LFO- and mod-based FX sounds)
-Omnisphere 2 (hybrid sounds and sample-based sounds, has a rich library of analog synths, more tuneable than Analog Lab)
-Air Hybrid 3 (mainly for Novation- or Virus-type supersaws)
-Synapse Antidote (same as subtractor, but more contemporary and more pristine, less aggressive than Hybrid 3)
-Arturia Analog Lab 4 (for classic preset sounds)
-Iris 2 (experimental sounds)
-Trilogy (mainly acid basses, can sound very big, so bigger than subtractor)
-NI Komplete 10 (only use Absynth for granular pads and atmos, Kontakt for sampler stuff, if I wanted FM, then FM8)
-U-he Repro (for the high-class, ultra hi-fi analogue sounds, this could replace all analog-modeling synths for me)

If I needed to downsize, I'd only keep Omnisphere and Trilogy.

[Dust_NL]

Though question.

IMHO it depends on what kind of genre you produce. And even then it’ll be highly subjective.

For me it would be (techno/melodic techno/ambient) 4 synths:

- A synth for heavy sounds like bass, leads, etc.
- A synth for melodic elements like pads, strings, FX
- A specialist synth for acid squelching
- A synth for kicks

IRL I’ve got the following ones for that purpose:
- U-He Diva
- Arturia Pigments/KV331 Synthmaster
- D16 Phoscyon
- Sonic Academy Kick 2

[replicant X]

deleted

[damoog]

Arturia definitely cover some vast ground on synths but some of the other big names do some of these synths better (softube / U-he)especially

As for how may you actually need is kinda subjective really ,but at least 3 good analog emulations ,2 FM ,1 subtractive and something just weird is enough

Most of us don’t stop once we start though as it’s just human nature to want the next ‘best’ thing

[SamDi]

I need a lot of software synths.
Because I would destroy it on stage by slamming it on the floor or setting it on fire and burning it.
New plug-in binary files are very wet and therefore not flammable, so they need to be dried before performance.
The audience cares about how many soft synths I have prepared, so I try to bring as many as possible, even if they are heavy.

You can try the good old format c:
more destructive than slamming a synth into the monitor boxes will ever be

[Sheppyjangles]

I reckon 3 you have a solid understanding of is enough for most mortals

[MagicalHat]

I find I have such a problem when it comes to seeing collections of synths and just wanting to pick up all of them. That voice in the back of my head that says "You might want this one day" gets a bit too loud sometimes.

[ramseysounds]

One