How many synths do you need?
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- KVRer
- 4 posts since 7 Apr, 2024
As many as your cpu, ram and hard drive can handle. If you're talking of physical synths, well, break out the wallet/purse, physical space and factor in your electricity bill. I probably have around 50 to 100 vst synths (free/paid) installed, Ableton instruments, 630 modules in VCV Rack (free/paid), and a bunch of stuff in Reaktor 6 (free/paid - Toybox stuff). I don't feel too bad about this since my brother currently owns about 35 guitars right now.
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- KVRist
- 388 posts since 21 Jun, 2015 from India
In my opinion, you need one subtractive/VA synth for bread and butter sounds and one wavetable synth for more complex sounds. Rest of them are optional.
- GRRRRRRR!
- 15999 posts since 14 Jun, 2001 from Somewhere else, on principle
I can't imagine how boring/soulless the music you made with just that would be.
NOVAkILL : Asus RoG Flow Z13, Core i9, 16GB RAM, Win11 | EVO 16 | Studio One | bx_oberhausen, GR-8, JP6K, Union, Hexeract, Olga, TRK-01, SEM, BA-1, Thorn, Prestige, Spire, Legend-HZ, ANA-2, VG Iron 2 | Uno Pro, Rocket.
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- KVRist
- 83 posts since 26 Jan, 2024
I break "need" up into 2 things.
1 - "need" for the music I make.
2 - "need" to not go nuts/stay inspired.
For #1 - I only really use synths for synthwave stuff, my needs are super basic and I could probably do everything I need with something as simple as Baby Audio's BA-1. Not even joking. My synth needs are not complex.
For #2 - now we're more into inspiration, being creative, keeping things fun. With just 1 synth, the fun would end and it would turn into work. After a while, that means I'm not making music anymore.
So screw that, I would throw in a handful of other "needs", which would be synths that I personally just find fun to use.
These are..
- basically everything I've tried/own from u-He, they don't miss, and a bundle of all their plugins would be like the best present ever.
- Dune3 - I just love it and find it fun.
- Spire - same as above, it's just fun to use.
- physical Juno 106. I love the layout. Love faders way more than dials like most modern synths opt for, too. Also love the look.
1 - "need" for the music I make.
2 - "need" to not go nuts/stay inspired.
For #1 - I only really use synths for synthwave stuff, my needs are super basic and I could probably do everything I need with something as simple as Baby Audio's BA-1. Not even joking. My synth needs are not complex.
For #2 - now we're more into inspiration, being creative, keeping things fun. With just 1 synth, the fun would end and it would turn into work. After a while, that means I'm not making music anymore.
So screw that, I would throw in a handful of other "needs", which would be synths that I personally just find fun to use.
These are..
- basically everything I've tried/own from u-He, they don't miss, and a bundle of all their plugins would be like the best present ever.
- Dune3 - I just love it and find it fun.
- Spire - same as above, it's just fun to use.
- physical Juno 106. I love the layout. Love faders way more than dials like most modern synths opt for, too. Also love the look.
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- KVRist
- 41 posts since 28 Nov, 2020
what about covering the different synthesis techniques as good as possible?
for example:
* Pigments 5 Synth or Vital Synth for covering wavetable synthesis
* Pigments 5 Synth or a product from AAS for covering virtual analog synthesis (there are some free and low priced alternatives but not that many)
* Pigments 5 Synth for covering some granual synth "needs"
* AAS Chromaphone 3 for covering most physical modelling "needs"
etc.
* SurgeXT Synth / Effect covers even more needs
oh and we need also effects too to "shape" the sound ...
for example:
* Pigments 5 Synth or Vital Synth for covering wavetable synthesis
* Pigments 5 Synth or a product from AAS for covering virtual analog synthesis (there are some free and low priced alternatives but not that many)
* Pigments 5 Synth for covering some granual synth "needs"
* AAS Chromaphone 3 for covering most physical modelling "needs"
etc.
* SurgeXT Synth / Effect covers even more needs
oh and we need also effects too to "shape" the sound ...
Last edited by Q9000 on Mon Apr 29, 2024 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- KVRAF
- 2965 posts since 3 Jul, 2022
You just need Avenger 2.
Easy.
(but then, it is not only about "need' right ?)
Easy.
(but then, it is not only about "need' right ?)
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- addled muppet weed
- 106034 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
- GRRRRRRR!
- 15999 posts since 14 Jun, 2001 from Somewhere else, on principle
I don't look at the process that way. i.e. I never think "this part needs a wavetable synth" or "that parts needs something with an additive oscillator". It's just not how I think about that at all. The way I look at it is more like "this needs a nice strings pad" or "the bass needs to be something with good, deep resonance" but for any individual scenario like that, I'll have half-a-dozen instruments that are able to manage those things and they won't all be of the same type. e.g. Sometimes a sample-based instrument might be better for a strings part in one song but, in another, I might use a V/A or even a wavetable synth.
Or you could do all of that with a single sample-based instrument if you wanted to. e.g. When I load a MIDI file into Studio One, it uses Presence, their built-in ROMpler, for all the parts and it often does an amazingly good job. Sometimes I feel like I am only swapping it out for other instruments out of pride, rather than because it needs doing.* Pigments 5 Synth or Vital Synth for covering wavetable synthesis
* Pigments 5 Synth or a product from AAS for covering virtual analog synthesis (there are some free and low priced alternatives but not that many)
* Pigments 5 Synth for covering some granular synth "needs"
* AAS Chromaphone 3 for covering most physical modelling "needs"
etc.
* SurgeXT Synth / Effect covers even more needs
You could probably make music for the rest of your life with just the free Zampler and as many sound-sets as you can find for it.
NOVAkILL : Asus RoG Flow Z13, Core i9, 16GB RAM, Win11 | EVO 16 | Studio One | bx_oberhausen, GR-8, JP6K, Union, Hexeract, Olga, TRK-01, SEM, BA-1, Thorn, Prestige, Spire, Legend-HZ, ANA-2, VG Iron 2 | Uno Pro, Rocket.
- KVRAF
- 2965 posts since 3 Jul, 2022
Ok, I take Ironman's "hulk-buster" and the witch .
Good luck to you.
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- KVRist
- 49 posts since 5 Apr, 2024
mate i think it’s like how many guitars how many pianos do you need really , just one pick an all rounder that can make anything and that’s it , we waste too much time.