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Omnisphere 2

Omnisphere 2 Omnisphere 2 Omnisphere 2 Omnisphere 2
Favorite Creative Sampled Virtual Instrument - Best Audio and MIDI Software - KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2023Favorite Virtual Instrument - Best Audio and MIDI Software - KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2022Favorite Virtual Instrument - Best Audio and MIDI Software - KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2021Favorite Virtual Instrument - Best Audio and MIDI Software - KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2020Favorite Virtual Instrument - KVR Audio Readers' Choice Awards 2019
Omnisphere 2 by Spectrasonics is a Virtual Instrument Audio Plugin for macOS and Windows. It functions as a VST Plugin, an Audio Units Plugin, a VST 3 Plugin and an AAX Plugin.
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Omnisphere is the flagship synthesizer of Spectrasonics - an instrument of extraordinary power and versatility. This award-winning plugin brings many different types of synthesis together into one amazing-sounding instrument that will inspire a lifetime of exploration.

Omnisphere 2.8 Features:

  • Template for all major controllers.
  • Now includes over 14,000 inspiring sounds for all types of music production.
  • Ground-breaking Hardware Synth Integration allows hands-on control of Omnisphere.
  • Audio Import - Use your own audio file as a soundsource.
  • Over 500 DSP Waveforms for the Synth Oscillator.
  • Sound Match feature instantly locates any related sounds in the library.
  • Hardware Library with distinct 'classic analog' flavor.
  • Spotlight - EDM library with next-level, modern sounds.
  • Powerful Granular Synthesis for amazing transformations.
  • 57 incredible FX Units, which are fully integrated and can be modulated.
  • Creative "Psychoacoustic" sounds from the renowned Spectrasonics sound design team.
  • Sound Lock feature gives endless useful variations by locking sound aspects while browsing.
  • Wavetable Synthesis - Each waveform is a Morphing Wavetable.
  • ORB circular motion interface allows infinitely-shifting variations.
  • Deeper FM/Ring Modulation capabilities for aggressive timbres.
  • Dual Filter architecture includes more than 34 Filter algorithms in series or parallel.
  • Performance-oriented Live Mode allows for seamless patch layering on the fly.
  • Flex-Mod modulation system allows powerful, modular-style matrix routing.
  • Stack Mode interface allows for complex patch-layering, splits, and crossfades.
  • Mini-Browser available at all times plus larger Full Browser design.
  • Up to 20 oscillators per patch can be either DSP synth or sample-based.
  • High Resolution resizable Interface with "Zooming" into deeper synthesis levels.
  • Eight independent Arpeggiators with unique Groove Lock feature.
  • Polyphonic Timbre Shifting/Crushing, Waveshaping and Reduction.
  • Eight full-featured LFOs per patch, with syncing and complex waveforms.
  • Twelve Envelopes with both simple ADSR-style or advanced multi-breakpoint interfaces.
  • Easy Sound/Project Sharing for collaborators and third-party libraries.
  • Sample-based soundsources can be processed with synthesis features.
  • ...and much, much more.

{See video at top of page}

Latest User Reviews

Average user rating of 5.00 from 24 reviews
Omnisphere 2

Reviewed By USFreedom [all]
January 13th, 2023
Version reviewed: 2.8.4d on Windows

I purchased Omnisphere out of the blue, but also because I won 3 parlays at Caesar's Casino and wanted something to show for the money. I also ended up purchasing the Sequential Prophet Rev 2, 16 voice synthesizer, some Yamaha HS7 Studio Monitors, and Alesis Multimix8 FX Studio Mixer, FL Studio Complete, FL Studio Fire, Novation FL Key 37, Mangler, Serum, Vochlea Dubler 2, new Guitar Strings, and began to set up the most amazing music production studio! This has been my dream for so long! However, I had no idea Omnisphere was going to be such a beast that would totally dominate my MP workflow. It was by far the best musical purchase I've ever made, mainly because you are only limited by your imagination, in terms of what types of sounds you want to create. Omnisphere makes it possible to create the most unusual amazing sounds, something I never dreamed would be possible when I started this adventure. When it comes to finding any type of sound you want, and then recreating something blissful out of it, only Omnisphere could be so powerful, and simple to use with a little practice. Omnisphere gives me endless hours of fun, and it never gets old, now that's really special, and the owners know it. It's a masterpiece of programming knowledge, and people should consider themselves very lucky to have discovered such a powerful music production instrument. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am totally hooked, and from dawn until dusk I am creating amazing beats and sounds that I'm fairly certain have never been heard before in this universe. It's the product of the century for music producers.

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Omnisphere 2

Reviewed By groovizm [all]
October 21st, 2019
Version reviewed: 2.6.2c on Windows

This is not a complete description of all Omnisphere can do. If you want a complete review you better head over to the Sound on Sound website and make sure you read the manual! This is also just a very personal opinion on Omnisphere and the reasons why, for me, it's a great product.

Omnisphere is a rompler. There's an extremely large amount of sampled "soundsources" available plus a very decent amount of modeled analog waveforms. All go through a subtractive synthesis engine that allows you to sculpt the sound to your liking. A big bunch of effects really put the icing on the cake. I'd don't think I'd buy these effects to mix with, but as a complement to the sound engine I think they're fine.

Omnisphere is not a sampler, meaning you can't use your own samples and create complicated keymaps, switches or round robin setups. I'm fine with that as I never use my own samples to create realistic instruments anyway. You can however import your samples and use them for granular synthesis and that I really love. You can create whole soundscapes from a short field recording or a sample from a record.

Usually I'm not a fan of multi timbral VST's. I'd rather open new instances on new tracks, because that way every instrument has it's own track in my DAW and I can easily sculpt the sound further with other plugins. Spectrasonics warns us that using multiple instances will cause extra overhead, so I was glad to find that setting up a multi in Omnisphere is really very easy. I'm having no trouble at all.

Omnisphere does one thing very well that not many VST's offer nowadays. I've always loved the sound of the Roland D-50 and Korg Wavestations. They offered kinda realistic recreations of real instruments, but really excelled at creating hybrid sounds: subtractive synthesis based on samples. Apart from Absynth I don't know any plugin that does this well, and in fact, Omnisphere does this a lot better, I think, because it's synthesis engine is so much simpler to use.

Omnisphere's huge sound library and synthesis engine becomes even more powerful if you have one of the supported hardware synths. My Nordlead has really gotten a new lease of life with Omnisphere. With the Nordlead acting as a fully integrated controller I'm tweaking away on sounds the Nordlead could never do. Software has suddenly become more hands-on then it has ever been for me.

Omnisphere is definitely the most expensive VST I have. It cost me more than many of the DAW's I've used. But the alternative to buying Omnisphere for me was not another VST. It was buying a hardware synth, because I really need that hands-on control to stay inspired. Suddenly, with the hardware integration and a Nordlead sitting next to me the price made sense. Great sonic possibilities, hands-on control, total recall from within the DAW, it's hard to beat.

If you have something like a Bassstation2 or a Miniloque and are looking for different sounds to complement these instruments Omnisphere is a unique proposition.

I do wish some user interface elements were just a little bigger. The ability to switch on or off layers, effects and the arpeggiator right from the main page is awesome, but why are these LED-like switches so damned tiny? The magnifying glasses that open the detailpages are also a bit too small to my liking. The whole interface of Omnisphere can be scaled, but only 1x will fit my 15" laptop so that does not help me much.

There's one more thing: the arpeggiator is great. It's very flexible and, yes, it's also very easy to use. You can do old fashioned arpeggiated chords and basslines, but it's also possible to choose any of the percussive patches and use the arpeggiator as a stepsequencer to create beats. I've had lot's of fun with it.

ps: I contacted support because Omnisphere was not storing my preferences. I was impressed by their quick, knowledgeable and friendly replies. It turned out the standalone application and Ableton Live were not running with the proper administrative rights on my system and they helped me set it up correctly.

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Omnisphere 2

Reviewed By midihead [all]
May 17th, 2016
Version reviewed: 7 Pro on Windows

Omnisphere 2 has replaced all my outboard gear. I've been producing electronic music, professionally for over 15 years and find that it's much quicker and easier to work "inside the box". The sound I get from this beast is just as good, if not better than any of the analog gear I used to own, and for much less the cost. Full disclosure, I create 3rd party patches for Omnisphere, so I've had years to dive deep into it. And since it keeps getting better with improvements (all of which are free to registered users), I don't have to worry about it becoming outdated or obsolete at some future point.

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Comments & Discussion for Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2

Discussion
Discussion: Active
Midifinger
Midifinger
5 August 2015 at 1:02am

Simply put... if you're not using Omnisphere 2, you're not doing it right...

~ Midifinger.

Slaapstadseun
Slaapstadseun
17 May 2016 at 8:08pm

...replaced all my outboard gear, and then some more. I never had an Innerspace or a Proverb with its massively long reverbs.

Now, if only Spectrasonics would give us an Arp for each layer! And better sampling. Eric, are you reading this?

moonchunk
moonchunk
31 May 2016 at 2:09am

I'm still hoping Omnisphere will offer MIDI output of the Live (gated to delay to the next bar, 8th, or 16th) notes, so I can edit them. That would make Omnisphere the ultimate composing tool for me. I'm not a very accurate keyboardist, and I'm always excited to play into Live mode with it correcting my sloppiness. But I want to go in and edit the stuff; but of course its not the more accurate stuff you hear, its the sloppy stuff.

Ableton, on the other hand, lets you quantize the MIDI you play, but it does this for the recorded notes, without letting you hear it. So you don't have those inspirational moments when you know you've hit upon an idea. Cuz all you hear is your sloppiness.

Guess I should speak for myself. I'm the one who's sloppy.

moonchunk
moonchunk
31 May 2016 at 2:13am

I'm still hoping Omnisphere will offer MIDI output of the Live (gated to delay to the next bar, 8th, or 16th) notes, so I can edit them. That would make Omnisphere the ultimate composing tool for me. I'm not a very accurate keyboardist, and I'm always excited to play into Live mode with it correcting my sloppiness. But I want to go in and edit the stuff; but of course its not the more accurate stuff you hear, its the sloppy stuff.

Ableton, on the other hand, lets you quantize the MIDI you play, but it does this for the recorded notes, without letting you hear it. So you don't have those inspirational moments when you know you've hit upon an idea. Cuz all you hear is your sloppiness.

Guess I should speak for myself. I'm the one who's sloppy.

Trancer
Trancer
7 August 2018 at 2:16am

Hello, Questions before buying Omnisphere 2.

I compose electronic music (Trance).

I already have as VST Nexus 2, Avenger, Synthmaster 2.9, Hive, Spire, Serum.

Is it useful considering the other vst, to buy Ominsphere 2?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Daan22
Daan22
29 October 2018 at 4:52pm

Hello, if I buy the upgrade from Omnisphere 1.5 tp 2, is 2.5 a free update?

sylvainmoreau
sylvainmoreau
23 November 2018 at 10:31am

Hi ... anyone having issue with nuendo (probably also cubase) ?

since 2.5 when i load a sound in omnisphere sometime nuendo stop all sounds from all tracks. Timeline can still play but no tracks send audio although containing audio. (not and automation / mute / assignation / asio problem).

rasputin
rasputin
24 January 2019 at 2:59am

Well here's my problem:

I bought Omnisphere 2 and it's a great product. Unfortunately I downloaded and installed 2.5 without realizing it wouldn't work on my 32-bit Ableton Live 9.7 (Windows 7 64-bit version).

I don't want to go to 64-bit Live since that's a huge goat screw I don't want to get into. I was able to de-install 2.5 and re-install 2.4.2 and corresponding libraries, and 2.4.2 is working OK but for some reason 2.5 patches are still showing up in the Omni browser. They are useless to me, I can filter them out but can't get the filter to persist, would rather just delete all the 2.5 patches.

Anyone have a similar problem?

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