Any CW synths I should skip?

RichElam · Post by **RichElam** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 8:19 pm

I want to get serious about synthesis, and now with SFP 4.5 (and the synth and sampler package), I have too many synths to deal with.

I have an XTC card, so I can't do Modular III, but I still have too many options in front of me.

Are there any synths that are just not worth investing time into? Maybe some synths are redundant if you have the higher end ones (like MiniMax rendering miniscope obsolete)?

I mean, I'll still use and tweak presets using everything I have, but for programming from scratch I would like to narrow my focus at least a little.

Any thoughts?

symbiote · Post by **symbiote** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:56 pm

Not worth investing time into, probably not. Excluding 3rd party, I'd say Minimax, Pro12, proTone, Vectron, Poison, B2003, Prisma.. Some of the simpler synths are pretty fun too, like the SB404 has a pretty fun sequencer, UKnow is nice and raw, but the more complex synth engines are going to be the most rewarding in the long run.

If you have S&S, I'd say start with Minimax, Pro12 and Vectron, absolutely cannot go wrong with those (I'm still completely bowled over by how good they sound,) and work in other stuff as necessary/when you feel like it.

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:56 am

On 2005-12-14 20:19, RichElam wrote:
I want to get serious about synthesis..............
I have an XTC card, so I can't do Modular III, but I still have too many options in front of me.

In my opinion if you want to get serious about synthesis you should upgrade the XTC with I/O's and get Mod III + FleXor. All CWA high end synths are simply fantastic, but the Modular is pure freedom. I have all the synths, but I use the Modular for the 99% of the sounds I make, and they are all patches of mine, taylored to my needs and possibly far from the standardized sounds.

rounser · Post by **rounser** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:18 am

I think the most fun to program synth on the platform is Orbitone Three-O-Three, so you might want to consider that one too.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:12 am

ya, I agree with alfonso. Modular is a very good way learn the basics of synthesis.

But if you don't want to invest in setting up a modular environment, I'd suggest tweaking the hell out of all prophet clones. It'll get you to use filters effectively, which I think is important for any kind of synthesis.

RichElam · Post by **RichElam** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:49 am

Thanks for all of the good feedback. I suppose I could add a Luna II so that Modular III becomes an option too, but as it stands right now my problem is too many options.

Is it fair to say I can skip over BlueSynth, Inferno (and EZSynth of course), in favor of the others?

alfonso · Post by **alfonso** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:35 am

On 2005-12-15 06:49, RichElam wrote:

Is it fair to say I can skip over BlueSynth, Inferno (and EZSynth of course), in favor of the others?

I'd say yes...

djmicron · Post by **djmicron** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 8:40 am

the solaris from zarg, can open modular as inserts, maybe this way you can open it in xtc....
p.s. never tried it in xtc mode

[ This Message was edited by: djmicron on 2005-12-15 08:40 ]

RichElam · Post by **RichElam** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 9:44 am

I was looking at solaris, but it seems silly to go out and acquire more synths when I need to get a grip on what I already have.

How about Lightwave? Does Vectron make it redundant? Maybe I'm simplifying things based on the fact that they're both wavetables synths...

Post by **garyb** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 9:54 am

nope. they're pretty different. nice to have so many tools, huh?

also, on the subject of opinionated thoughts... quit limiting yourself. get an i/o plate. you'll grow into your system in a few years or sooner.

)

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2005-12-15 10:01 ]

RichElam · Post by **RichElam** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 10:52 am

I just purchased a Luna II, that'll do the trick, right?

Unfortunately, at the moment I want to limit myself a little, only because I have too many options. If I rule at least a couple out I hope I can go deeper with the remaining.

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 11:32 am

then you should really consider the Solaris or even more the recent Solaris Core, which has a slightly reduced structure, but some improvements (compared to it's predecessor).
You can start with patches as simple as a sawtooth osc, a filter and a lfo - then add or replace parts in the structure, actually pretty straight forward.
Solaris patches CAN have a tremendous complexity, but they DON'T HAVE TO

cheers, Tom

Kymeia · Post by **Kymeia** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:29 pm

I'm loving the demo of Celmo's BlueWave at the moment - will probably buy it soon

Very like a PPG.

Post by **hubird** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:02 pm

agree with that, the basses at least are fantastic, overall sound is very good

It's just that I have to explosre already so much...

Yet, let it be mentioned here

[ This Message was edited by: hubird on 2005-12-21 15:05 ]

RichElam · Post by **RichElam** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:29 pm

Grrrr... Just got my Scope Home to add to my XTC card (so I could use Modular III), and it didn't ship with an S/TDM cable. Now I have at least another week to wait...probably longer with the holidays.

JRRShop wants $9.99 for one!

RichElam · Post by **RichElam** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 5:49 am

Nope, Creamware just isn't that common here; I've never actually seen it in stores. It's strange, because I live just outside of New York, and it would seem likely that I'd come across it at least once...

I'd consider bulding my own (I've seen threads about the specifics), but it would take just as long to order the materials.

[ This Message was edited by: RichElam on 2005-12-23 05:49 ]