Spectrasonics announce Atmosphere replacement

[Neil B]

Well, I've only had time to play with a few patches and watch the first video but the groove lock seems to be primarily designed to lock to Stylus RMX. This means that it'll sync moving pads or the arpegg to any crazy drum/patch loop that Stylus is generating.
The groove lock may do more than that, not sure yet.

I have to say though as a "VIP" user with Atmosphere, Stylus RMX & Trilogy, the price at £80+ UK was simply brilliant, and what I've played about with so far is worth the full price.

In it's defence, I would say it isn't a one key and I've got a whole track thing. For instance you don't have to use the samples - you can go into synth mode and create your own subtractive synths inside it. So, being able to use 2 "samples" in a patch, or 1 sample and a synth or even 2 synths, it looks like being BIG

Just need a bit more time to play with it, but rain is forecast for the morning

[Insty]

Well idk about hard-sync, but "composite morphing" and multi-layered sounds?
Meh, the Fairlight could already do that, hmm 30 years ago?

[Insty]

Hum, arpeggiators have been around since the 60's

[Shroomz~>]

Well idk about hard-sync, but "composite morphing" and multi-layered sounds?

[siriusbliss]

I've recorded 8-tracks/8-patches simultaneously in both layered and 'live' mode with no issues other than heavy CPU usage.
It didn't crash, and didn't skip during recording, but playback was 'dirtier' due to the CPU usage.

Sounds are great, accept that in general, IMO they are mostly 'flat' and require some sweetening, which is where Scope comes in

Greg

[Insty]

Well idk about hard-sync, but "composite morphing" and multi-layered sounds?

[Neutron]

This is a bit interesting but what is really a reason to get it? i have a lot of scope synths,and modulars. virus Ti, Spectralis, Evolver, Revolution, and in software land NI Massive. (incredibly good for software, especially played through scope). whats a compelling reason to get this synth if i have those?

[dawman]

Eric P. is an accomplished keyboardist and has made great sample libraries for years.
It appears that this would be a great tool for singers, drummers, bassist's, guitarist's who do not have the time for creating their own pads, but know what they want as far as sounds go.
Pro's and hobbyists's alike want quicker results as workflow is always an issue.
This will definately be in every Smooth Jazz recording released for the next year or so.
Hopefully something a little more hard edged. The word itself " smooth " is reminiscient of Dairy products.

[siriusbliss]

This is a bit interesting but what is really a reason to get it? i have a lot of scope synths,and modulars. virus Ti, Spectralis, Evolver, Revolution, and in software land NI Massive. (incredibly good for software, especially played through scope). whats a compelling reason to get this synth if i have those?

Perhaps not very much of a reason since you're already a heavy user.
(How many Scope synths/modulars do you use?)

Anyways, for me (a guitarist), I can at least have one go-to-tool for simple projects such as film, video, and songwriting.

Greg

[braincell]

I haven't used it by I imagine if you are an ambient musician it would be very helpful. I am one of the few that enjoys this genre when done by a skilled musician. You would be amazed at how minimal some people like their music to be these days.

[Insty]

Can you recreate it using existing scope devices? Or maybe making such device?

[valis]

It's a rompler with a more advanced mixer & mod section. The Spectrasonics answer to Nexus...

I own atmosphere and use it primarily for backing pads & synth strings when I need something cpu light and my outboard synths are otherwise occupied. It's decent sounding and suitable for more use but when you have Scope, several hardware synths etc...

[valis]

Yes, there is also the question of how much more flexible the sampleset is. Atmosphere definately has limited voicing and would be considered primitive compared to even early hardware samplers outside of the length of the samples used, which is why it's only used for supporting background parts here.

[braincell]

I just watched the Omnisphere videos. Seems like something I would love to get one day. Buchla called it fantastic. SC should do a rompler. Samples are awesome.

[siriusbliss]

I'll have to listen to the demos more. I was under the impression that it does more than just pad sounds.

It has a lot more than just pads.
Lots of percussive, arpeggiated, basses, straight synths, effects built in, effected instruments, etc. etc.
I'm still digging in...

Greg

[MD69]

hmm,

listened to various videos and didn't heard anything my old motif rack couldn't do without load time penalty and CPU load!

For me, it looks like a rompler ... and hardware rompler like Motif have better Fx than VST Fx.

Well I might be wrong but not really appealing.

cheers

[braincell]

The main thing is the samples. Hardware romplers don't have gigabytes of samples so your statement that your old hardware rompler is better makes me laugh. There is also the fact that they seem to be very good engineers with a lot of imagination. Yamaha doesn't have that kind of imagination. They never have and they never will. You are talking about antiquated hardware made by a motorcycle company. That can not compete with this. Period.

Here is funny video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7HYA58Hl8

[siriusbliss]

Yamaha and Roland (and maybe even Korg) have become characters of themselves, with variations on the same old sounds using many of the same chips and re-churning them out into the marketplace.

At least with Atmosphere I can totally muck up a sound.

Still, sound-quality-wise, no competition for the Scope-based synths IMO.

Greg

[MD69]

Well, if you see a Motif as a GM player, you have missed the point. It's a bit more.

Don't rely on the factory presets as they are done for showing misceleaneous aspects of the synth. In mine I reprogrammed my user voices and, with a PLG150 AN, I can layer 3 samples based voices (with their effets) and an AN voice taking advantage of the step sequencer and the pattern arpegiator, plus the simpler Fx voices all in one patch.

Each voice have a rather large set on filters to choose (24LP,18Lp, 12LP, 6LP, 24HP, 12HP, 12BP, 6BP, Dual LP,...), and 2 Fx ( 49 types).

Some programmers (pro rec, peter Kritchker) have done some nices presets voices you should listen before to think it is outdated

The fact is that it is easier to find a rompler to do synthetic sound and use your PC for your PIANO and strings, than to find a good rompler for Piano and strings and use your PC for synth sounds.

cheers

[siriusbliss]

Well, if you see a Motif as a GM player, you have missed the point. It's a bit more.

Don't rely on the factory presets as they are done for showing misceleaneous aspects of the synth. In mine I reprogrammed my user voices and, with a PLG150 AN, I can layer 3 samples based voices (with their effets) and an AN voice taking advantage of the step sequencer and the pattern arpegiator, plus the simpler Fx voices all in one patch.

Each voice have a rather large set on filters to choose (24LP,18Lp, 12LP, 6LP, 24HP, 12HP, 12BP, 6BP, Dual LP,...), and 2 Fx ( 49 types).

Some programmers (pro rec, peter Kritchker) have done some nices presets voices you should listen before to think it is outdated

The fact is that it is easier to find a rompler to do synthetic sound and use your PC for your PIANO and strings, than to find a good rompler for Piano and strings and use your PC for synth sounds.

cheers

I don't think of Motif as a GM player obviously, and I know you're a customizer (or else you wouldn't be using Scope ), so my opinions are based on what I hear from other user demos and so-called custom presets. Didn't seem like any of them had really 'pushed the envelope' with re: to customization. I was originally considering the Motif for my synth-guitar rig, but have opted to go with Scope, Atmosphere/Omnisphere, and some others just so that I can run everything with a laptop (eventually using Xite-1) and my guitar.

I'm still digging into Omnisphere, and tweaking layers, filters, arps, etc., so the jury is out on this program.

I will admit that, to my ears, the Omnisphere sounds are a little 'flat', and require seasoning to get the sounds to pop out. This is because I'm used to guitar effects (like Eventide), and Scope synths, which have really good DSP horsepower rather than simply playing back tweaked samples (even with Omni's onboard effects).

Greg