Spectrasonics announce Atmosphere replacement

[dawman]

One of my main reasons I never bought VST based synths was the sound of the upper and lower registers. Even today with a great little synth called Rapture, it's imperfections are quite noticable.

On a Bowen synth the upper and lower registers are free of artifacts. And it's filters are far beyond the thrown together marketed / packaged lengthy explanations of VST synths.
http://www.planetz.com/forums/download/file.php?id=3786

This is lower and mid range filter sweeps of a CS80 Super BPF sound called Brass 4 on a CS80. Solaris sounds better as I have mixed in a pair of MMOSC Saw's to add the CEM LP to fatten up a 4 Osc. preset. It also demonstrates by using the resonance of the 2 seperate EG's with different descending patterns that follow each other. I can't even find a VST synth or Filter for that matter that can compare.

But Omnisphere and Atmosphere are pad machines made for the mid range area, and Eric P. knows how to get the most out of this by knowing that most pads are created in the mid range, avoiding the inherent weakness of VST / Native synths. It's too bad that it loads presets at a snails pace though. Otherwise, it is another incredible idea, where he will surely make bank again.

[siriusbliss]

Omnisphere is great fun. The arpeggiator and groovelock are cool for the 'key-n-hold' crowd, but obviously has lots of potential with moving chord patterns and scale-lines.

It tracks well via my MIDI guitar hosted inside Samplitude.

It IS CPU hungry, and patches take a while to load. It feels more like a sampler.

So far I wish it had more baseline samples such as horns, etc. instead of all the sound-design approach, but this factor is probably what it's designed for - as a first go-to sound design, scoring, etc. tool.

Sounds are good quality overall with lots of layering potential, but they DO lack that extra 'beef' that the Scope DSP provides, and I'm working on adding in filters and such to draw some life out of them.

So far, so good. It just may set new trends in the industry.

Greg

[Shroomz~>]

The 'Groove lock' (TM) feature sounds pretty much like a quantize feature that's been floating around in sequencer apps for years, but I'm sure it's got something new thrown into the equation as well. I'd be interested to hear what it is. Support for a new format?

'Modulatable Hard Sync' is quite an interesting feature.

Mark

[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