In my opinion, z3ta needs an even better sound programmer (for the presets). It's so vast that you hardly use (know) all the options that it give us. If z3ta was made by NI much more people claim it as one of the best softsynths.
But Albino it's no so bad...

In my opinion there's no such thing as a "trance synth" or any other specific style synth. The power of the synth and the sounds that come out of it mostly depend on the programmer. Agreed, some synths made it big in a specific style (just to name the JP-80x0 in the trance scene).

Indeed, z3ta+ is more powerful because it has more options, but better than albino? Depends on your own opinion. Albino isn't bad at all, and you can come up with great sounds on it. If anything, I'd say the z3ta+ has more powerful bass response, but for leads and pads and whatever else, the albino is one of the better around. Not to mention it's made in conjunction with Rob Papen, who's responsible for lots of presets on today's favorite synths (Virus to name one).

And now that Albino 2 is on the way...

If you want pro quality leads from a softsynth without awesome usage of external effects then get Spectrasonics Atmosphere. I did a pretty exact replication of the lead from G&M Project - Sunday Afternoon with 3 instances of Atmosphere fired up in a couple of hrs or so. If anyone wants to hear it let me know.

I would like to hear a sample. I use Atmosphere also.

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Phunktronix Mixes

http://www.flamevault.com/~celerity/g&m%20attempt.mp3

The bass isn't anywhere near exact, but the lead is pretty damned close.

its all about combining the different sounds of soft synths together to create the finished product. Albino i find wikked for bass, z2ta for random sounds and sometimes leads, atmosphere for strings pads and random sounds too, then absynth for all sorts. the combination of these and then some lesser synths such as vaz, fm7, v-station etc is wot makes a professional sound imo

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EDM Blog
Hybrid - Break My Soul + Mixes
BT - These Hopeful Machines
Gorillaz - Stylo

Albino is the most over rated soft synth. The only reason it gets alot of recognition is because Rob Papen is behind the project and the presets, and everyone knows he makes alot of virus presets so people automatically compare it, which is a joke. Albino is only good for basses as DJ Ravemoney pointed out. It has a very weak sound, very thin even if u do use 4 osc's, it still can't compare to zeta 's thick supersaw sounds. with only 1 osc on the zeta you can make super phat jp8000 style leads. Albinos effects are horrible to say the least and alot of the presets are way to low, and dont fit in well in a mix.

Dj sean, Your attempt at Sunday Afternoon isn't good. In my opinion it doesn't sound anything like the real thing. I'm listening to the song right now. its a nice sounding lead, don;t get me wrong, but to me doesn't sound the same.

I always appreciate criticism, but in which way do you find that it's lacking? To me in my phones the raw sound is almost identical, and if I had the exact same bassline and exact same envelope on the filter I don't think it would sound much different. The only thing I can really tell different is the crispness, guess I could benefit by having another highpass filter in there.

Here's the original for reference, all comments are welcome:
http://flamevault.com/~celerity/g&m%20clip.mp3


Tear me down, I can take it =P

Oh oh! I'm a dummy, I was listening to Alex Morphs remix , not the original. Thats why lol Sorry Dj-sean, actually now it does sound pretty close too it. But if you havent heard the morph remix, get it, i think it destroys the original.

LOL! Here I was about to throw out my headphones for making me think I actually had good sounding leads =P

I'm not nearly as much of a fan as the Morph mix, that synth is a little too high pitched for my liking. I love the crispness of the original, and fuck does it ever destroy at the club.

LOL dont throw your phones away. It was my bad. Here is a little track im kinda working on using zeta for the lead. its great at gettin that sharp piercing lead.

http://nodrugsrequired.250free.com/fireball.mp3

ignore the sound quality