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Hardware or software synth (pg. 2)
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| Sean Walsh |
Man, there are so many options out there now.
I've owned a virus TI for years and love it, and it seemed like a no-brainer purchase for me back in the day. That said, if I was just getting started right now and had $1500-2000 to spend on a fresh setup, I have no idea what direction I'd go in.
Of the options you've listed, I don't think you can really go wrong. Make sure that before you get a hardware synth you're comfortable with the workflow of said synth. Knob twisting is definitely fun, but if you're comfortable with software then it may be better off to just get a nice midi controller and some good soft-synths. |
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| Richard Butler |
| quote: | Originally posted by tehlord
I still think the Virus is one of the most overrated and overpriced synths i've owned, and will continue to say so if prompted. |
I keep hearing this actualy. One guy said to me it was largely about fx and often sounds were not that useable in tracks.
OP - if you want 'that live feel' can I recommend DCAM synth squad from FX Pansion. It's so deep that after a year I'm still only just realising the possibilities.
You can automate these baddasses thru a track and get some very live analogue style lovliness which does help lift some tracks out of the plastic sphere.
I'm just realising even the seemingly basic Strobe synth within DCAM has considerable possibilities. |
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| cryophonik |
| quote: | Originally posted by Richard Butler
I keep hearing this actualy. One guy said to me it was largely about fx and often sounds were not that useable in tracks.
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:rolleyes:
Yeah, that's why it hasn't been used on countless hits, doesn't appear front and center in most pro studios, barely sells, etc. Access sure has fooled a lot of people by burying a sound in nothing more than some nice effects, a shiny box and a $3K price tag.
Seriously, guys, enough with the Virus bashing. It's not the perfect synth and you don't have to love it. But, if it truly was useless without the effects, it would have never achieved this standing. It's an instrument developed by professionals for professionals. It has more sound-shaping capabilities than most synths can dream of (including thousands of combinations of raw wavetables alone) - if you can't make something usable with that even without effects, the problem is not the instrument. |
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| Looney4Clooney |
if hardware excites you , just get something. The best thing to buy is a virus B. That price hasn't changed in years. Buy it , sell it. It won't depreciate. See if it is for you. Some people like hardware and work better. You won't know till you try. Just know that the only advantage one has over the other is workflow. And playing space ship when your girlfriend is getting her hair done.
other synths that have remained the same price.
nord 2
waldorf pulse |
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| Sean Walsh |
| quote: | Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
And playing space ship when your girlfriend is getting her hair done. |
As a hobbyist with a day-job, a couple of records released, and no ambition whatsoever to ever get bigger, the "playing space ship" aspect is super important. I'm tempted to buy things just because they would look cool on my desk.
And cryo, the Virus rules. Let the haters hate :cool: |
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| orTofønChiLd |
| imo the best thing to buy is a waldorf blofeld |
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| meriter |
| Can't go wrong with a Virus B i don't think.. although most of the presets are hilariously impractical. |
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| Looney4Clooney |
| at that point, the people buying the synth were not ty EDM producers. IT was only after everyone in EDM had one that they said , hmm , maybe we should make like trance sounds so the stupid kids don't have to learn anything. |
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| drogtech |
First of all thanks for feedbacks!
I did tons of watching and reading today including all ideas in the topic and here are some conclusions ;)
IDEA NO 1.
Basically what I would like to achieve in the work flow is to navigate by hardware in the DAW and not by the mouse. It also includes navigate in all VSTS like it would be hardware synth. I found that Novation release their products with Automap. I consider Novation Zero sl mk2 as main hardware for ableton but does someone use it? Is this more like plug and play thing? How does that automap work?? When I switch over different fx's, vsts, ect its already mapped to all functions in that particular device?
It seems like automap would be something what I was after if of course it works properly.
If I got midi keyboard and would buy Zero sl mk2 , how I should connect this devices? midi-out from keybord and midi-in, in sl mk2? or connect them independent to the PC?
So in this setup I would invest in novation hardware and then I would buy Komplete 8 ;)
IDEA NO 2.
I've read lots of maschine, with the 1.7 updated it has better integration with komplete 8 and what Ive seen in the videos its almost perfect option. With maschine you can browse throu all komplete catalogue choose and edit every preset there and it seems as its work very good inside maschine daw, but I wouldnt like to give up ableton as Its a lot better daw, there are tutorials how to transport elements from maschine to ableton but it seems not too much friendly, anyone works like that?
Switching to maschine and with midi controller I guess will force me to work more in session view with patterns? I've never done any tracks like that, is this more creative way to work?
So here it would be Machine and again Komplete 8
IDEA NO 3.
I would again consider Zero sl mk2 for navigating in Ableton and add hardware synth. One of the reason to choose hardware synth is to focus on one piece of equipment and learn it in and out.
For instance Nord Lead 2x rack , I would have to connect my keyboard by midi cable so to play notes but can I midi map all knobs there? or I will be able to only make the sound and record audio file for designed sound to DAW? I guess its the way with working with hardware right?
Waldorf Blofeld looks tempting but there is not many knobs there :P but the price is very attractive,
What do you think about Dave Smith Tetra? |
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| meriter |
| quote: | Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
at that point, the people buying the synth were not ty EDM producers. IT was only after everyone in EDM had one that they said , hmm , maybe we should make like trance sounds so the stupid kids don't have to learn anything. |
Yeah makes sense. It was actually a bit odd going through the voices the first time. There's like 1 killer patch for every 20 lame arpeggios. It's like they do show off the capabilities of the machine but don't do it all for you. |
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| cryophonik |
| quote: | Originally posted by drogtech
It seems like automap would be something what I was after if of course it works properly.
If I got midi keyboard and would buy Zero sl mk2 , |
I had a Zero SL (mk1) for a short while years ago and was not impressed. I would suggest looking at a lot of reviews and ask a lot of questions before buying it (i.e., don't just take my word for it). AutoMap was a giant PITA, was buggy as hell (it may be better now, although I haven't read many positive user reviews), and you end up with copies of every .dll file (the normal and the automap version) scattered all over your hard drive. |
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| Julz |
| Dont get the Zero SL, its ing terrible! |
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