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Subject:can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Posted by: ramone
Date:4/15/2002 10:02:36 AM
I'm thinking about adding a stand alone softsynth to my system. any recommendations? what do you like or dislike about the one you're using? thanks a bunch! |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Maruuk
Date:4/15/2002 2:03:32 PM
There's a brand new standalone version of Dreamstation that's pretty nice. Cheap, too. How're ya gonna sync it to Acid? |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: nlamartina
Date:4/15/2002 5:12:24 PM
Ramone, I concur with Maruuk. DreamStation is a pretty outstanding piece of software. It does a spectacular job of cramming a true analog synthesizer into a tiny piece of software. The nicest part is that it's got all the familiar knobs, buttons, and lights, just like a real life piece of hardware. Not only that, but you can tweak and automate the parameters in real time, regardless of how robust your MIDI setup is. You can even disengage the tracker half of it and instead just use it as a module, which opens up some really sweet possibilities with Acid. By using SoFo's VMR (Virtual MIDI Router), you can dump a polyphonic MIDI track into Acid and use the VMR to tie the Acid MIDI to the DStation inputs. This way, you'll have Acid playing all the loop stuff while feeding the MIDI data to DreamStation, which plays back in perfect synch with Acid, even without tracker data. Or you could just compose an accompaniment with DStation and synch it up to Acid with MIDI Time Clock, complete with automation. Exciting stuff. Just be sure to download a demo first to see how it fits in your setup. Hope this helps, Nick LaMartina |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Spirit
Date:4/16/2002 1:20:50 AM
Or if you had the $$$ you could go for something high-end like PulsarII or Reaktor... |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: ramone
Date:4/16/2002 6:33:22 AM
thanks for your input guys. dreamstation sounds like it's pretty nice, I have looked at their website many times. I'll have to get some demos and see what happens. thanks again! |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: neon_dj
Date:4/16/2002 10:07:57 AM
where i can download dramstatioon??? |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: David_Kuznicki
Date:4/16/2002 10:14:57 AM
I'm surprised that no one mentioned Reason! I don't know how I lived without it!! The learning curve was a little steep (I have no musical background whatsoever), but once you get past that, it's a HUGE program. The best $280 I ever spent! David. |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: rjt
Date:4/16/2002 10:29:48 AM
Kind of depends on what you want to do with it. If it is your only musical source, worrying about CPU load would be important. If it supplements other stuff, not such a big factor. How much do you know/like about programming? I use the synths that come with Sonar XL (Tassman, Edirol Sound Canvas, Dream Station etc.) They are all good. Again, depending on you, you can get something like a Hyper Canvas from Edirol, but that is a sort of "super general midi" instrument... not good if you dance/techo/ambient etc. I also have Reaktor, which is very complex, although there is a "lite" version as well. Also use other Native instrument stuff like B4 and FM, can't wait for Absynth to come out in PC. Consider sound fonts (if you are looking for realistic instruments) or GigaSampler, if you have a very fast computer. Soooo, kinda depends on what you want. Take Care |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: nlamartina
Date:4/16/2002 12:29:13 PM
Neon, Here. - Nick |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: bgc
Date:4/16/2002 1:22:21 PM
Is there anything out there that is like the old Seer Systems Reality synth? It was a sampler/synth that was simple to use and read soundfonts. Bgc |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: ramone
Date:4/16/2002 1:41:45 PM
it wouldn't be the only sound source I use. I do have some experience with programming, so I'm not *too* concerned about that aspect. just trying to get a feel for what people think are good programs. I've been checking out dreamstation, orion, storm, reason and a few others. reason seems like it's got a fairly steep learning curve and it's a bit pricey, so I want to look at the alternatives. I'm gonna dl the demos and check 'em out to see what sounds good and is not a pain to use. thanks to everyone for responding! |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Rockitglider
Date:4/17/2002 4:15:43 PM
Hello you can get several free and Demo stand alone soft synths from this first site by doing an instrument search. I recomend Rainbow II and Muon Tau http://www.kvr-vst.com/index.php http://www.loftsoft.co.uk/ http://www.muon-software.com/html/home.html http://www.rgcaudio.com/index.htm http://bigtick.pastnotecut.org/index.php?action=PROD&pcode=0&lang=EN These are all good sites See ya, Rockit |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Rockitglider
Date:4/17/2002 4:22:19 PM
Hello, Forgot to add that you'll have to use a Stand alone Synth with Acid. If you want to do the VSTi synths you need Fruity Loops 3.4 or Cubasis 3.0 And a warning these sites can turn you into a synth junkie. See ya |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: ramone
Date:4/18/2002 9:12:27 AM
thanks for the links, I haven't seen some of them yet. and yeah, a stand alone is what I'm looking for. |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Spirit
Date:4/19/2002 11:18:00 AM
I'd go for one decent commercial synth rather than start collecting freeware. Reaktor is the most versatile (unless you want to really start spending the $). If you've got some hardware synths you might also consider getting a software sampler instead... And if you're not in a hurry you could wait for AcidPro 4 which will have have VSTi/DXi plugin capability. Er... well it will won't it ? ;) |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: ramone
Date:4/19/2002 12:55:46 PM
thanks, Spirit. still checking all of my options. I agree about the free or shareware programs, at least judging by the ones I've downloaded. I do have a hardware synth so a softsampler might work. do you use one and if so, how do you like it? |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Rockitglider
Date:4/19/2002 3:08:01 PM
Hey Spirit, Where did you get this info about Acid 4.0 being VSTi&DXi compatiable Is this fact or just heresay? Thanks, Rockit |
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Subject:RE: can anybody recommend a softsynth?
Reply by: Spirit
Date:4/19/2002 7:51:32 PM
I use the sampler that is on the PulsarII platform but I don;t particularly like it. Instead I'm waiting for Kontakt which is just about to be released (a week or three). It'll come with a big sample library and can run as VSTi/Dxi or standalone. Looks like it'll e pretty good: http://www.native-instruments.com/index.php?kontakt_us As to the AcidPro 4 comment ... I don't have any solid proof of this. What is fact is that SoFo are working on AcidPro 4 and this just seems like an obvious feature. But I'm not holding my breath. |