Sorry about the long post
I *Really* like Reaktor by native instruments. It's well worth the $450. I
also like Retro AS-1. Mainly because you can modulate just about anything. Ever
hear the sound of a lowpass filter being modulated by an Actual Oscillator?
That's just a taste of what it can do. Of course, Reaktor can do the same. It
can do just about anything. It's really just a synthesizer construction kit
with some great sample manipulation added. BTW/ both Retro and Reaktor are
available for Mac and Win. On the Mac only side I think the Koblo stuff is OK.
They sound good enough... but for a mono synth, it shouldn't need so much
processing power. There's also a cool drum sample player thing with a rebirth
sort of interface (808/909)... I can't remember the name. Gamma? I know there
names but not which one goes to which name. Stella, Gamma and Vibra. That's all
I can remember. On the PC side there are all sorts of Rebirth knock off's and
juno wanna be's but really, the only one to me that seems at all in the same
league is Reaktor and Retro is VAZ+ and VAZ Modular. It's full of potential and
it even supports ASIO and VST plug-ins. It also just works. <START RANT> It's
kind of funny how, on the PC, there are many more soft synths to choose from
then on the mac. But, most are not even worth the effort to install them. There
is such a lack of originality. I just cant believe how many bedroom made soft
synths there are out there with the exact same interface as the next. <END
RANT>
Sorry about that (especially if your a PC user...) Anyway, as far as Cool
original sounding hardware synths go I recommend checking into: Waldorf
Microwave XT or KB. It's an excellent wave table synth with *Verry* analog
sounding filters that can do stuff that no other synth can. The interface is
clear and easy to get around and the sounds can be made harsh and gritty or
clear and full. Also comes as a box that fits in side your computer called the
Microwave PC from Teratech (spell?). I also want to mention two other budget
synths then I'll shut up: The Yamaha AN1x and the Ensoniq FIZMO. They both
pretty much got slammed by the press so you can find them for dirt cheep. like
in the $400 range. The AN1x is a virtual analog that reviewers didn't like
because it didn't have enough knobs to be called "Analog".... That's a bunch of
crap in my mind and I consider it to be one of the better VA's. What can I say
about the FIZMO? terrible name, uglier then your sister, but it sounds great.
It falls short in the number of patches it can hold but other then that it can
really make some unusual sounds. LFO's effects and arpeggiator synch to midi
clock. Great effects as well. A friend of mine bought one new for about $400
from musicians friend. I really love it. You can't complain about that
considering they went for $1300 when they first came out.
Good luck,
-=GB=-
atomly wrote:
quoted 31 lines On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, n:h wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, n:h wrote:
> > As much as it's a blast to play with hardware synths, samplers, etc, I
> > have to say there is some pretty amazing music being made by people on
> > this list with just tracking software, so you may want to really think
> > about going the hardware route...I don't know anything about Fast Tracker
> > but I have had some IDM list poeple give me rundowns of tracking software
> > and what they do with it and it blew me away, also in terms of value for
> > dollar.
>
> Yea, it's just that after like 5 years of Fast Tracker 2 I'm looking for
> some more variation... I guess all I really want are synths (hardware or
> software) because I've exhausted my sample collection. :P
>
> Anybody know what are the best softsynths or where to find good samples?
> I've played with Stomper and FX and I have all of maz's samples.
>
> > PS if you do want to go hardware, check out sites where poeple post
> > reviews of all makes and models, like sonicstate.com
>
> Thanks for the tip!
>
> --
> :: atomly ::
>
> atomly@atomly.com | atomly@atdot.org | atomly@cyrus.net
> http://www.atomly.com | http://www.mp3.com/atomly
> [CELL|(888)522.3830] | [CELL|(701)729.1631] | [HOME|(651)748.8676]
>
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