Electronic Music 411 - what are the best softsynths now

06/25/08 + Horizons

Up until recently i have only ever softsynths that come in packages with sequencers: pretty much all the logic audio synths and the abletons operator.

My biggest problem with softsynths is that a lot of there layouts are awful. A good example of this is the logic ES2 i know it is capable of some nice sounds but the layout of the parameters is awful. Ableton's operator is a lot clearer but it is still suffers from a sort of squashed interface. In anycase they are all good synths but they do not cut the mustard comparitvely. For example the ultrabeat does not stand up on ease of use compared to a machinedrum.

Anyway i desperately want to find one softsynth that i can apply myself to for the forseeable future (As in i only want to buy one).

So i had a play with future audio workshops new circle synth because of the emphasis on flow of sound design. Whilst, i am tempted i am put off by the price, but i always have been with softsynths hence why i only want to buy one. Before i jump in i wanted to get your impressions on circle as well as alternatives like zebra 2 and massive and anything else that you feel is on par or better.

Any thoughts would be apreciated as there are not many solid reviews of these synths on the net.

Recent Blog: wow what happened to bt!

edited: Jun 26 2008 + hello6am

massive is a very very good synth for the money and is straight forward to operate. Much more so than many i've seen, and the emphasis is on quality of sound. Its good. Have you tried the demo? Personally i would shell out for jupiter 8v, because (for me) it's the best sounding soft synth ever made. It's very easy to use as well, although it suffers from not being laid out in a computer-friendly fashion first and fore most. It IS easy to use though-interface wise it wins for me because the actual synth was so well designed. Simpler is better as far as i'm concerned. Will eat your cpu alive mind, however sounds astonishing doing it. Both have demos (jupiter's is especially generous- it's basically the full thing but with no saving or presets). See for yourself.

Recent blogs: The real Arturia Jupiter 8V

06/26/08 + Taavi

A bit off topic, but are there some soft-synths which would sound as powerful as real analog synthesizers?

Recent blogs: I need a new name!, Right brain vs. left brain test., My MOTU has gone crazy

06/26/08 + krushing

* Zebra 2
* VAZ Modular
* KarmaFX
* Tone2 Gladiator
* Audjoo Helix (free!)

I also like Togu Audio Line's Juno & SH-101 emulations quite a bit even if they're not that great in regards to the originals; just very usable synths on their own, though nowhere as complex as the previously mentioned. If I had to pick one, it'd be Zebra (even though I've yet to cough up the money on it myself, not much time to do muzak lately...). Excellent sound, immensely powerful modulation & routing options and great GUI.

06/26/08 + RogerRoger

Taavi said: "A bit off topic, but are there some soft-synths which would sound as powerful as real analog synthesizers?"

Sonic Projects OPX, ImpOscar, CS-80V, Jupiter 8V

Recent blogs: Musical Pet Peeves, How do you do it?

06/26/08 + zfigz

I just stick with Zebra 2 for the most part.

Recent blogs: I'm totally flaking out..., Djing at work..., Monom...achine and e

06/26/08 + electrodan

Arturia's stuff is really great... sound and GUI are top notch on all of them.

For free wackiness and general sonic abuse try Oatmeal:

This thing is actually fairly robust, you can come up with some interesting sounds, interface is a monstrousity tho.

Recent blogs: Crickets chirp in triplets, Another Visualization Gig, Spanish House

edited: Jun 26 2008 + RogerRoger

I hear Predator is great if you like the sound of Zeta, Vanguard or Albino. I still need to try Zebra, but keep hearing it rivals the Virus.
One thing I don't like about Arturia software, Minimoog V in particular, is no smoothing for Midi CC's and knob controls, hence you get zipper noise on manual or automated sweeps. This fault in particular is one of the main reasons I kept my Moog Voyager, as I was going to sell it at one point.

Recent blogs: Musical Pet Peeves, How do you do it?

edited: Jun 26 2008 + implexgrace

Spectrasonics Atmosphere is all you will ever need.

or Reaktor since it does basically everything.