Vanguard or Predator..

[TLMUSIC]

Ok, after my last post i decided im gonna cop a basic synth that will help me with sound design and just gerenal synthesis basics..

What would be the best starter for hip-hop..Vanguard or Predator, i realise that its how u use em and they're both capable of great things if u know how to use them, im just wondering from a beginners viewpoint what's gonna be the best one to get to grips with..

im swaying towards predator but wanna be sure b4 i get one..

thanks

[Andrew Kinsey]

Ive not used Predator however i do use Vanguard.

Im not really a big fan of soft synths however Vanguard is one of the few that i will occasionally use.

In terms of controlls its quite easy to use however it does have its own kind of sound, which can be a bit on the techno / dance music side.

Like all synths, it all depends how you use them and also how good your programing is.

[steffenb]

i also vote for vanguard, its top notch and i can get about any sound i want
from it !

i tryed predator but i didnt like the interface to much , but i didnt like any
of the rob paapen synths ... i cant get my head around them...

but before you pay money for vanguard try this amazing free synth
- >

you can download here -> Northernbeat Audio

its a realy amazing synth and can get you some great sounds !

[azwun25]

maybe a little off topic but....FWIW FM8 smokes both of those IMO. Yes I do own all three.

[kingofswing]

First things first, decide on the best interface that you can work most with, and not be put off. Depending on your screen size you may want to choose a softsynth with a more open layout, etc.

I have many softsynths including Vanguard. I much prefer using my Virus Ti or even my Novation Xio to be honest. I find that Vangaurd's sound tends to get lost in busy mixes. The sound is a little scooped and lacks definition imo. But for the money it's a nice little synth to work with.

I also use Nexus, but its a rompler and not fully programmable It has some nice sounds from the Virus as well as Nords, etc. You may want to try out a demo of vanguard first and compare it to Preditor, which seems cool, but i don't like the dark red interface.

As for NI' stuff, well i have always hated the GUI - horrible imho.

[Ruudman]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

First things first, decide on the best interface that you can work most with, and not be put off. Depending on your screen size you may want to choose a softsynth with a more open layout, etc.

I have many softsynths including Vanguard. I much prefer using my Virus Ti or even my Novation Xio to be honest. I find that Vangaurd's sound tends to get lost in busy mixes. The sound is a little scooped and lacks definition imo. But for the money it's a nice little synth to work with.

Agreed! The choice of what kind of interface you'd like is very important. Many of us have 10-20 or more softsynths. The one that offers the most diplomatic solution between sound, cpu usage and user interface wins 9 out of 10.

Also, the Vanguard is no match for my Indigo TDM except for the trans gate.


Solution: have a demo feast, if you've got the time, that is


Ruudman

[aklaim]

While we're on the topic. I just copped both of these, but my pro tools rig isn't regognizing them in the instrument tracks. I'm not sure what the problem is. I even dragged the component plugs to the pt plug-ins alias folder. I'm using pt 7.3 with a intel mac pro. Am I missing something?

[halfguard]

make sure whatever you have is rtas. if not you need the wrapper. also set the imput to an adat input your not using. when using wrapped stuff it doesnt work when i set to no input.

[Krumbz]

Aklaim...

Pro Tools can't use VST plug ins UNLESS they are "wrapped" with FXpansions VST wrapper. Google it. Um also you mentioned "components". Those could be AU components (Audio Units) and Pro Tools doesn't recognise those either.

Pro Tools pretty much only recognises RTAS plus ins. (Real Time Audio Suite).

Unless you kop FXPansions wrapper then you can use thousands of FREE VSTs.
I have it and it does indeed work.


Oh as far at the topic of this thread... haven't used those two synths... but I can recommend Digidesigns "Hybrid" synth. Sounds warm, fuzzy and clean at the same time.

G'Luck!

[Stitch333]

Originally Posted by Ruudman

Solution: have a demo feast

Thats solid not just for the soft synths...
Demo everything you can and pick what sounds and works best for you

[Feinstrom]

Originally Posted by steffenb

but before you pay money for vanguard try this amazing free synth
- >

you can download here -> Northernbeat Audio

its a realy amazing synth and can get you some great sounds !

That's not freeware, it's donationware.

[andivax]

i dont like vanguard because of crap filters. you can tweak fat leads and basses on it but of course it sounds like software and my virus ti beat it with no problem.

predator is a continue of a blue vsti line. actually, i dont like it. strange gui.
i like blue. it's very clear and usefull gui (but someone hate it, e).
and blue has a very good sound, very clear. it come closer to harware than vanguard.

if you have money, take a look to cheap hardware like korg mikrororg or alesis micron. it worth youe attention!

it you need only software, get korg legacy or vemberaudio surge - it's killers!

if you decide what th get, vanguard vs predator - download demos and decide by yourself. it's a matter of taste imho.

[aklaim]

thanks halfguard and krumbz. for the info that is.

[steffenb]

Originally Posted by Feinstrom

That's not freeware, it's donationware.

yes, but the only limitation is a nag screen that leaves with one click ...

[halfguard]

i would hope your virus ti sounds better, its 20x the price i love the ti, wish i had one

[SpeakEZ]

Vanguard is cool...depending on what you are doing. I havent used the Predator at all but I like Rob Papen synths. All in all, like someone said in a previous reply, FM8 kills all of them IMO. It is all around useful.

[Andrew Kinsey]

Virus Classic, C, and the newer TI, all would sound better than most soft synths.

Its not necessarily because soft synths dont have the synthesis capabilities, its more to do with the fact that the Virus has a bigger sound.

I use a Virus Classic going to a Valve DI > Compressor > A/D converter, and the ressults IMO are much better than using a soft synth. Fuller, richer, and louder.

I used to have loads of soft synths installed, now i have like 3 or 4. Vanguard is one of them!

[TLMUSIC]

I noticed there's no rtas version of vanguard...hope they bring one out soon

[halfguard]

it works fine with the wrapper

[kingofswing]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kinsey

Virus Classic, C, and the newer TI, all would sound better than most soft synths.

Its not necessarily because soft synths dont have the synthesis capabilities, its more to do with the fact that the Virus has a bigger sound.

I use a Virus Classic going to a Valve DI > Compressor > A/D converter, and the ressults IMO are much better than using a soft synth. Fuller, richer, and louder.

I used to have loads of soft synths installed, now i have like 3 or 4. Vanguard is one of them!

I agree. The Virus has a suped sound engine and the filters are better than the softsynths. The Virus Ti is a monster VA, the amount of waves and subs that can be stacked is incredible.

For spacey sounds, animated sounds, any virtual / digital sounds, etc, the Virus and Novation synths are great. I know i love using my Ti and Xio.

But, the depth of the sound remains digital and it's pretty obvious. This is where i prefer blending the analog side. The analog sound is more real, thicker, dryer and has the balls to fill the gaps that VA's cannot do to be honest.

If you are after lush pads and the odd leads, try the Spectrasonics Atmosphere out. I use this quite alot and it sounds amazing. Probably because it's a rompler based system with sounds taken from actual synths.

[andivax]

i have a TI. yeah, it roxxx!

i almost forget cheap and powerfull little synth - novation XIO.
only 399$ and it's killlerrrrrrr!

[Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kinsey

Ive not used Predator however i do use Vanguard.

Im not really a big fan of soft synths however Vanguard is one of the few that i will occasionally use.

In terms of controlls its quite easy to use however it does have its own kind of sound, which can be a bit on the techno / dance music side.

Like all synths, it all depends how you use them and also how good your programing is.

I just bought Prism Sound Orpheus through Sound Tools in UK 3 weeks ago and still waiting for the rest 250£ and receipt.

How pro is that?

Avoid dealing with this guy Andrew Kinsey.