THIS IS NOT A HARDWARE VS SOFT SYNTH DEBATE! BOTH ARE DOPE! PLEASE NO FLAMING!
I am currently on a synth buying spree and need help deciding. I have listed my current rig below so you have an idea what I need.
Laptop:
15in Macbook pro
2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
8gb of RAM
512gb harddrive
DAWs:
Cubase 6.5
Pro Tools 9
(Getting these DAWs below soon from my SAE LA package)
Pro Tools 10
Ableton 8
Logic 9
Vsts/plugins:
Alicia's Keys
Nexus 2 (Analog Expansion, Hollywood Expansion, and like 2 others I cannot remember)
Omnisphere
Trillian (I forgot I had this for some reason)
Battery 3
iDrum
Waves Renaissance
(Soon I will be getting Komplete 8 from SAE)
So here is my dilemma, I am stuck between a Virus Ti Desktop 2 or Arturia V series synths.
Check me out.
The Virus is a beautiful machine, I have played one and everything. The only sound difference I hear from a Virus and VSTs is that a Virus has 'aggressive' lows. Any high frequency sound that comes out of a Virus sounds like a softie, but as soon as you open a bass or a pad that has tons of low frequency content you feel it.
I am hesitant with a virus BECAUSE:
1.) 2k price (Hurricane Sandy really but a hole in my wallet, if it wasn't for that damn storm this would be not a huge issue)
2.) Maintaince. High quality cables, casing ETC.
3.) Not portable. I love traveling everywhere to work with new artists, carrying this thing would be a pain.
4.) Workflow. With a vst, I can recall all my sounds, setting, etc. Never run out of instances (depending on processing and cpu)
If I go the Arturia V series or any soft synths you guys recommend, it will be portable, I can run many instances, AND i can hit them with a preamp such as a Neve 1073 or other cool gear I see in many studios I travel too.
As far as I know, you can use TI (=total integration) like a plugin when it's connected, ie. you can recall settings and automate etc. Not 100 % sure tho, but I'd check on that.
Virus is a nice synth (I own Virus B), but I can get so close to it with a number of plugins I just haven't used it in years. For Virus style plugins I'd rather look at Synapse Dune, Cakewalk Zeta etc with similar wavetables, virtual analog stuff. Arturia stuff is completely different, more in the "real analog" side, they don't really compare well. If you're comfortable with basic saw/square/sine oscs, the options multiply by a lightyear.
I'd think carefully if it's wise getting hardware if you have any conserns on that. You can get 10+ top class plugin synths for that price.
That's because the Virus is digital, it's basically a VSTi with proprietary hardware.
Try out an actual analogue synthesiser. You'll like it.
I probably would. I have heard the Prophet 8 synth and played it, it is awesome. Very steep learning curve and high price. Beautiful synths though. Analogue is definitely good sounding, the pricing would destroy me lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by raymondwave
As far as I know, you can use TI (=total integration) like a plugin when it's connected, ie. you can recall settings and automate etc. Not 100 % sure tho, but I'd check on that.
Virus is a nice synth (I own Virus B), but I can get so close to it with a number of plugins I just haven't used it in years. For Virus style plugins I'd rather look at Synapse Dune, Cakewalk Zeta etc with similar wavetables, virtual analog stuff. Arturia stuff is completely different, more in the "real analog" side, they don't really compare well. If you're comfortable with basic saw/square/sine oscs, the options multiply by a lightyear.
I'd think carefully if it's wise getting hardware if you have any conserns on that. You can get 10+ top class plugin synths for that price.
I been hearing A TON about Synapse Dune, I should definitely check that out.
Is Cakewalk Zeta mac compatible?
Have you looked at Z3ta? That is typically the plugin that is often cross-shopped with a virus. Theres even a virus mod out there for it. If you like the virus sound and the editing workflow then just buy it or save up until the sandy hit wears off. The arturia synths would more than likely compliment the virus, not replace it in my opinion...
The virus mod was just 'ok', nothing more... still Zeta was/is a great VSTi. I would love to have a TI2 ... have used a Virus B which was excellent and a small blat on a snow (non TI) and they were great.
__________________ 'You don't finish, you just run out of time' - Dave Pensado on mixing
yeah, I'd definitely go with hardware, seeing as though you don't have any hardware as is. I've never heard the virus, but I'd go with an analog synth. You'll definitely hear the difference. A hardware digital synth will sound fatter/fuller than software usually (imo), but the tone will be pretty much similar, both being digital. Analog is a different beast and you'll hear the difference clearly. More depth, more richness, better tone, etc. Its like comparing a computer print of an oil painting to actual oil painting to me.
Digital is good, I'm not hating, but if you are going to spend 2k you should get something that will be noticeably different and give you the wow factor. You could even spend half that on a good analog synth and it'll make you go wow and notice a huge difference. That virus seems like its way overpriced to me.
I been hearing A TON about Synapse Dune, I should definitely check that out. Is Cakewalk Zeta mac compatible?
I've ran a few tests between Dune and Virus and while they are similar, they're not 100 % alike ofcourse, but similar both soundwise and synthesis. No two synths sound the same.
Zeta is also for Mac now, I havent used it, but I've heard good things about, it's similar and it's sort of a classic already.
Dune and Virus both have basic saw/square/sine waveforms + 60 something other waveforms, that's what in my eyes/ears separates them from regular VA synths that have only saw/square/sine oscs. I believe Zeta is somewhat similar. There are ofcourse other things to these synths too.
In my mind if you have a hardware connected via USB or a run a native plugin, the sound difference comes from ones and zeros, it's not about hardware or plugin. Once you start routing cables thru mixers etc, that's when you can talk about hardware.
One might consider Virus TI a huge dongle you need to attach to a computer every time you want to use it, or you might look at it as a hardware synth you can fiddle knobs with and patch into your hardware studio.
I haven't used my Virus B in years anymore because I can do the same with plugins more easily. The ease of use weighs more on my scale. It's still sitting on my table and I play around with it once in a while, but recording each line is too much for me, I need total recall, which I think you do get with TI's. But since I'm also producing in two different locations, I wouldn't get a Virus TI because that would only sit in one location at a time. Plugins can exist in multiple machines.
Virus is kinda deep, you think Prophet 8 has a steep learning curve...
If you are mostly just going to flick trough presets and tweak the filter a bit here and there, then omnisphere and nexus already got you covered.
You could also check out waldorf blofeld or alesis micron. Both much more affordable virtual analogs, that pretty much covers the same features as the virus. Only less voices than the virus and they fit into a backpack.
I think I am just going to save for a Virus Ti Desktop 2.
I am beginning to realize if I buy more softies, I will only keep buying them to keep emulating the Virus, why not skip the trouble and just get a virus?
def get yourself a virus ti, it'll complement your softsynths, and you'll be happy you bought it! The learning curve can take some time, but it's worth it!
I love my little snow. Really enjoy processing external stuff thru it. Use the env follower, assign to filter, dist etc etc... and youll be surprised what it will bring to the table that a softie wont!
def get yourself a virus ti, it'll complement your softsynths, and you'll be happy you bought it! The learning curve can take some time, but it's worth it!
Im only 18, i got more than plenty of time to learn it lol
Having been in a somewhat similar situation in late 90's, my suggestion is to get what you want if you can afford it. At your age it's best to get only ONE really good synth and learn it inside out. Don't get 10+ and learn none of them well.
Keep your gear list small until you know your synths inside out, after that you'll also appreciate other synths for what they are.
Having been in a somewhat similar situation in late 90's, my suggestion is to get what you want if you can afford it. At your age it's best to get only ONE really good synth and learn it inside out. Don't get 10+ and learn none of them well.
Keep your gear list small until you know your synths inside out, after that you'll also appreciate other synths for what they are.
I like owning less hardware anyways, cause the more you have the harder it is to maintain it .
Why get a virus if you already have something like omnisphere?
I'm not a super synth slut but the 2 main reasons why I have the HW synths I do is because
1) Specific, unique synth/character that SW has not created or achieved yet.
2) Spare processing power for other fx, vsts, plugs, ect.
I like owning less hardware anyways, cause the more you have the harder it is to maintain it .
The same applies to software too, seeing that you already have quite a capable list. I don't know what this SAE thing means, but if you get all that (Logic, Komplete..), you'll be covered for years of sound design.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but you shouldn't overlook what you can do with what you already have.
But then again, it's a matter of what inspires you, bit of a two edged sword.
I am a new hip hop producer (not professional yet)
but anywho I need help on finding aFREE AU/VSTfor soft synths. I want to make some soft synth that are similar (not trying to sound like them) to the onces that Flatbush zombies, The Under Achievers use for their beats. I am willing to pay money under $150 if possible. But if somebody could point me the right direction i would GREATLY appreicate it!!
Ha.. no, I meant Ichiro Toda's Synth 1 .. it's Free... a shipload of brilliant aftermarket user presets kicking around and solid (albeit ageing lol) user base.
Ha.. no, I meant Ichiro Toda's Synth 1 .. it's Free... a shipload of brilliant aftermarket user presets kicking around and solid (albeit ageing lol) user base.
I probably would. I have heard the Prophet 8 synth and played it, it is awesome. Very steep learning curve and high price. Beautiful synths though. Analogue is definitely good sounding, the pricing would destroy me lol
I been hearing A TON about Synapse Dune, I should definitely check that out.
Is Cakewalk Zeta mac compatible?
It's ooooold, one of the pioneers of free synths.. was meant to usher in a whole new world of freebies but... instead we ended up with multitudes of junk made with synthedit.
Basically, still useful, plenty of far out patches but nothing you would reach for if you have one or two of the bigger synths mentioned already... plus it is more Nord modelled than Virus??? I could be wrong.
I haven't touched my copy in years ... but as far a free goes, different story.
Here's my .02. I have both Arturia stuff and a Virus. As someone pointed out, totally different sounds between the two. Arturia is much more old school analog-ish and Virus is much more modern digital-ish. That said, the TI plug for the Virus works really well in PT for me so recall is a breeze. The Arturia stuff sounds great to me and I use it alot, BUT, those plug ins are very buggy for me within PT. I constantly have issues with them hanging or freezing up sessions. To the point that I avoid using some of them. The CS-80 and Prophet seem to work fine, but some of the others are just a pain in the ass to use. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but that's been my experience.
The Virus works great on the other hand, but I don't find as many useful sounds for the stuff I do and tend to not use it much. I think part of that is because I honestly just haven't spent alot of time fiddling with it (tho I've had it for over a year).
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
