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Hey there,

This is one of the most discussed topic in this forum, so I just thought of making it a pool. Hope I didn't forget any of the majors ones!

Just tell which is the absolute best synth iyho!

Notes:
- Reason synths were included in just one option because you can only buy it at once, you can't separate it.
- I have an hidden agenda of looking for my next synth to buy but this can be a guide to other people too!
- @ mods, please delete this if you find this has been overdiscussed.

between operator, alchemy or absynth.

I choose fm8 because its a beast but nearly swayed to absynth.

Come on man massive has 3 votes already what the fuck?????????
Lot of people make wobblez

FM8

Roland TB-303

I consider Massive a very good synth for various reasons, one being the incredible layout. Yes, you can in fact do original and fresh sounds with Massive!

Zebra was my second pick, it's absolutely amazing but harder/slower to get around in. Still pretty good layout though, with the filters/oscillators only appearing when you enable them. They're on par really but I still use Massive more...

I know its reasons most limited synth but I love subtraktor, it is my favourite one. Mainly because it is so easy to get completely screwed up noises out of it very quickly (I.e. anythng using waveforms 7,9 and 11).

i'm sorry, but alchemy is measurably better than massive. and absynth just fucking pwns.

no wonder all dubstep sounds the same now - everyone's using the same synth and the same tutorials.

i chose Omni as an all around utility. you'll get the most out of it as far as different palettes, timbres, banks, and sound sources (anything from raw Moog, Jupiter, etc. waves, to bowed glass, strings, rev. piano, Fender Rhodes, whatever) . you can make great sounding patches using basic waveforms from its own synthesis engine, or sampled from your favorite classic synths. It has 5 modulation envelopes that can be set to simple or complex (normal ADSR, or draw your own crazy envelopes that can be tempo synced). So yeah,. you can build your own patch that kicks ass. It has hard sync, waveshaping, and FM as well. But it is probably best for diging through huge banks of intense presets.

For a programmer, I would select Reason. Massive is the easiest to program but Reason can turn out some of the funkiest results. So many devices, infinite number of oscillators, and fully modular CV and audio routing. The only drawback -- its FM capability is very limited to Thor and Subtractor's single FM pairs . They can be duped, but not integrated into a broader FM matrix.

I think you can do FM in thor by sending for example osc1 into another oscillators frequency(FM) in then mod matrix at the bottom. It might be something else though but it definitely sounds like FM.

Too much difference between these all. It would be better to separate them into best subtractive, additive, modular etc, but I know it's not as easy to do.

Anyway I chose Reaktor because it's modular and you can build all the other synths on the list inside it, and it can do all the stuff the other synths can do right out of the box, plus loads more stuff.

Its weakest point is its filters imo, but there's ways around that.

Keep in mind this is subjective, and what I really want to hear is your subjective opinions

Sinestepper wrote:I think you can do FM in thor by sending for example osc1 into another oscillators frequency(FM) in then mod matrix at the bottom. It might be something else though but it definitely sounds like FM.

will have to try this, didn't realize that was an option.

And yeah i mean objectively speaking Reaktor can encompass nearly anything the rest have to offer, but only if you're ridiculously good at programming.. which counts me out in favor of more dedicated synth interfaces that simply say what they can do, and do what they say. That being said, with Reaktor you could round out your synth options by buying more ensembles, i.e. Razor.
decisions, decisions. With my vote, Omni, you'd be buying a perfectly capable synth engine that's a bit of a ballache to program, but in addition to basically the most advanced
"rompler" you've ever seen, and the ability to layer and mix up to 20 patches (10 slots x 2 layers per patch). you're buying presets that are ready to use, from realistic pianos to ethereal, swirling pads with complex evolving sounds. It's a deep piece of kit. Just thought it'd be worth considering the number of presets you get with it, for performing stuff like pads, organs, house-y stabs, Electric piano, synth/string pad combos, shit like that

no, i promise i don't work for spectrasonics

^

i would fucking love to get omnisphere - it really does look like the end-all of soft synths. but, i sprung for a virus ti instead.

lloydy wrote:Come on man massive has 3 votes already what the fuck?????????
Lot of people make wobblez

Massive was around long before the generic wobble sound people use it for today. It's a dope synth, that's why people are picking it.

Today wrote:And yeah i mean objectively speaking Reaktor can encompass nearly anything the rest have to offer, but only if you're ridiculously good at programming.. which counts me out in favor of more dedicated synth interfaces that simply say what they can do, and do what they say.

Reaktor can be as heavy as like, you can jump into Core, or you can just use the ensembles from the Reaktor library, and user library.
http://co.native-instruments.com/index. ... e=0&ulbr=1

Also you don't need to be ridiculously good at programming to make small ensembles that do a specific task. To try, and make something thats comparable to the heavy weight VST's is going to take an insane amont of time, and will use way more system resources anyway. Thats not what reaktor is about imo, its about making little tools that do specific task that you can't get anywhere eles, like a ring-mod thats controlled by sequencer, or maybe a dual ring-mod controlled by a sequencer, and a lfo, or maybe... you get the idea. Also it's about modding/sampling other peoples ensembles, have you ever wished you could change/add a new part to one of your VST's, like the guys that don't like Massives filters, well with Reaktor you can take a filter from one ensmble, and add it to another, or say you run out of lfo's on a patch, you could just add another. With time you will build up your collection of macros, and ensembles, and will be able to navigate around reaktor quickly, and make better ensmbles that your time, and effort should pay off. If you don't like problem solving, then making stuff in Reaktor probably ain't for you, as in the beginning every step you take you seem to hit a road block, but the Reaktor library, and user library are more than enough of a reason to dip your toes into Reaktor.

Btw I vote for Massive(even though I ain't used it this year yet), it's always been good at getting the sound/patch in my head out the fastest, sometimes I feel it lacks in features, and the sound lacks a sweetness that other synths have so I look eles where, but alot of the time its got the job done. I didn't vote for Reaktor as I don't class it as a synth.

Honorable mention for Crystal for being my favorite free synth

To anyone who voted Massive...I think the idea is that before you vote you need to have tried at least one other synth...