Soft Synths and effects have evolved enormously since the dawn of the 21st century. Native Instruments, Korg, Arturia, Audio Realism and reFX contributions are particularly notable.
Listed below are the soft synths and effects I have tried and used in the
Studio.
The soft synths are run on a dedicated PC with M-Auidio ASIO Sound Card / MIDI Interface. This leaves intact the power of the main Studio PC which runs eMagic Logic Audio.
With a powerful enough computer and a low latency sound card, all you should need is a few of these babies...
In practical terms on a 3GHz Pentium 4, I get to run and play between 2 and 4 VSTs before timing becomes an issue.
Brainspawn - Forte
Brainspawn Forte is a VST rack software similar to Steinberg's V-Stack. Forte allows you to load multiple VST soft synths, assign MIDI channels to them and chose which outputs they will use.
Rack setups can be saved and called back up whenever you need them.
Native Instruments - Battery
Battery is a primarily a drum sampler / player aimed a providing a 'battery' of different sounds. Each sample can be tuned, have pitch and volume envelopes applied. Samples can be layered, the velocity at which a layer becomes active can be adjusted, so you can have velocity sensitive morphing of samples. It comes with a huge selection of 'kick arse' sounds. In short - Awesome.
Native Instruments - Kontakt
Kontakt is an 'Industry Standard' sampler. Boasting a huge library of sounds, which can be tweaked and modified as needed.
Native Instruments - Akoustik Piano
I love this Piano. There are several different piano preset that can be selected, then you can adjust the velocity response curve and tune the equalizer for your desired taste. The sustain pedal resonance and other parameters such as pedal noise and key noise are also adjustable. Oh and you can have the lid up or down! To top it off there is a nice reverb and you can adjust the width of the note panning. 10 out of 10 to Native Instruments.
Native Instruments - Elektrik Piano
A simple looking interface, but capable of some very nice electric piano sounds. EQ, tremolo and reverb allow tailoring of the sound.
Native Instruments - Massive
A monster synth for fat basses and piercing leads. Sounds combine analog sounds and digital waves.
Native Instruments - FM8
As the name implies FM8 is a FM synth. Capable of easily reproducing the legendary DX7 / DX9 sounds of the 80's.
Native Instruments - Pro53
An emulation of the 1980's Prophet 5 synth by Sequential Circuits. Used by Dave Stuart and Barbara Gaskin in 'It's my Party (I'll cry if I want to)' and a myriad of others. Produces some lovely analog type pads and other sounds.
Native Instruments - Absynth
Strange evolving soundscapes are Absynth trade mark. Tinkling, bleeping, flowing, swirling, metallic, watery and dark pad sounds galore. Lovely.
Native Instruments - Kore 2
A sound librarian, allows you to select sounds by filtering according to descriptive parameters. Can be used with the Kore 2 hardware controller. The selected sounds to be modified to suit your requirements. Sounds can be layered and there are a proliferation of effect which can be applied. Kore 2 also contains a sequencer and programmable arpeggiator.
Native Instruments - B4
B4 is a organ synthesiser, complete with drawbars and rotary speaker effects,
Native Instruments - Reaktor
Reaktor is a complete synthesiser design solultion. Reaktor comes with a huge range of modules: Oscillator, Enveloper, VCA, MIDI, Effects, Math, Logic, Display, Control, the list goes on. You can make your own custom modules too. Modules can be interconnected to create any virtual synth or effect you can imagine. Finished projects can be made into stand alone executables or wrapped into a VST. Unbelievable.
Native Instruments - Vokator
| Vokator is a first class Vocoder. The sound you want is easily achievable through the easy to understand interface. Sadly Vokator is now discontinued. I used Vokator on my 'Everything is Nothing' track and was very pleased with the result. Have a listen here:
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Native Instruments - Spektral Delay
This one sounds like a 'must have'. The input signal a filtered into different frequency bands. Each band can have it's own MIDI sychable delay effect added. Spektral Delay can be really useful for building up new rhythms or enhancing existing ones. I shall be trying out this beast on my next track!
Korg - MS20
The Korg MS20 from the Legacy Collection is one of my absolute favourites. Complete with the scaled down controller, which is a clone of the original MS20. The noises that you can squeeze through its dual filters are amazing. Raspy, high audiobility low sonic finger print filter sweeps, rocking bass sounds, this is a winner. The sounds are of course all tweakable and patchable using the clone controller.
The MS20 and Controller have now been discontinued. The 'Korg Legacy Digital Edition' which replaces the Legacy Collection does not include the MS20 or Controller nor the Polysix, which were included in the 'Legacy Analog Collection 2007' instead (Minus the MS20 Controller).
Korg - Polysix
The Korg Polysix, also part of the Legacy Collection is great for string pads and those trancy rhythmic chordy noises. Modelled on the original Polysix from back in the 1980's.
The 'Korg Legacy Digital Edition' not include the Ploysix or the MS20 and Controller, which were included in the 'Legacy Analog Collection 2007' instead (Minus the MS20 Controller).
Korg - Wavestation
The Korg Wavestation, also part of the Legacy Collection produces some interesting pads and noises. You can morph / mix between four different sounds. Modelled on the original Wavestation from back in the 1980's.
Korg - Legacy Cell
The Korg Legacy Cell allows you to layer / mix up to four instruments from the collection in a stack, so that they can be played together. For instance you could layer two Polysixe's a Wavestation and an MS20 together to be played as one patch. You can also add several effects including EQ, compression, limiter, delays and reverb to the sound. Presents some excellent very 'Fat' noises.
Korg - M1
The Korg M1 was added to the Legacy Collection when it was released for the second time as the 'Korg Legacy Digital Edition'. The legendary tingly, swirling, shimmering pads of the M1 are at the finger tips once again!
Korg - Mono / Poly
The Korg Mono / Poly Legacy edition, was included a part of the 'Legacy Analog Edition 2007'. Oh Korg - talk about a product identity crisis, 'Korg Legacy Collection', 'Korg Legacy Digital Edition', 'Korg Legacy Analog Edition 2007' too many versions I think.
Arturia - Analog Factory
Arturia's Analog Factory a good selection of various analog sounds. The sound library allows you to find the type of sound you are looking for by selecting, 'Bass' or 'Lead' or 'Pad' for instance. The main parameters for each sound are adjustable by the knobs on the front panel. Quite a nice soft synth.
Arturia - Jupiter-8V
Arturia's Jupiter-8V models Roland's mega polysynth of the 1980's the Jupiter 8, which was used by the likes of Duran Duran ('Don't say a prayer for me now'). Arcturias version is augmented with extra features like the improved arpeggiator and MIDI syncable effects.
Arturia - Mini Moog V
Modelling Moogs classic synth of the same name, Arcturias version is augmented with extra features like the improved arpeggiator and MIDI syncable effects.
Arturia - Moog Modular
This is a recreations of one of Moogs finest synths, the Moog Modular which was famous for it's bubbly type sequences and is very reminiscent of Tangarine Dream.
Arturia - Arp2600 V
Arturias recreation of the Arp 2600 semi-modular synth by Arp Arcturias patchable just like the original, which was used by Jean Michel Jarre, Rick Wakeman, Vince Clark and a host of others. with its 3 VCO design this beast can make some amazing sounds.
Arturia - CS-80V
Arturias recreation of the Yamaha CS-80 synth. The original was 8 note polyphonic with after touch, with two VCOs per voice and twin VCFs. Arturias version bestows a host of benefits, not least of all MIDI, which was absent on the original!
Audio Realism - Bass Line Pro
Based around Roland's TB-303 but this time with two VCOs and onboard effects. TB-303 fanatics should love this box of tricks. The demo produces a very fat sound.
Audio Realism - Drum Machine
Based around Roland's TR-606 and TR-808 drum machines. Audio Realisms offering contains realistic 606 and 808 drum sounds. 11 separate outputs or 2 master outputs with effects processing.
reFX - Vanguard
The programmable Trance Gate really makes this synth. With three oscillators per voice combination filter types and onboard effects. Vanguard produces some truly wicked trance type sounds.
Superwave - Trance-Pro
Another excellent soft synth geared toward producing trance sounds. With 2 oscillators per voice and twin filters, built in effects and arpeggiator, Trance-Pro produces some stunning super saw noises.
White Noise - Zero Vector
With its triangular 'Vector Pad', Zero Vector offers an unusual interface. Triple oscillators per voice and dual filters. the arpeggiator has swing control and there is a ring modulator too. This is another very fat sounding soft synth. Well worth a try.
IK Multimedia - Sonik Synth 2
Presenting a wide selection of sounds. The sound librarian allows you to find the type of sound you are looking for by selecting the type of sound that you are looking for. The main parameters for each sound are adjustable by the knobs on the front panel. Quite a few nice string pads in this one.