Synth recommendation for a newbie
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 86 posts since 1 Dec, 2019
Hi there!
I'm a guitar player ( ) who is beginning in the world of synths (through Syntorial). And there are SO MANY synth options that is difficult to judge where I should start. I'd like something versatile with good presets and something where I can work on through the Syntorial lessons.
Could anyone recommend me some synth to start but that I would keep and develop on?
Thanks a lot!
I'm a guitar player ( ) who is beginning in the world of synths (through Syntorial). And there are SO MANY synth options that is difficult to judge where I should start. I'd like something versatile with good presets and something where I can work on through the Syntorial lessons.
Could anyone recommend me some synth to start but that I would keep and develop on?
Thanks a lot!
Last edited by peakles on Tue Apr 28, 2020 1:59 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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- KVRist
- 443 posts since 20 Aug, 2010
https://www.waproduction.com/plugins/view/babylon
Babylon, sounds good, costs little, everything on one page (almost) which makes it easier to navigate and learn.
Babylon, sounds good, costs little, everything on one page (almost) which makes it easier to navigate and learn.
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- KVRer
- 8 posts since 19 Mar, 2020
If you don't want to spend alot, but want to start practicing, there's a few cheap options to consider:
Soundspot Union, WA Babylon (already mentioned here), WA Ascension, Plugin Boutique Carbon Electra, AIR Hybrid 3 and AIR VacuumPro.
All the synths listed above are cheaper than 30$ from pluginboutique.com. They are not "great" synths but it's a good cheap starting point.
There's also rent-to-own at splice.com, which allows you to pay 10$ per month and get full access for Xfer Serum, Arturia Pigments, Audiaire Zone, Softube Parallels and FAW Circle².
Lennar digital has 10€ rent-to-own monthly plan for their Sylenth1, which is an awesome synth as well.
And of course some great free VST's such as Helm and Vember Audio Surge.
I personally would start with something like Surge for free and may be Sylenth1.
Soundspot Union, WA Babylon (already mentioned here), WA Ascension, Plugin Boutique Carbon Electra, AIR Hybrid 3 and AIR VacuumPro.
All the synths listed above are cheaper than 30$ from pluginboutique.com. They are not "great" synths but it's a good cheap starting point.
There's also rent-to-own at splice.com, which allows you to pay 10$ per month and get full access for Xfer Serum, Arturia Pigments, Audiaire Zone, Softube Parallels and FAW Circle².
Lennar digital has 10€ rent-to-own monthly plan for their Sylenth1, which is an awesome synth as well.
And of course some great free VST's such as Helm and Vember Audio Surge.
I personally would start with something like Surge for free and may be Sylenth1.
- KVRAF
- 18603 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
Start with Synth 1. Sounds great and has a ton of presets and should have enough features to allow you to follow the Tutorials.
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1 ... chiro-toda
Tyrell N6 is also free and gets you entry into the world of U-He synths which will take you just about as deep as you want to go....
https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/synth1 ... chiro-toda
Tyrell N6 is also free and gets you entry into the world of U-He synths which will take you just about as deep as you want to go....
https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/
Last edited by Teksonik on Mon Apr 27, 2020 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35291 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
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- KVRAF
- 2989 posts since 5 Nov, 2014
Start with Sylenth1, there's dedicated Syntorial lessons for it.
Last edited by Passing Bye on Mon Apr 27, 2020 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 35569 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Never thought I would give a recommendation to a guitar.
Other than that, I'd double the recommendations for Synth1, or, Sylenth1 if you want to go payware. Both are really straight forwards. Unfortunately, Synth1's polyphony is a bit limiting.
- KVRAF
- 18603 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
I would recommend starting with freeware. That way if you find out synths just aren't for you then you're not out any money.
If you do find out that you have a deep love for synths then the whole world of paid for synths opens up.
If you do find out that you have a deep love for synths then the whole world of paid for synths opens up.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
- KVRAF
- 18603 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
32 note polyphony shouldn't be limiting in a synth as simple as Synth1. Unless one of the tutorials tells him to jack up the Amp Release time to full and I'm thinking that won't happen.
Sylenth 1 has a global polyphony of 16 and while it's a great synth for beginners the $150 price tag is probably not although as mentioned Lennard does have a rent to own plan.
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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- KVRAF
- 35569 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Unfortunately, when you use unison in Synth1, which is the only way to get stereo with multiple voices, the 32 notes will get limiting pretty quickly. Especially compared to Sylenth1, which really lets you play a lot of voices.
I find that pretty limiting, but, YMMV.
I find that pretty limiting, but, YMMV.
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Echoes in the Attic Echoes in the Attic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=180417
- KVRAF
- 11093 posts since 12 May, 2008
Definitely start with freeware. Especially Surge, Synth1 and Tyrell
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
Surge is quite a monster so I'd recommend getting some simpler ones for learning, such as:
Classic Analog/Subtractive style
https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... th1&id=245
http://www.blaukraut.info/
https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker
https://sites.google.com/site/mlvst0/
Also a simple but great sounding phase distortion synth (like Casio CZ):
http://www.extentofthejam.com/
Classic DX7 style FM (actually phase modulation):
https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
https://oxesoft.wordpress.com/
https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/
Surge is quite a monster so I'd recommend getting some simpler ones for learning, such as:
Classic Analog/Subtractive style
https://u-he.com/products/tyrelln6/
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... th1&id=245
http://www.blaukraut.info/
https://tal-software.com/products/tal-noisemaker
https://sites.google.com/site/mlvst0/
Also a simple but great sounding phase distortion synth (like Casio CZ):
http://www.extentofthejam.com/
Classic DX7 style FM (actually phase modulation):
https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/
https://oxesoft.wordpress.com/
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 86 posts since 1 Dec, 2019
Hey all! Thank you VERY much for the advices. As it was possible to imagine, many different options. I really thought about getting one synth which has a dedicated Syntorial lesson (serum, massive, sylenth1, z3ta+ 2 and minimoog voyager), as recommended by @passing bye. But will take a close look at all the suggestions, for sure. =) Beginning with a freeware or a cheap one seems not a bad option as well, of course. I'll keep my mind open.
and hahahaha I laughed a lot when read this:
and hahahaha I laughed a lot when read this:
Thanks again, and all the best.
- KVRAF
- 18603 posts since 16 Sep, 2001 from Las Vegas,USA
But you can still only play 16 notes in Sylenth not that you'd need that many at once. But Unison is only a small part of synthesis.
Did I mention Synth 1 is free ? Like I said start with freeware, get the bug then move on to payware although for $10 a month rent to own Sylenth isn't a bad deal.
Having both wouldn't even be a bad idea since Synth 1 can make sounds that Sylenth 1 can not.....
None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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- KVRAF
- 35569 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
In Sylenth1, polyphony is a multiple of all the voices which are running on a single note though, unlike in Synth1, where unison voices all count for polyphony. So, in Sylenth1, you can have a lot more voices than in Synth1, when you use unison.
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- KVRian
- 794 posts since 25 Aug, 2019
It's depends on type of music, there aren't many good sounding synths, most of them are junk.peakles wrote: ↑Mon Apr 27, 2020 5:13 pm Hi there!
I'm a guitar who is beggining in the world of synths (through Syntorial). And there are SO MANY synth options that is difficult to judge where I should start. I'd like something versatile with good presets and something where I can work on through the Syntorial lessons.
Could anyone recommend me some synth to start but that I would keep and develop on?
Thanks a lot!
Versatile... probably Spire by Reveal Sound.