Product Reviews by KVR Members

One word to describe this VSTi – Fun. It may not fill musical needs, but it does demonstrate the imagination of some programmers. Considering this was an early VSTi they did an excellent job of blending a simple sound engine with visual feedback. And hey, some people run it few an effects chain and get different, interesting leads. If you don’t have it, download it. I just wish they made a polyphony version, the Delay Lama Choir.

Don't pay attentioin to my ratings on this one. Just rate it "fun".

RobertRead Review

In my view this is the best sounding of the Dash synths. It is a very good value considering the features. One thing I do like is the support and quick response of the programmers. daAlpha2K went through many updates as customers reported problem and submitted suggestions. The MIDI control assignment routine and importable wave forms keeps this synth in my quick access list. It is a very good value when used as a simple VA.Read Review

This is not your regular B3 clone and if you want B3 sounds, get NI’s B4. This VSTi covers the other organ sounds and does so very well. I picked up the expansion for NI’s B4 expecting great things, but honestly, ComboSister gives me something that B4 does not. It sounds like a combo organ you might find in a rock band. Not exactly like a Farfisa or Vox, but maybe like one you would hear on stage after the keyboardist sends it through his rig. The only thing I don't like is the interface. This VSTi is a much better value than the expansion for B4.Read Review

I have mixed feelings about this synth. The concept is nice, the support is good, and the MIDI implementation is great. The only part really lacking is sound. I was hoping for the old Wasp analog sound. What I get seems to sound like a Wasp played over a transistor radio with a 2 inch speaker. There is no life to the sounds. It’s just there. This does not render the synth useless, but it does give it a narrow focus. If you want a song intro with that sounds like it came from a radio, this is the synth. If you want a synth that blends in with other products and gives viable sounds, Wasp is relegated to a few sound effects.Read Review

Rhino is one synth that I first regretted purchasing. It had a few good sounds but the CPU load on my P4 was a killer. It also seemed to be pushed out the door a little early. This could be caused by all the ‘Tick followers that were screaming for the synth.

Over the months after release Tick has released frequent upgrades that moved this synth into competition with the big boys. There have also been some program banks released with some amazing sounds. The combination of program updates and new patch banks have pushed Rhino into the must have category. I am definitely glad I bought this synth. It is the only thing I know that can truly compete with FM7, Atmosphere and ABSynth when it comes to amazing pads. It can still be a bit CPU hungry on some patches, but that is ok. Sounds like this do not come from simple synths with low CPU needs. Tick has really created something with a special sound.

Pro’s – The sounds. Oh my. There are other pro’s, but it is the sounds that make this a must have synth.

Con’s – You load a single patch bank into the synth and it only holds 64 patches. I know that many VSTi’s also have this limitation but Rhino is not just another synth. I consider Rhino, FM7, z3ta+ and ABSynth to be a step above any other non-modular synth. Rhino is the only one of these that only loads 64 patches at a time. Yes, it is a small con but I cannot think of anything else.

RobertRead Review

I bought the FL/Image Line version of DX10 after being so happy with SimSynth Live and Wasp. I have mixed opinions of this synth. It is wonderful for learning and exploring FM programming. For anyone that wants to learn, this is a great synth to start. It sounds good and covers the basics. Sadly, this synth is overshadowed by some major FM based products. I tend to forget I have it. That is a mistake. Not every instrument in a song needs loads of effects, filters, and complex eg’s. When you need a simple FM part DX10 can do the job reliably and with efficient CPU usage. In my opinion, it is worth the price just as a tool for learning the basics of programming FM. As with SimSynth Live and Wasp, you get FL, DXi and VSTi versions with the purchase.

RobertRead Review

After buying SimSynth Live I went back online and bought Wasp. Image Line is still one of the few companies that offer DXi and VSTi versions along with the FL version for a single purchase. Wasp is a bit more complicated than SimSynth Live. The layout of the program is not quite as elegant but still not intimidating. Wasp gives a more aggressive sound that is enhanced by the inclusion of ring modulation, pulse width, FM, and distortion. It makes a decent bass synth, and can offer some interesting pads and leads. This is a must buy for anyone using FruityLoops, and a good buy for anyone wanting a simple synth that is more aggressive and still easy to program. It seems to have enough bite without taking too much space in the mix.

RobertRead Review

I bought SimSynth Live shortly after buying FruityLoops. Getting the FL, VSTi and DXi in one purchase is a nice deal. More importantly, it has a nice sound. If you dig in and do some careful programming you can get some pads that seem very alive. I use it mostly for things that need to sit in the back without drawing attention. This does not translate to dull, low quality sounds. A bad synth can draw attention just by ruining your mix. SimSynth Live adds filler with simple sounds that still sound good. It does not take up too much bandwidth and the included effects are a bonus. The Warm setting and ring modulation are just enough to give this synth extra character without becoming too complex. I think it is a great first synth for someone to learn about subtractive programming and ring modulation. Out of all the synths I bought in this price range, SimSynth Life is the one I use most. I tend to forget about it, but a year after my initial purchase I am still glad I bought it.

RobertRead Review

There are a lot of cheap monophonic bass synthesizers available in VSTi format. For over a year I tried to decide what if anything to buy. Finally I decided on The Beast and have been very happy. The Beast is easy to program and sounds great. You can get smooth bottom or a real growl. This is now my first call for synth bass.

I don’t want to repeat everything already stated. Instead I will make a couple of comments about performance. When I first tried Beast and Claw they refused to work properly in my setup. I don’t know if the issue was Sonar, the wrapper, the graphics card, or something with The Beast. I never had any problem with JunoX2 which was the first VSTi I ever bought from the Internet. As The Beast and Sonar evolved I tried again. It now works perfectly in Sonar using DirectiXer.

One thing that several low price bass VSTi’s seem to be missing is the ability to control modulation from a wheel as you can with a MiniMoog. This feature is now in beta for the Beast and should be available soon. This was the deciding factor for me. I prefer to play Moog style bass lines, not the simple TB303. I can now do that with The Beast.

RobertRead Review

Once you get your core group of VSTi’s together it is time to look for something different. Just how many different VA synths do you need in software? When you are ready to expand your sonic options there are few choices. One of the available VSTi’s that is a bit different is PlasticZ. The phase-morph oscillators tied to FM give me a sound different than any other FM VSTi I own. Even when using a distortion patch the sound is clean enough to layer well and avoid muddying the mix.

This has to be the coolest looking VSTi on the market. It is deceptively simple and makes programming PlasticZ fun and efficient. When someone wants to see my setup, PlasticZ is one of the first synths I load onto the screen. Too bad more VSTi’s don’t have this combination of good looks and usable interface.

RobertRead Review