Want to hire - Access Virus Ti or other kick-ass dance synth

[AllGreenMan]

Hey,

Have you tried any backline hire companies in your area? I know there are a couple in Syd/Melb where you can hire a Nord Lead or Korg Triton say... but unfortunately I'm not familiar with QLD.

Hope this helps!

I'm sure you're onto this already, but guitar pedals are great for livening up synths...

[Hybrid88]

Unless you're specifically after the drift or organic sound of analog's there is software out there that can do everything the virus can.

Look at NI's Massive, Sylenth, U-he Diva etc, Rob Papen Blue/Albino, and then of course outboard processing or even software like the PSP plugs can help a lot.

Just my 2¢

[AllGreenMan]

No worries.

In terms of what to buy, that's a big ol' can of worms... I have a virus TI and a Nord Stage and they're both incredible. Lots of possibilities. I think they're great for the workflow- polyphony, no CPU problems, massive range of sounds, being able to turn real knobs and access parameters quickly and easily etc.
However, if you're looking to go beyond soft synths you could go analog. I end up using my analog synths more than my digital ones. Take a look at something like the Dave Smith Prophet '08 or Poly Evolver as a good all-rounder. (The new Prophet 12 looks incredible too but it's not out yet...) If you're only looking for leads and don't need polyphony a Moog Voyager or Little Phatty is great.

Good luck!

[ChrisW]

A dance producer friend of mine has a Poly Evolver, but when I asked him to recommend a new poly for me, he said go soft. I already have Massive and like it, also FM8.
I've had Diva for a while and got put off by trying to use it at the max quality. Now I've settled for medium quality it still sounds great, and the library is very good for dance.

My main synths are hardware, but more dark techno than mainstream dance (dirty sounding SP Synthacon and the weirder end of Euro rack modular).

[chribble]

Angus if you were in sydney I'd lend you mine

Virus ti does that sound you want for the hyperdetuned lead

Dsi is sexier but ultimately softer sounding.

[Hybrid88]

...(The new Prophet 12 looks incredible too but it's not out yet...)

+1 that would be a great choice for an all-rounder.

[Julian Nichols]

+1 for Diva, Sylenth and Massive. Especially Diva. I probably use Diva more than my Arturia Minibrute.

For giving soft synths more bite, I get good results using the UAD Moog Multimode filter, even just increasing the drive through it can do wonders. For bass synths the UAD Voice of God can work well also.

[jkhuri44]

hey mate, a recommendation for some phat softs:

FM8 (with slight detune, full stereo pan... holy f....)
NI Massive , may fav synth, suitable for harsher sounds.
Camel Audio Alchemy - very full featured.
Synth 1 (freeware VST clone of Nord Modular)
Oscar VST (emulates the oscar synth)
Cakewalk Zeta 3 (awesome all rounder)

[jkhuri44]

+1 on the Rob Papen, and Sylenth...sylenth sounds monster, i didnt see that there before.

[Manning]

No love for Omnisphere?

That's my fave soft by a long way.

[jkhuri44]

No love for Omnisphere?

That's my fave soft by a long way.

ive never actually used it tbh, i used to use Atmosphere a few years ago which was awesome, i shold check out Omni.

[Manning]

Well I can't lend it to you, but you're welcome to come over to the house (in Epping) whenever you want and play with it.

[jkhuri44]

cool man might hit you up.

[Chinagraf]

Nexus is good for mainstream remix stuff as far as softies go. Leads aren't mindblowing but pads and polys are good, and the arp and gate are preyy easy to setup. Downside is you can't program your own stuff from scratch. Another +1 for Sylenth, some great sound in there and good to program.
Analogs are great for doing your own stuff, but for me personally having done a lot of remixing, good softies work well and make the endless tweaks clients want a lot easier. That may be because I only have old analogs though. Also, I am lazy.

[ChrisW]

Omnisphere is too nice IMO. Always sounds big and lush, which isn't right for most dance, or it sounds dirty in a cheesy 50 year old guy way (I'm over 50).
You could use it for atmosphere and lush pads in dance, and it would be great. Or you could get into heavy editing, removing all the nice fx and building club synth patches from scratch, but things like Massive, Diva and FM8 get you there straight away.
I really like Spectrasonics and Omnisphere, but I haven't found a space for the plug-in in my dance music.

[chribble]

My friend Laurence swears by Sylenth.

I f*ng love my virus though

[Julian Nichols]

I'll just leave this here...

I know which I'd choose (and I think Angus is on the money).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyrN6VMp7Wc
(Shootout between Synth1, Sylenth, Virus Ti and Nova)

Although if I was buying something I'd think pretty long and hard about getting a Prophet 12 instead (when it drops).

[chribble]

If you choose sylenth I recommend sounds by arksun
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=X72h_PIS ... 72h_PISACo