Universal Audio has made it tough to ignore this crystalline morphing synthesizer.

Price: $20pm (UAD Spark bundle subscription).

No matter what blend of engine modes you are using, the wide choice of filters, extensive modulation and top-notch effects make for a sublimely versatile synthesizer that’ll be as satisfying for sound designers as it surely will be for musicians and producers.” In our review, we said: “Pigments is an exceptionally deep and powerful synthesizer, oozing with capability and flexibility. You’re given a wealth of modulators and effects to choose from and an advanced sequencing engine to transform your unique patches into musical movements. Considering how deep and intuitive it was before these additions, it’s now one of the more capable soft synths out there, by far.

Pigments 3 takes it to new levels with additive synthesis, 64 new wavetables and a new Utility engine. Synthesis: Virtual analogue, wavetable, additive, sample and granularĪrturia’s Pigments has been a roaring success, with the previous iteration being voted as the best soft synth of the year by our readers in 2020.Perhaps it’s best to consider them as cousins if you have to, but certainly not closer relatives than that.” It’s Massive then, and yet, of course, it isn’t an update to Massive in the strictest sense. In our review, we said: “The Massive X bonuses are the stupid numbers of modulation options, the insert effects that can be oscillators, the Reaktor-like Routing section, the noise – how much? – the sounds (the sounds!) and the looks (and resizable screen!). There are also three blocks of 10 send effects, nine filter types and two additional phase-modulation oscillators to load up on top of the two main wavetable oscillators. Massive X is certainly worth experimenting with, boasting a plethora of modulation possibilities, a unique routing section, over 170 wavetables and 10 wavetable modes.

The long-awaited update, Massive X, arrived in 2019 with a totally new design – so different, in fact, that NI has kept the original Massive available to download as a different entity. Native Instruments’ Massive made a name for itself during the rise of dubstep, thanks to a rich sonic palette and modulation engine that made it ideal for complex, moving basslines. The best software polyphonic synthesizers at a glance: We’ve rounded up 19 of our favourites, all with their own quirks that will keep you busy for hours on end. READ MORE: 10 of the best freeware soft synthsįrom legendary models to complex modular setups and newfangled instruments, there are countless software polys to choose from.Software can faithfully emulate iconic models, offer brave new sounds, and even present fresh ways to synthesise audio – all at prices that are typically far lower than their physical counterparts. There are many reasons to opt for a software synthesizer over a hardware one.

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