This is a video review, via Dischord, of VirSyn Addictive Synth – a new iPad software synthesizer:
The depth of this synthesizer is both taunting and inviting. With so many morph and modulation options there is a lot of fun to be had.
The bottom line? Addictive Synth is addictive as advertised.
Addictive Synth is $5.99 in the App Store.
If you’ve used Addictive Synth yourself, leave a comment with your thoughts on it!
I dig it. Love the arpegg. Love the roll the dice feature (An original Omnisphere concept if I am not mistaken) and love the draw your own wave tables. Cannot wait to use it in a track.
/puts on my grammar Nazi hat
I think the word is "daunting" and not "taunting".
/takes off my grammar Nazi hat and puts on my bumble bee slippers
Nice review btw.
Eh, it was originally daunting, but I felt that was a bit harsh. I don't think the complexity is too terribly daunting, but it taunts you to learn all that it can do.
Bought it yesterday, this thing growls. Love the instant unexpected experimentation results. Can't wait to hook up via midi and see how it flies.
Thanks Virsyn!
I loaded up a preset and hit the random button a few times– instant Gary Numan "Cars" synth strings! It has a great sound and is fun at any level, beginner to advanced. There's a feature where the on-screen keys don't have to be quantised so that you can get variations in pitch depending on where you touch the key. Used properly, it can add enough detune to give it an "analogish" flavor. The filter (and other parameters) varies on how close to the edge of the key you touch (like on SynthX). With some sounds, I prefer this performance method over the perfect tuning of the MIDI keyboard via the Camera Connection Kit.
I love this synth. The appegiator is great and intuitive, and the easiest to modify. Haven't tried any app that does it better?
excellent synth for a very small price. i have had many many hours of fun with it already.
Cute, but a) the last thing I really want is to sound like Gary Numan b) because music is being turned into a video game more and more, the results are sounding more cookie-cutter all the time and c) iPads are WAY too underpowered for $600. How "portable" do you think things have to BE? Call me when there's an iPad that does what my desktop will do without choking. Yeah, I'm a bit of a hard sell in these matters, but there's too much of a disconnect between "making" music and actually learning to play a more tangible instrument. If you can even halfway play a keyboard, woodwind or guitar, you are miles ahead of someone who got into it because touchpads and preset loops were sexy. I hear much better material coming from those who have ADDED such things to their existing musical skills. It just plain has more heart.
So is that what the "Q" button is? I saw it but wasn't hearing the change.
Fungo – why you have to go harshing on Mr. Gary Numan? Did he steal your car or something? But Seriously, I hear what you are saying… I get it, but these "synth toys" on our iPads give us inspiration to come up with new licks and the sound tone can definitely affect the outcome and guide the path… I cannot (easily) take my Jupiter 8 out into the back yard and sip on a gin and tonic while I futz around and come up with that next great pop hook. Something to be said for such untethered freedom.
Not everyone is trying to be the next big producer or pop star. I don't pretend to even "write" full tracks on a regular basis. I enjoy synthesizers in their various forms. Sometimes I'm in the mood to mess around on my Arp 2600. Sometimes I want to work up a groove on TechnoBox 2 (iPhone). Other days, it's the "tangibility" of the Disklavier Most of the time this creative process is more enjoyable to me than listening to someone's "new" Dubstep rehash or prog rock noodle. I'm enjoying the portability of the iPad for work, church, entertainment, AND even synthesis. It's a heck of a lot more portable than my CS-80. Does it replace my favorite tools? No. It's a nice addition, though.