Spectrasonics Omnisphere - Virtual Instrument
Omnisphere from Spectrasonics is their new flagship virtual instrument and a successor to Atmosphere. The synthesizer combines a wide variety of real-time synthesis techniques with a huge 40GB core sound library. To hold all of this together while providing an elegant and easy-to-use interface, the development team at Spectrasonics created the STEAM Engine.
The STEAM Engine allows the user to process already interesting core samples with an intriguing set of synthesis and effects processor, thereby transforming the core material into truly inspiring sounds. The user interface features progressive layers of "zooming" that can be used by a wide range of users - from musicians who just want to be inspired by the sounds and customize them in an easy way, to the most advanced sound designers.
The sounds in the core library were acquired using various techniques including a new Composite Morphing Technique (CMT) which morphs the harmonic characteristics of one instrument to another. Additionally, parts of the core library include all of the Atmosphere content, along with a collection of some of Spectrasonics' award-winning sample libraries.
Eight independent arpeggiators can be used in a single multi-timbral instrument to allow for creating complete compositional sections. However, the real beauty of these arpeggiators is that they can be synchronized to the feel of any RMX drum loop via Groove Lock or any other MIDI file. This means no more conflicting rhythmic feels. Additionally, sounds can be modulated by multiple LFOs or by using advanced multi-breakpoint looping envelopes.
- Beautifully crafted virtual instrument with wide ranging sonic possibilities
- Simple interface design makes key features accessible to every user while advanced users can "zoom" into deeper and deeper layers to explore the instrument's synthesis capabilities
- Performance oriented Live Mode interface allows for seamless, interactive creative patch switching and layering on the fly
- Stack Mode interface allows for complex patch layering, splits and crossfades with control available via velocity, keyboard note and other controllers
- Sophisticated browser that is context specific with searching, sound attributes, descriptions and images
- Eight independent arpeggiators with Groove Lock - allows the arpeggiators to match the feel of Stylus RMX and/or MIDI files
- Eight-part multi-timbral with built-in mixer, auxiliary FX and mastering FX racks
- Advanced MIDI Learn and Automation parameter handling
- Comprehensive integrated Reference Guide
- Includes an extensive set of video tutorials and synthesis lessons available online to registered users
| System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Mac |
G5 2GHz or higher PowerPC compatible - Intel Core 2 Duo recommended OSX 10.4.9 or higher 2GB or more of RAM Dual Layer compatible DVD-ROM drive 50GB free hard drive space Host software that supports Audio Units, RTAS or VST plug-in formats |
| PC |
Pentium 3GHz or higher - Intel Core 2 Duo recommended Microsoft XP SP2 or Vista 2GB or more of RAM Dual Layer compatible DVD-ROM drive 50GB free hard drive space Host software that supports RTAS or VST 2.4 plug-in formats |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 3 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Home studio (3)
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 3 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-3
Pros
- Fat lush sounds
- Modulate between sounds
- Moving sounds
Cons
- 64 bit OS recommended
- Long load times for sound
- Memory hog
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Movie scoring
- Professional Recording
Comments about Spectrasonics Omnisphere - Virtual Instrument:
This product has great sounds, multi layered patches good for studio and movie production. Moving sound and realistic sound are great. Very good singal processing and ability to have multi layers of signal processing. The synth engine is pretty easy to program and easy to get good sounds. You cannot import or record your own samples. The down side is you
need a fast computer with multiple raid drives.
One of the best sounding VSTs but needs a fast computer and more importantly fast hard drive, either SSD or 3 hard drive raid 0 for best experience. I am running this on a 32 bit operating system with 4 gigs of ram. The average patch uses 1.5gb of ram. More for some of the complex patches. It takes forever to load. With 3 hard drives in raid 0 it takes about 2 to 3 seconds to switch between patches.
If you have a stout computer running a 64bit operating system and fast drives, it is a dream. But if you do electronic dance music and have a slower older computer with less ram, something like Alchemy might be better. As with everything in the computer world, better software requires more resources. In this product there is a mode which allows for smaller samples and less multi sampling, which would work better on a slower system with less ram but it removes subtle nuances in some of the sounds.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Home Studio
Comments about Spectrasonics Omnisphere - Virtual Instrument:
BEST SOUNDS I'VE PURCHASED SO FAR.
Pros
- Clear Sound
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
- Needs Powerful PC
- Pricey
Best Uses
- Home Studio
- Professional Recording
Comments about Spectrasonics Omnisphere - Virtual Instrument:
Omnisphere specializes in complex synth sounds ranging from soft and dreamy to harsh and scary. Many of the sounds are best used as pads, but there are great sounds for leads as well. The interface is deceptively simple, but you can actually play around a lot with the presets and significantly change their sound. Some of the presets are simple, but many of them have a complex and detailed sound that can easily stand solo for intros, extros or bridges.
The preset library is searchable, and the sounds are organized in categories and sub-categories, which also function as tags. Speaking of, the sound library is huge, 40+ gigabytes, so make sure you have the hard drive space available. Of course, a large hard drive footprint is not really a con in this software category!
One thing I love about the instrument, and this applies to other Spectrasonics instruments as well, is that one instance of the program can drive eight different instruments, on up to eight different outputs.
I use Omnisphere in a home DAW setup, and I couldn't be happier. I am not yet a published music professional, but I have been making music on my computer for a long time, and this is one of the best libraries of sounds I have ever heard.
Displaying reviews 1-3
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