Loom Additive Synth

This is a lovely sounding additive instrument. I recently came into posession of a hardware Kawai K5000W which is an additive monster and it has a very unique sound. Loom sounds very similar. Listen to the audio demos they are very cool. And a third the price right now is extra value.
 
If you have not got anything of an additive sound in your setup this is a marvelous way to get into it. Interesting thing about additive instruments is that they definitely create sounds no others do and the bottom end is always very controlled and does not build up even with multiple overdubs. Once you start layering additive sounds amongst sample based and analog synths and the more conventional digital synths (PCM but interesting programming options eg Roland JD800) very nice sounds result.
 
Additive synths fit into your mix very easily too. Additive instruments can emulate analog sounds very well too as well as deeply complex sounds. (I have discovered all the analog sounds on the K5000W and they are amazingly convincing!) Synthmaster is another great VST instrument as well.

Chandler
How is it compared to Harmor? Also does it require iLok or any other difficult copy protection?

I have Harmor and I think it's the brilliant product of a mad scientist.  Harmor's documentation is thoroughly inadequate.  It might be one of my favorite synths if I understood it better.  Or maybe it just needs a comprehensive Groove3 course like Loom has.
 
But there are problems with Loom.  On the positive side, it looks like the most straightforward additive instrument I have (others are Alchemy, Harmor and the other ImageLine additive instrument, the hame of which momentarily escaptes me).  I installed it yesterday - but I have not authorized it yet.  There's an unlock code that you get upon purchase but I don't know if there are difficult hoops to jump through, other than it appears to be easier if your DAW is connected to the net. 
 
Here's what I just wrote in KVR Loom thread about the install:
 
The installation process is absolutely appalling.  It doesn't ask which versions you want (32-bit, 64-bit, AAX), it just installs them all.  Screw you if you want to conserve disk space.  And of course it doesn't ask where you want the dlls.  Furthermore, it puts the 32-bit and 64-bit VSTs in the same directory - under Programs (x86).  Then to add insult to injury, you must search for the dll in order to add the path to your DAW's VST location list (or to move it to your well-ordered system of VST organization).
 
What a load of crap!  It may be that these guys, having been primarily a ProTools development shop, don't have a clue as to what the world outside of ProTools expects in the way of installation, but if they're selling products, they need to get a clue.  I'd be very unlikely to make another purchase from them.
 
Oh yeah, and the documentation gets a C-minus, and that's only if I'm feeling charitable.

I hate installers like that.  Like many music producers don't have multiple harddrives, and their own setup folders.  

I decided not to go with this in the end.  After doing some research I found the install is very bad and not well designed and even capable of breaking things on your system so beware.
 
The synth itself is great I think but the problem is that it was originally designed for Pro Tools only so the install is still based on one program only and installing into one place only.  What they have not done well here is adapt this install over to VST approaches and many DAW's installs hence making it a bad idea.  It requires you to go in and find unwanted or unneeded files and removing them etc and also placing the DLL files manually where they have to go.  Not good.
 
I have got a hardware Kawai K5000 which is also a very amazing sounding additive instrument.  After comparing and listening to the Loom demos and the Kawai I am still hearing the Kawai sounding a little better, more robust and generally fatter.
 
If you have got Native 'Prism' by any chance you will see very strong similaraties between it and Loom. 'Prism' also has some very cool features as well in how harmonics are modulated.  More so than Loom in some areas.  'Prism' is very deep.

Maybe if we all email them about the install, they will update it.  Little things like these can really hurt sales.

Ah...  Maybe it was a Pace license.  I know it was the same scheme as a different freebie plugin that I liked, but a year ago may as well be a decade in my memory capacity.  
 

I actually haven't had any problems with my ilok, though it sucks having to pay the yearly service fee to make sure nothing happens to your liceneses.

I've been thinking about it and I think I'll pick this up. I have synthmaster already, but it's additive synth features aren't anywhere near as deep. From the clips and demos it seems to be able to do modern digital sounds really well and the bass sounds solid. I hope the licensing doesn't make me regret my decision.