Which synth would be the best of the various synths that have been in Sonar over time?

Yeah, I know there's not necessarily one synth that's best for everything... I'm asking cause I've not recorded anything in a while, and I have these spurious memories of various synths in past versions of Sonar, and I've looked at the Z3TA+ 2 blurb, which reads like its really great...
 
You know, it always sounds fantastic what you can do with these, until you find out you need to get a PHD on that particular synth to work it well, and in another year its gone again and you find yourself reading about new synths that are even more fantastic, but you need a new PHD specific to the new one you pick.
 
So, the question, not shortened for a thread title would be like:  What old synth would you replace with Z3TA+ 2, and should you?  I presume it doesn't compete so much with dream station, cause that's more of a sample modeling thing?
 
I'm lost...
compass anyone?

This is an invitation to a gunfight. FWIW, Z3TA+2 has never been included with SONAR. It has been included in special bundles, like the X1 Production Suite. The original version of Z3TA+ is bundled with SONAR. I expect each synth has it's champions and the answer may depend on the musical style. My long standing favorite of the Cakewalk synths is Rapture.

Z3TA+2 is not only one of the best sounding software synths out there, it's also extremely well designed too. The interface is a joy to use.

Z3TA+2 is not only one of the best sounding software synths out there, it's also extremely well designed too. The interface is a joy to use.

+1 on Rapture. I loved it when it first came out and still do. Almost all my projects use it in some capacity.
 
I did a comparison of the Rapture "Minimoog filter sound" with the Arturia Minimoog on Harmony Central, and no one could tell the difference. So I even use it for VA-type applications.

scook
Not gonna directly plug the Minimoog Tribute Expansion Pack? That and Muz3um for Rapture (available from patcharena.com) covers a lot of vintage sound. My biggest gripe is the Rapture screen has not scaled to accommodate my failing eyesight.

Thank you for plugging it for me...but since you opened the door, there's also the Electronic Guitars expansion pack, and a video demo of it on YouTube
 
The fact that I came up with two expansion packs tells you something right there about how much I like Rapture. I did them for myself; I wasn't planning on offering them for sale, but the Bakers convinced me otherwise.
 

Yeah, too bad VSampler is in the state it is in. Could use an update. Did like that one but had to give it up after moving to 64bit. Picked up Tassman4 based on the version included with SONAR.

Although I think Rapture is underrated, if I had to choose just one, it would have to be Zeta. I usually don't compare va synths to romplers because they serve such different purposes. I will say that Zeta stacks up better against thirdy party comparable synths than dim pro does. I like dim pro but, it takes a little more than competition to sit well in mix for me. With that said there are outstanding sounds and I do like that it is not the same overused Nexus sounds you hear in pop music

Rapture and DimPro are much alike, but have different soundsets.  Rapture is more "synthy" for a lack of better words, while DimPro is more of a sampler.  It comes w/ 7 gigs or so of content, while Rapture is much smaller but includes a lot of single wave forms.  Both come w/ plenty of presets, tho they cover different territory.  IF you are looking for acoustic emulations, 1st stop is DimPro, tho the Dimension folder has plenty of spacey, developing sounds.  Synths, Rapture, esp. with all its step sequencers.
 
Z3TA and Z3TA 2 are virtual analog (VA) synths.  Again, if you are looking for synths, it is a good place to shop.  Lots of arps, bass etc.  Compared to Rapture and DimPro, it is a thicker sound, more analogish.  A lot of dance producers use it.  The other two synths cut through a mix nicely, even when doing analog waves.
 
All have their charms and champions here.  I tend to use all three, plus Kontakt, plus Alchemy.
 
@

n13L5
Thanks for the input...
 
I'm not sure what you mean by 'too much of an open door' in regards to Z3TA 1
What does VA stand for?
 
I'm not really focused on whether something is the 'current style' or modern or old or anything, Its just if some particular sound attracts me and seems to fit the arrangement, and if the software is streamlined and somewhat quick to use.

I just meant that you asked which one would replace with Z3TA+ 2. The most obvious answer is Z3TA+ 1 as the second is basically an updated version of the first. VA is Virtual Analog, which describes most of the way Z3TA+ works (subtractive synthesis). It's not really useful to pit it against a sample playing synthesizer like Dimension Pro, so I meant the VA comment to place it in a category of similar synths, like Massive, U-HE Diva, etc.
I don't know what kinds of sounds you're looking for, if it's bread and butter sounds including acoustics you shouldn't be looking at Z3TA+ at all, 1 nor 2, but at sample playing stuff like Dimension Pro or some NI Kontakt bundle. If it's more vintage style analog sounds you like, you might consider getting a pack from Arturia or Korg, both of which have some great emulation of classics. I have OP-X Pro II myself, in that last category, and I like it a lot. If you're more into modern synth sounds, Z3TA+ is a competitor, together with Massive and Sylenth.
 
Just to show there are many needs and flavors. I couldn't have just one synth myself.

SanderxpanderJust to show there are many needs and flavors. I couldn't have just one synth myself.

true...
 
thanks a lot for the added detail and various clarifications!
 
The whole discussion does help a lot in revealing some shapes out of the fog!
 
I was using vsampler as my sample player in the past, I guess I'll familiarize myself with Dimension Pro now.
 
As for synthesizers, I'm not really laden with preferences or seeking any particular sound I've heard before.  The closest thing to a preference would be a well done, inviting (and fun) interface, that lures you in, rather than repelling you. (which is an art in itself to build)
 
My favorite would be a PC-synth capable of using my Android phone or Tablet as a realtime input!!

n13L5My favorite would be a PC-synth capable of using my Android phone or Tablet as a realtime input!!

If it can be an iOS device it's already very possible. I use my iPad with Lemur all the time to control various synths. It's a great partner to Reaktor for weird stuff. Since you seem to enjoy a wide variety of sounds, including acoustics, I would suggest NI Komplete or Spectrasonics Omnisphere for a real upgrade. Neither of them is super simple to program but since you seem to be undecided on a specific type of synthesis, this is a problem you'll run into anyway - needing to learn many different parameters and screens. I suppose Omnisphere at least sticks to one "engine".

EDIT:
Let me amend that. That would be my recommendation for gaining access to a wide variety of sounds, which I took from your statement about not really having a preference for any specific sound. Both Komplete and Omnisphere are kinda "catch-alls" in that sense. If you are talking about an interface that invites you to tweak and make your own sound, I will have to go with a "knobby" hardware synth any day. I can heartily recommend something like the reissued MS20-mini from Korg, a Sub Phatty from Moog or a Bass Station 2 from Novation. All of these are true analog subtractive synths, meaning they're what nearly all virtual analog are designed to copy. This means they lack in convenience in the sense that they don't save their preset inside your project, etc. but they make up for it in sound quality and "fun to play". If you enjoy synth sounds, that is, cause you will never get a realistic piano or violin from them, plus the ones I mentioned are all monophonic. Honestly the very best option to learn synthesis on right now would be an MS20 mini, as it is true one-knob-per-function. It doesn't have menu's because it has no memory. The sound is what you set the knobs to. While this is limiting, it will also exponentially increase your understanding of other synths, including soft synths, most of which are based around some kind of subtractive synthesis.

I am using Rapture, Dim Pro and Z3TA +2 plus others all the time.  They all sound very good and it is what strikes me at that time which one to use.  (Sorry for the "which one is best" rating)

+1 on z3ta. Love this beast. Best synth for all Dance and Electro genres.

Sanderxpander

n13L5My favorite would be a PC-synth capable of using my Android phone or Tablet as a realtime input!!

If it can be an iOS device it's already very possible.

I boycott Apple for annoying me incredibly when I had an iPhone, fighting me every step of the way with just about everything I wanted to do on that ****ed phone. I'm used to set up devices to work the way I want, but Apple wants you to do only what they want and how they want. All those wasted hours, having to jailbreak the stupid thing with every update, I'll never forgive them.
 

SanderxpanderIt's a great partner to Reaktor for weird stuff. Since you seem to enjoy a wide variety of sounds, including acoustics, I would suggest NI Komplete or Spectrasonics Omnisphere for a real upgrade. Neither of them is super simple to program but since you seem to be undecided on a specific type of synthesis, this is a problem you'll run into anyway - needing to learn many different parameters and screens. I suppose Omnisphere at least sticks to one "engine".

EDIT:
Let me amend that. That would be my recommendation for gaining access to a wide variety of sounds, which I took from your statement about not really having a preference for any specific sound. Both Komplete and Omnisphere are kinda "catch-alls" in that sense. If you are talking about an interface that invites you to tweak and make your own sound, I will have to go with a "knobby" hardware synth any day. I can heartily recommend something like the reissued MS20-mini from Korg, a Sub Phatty from Moog or a Bass Station 2 from Novation. All of these are true analog subtractive synths, meaning they're what nearly all virtual analog are designed to copy. This means they lack in convenience in the sense that they don't save their preset inside your project, etc. but they make up for it in sound quality and "fun to play". If you enjoy synth sounds, that is, cause you will never get a realistic piano or violin from them, plus the ones I mentioned are all monophonic. Honestly the very best option to learn synthesis on right now would be an MS20 mini, as it is true one-knob-per-function. It doesn't have menu's because it has no memory. The sound is what you set the knobs to. While this is limiting, it will also exponentially increase your understanding of other synths, including soft synths, most of which are based around some kind of subtractive synthesis.

Thank you so very much for all the details on synths and their sounds!  The MS20 sounds like the old days before computers, with that one affordable Korg synthesizer I had, forgot the name... lots of plugs and knobs, no memory ^^
One day, I had a great sound, the next day, I couldn't get it back :)