I usually don't do this because Steinberg's track record is even worst than NI, but it seems that maybe the folks in Hamburg may finally be adjusting w/ the real world. Maybe...

So, after a dongle-less Cubase Essential, they've recently released Retrologue and Padshop Pro, both of which are available for a 30 days trial - w/o a dongle - and both of which are very reasonably priced ($49). You just provide a name and an e-mail address and you get the download link.

Haven't had much time to spend on Padshop, but Retrologue really took me by surprise. To me, it's one of those inspiring synths - I've come up w/ 3 different basic songs ideas in the last half hour just browsing through the presets and customizing them a bit. 

I understand the basics of how to program synths, but I'm a guitar player, so programming patches from scratch comes just below re-stringing guitars on the fun scale. For whatever reason, I'm having fun tweaking Retrologue. And it just seems so dynamic.


In fact, it reminds me of my first encounter w/ the RGC synths . Though easier IMHO. (And of course, we aren't talking about anything remotely close to Zeta or Rapture in terms of complexity/possibilities here.) I don't know what it is, but I just find my way pretty instinctively around this one.







So I'm perplexed. I wouldn't normally recommend a Steinberg effect or synth. Exception made of a few licensed synths like the PPG or Plex, their synths never really impressed me. And w/ their track record, I wouldn't feel comfortable considering that the product may very well be discontinued w/in a year or two.


That being said, for $49, I'm taking the chance. It'll only last as long as it lasts, but I've spent more than that on a semi-decent bottle of red at the restaurant countless times.


So if your relation w/ soft synths is similar to mine, I'd say it's worth checking out the demo.

Retrologue certainly has a straightforward interface.  Anyone with a little subtractive synth experience could probably get by completely without any manual. 
 
Ah ... so tempting, but then yet another subtractive synth?  I've lost track of the ones I've already got installed.

Same here:)

Well - I have both Retrologue and Padshop Pro (they came with the rather cheap 6.0 to 6.5 upgrade for Cubase). I like both synths, and I think you can not go very wrong for the price (you are already trying them out and liked at least one of them I noticed). Be sure to buy the pro version of Padshop. The non-pro version does not allow you to use your own samples as base for the granular synthesis, but the pro version does. Using your own samples is lots of fun in my humble opinion.

Thanks for the heads-up Rain. I've been having a little play with Padshop and it looks pretty useful for those (like me) who like their textures. Will I buy it ? Still a maybe at the moment - $100 for us on this side of the water - still not bad I guess, but yeah Steinberg !
Anyway, FWIW for any non W7 users who may be curious about these, they're working just fine on XP for me, so don't let the the W7 only thing put you off trying them.

I bought it with the upgrade of cubase for 6.5...

padshop does share a bit with Iris but has 2 layers instead of 4... obv. Iris is more complex (it would want to be for the price!!)

I have some silly amount of synths.. like people and guitars / drums.. thats my thing.. but a lot do the add/sub style..

You're welcome Paulo. :)

I'm on Mac but I've noticed the same thing - all my Steinberg downloads (PadShop, Retrologue and Cubase Essential) say OS X Lion, but they all work just fine on the previous OS X. 
 
I'm still having a blast w/ Retrologue - I guess some synths just work for you, no matter if they're just yet another take on the same scene. And Halion Sonic SE, which I hadn't really took the time to mess w/ before - lots of fun. These are quite a change from the old Steinberg synths, like Monologue which were, IMHO, sub par compared to what other DAWs offered as bundled synths.

 I'm hoping to spend a bit more time w/ PadShop when we arrive in Vegas, but from what I've heard so far, I'll most likely end up buying it.

That being said, as I said before, buyer beware. I still don't totally trust Steinberg.

I have so many Steinberg members in my Software Cemetery (Dcota / Xphrase / Virtual anything) and Groove Agent 3 (still available sort of but not 64bit and no development for ages) that I JUST SIMPLY refuse to give them any more money - they are worse than NI if that is at all possible!!!!!! 
Nigel

I tried to google for an answer..but couldnt seem to find it.   Does this plug require a dongle at all (after demo)?  If so I wont even consider it.  Not that I should consider it anyway being Steinberg, lol.  But the OP makes me want to check it out.

Mandrake - no dongle required. 

As I mentioned, I can't honestly recommend buying it, but if you're in the market for such a synth, it is worth checking out. At which point, you're still free to decide whether you're willing to spend $50 on something that is pretty likely to be discontinued.

Personally, I've decided I could live w/ that.

Nigel - I know what you mean. I always though they were the absolute worst.