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!!

What else?

https://www.youtube.com/w...e=youtube_gdata_player

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.

Z3ta+2 - Its powerful with some interesting sound shaping options once you start "rolling your own", however with some of the wave shaping options you would need to get pretty experienced before you can envisage the exact effect a change to the parameters will make to the sound.
 
I like Pentagon, there are a couple of bugs with the "valley simulators" but all in all its a very nice traditional virtual analogue. Square and Triangle aren't half bad either.
 
Rapture is a beast but it does not quite click with me, I am not sure why but I need to do what i did with Z3ta and stop judging it by its EDM heavy presets. I do like Craig's Electronic Guitars expansion however.
 
I tend to think of Dim Pro as more of a Sample player or ROMplier and it works well in that role.

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)

n13L5
I was using vsampler as my sample player in the past, I guess I'll familiarize myself with Dimension Pro now.

If you are looking for a VSampler replacement and do not want to make the NI investment in Kontakt, have a look at TX16Wx. While it supports fewer formats, it is free. it is an actively developed product. Some have trouble with the current release and find the beta works better for them.

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

+1 Rapture.... it lives up to it's name!

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 :)

You're probably thinking about the actual MS10 or 20, it's basically a slightly smaller scaled reissue, even created with help from the original engineers and blueprints :)
The idea is that if you know how an envelope, a filter and an LFO work, you should be able to make sense of most synth interfaces.
 
As for Apple, I really agree but sadly Android is really far behind on useful music apps. I have a love/hate relationship with my iPad as a result.