Actually I like the DSF strings CW gave us recently.  And also like my Superior Drummer 2.0 sounds as well as Session Drummer.  But as far as pianos, basses, woodwinds, etc.,...I still prefer my hardware.

Dim Pro has some decent sounds, but I really haven't found much in Z3TA or Rapture that is very usable in the type of music I do which ranges from 70's rock/pop/easy listening to country.

And I am by no means dissing any of CW's synths...just stating my personal prefs.

I think most of the bass sounds are musical. Just depends on what style of music you are doing and what you actually call music. I have most of the Zeta expansion packs, and I can say, I feel Zeta is more geared toward dubsteb and fills a spacific sound for soft synths of that gere, however you can still create simple electro bases with it too. I feel each soft synth fills a spacific sonic palete and has it's own sound that is unique onto itself. If I really want musical electro bases, I may look to D-cam, or really droney stuff Absynth, or very orginal digital waveforms FM8. I don't try to recreate the wheele with a new synth I try to surpass It.

Teds_Studio


Dim Pro has some decent sounds, but I really haven't found much in Z3TA or Rapture that is very usable in the type of music I do which ranges from 70's rock/pop/easy listening to country.

And I am by no means dissing any of CW's synths...just stating my personal prefs.

I think a lot of that is because the presets are geared towards electronic dance music. Both Z3ta and Rapture can deliver a lot more. There was a long discussion on the software forum a while back. Here is the link for those who don't stray down there. http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2674262
 
While you probably don't want a wobble bass or a hoover in your 70's rock track there is no reason why you have to limit yourself to a Minimoog or ARP Oddesy emulation either. I recommend checking out Xenos Soundworks "Vintage 70s and 80s" patch set for Z3ta+ and Z3ta 2, at the very least they are a good starting point and show another side of the synth.
  
 
I cut my synthesizer teeth on a EMS Synthi A (the suitcase version of the VCS3) in the early '70s. The waveshaping options of Z3ta were something we could only dream of, along with something that would stay in tune.
 

Hey sharke, check this out:

http://www.soundonsound.c./sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

OQ


I think most of the bass sounds are musical. Just depends on what style of music you are doing and what you actually call music. I have most of the Zeta expansion packs, and I can say, I feel Zeta is more geared toward dubsteb and fills a spacific sound for soft synths of that gere, however you can still create simple electro bases with it too. I feel each soft synth fills a spacific sonic palete and has it's own sound that is unique onto itself. If I really want musical electro bases, I may look to D-cam, or really droney stuff Absynth, or very orginal digital waveforms FM8. I don't try to recreate the wheele with a new synth I try to surpass It.

FM8 is one of my favorites for bass sounds. I think it has one of the largest ratios of clear, musical, usable electro bass sounds out there, and the effects are great. 

Vintage 70s and 80s

Glyn Barnes

Teds_Studio


Dim Pro has some decent sounds, but I really haven't found much in Z3TA or Rapture that is very usable in the type of music I do which ranges from 70's rock/pop/easy listening to country.

And I am by no means dissing any of CW's synths...just stating my personal prefs.

I think a lot of that is because the presets are geared towards electronic dance music. Both Z3ta and Rapture can deliver a lot more. There was a long discussion on the software forum a while back. Here is the link for those who don't stray down there. http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2674262
 
While you probably don't want a wobble bass or a hoover in your 70's rock track there is no reason why you have to limit yourself to a Minimoog or ARP Oddesy emulation either. I recommend checking out Xenos Soundworks "Vintage 70s and 80s" patch set for Z3ta+ and Z3ta 2, at the very least they are a good starting point and show another side of the synth.
  
 
I cut my synthesizer teeth on a EMS Synthi A (the suitcase version of the VCS3) in the early '70s. The waveshaping options of Z3ta were something we could only dream of, along with something that would stay in tune.
 

I checked out the Xenos Soundworks patches and they sound great, may well snap those up. I'm a sucker for retro 80's synth sounds. 

Yea, a lot of the basses are special effects kind of sounds perfect for dance/electronica styles.  To clear up and get started w/ Z3TA 1/2 or any thickened bass find the ocillator on/off.  Start turning them off and see if you can get something more "pitchy" - clear and musical.  If preset one doesn't work, go to bass 2 and solo the osc.  Rinse and repeat.

I often "hear" something interesting in a patch and proceed until I isolate it.  Then build up around it, either w/in the same synth or layering w/ another interesting sound found in another synth.  Programming made simple.

@

Kenneth


Hey sharke, check this out:

http://www.soundonsound.c./sos/allsynthsecrets.htm

Great links, thanks. I vowed to give me ears a rest tonight so will read through those. 

Sharke-  Yep.. the standard presets seem geared toward dubstep and electronic dance music (which I like some of), but DO check out the Xenos (and DSF) sound paks.  You may find some useable sounds there.  I bought the Powerhouse Dance and Vintage 70s and 80s paks and am pretty pleased with them.

There seems to be TONS of tweakability in Z3ta, so we probably ougtta learn some programming...  LOL

I've used some of the bass sounds in Z3ta+2 and think they're great... of course they want you to buy other sound kits... if you hookup a sub to your studio monitor station, you really notice them... I often double the bass guitar with a synth and it sounds grand.