i heard this phrase before but never understood it

what are the "bread and butter" synth sounds

and what is not included in that?

 

Basic common sounds that are used a lot - generally for typically instruments, like synth/workstations it means pianos, strings, brass, organs, various basses etc. A broad range of standard sounds for most uses.

If in terms of synth sounds only, then you're generally looking at simple pads, a variety of synth basses, standard simple leads and so on.

 

you talking about u-he hive

 

Let's start from the definition of the expression itself:
Bread and butter is sometimes used to mean something ordinary, something that is everyday.

So bread and butter synth sounds are the ones that are very commonly used for repetitive tasks.

 

Like all wrote before

For example:
U-he Zebra 2, Hive 2
Native Instruments all Stuff . (but specially Massive)
Serum
(In this context synth sounds not synths itself) Nexus.
VPS Avenger
Spire
Omnisphere 2
Sylenth1
Pigments
DUNE 3
and build in Synths of your DAW (exception Reaper)

(The Fat ones are in my opinion the best all in one solutions )
All other are great as well but sometimes are bit more specialists in one or other synthesis.

Large Preset library (Zebra build in 550 but on sister site 24,000 in one pack) (Omnisphere 14,000 build in (9223 Patches, 5,439 Soundsources/Samples of Synths and more)) (Serum and Zebryfy (Zebra 2) external effect rack) to build awesome sounds)

Why large library matter in this case = good staring point for analysis and shows the capability of the synth.
Zebra 2 is often titled the working horse and that's for a good Reason.
I would say it's the definition of bread and butter in one synth

 

Sounds which sylenth can make

 

I don't know if there's such thing as a "bread and butter" sound because if one thing gets used a lot it gets old very quickly. Like the supersaw in the early 00's or the DX7/TX816 piano in the 80's.

 

imOSCar 2-"Singing Theremin"
Arturia ARP2600 "Put the Strings"
TAL V2 U.NO-LX "Strings 3"
Roland Jupiter 8 "a bunch of sounds ive done
Korg Arp Odyssey

to name a few. I do wish i could find a good ARP OMNI 2 Vst

 

My two favorite bread and butter synth sounds are beowww, beowww and whizzz, whizzz.
Popularized by the original Minimoog.
Check out some Rick Wakeman for classic examples.

 

Back in ye olde days, that meant: your fat sawtooth brass sound, your nice square wave string patch, your fat MiniMoog lead/bass and maybe a bad organ patch- at least in synth terms. In overall keys terms it meant: A brass sound, a string sound, an organ sound, a piano and/or electric piano and a lead sound. Bonus points if you had a clavinet sound. All the bases covered.

Now, I don't know that it means anything...

BTW also chack out early late 70s Rush for awesome "peoww, peoww" MiniMoog. ;)