I'm interested which stock synths are the best for pop and EDM.
Your experiences, maybe links to the tracks made with them
(tell us which factory presets have been used then)

 

I know a few rather successful artists who use Ableton's Operator almost exclusively.

But imho it's not about who did what with which stock-synth. I'm sure you can make great stuff with all of them. For example i never got used to fm, I don't like operater, but it's still a great synth I have no doubt about it.

 

Thanks,

should have a look at it

 

could we have link(s) to those tracks?

 

i think it's impossible to find something stock better than Retrologue/Padshop in Cubase

Retrologue is a decent virtual analog, with very good sounding oscillators, and Padshop is a unique machine with many many possibilities (mixing sampling, granular synth), a great piece of virtual gear

 

Alchemy in Logic is closest probably, Retro Synth is ok too, Sculpture is very interesting physical modeling synth too, Drummer is ok too, think Logic definitely takes the cake based on stock stuff.

 

Logic probably has the largest selection and covers so much ground. A few are sorta dated by now, but still good. Ultrabeat was removed though because people complained about it all the time. There is also Studio Horns, Studio Strings, Vintage B3, Vintage Clav, Vintage Electric Piano, Vintage Mellotron. And then the Samplers, Drum Machine Designer, Drummer. And I am still probably missing one or more.

• Alchemy
• Retro Synth
• ES 1
• ES 2
• Sculpture
• Drum Synth
• Ultra Beat
• ES P (Poly), ES M (Mono), ES E (Ensemble)
• EFM1
• EVOC 20 PS

 

Cubase and Logic probably have the best sounding stock synths (IMO), but Ableton and Bitwig are not far behind.

Cubase and Logic have a more classic DAW workflow, and the synths are more or less just like any other VST/AU plugin.
Ableton and Bitwig (especially Bitwig) have their own certain workflows, and "devices" that you can build almost whatever synth you can think of from. If you don't have that much experience with creating your own synth patches, there's a ton of different packs you can buy or download for free.

FL Studio also has some really decent stock synths, but my experience with FL is very limited so I can't really compare it with the others.

 

Thanks to everybody,

also I'd know if the synths listed above work with other DAWs than native ones?

 

( ... i was just mentioning that Ableton has hundreds of stock synth. I doubt that anyone labeling all Ableton stock synths as boring has even tried them all but apparently people here don't like Ableto.. my bad)

 

Last edited: Jun 20, 2023

Logic would be a No; even though they are AU plugins and other DAW can use that format. I also think you cannot use the FX either.

From Google: the native plugins for Logic are not AUs, they are internal to Logic and cannot be used w/ a non-Apple app.

I take that to mean you can also use the Logic FX in Garage Band or Mainstage. (but i haven't ever tried).

 

Ok,seems, I found a little treasure...presets to the Cakewalk stock synth z3ta+2.1...I never used it before, but will do now due those presets
Actually, I started this thread because I got tired of the sounds of my synths, and I decided to look for something else,
it turns out that sometimes you just need to rummage through your trash

 

Reasynth

 

Was Cakewalk Rapture ever part of the DAW? It looks pretty decent and like you can use it in other DAW too. It has a similar appearance to the dark Spire.

 

Did you tried Surge?
There are a lot of presets for it and it's a very powerful synthesizer.

 

Harmor from Image Line is a really great synth, but it's only stock in the most expensive version of FL Studio I think, and for many people it looks a little complicated (maybe because it's additive features). The other FL Studio synths are fine. I really like the ES2 from Logic, and think it's one of the most popular stock plugins.

 

z3ta has always been good...recommended

 

Amen. Surge was a gem and now Surge XT is a goddamn 100 carat diamond.

Soundwise it has that similar digital sheen as has Z3ta, and there's as you said plenty of presets to get started. But it's also a really tweakable synth, not just a preset machine.