Zargmusic - Ambient synth

FlameTop · Post by **FlameTop** » Fri Dec 01, 2000 6:17 am

I purchased the Ambient from Zarg after evaluating the demo. This is a big monster of a synth. A rich selection of sources (WaveTable, Osc, Wav) coupled with a two filters and two rotor effects, all bound together with a massive modulation matrix. Be warned, this synth is not for the faint hearted. Having said that, the richness of the sounds it can produce are stunning. I use it mainly for producing background textures and drones. The flexible modulation ensures the result is always interesting to the ear. The only real negative points are that due to its complexity it uses a whole load of DSP power. On my Pulsar II, a poly of 4 or 5 voices is the max possible on the whole card. What I tend to do is develop a sound on the Ambient, then sample the required drone into cubase. I then transfer this back to the sample player in Pulsar to get the rich sound without the DSP overhead. In summary, well worth the purchase price IMHO. FT

Post by **Guest** » Sun Dec 03, 2000 3:43 pm

I'm definetly in love w/ this synth... 'tis worth every bit of the money I paid... rich, analogous, dreamscape mmm.....

Ben Walker · Post by **Ben Walker** » Mon Dec 04, 2000 12:48 pm

This is definitely my favourite out of all the non-modular synths available for the Pulsar. I think the Zarg synths are the cream of the crop, but this one is the cream of the cream ! Only the modular offers you comparable flexibility, but even then you'd be (very) hard pressed to recreate the routing and modulation flexibility that this synth affords you. Having the Wav Oscillators adds enormous potential to the synth, and the modulation possibilities are extensive - you can modulate practically everything with practically everything else, without getting tied up with modular cables, etc. Not to mention the filter routing options. I really don't think you could recreate that level of flexibility with the Modular, or not without a nervous breakdown. Furthermore, the Ambient comes with some really class presets designed by John and Stephen Hummel. Perfect for Ambient textured sounds and rich atmospheric stuff. Maybe it's expensive in comparison to other soft synths, but I just think to myself - If I saw a hardware synth on sale at that price which was able to do what the Ambient can do, I'd think they'd left a zero off the price sticker! The only downside is that the Ambient is very hungry in terms of DSP. But it's really in a class of its own. The Ambient is the main reason I want to add a Pulsar II to my setup. That would be Ambient heaven.

Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 01, 2001 2:29 pm

What shall i say? This is one of my favorites at all! Between my Q, Virus, Nord Modular, FS1R and MS2000, the Ambient-synth found it's place. Trance, Dance, Ethnic ... never mind. Ambient is a strong Synth, a real Synth which is easy to use and got an own sound. Zarg's Presets are well done and i use it like a second Q! Ok, Ambient use much DSP-Power, but great sounds need POWER! At last i would like to recommend the Zarg-Synth-Bundle, each device sound fantastic, Zarg offer a nice and well working upgrade-pollicy, and John know what he is doing. Best Synths for PULSAR!

John Bowen · Post by **John Bowen** » Wed Jun 06, 2001 7:58 am

<a name="planetz-file"></a><a href="http://www.zargmusic.com/bp004data/item ... 0002"><img src="/forums/images/file_icon.gif" border="0" alt=" File"> File</a> <a name="planetz-tag"></a>Price ($USD): 199 <a name="planetz-tag"></a>Type: Synth _____________________________________ Inspired by the Waldorf Q, this synth has separate pre-filter panning for each oscillator. There are 4 pairs of sound sources, including 2 Waldorf oscs, 2 spectrum oscs, 2 WAV oscs, and 2 rotors ( the 'rotor' blends any 4 oscillator waveshapes at sub-audio or audio rates), plus several EXTENSIVE modulation matrix panels for pitch, waveshapes, filter, LFOs, panning, and envelope modulation.

jammie · Post by **jammie** » Fri Aug 24, 2001 10:55 am

ambient v2 is alot better than the layout of v1
i would not put the waldorf q in the same arena as the ambient
i had a showroom demo with a member of waldorf demoing staff and he did not impress me the demo bank of sounds were crap
the ambient is a whole lot of synth for your money there is no hardware equivelent the rotors is amazing you can choose up to 8 sound sources and the daul filters are fat you can use them in parallel or series and you can link them or have them inderpendantly controlled the modulation matrix is well thaught out you can modulate almost every aspect of the synth you can pan all eight sound sources in different intervals a great soundscape creater
john bowden is the synth guru off old and he is the synth guru of the future pro5,korg wavestation, profet vs. just a few of his creations