Native Instruments has been a leader in the world of digital music production since the 1990s. The company started as a group of DJ’s and producers who wanted to create software that could help them make music. Today, Native Instruments is still innovating with products like Absynth which is one of the most popular synths on the market.
Since Absynth’s release, NI has continued to expand its reach and serve musicians in a more advanced way than ever before. In this review, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about Absynth 5, including a deep-dive of the plugin’s main features, costs involved and a discussion of its pros and cons.
- | What Is Native Instruments Absynth 5?
- | Absynth 5 Overview
- | How Much Is Absynth 5?
- | Is Absynth 5 Worth It?
- | Absynth 5 Pros & Cons
- | Artists That Use Absynth 5
Without further ado, let’s get started!
| What Is Native Instruments Absynth 5?
Native Instruments Absynth 5 is an advanced software synthesizer renowned for its innovative sound design capabilities and unique evolving sounds and textures. Its state-of-the-art sound mutating capabilities inspires complex and unique sound design and is the solution for musicians needing something a little out of the ordinary.
Absynth comes with an impressive array of effects and a huge library of diverse sounds, ranging from traditional piano presets to complex and evolving atmosphere sounds. Absynth includes an abundance of unique sound generating methods such as subtractive synthesis, FM, wavetable, granular sampling and more. It also features a uniquely flexible envelope control that allows sounds to be gently or radically modified.
| Absynth 5 Overview
User Interface
The user interface in Native Instruments Absynth contains similarities to other products made by the same company. The futuristic and alien-like graphic layout is an experience in itself, setting the mood and tone of the synth. The only downside of the interface is that in some areas, it can be difficult to find what you’re looking for. With the plugin being so advanced, NI have had to cram an exorbitant amount of complex sound design features into a single plugin.
Browser Window
In the Browser Window you can search and load your Absynth sounds as well as organize them into programs. The Browser window is where you can experiment with Absynth’s 1800+ included sound presets. To help you find a particular sound, Absynth’s presets are divided into categories: Instrument, Source, Timbre, Articulation and Genre.
Navigation Bar
The Navigation Bar is located at the top of the Absynth interface and consists of two lines. The top line contains the Absynth logo, the different window tabs, the record button, the CPU meter, the input and output level meters and the panic button. Below you will find the options to load and save sounds as well as navigate through the sounds.
Window Tabs
Perform – The Perform Window gathers all of the signals that control parameters in Absynth 5. Here you will also find global settings affecting each of the presets.
Wave – The Wave window provides you with a selection of drawing tools and functions in order to create custom Waveforms according to your needs. You can select from a wealth of waveform presets and even draw your own waveforms using your computer’s mouse.
Patch – The Patch Window is the control centre of Absynth 5 and is where you assemble the components that make up a sound. These components contribute to producing and shaping the desired output.
Envelope – Envelopes are the heart of the Absynth synthesizer and offer a flexible and unique way of controlling the synth. Absynth 5 provides envelopes with up to 68 breakpoints for modulating different parameters of the plugin.
Effect – In the Effect Window you can apply and manipulate effects and select from a variety of routing options. The six effects you can select from include Pipe, Multicomb, Multitap, Echoes, Resonators and Aetherizer.
LFO – Absynth has three LFO’s, which can be used for modulation. They each contain an oscillator section in the upper margin as well as three modulation sections underneath.
| What Is Absynth 5 Good For?
Absynth 5 is best for producers looking for sounds that are a little out of the ordinary. Although Absynth 5 is more than capable of creating any kind of sound imaginable, it is traditionally known to be the go-to synth for ambient, atmospheric and evolving sounds. Absynth’s 1800+ included sound presets are sorted into dozens of different categories so you can find exactly the kind of sound you’re looking for. No matter what genre of electronic music you produce, Absynth 5 undoubtedly has sounds suitable to your signature sound.
| How Much Is Absynth 5?
Native Instruments Absynth 5 can be purchased for $149.00 USD. Native Instruments also offers a free demo version of the plugin so you can try before you buy. Absynth is compatible with both Mac and Windows devices and can be used as a plugin with all popular DAWs or as a standalone application.
| Is Absynth 5 Worth It?
Absynth 5 is one of the most powerful and flexible synthesizers available today. This means it can be tricky to get started with, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to learn it, it will reward you with some truly unique sounds. It does have quite a steep learning curve and is not for beginners (although NI does have some great tutorials), but if you’re looking for something new or want an instrument that can accommodate any sound idea you have in mind, Absynth 5 will give you what no other synth can. At $149 USD, Absynth 5 is a great investment if you are looking for a powerful synthesizer.
If you’d like to read more about Absynth 5 or purchase it for yourself, click here.
| Artists That Use Absynth 5
Absynth 5 is one of the most popular virtual synthesizers on the market and is used by many EDM producers worldwide. Noteworthy artists that use Absynth 5 include Deadmau5, KSHMR, Afrojack, Laidback Luke, Mat Zo, Bassnectar, Virtual Riot and Dyro.
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