I agree. Good design shows simplicity on the surface, then depth *if you want to look at it*. This UI is a nightmare. I may still buy and use it, at least to make samples of. But honestly i’m just praying Softube will release an OB plugin. Because their plugins are beautifully designed for simplicity with depth if you want depth.
I really enjoyed your video. I am a OPX-PRO II user and great Sonic Projects enthusiast. They need all kind of feedback to make them to the top, where they really belong. I took some time in the manual, as well. I'm glad the new version has a standalone instance. It really makes a difference for those who want to learn and master the UI. I have to buy/test the OPX-PRO II someday and report my thoughts, too.
Your thinking on it is good here. They need to reprint some of the top panel text to avoid the "jumping through hoops" and to get the led button pushes more logical. And the use of different text fonts looks a bit on the clumsy [ ugly] side. Notwithstanding, I am buying this tomorrow.
For me this is hands down the most alive, amazing sounding VST synth, along with DIVA-pure awesomeness and joy-this is more than worth the price alone, despite its problems. I’ll be getting the upgrade for sure. I secretly like that it’s not so well known.
I bought the upgrade. Soundwise it's a pretty big step up in terms of depth thanks to the oversampling. The sound is amazing and simply cannot be beat by anytging out there digital. I do not love the interface. I spent a bit of time learning OP-X II and knew all of it's hidden options. This new interface though I have tried for a few weeks to get used to, and just cannot wrap my brain around what he was thinking. Honestly he could have probably gotten a UX designer for 20% of sales and sold a ton more.
@@lorenmorgan1931100%! I too owned OPX PRO II and liked it very much, but with this "new" upgrade, I feel that he either really rushed it or phoned the upgrade in. Instead of paying to upgrade, I ditched OPX Pro III and got the G Force OB-X AND the OB-E that was just on sale. I paid a little more than I would have to get the Sonic Projects upgrade, but I got 2 really solid synths, and G Force has an amazing upgrade policy. Been using their impOSCar for nearly a decade. I wish he would have done a better job because I LIKE rooting for the underdog! 😕
Bad UI or not - I tried it and it sounds amazing. Since I am not going to program it (It has 3000 patches) - I may refer to it as a OB-X sample player. 🙂
just listened to a demo of all the famous sounds, and if it just had those it’d almost be worth it, sounds epic! I’m not into sound design really, I just want those sounds already in there.
Thank you for this. It's not only the best sounding OBX, it's one of the best sounding synths, period. If they can improve the user experience, I'm sure they will sell a lot more. Thanks again for your honesty.
I'm buying this despite the idiosyncrasies. I can read. I'll read the manual. This instrument is worth studying and learning. GForce's is good but this one is decidedly better.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the OBs. Usually I agree with your reviews. In this case, and speaking for myself I see you as drawing the wrong conclusion. I was once the UK London Oberheim agent for repairs and service, and toured extensively as a fixer/programmer with Oberheims and name bands, as well as recording with them extensively. Yes they are "interesting" (cough) to program, but that's what the hardware is like. With modern synths a big patch bank may be superfluous. With the original hardware, it was essential if you wanted to get sound within weeks of ownership. I suspect most Sonic Projects customers want the original behaviour as I do. If you want something easier there are other emulations... but not as authentic in sound. Yer takes yer pick! This model adds on Matrix 12 functions, and that was also a beast to program. It also adds many of the internal preset controls that were nominally inaccessible, hence the different knobs and controls... It can only be simplified substantially by castration of its capabilities. Don't program it by looking, program by ear! It takes weeks, not hours, to learn any of the OBs and the Matrix 12. Start with a patch and not from scratch. Cheers!
I got no problem with the original design and routings of the signals in this one. I have a strictly digital/UX problem with things being presented to the user in this particular plugin. This is the only point of my critics. Yes, we can make it as difficult as the original and kind of expert. We can also take care of presenting the beauty of Oberheim complexity in a more modern, accessible way. Thats it, thank for the comment, it's great to have a word with people who don't agree with my approach, but won't jump on me and don't make it personal. Thanks a lot, man!
There's far too much "personal" on the web. I respect your work, and appreciate your reviews, which have informed some of my purchases. I would have no objection at all if SoundProjects wanted to add an AI-ish interface to generate new patches quickly... as long as all the complexity is still available if I want it, as well. Let's suggest it@@FoliaSound 👍
Really enjoying the OP-X PRO 3 synthesizer, just bought it and already having fun with it. It sounds great, but can you tell me if selecting sounds from the list is only possible with the mouse? Can't you switch sounds using the keyboard arrows? I'm using the Windows version and playing around with it in Cubase 12.
Why didn't they just add tooltips or add information for each control on hover in the empty grey bar at bottom of the synth? They should take a look at how Bitwig gives hints and playable manual for all their built-in instruments. It's implemented brilliantly.
As someone who primarily uses Arturia products, I agree with what you’re saying here… they do the same with tool tips and it makes referring to the manual basically a non-issue. Any Arturia synth has that same ability to hover and get a tip if a user so chooses. Undoubtedly it takes a lot more programming effort to add this function in, but had they done so, this review probably would have gone much better. In 2023 / 2024 I won’t even bother using a synth that doesn’t provide this option. 👍🏻
I really appreciate your honesty in this video. I absolutely agree with the issues you've raised, and I really hope Sonicprojects listen and attempt some elements to modernise their synth. I love the opx pro2 and the offer to get the upgrade, at a reduced price, made it impossible to refuse.. I love the rawness of this synth and, like others have mentioned, the presets alone sell this instrument. Programming wise, I haven't approached that yet.. the gui has deterred me from that. Sound wise, it's incredible... Thank you for your honesty 😉
I’m glad there are so many wonderful presets on this synth because trying to program it would be stressful, big time. The presets literally have everything any analog synth guy from the 80’s could want, no tweaking or programming necessary. Let’s hope the developers get the UI up to where the sounds and engine are. Regardless, I bought the update the day it came out and have been an owner and user of OP-X II Pro since it was originally launched. 5-stars!!
There is a large learning curve, no question ... sound wise I have not found an emulation better (tone / depth / sound / tuning ability) than this and I have had OP-X since 2015. It's extremely detailed and for me it's the sound that 100% counts. I also just bought the SoundForce SFC-OB MIDI CC mapping controller which really helps dial things in quickly. I think you (or others) might like the Pro II version far better if you want to tweak things faster at face value / with what you see in front of you. Think of the Pro II as a basic visual interface and the Pro 3 as more of a deep dive / more features for true enthusiasts as there is a lot more going on. The in depth features that are now showing on the PRO-3 have already been there (for the most part) in the OP-X II as well but was behind the scenes it's just that the PRO-3 interface brought MORE out front for users to see and adjust. 👍
@@andivax I really like it because it adds the ability to quickly tweak things and it's hands on. It's been great for me and I am not just using it only on the OP-X as I have also mapped it with Ominsphere and other VST instruments. The build quality is top notch as well. Could not be happier with it.
I had totally forgotten this synth until recently. When it first came out I was amazed at the quality of the sounds. When the OPX 3 was announced and I decided to download the trial I quickly was annoyed by the timeout of 20 min and the every way to often sound drop out. The complexity of this software and the time limitations made it a no go. By the time I could get my head around it and reach for a parameter I had to wait for the sound to come back on. Not to mention the 20 min limitation made me re initialize an instance and try to pick up where I left off. This reminds me of Yamaha and other synth manufacturing who feel that complexity somehow makes the experience more satisfying. Like cracking it's code allows you into it's secret society. Anyways, the sound is spot on though and I will just stick to the OPX 2.
Very Honest of you, Great review, but I think, most people who purchase this VST will just use the presets or modify them a little, I agree with all of the negative bits, but I definitely do not regret buying, it sounds fantastic, just a little bit too damming at the end, I think you are one of my favourite reviewers, don't change, it shows you did an in-depth review, and did not just browse the presets,
Hey Paul, I am totally with you on this. As a proud owner of 2 oberheim synths I can truly say this the best one out there. Not just soundwise but also feelingwise it's like a real oberheim. But...yes... all you have mentioned today made me already doubt last week whether to upgrade to this latest version. I will probably stay with the latest version have. Thanks for this 🙏
The front panel is a absolute mess You are correct in condemning it Paul there are many reasons why I watch your channel you are my favourite for studio reviewer One of these reason is you honestly Keep doing what you do
Better option for ease of manipulating the sound ...... yes. It's good but for sure not better as is the Arturia OP-Xa V, Obsession and even the Diva (which is a really great VST btw) can get you there but sound wise I personally don't think so. So far for me nothing has beaten the OP-X if someone (like me) is looking for that exact in depth OB-X / OB-Xa sound. I would go with the OP-X Pro II though (for anyone looking) as it's very solid but yes going into making your own sounds (as he said in the this video) it's very time consuming learning all the ins and outs. I have a feeling that this video in particular might lead to some changes for ease of use.
@@checkitout611 Right well my my experience with the Arturia version of the OB-x dates back to the first version, which didn't sound very much like an oberheim at all. Especially the filter left a lot to be desired. Of course it's gone through some rewrites so maybe it's better now. I hope that Sonic Projects will have another look at their user interface, Just stick to the basic layout of an OB-X for the main panel, and stick all the extra stuff in some kind of advanced page. That would be really helpful to keep things clear and easy to use. It's just too cluttered right now. I'm sure i could work it out, but it doesn't look inviting at all.
@@payt01 That's a great idea actually. Basic layout control with an advanced layout option. That would solve a lot and make everyone happy. And yes the GForce is better than the Arturia (even with the newest version it's the same and 100% agree with your statement about it). I have all 3 (and then some) and sound wise OP-X / GForce are for sure far better to me. I guess the other thing is .... if people want easy just use the PRO II version as the initial visual layout is easy and if people want in depth control go with the PRO 3.
Pop up notes as you hover over the controls would help. You could activate the pop up notes by pressing a key on your keyboard, or right clicking the mouse.
I largely agree. The Pro-III GUI may look a bit friendlier than that of the Pro-II but it is still awfully convoluted. Before I got my real Obies (OB-6, OB-X8), I tried various VSTs. The Pro-II sounded great, but eventually I switched to the OB-Xd whose layout is much closer to the real thing, i.e. self-explanatory. Particularly the OB-X and Xa were very simple machines, whereas the OP-X prevents you from fast sound design and making music.
Bravo! Well said. I wish more reviewers would call out the dreadful designs we have to put up with in the name of emulation or authenticity. The whole skeuomorphic design ethos has to be dumped in favour of a function based interface, especially when dealing with an audience that has never even seen the original hardware, let alone used it.
I'm having trouble imagining that a musician designed this layout for musicians. It looks more like the work of geeks living in the realm of schematics. No matter how experienced you are as a synthhead or sound designer, it's impossible to go through the process of learning a VST entirely from scratch when there's no reason to. The only reason would be if, for example, the synth offered entirely new technologies and controls (as happened in the past with FM or physical modeling synths). When dealing with basic subtractive synthesis, it is at least off-putting to design a confusing and crowded control panel and expect it to be loved. Yes, as you said, it's 2023. We've moved past the era of FM synths without external controls with numerous 8-character menu pages. We've moved past the era of flagship workstations with touch screens that never managed to surpass physical controls. We are in an era where synths like Serum have shown that one can design an absolutely understandable and simultaneously deep in programming synth. In an era where companies like Nord have given musicians layouts that are both easily understandable and powerful in sound design. The designers of this monstrosity could learn from Disco DSP's OB-XD or from U-HE DIVA, instead of designing something that only created stomach disorders and annoyance at first glance. Shame. p.s. Well done on the video.
@@FoliaSound The fact that it has excellent sound does not change the critique regarding the UI design (us you mentioned). There are companies that produce sonically amazing synthesizers, such as U.D.O., and they make the same mistakes by renaming traditional controls just to differentiate themselves. It's a bad idea about how marketing works- the idea that labels and titles differentiate us rather than substance. It's such a shame to lose the game because of packaging when there is substance.
Fair enough and you acknowledge the incredible sound quality. A ‘help’ hover over mode would assist deep programmers so I’m sure that’s an easy ‘fix’. The recent sonic projects a/b comparison with a hardware unit was an eye opener for me….the filter demo especially. As you say, hats off to SP for producing the best sounding virtual oberheim, quite frankly it sounder better than the older hardware unit for many presets. That takes some going. This and Cherry Audios GX-80 offer such a lot for little outlay. To reinforce the trust of your review, the interface on that emulation was very easy to understand and use.
I tried the "official" one you mentioned. It did nothing for me, just sounded like a generic soft synth. Op-x smokes it in feel and sound. Just my opinion.
I have the GForce OB-X. It instantly became one of my main tools. It is awesome - fat, smoky, creamy and dark. Play any happy melody and it doesn't matter. That classic melancholy Oberheim sound will fix it right. 😂 I trust that Tom knows his stuff. The GForce version is definitely worth it.
@@dna598 Absolute nonsense. I've used both for quite a while. There is nothing 'generic' about the Gforce version. In fact, it's one of the few if only softsynth that actually acts analogue, adding subtle movement and variation to each press of the keys...where all the others are static like most vst's. No, there's a reason that it's the only one that Tom Oberheim allowed his name to be put to and I'll trust that far more to some dime a dozen troll on the internet.
You only have to look at their website to see they don't value employing someone who can design UI/UX, it looks like a website from the 90s, which is always a big red flag for me.
@@frankbossert1002I believe you're wrong and you're trying to make it personal for no reason. First, I judged the synth by its sound and I stressed it out in the vid. Second, user experience and any GUI/front end is a vital part of any software or hardware design and you won't create a really good product not taking care about these.
@@frankbossert1002 I know you wrote about the website, but I decided to reply anyway, because what applies to the website, applies to the synth itself. I also felt personally attacked here, so maybe you should try to keep your comments a bit more modest?
@frankbossert1002 Yes, because you made a very general claim there: people who take care of how things look have usually little to offer. This is very unfair and untrue. The way synth looks and is structures is a vital part of its design. I've read through the manual, learned this synth from the inside and still: I won't use it, because it's very unfriendly. Also, I'd like to defend the person you addressed directly in your comment: what this person said about the Sonicprojects website says very little about her/him. I could say same about your comments here: they say that you drive personal suggestions against people who don't agree with you. Hope I clarified things a bit on my side.
I totally agree with you. IMO they should make an OP-X Pro version 3.5 with all those UI issues addressed. I also think that if they can't make everything fit right in one screen then they should use tabs or something similar to not sacrifice ease of use for the sake of a one screen layout. I want to buy it, but I'm going to wait and see if they actually address the UI issues.
We can learn what the button functions are, I think. It was decades ago when we got used to the different terminology such as "contour" "emphasis" "peak" "resonance" "2 pole" "4 pole" "12db" "18db" "24db" "ADSR" "ATT DEC SUST" "Retrig" . Yes, some of the printed layout on the OPX PRO 3 was not fully thought out when expanding it from what came before. I know that the company will address the graphic issue. That's why I am buying this tomorrow.
Sounds amazing, looks crammed AF. I would love it simplified, with hidden menus, instead of having everything in front of my face, I really don't know where to start, where to go, what to do. It looks busier than India streets!
The manual has so many typos it’s annoying to go through. I just bought this to use with Logic Pro and have very little experience with editing synths. I’m eager to learn and hope the gui will get a little less confusing over time as it’s rather daunting for me. The presets sure are fun at least!
I don't mind the confusing UI, the tons pf presets alone are worth the price in my opinion and why do you want every software synth to follow a similar UI concept? I think the idiosyncrasy of this synth's UI adds to its unique character. But what I do mind is that the VST3 has an issue in Reason that causes infinite sustain. According to the developer the issue is with Reason and so I informed them about it. But seems they have no fix in sight. Bummer! Will have to stick with OP-X Pro II VST2.
I have been a hardcore user of Pro II since it came out. When Pro 3 was announced I jumped on it. While I agree that the GUI is different, some of the hidden features of Pro II are now visible, and also, I came up on stage with the DX7, so "difficult" GUI's are nothing new. I own far too many VSTi's, and have had to learn how to dig in to quite a few of them (admittedly I don't use a good quantity of them much, if ever - gotta love bundles or GAS), so learning 1 more really isn't that big a deal to me. You make a LOT of really good points though, let's see if Sonic Projects takes note. You are not the only critic I have read/seen on the GUI.....
Yep, I also have seen some other remarks on this. I absolutely agree with the fact of this synth being great and deep, yet it's always good to take care of UI design and user experience in general...
Opx pro II is one of my favourite and go to vst's. I agree it's probably the best sounding oberheim VST. It looks like for opx 3 it just seems the various sections have been rearranged and some of the hidden functions in opx pro II have been made visible. However the interface is still a mess. I think reading elsewhere that how developer has put together the interface for pervious versions of opx has painted them into a corner.
Thank you for making this video :) I'm sure, that a loooot of users, just use the presets and having fun with the sound. The most do not make there own sounds. for me it's also a no go with this GUI, it looks nice first time but the usability is not the best as you said.
i love this synth and I can live with the issues you mention. It sounds as good as my analog hardware synths and very few other VST's come this close. Great product
I’m happy to see this review, and I couldn’t agree more with your assessment. I bought OP-X II previously based solely on the amazing sound, but I almost never use it for exactly the reasons that you pointed out in this video. It’s simply not friendly to use from a sound design UI perspective. I want to love it, but the UI leaves me frustrated and I therefore avoid it.
Totally agree with you, although I know it's one of the best sounding Oberheim recreations, I find myself less tempted to use it just because of that user interface
This was going to be an insta buy for me when I got the announcement email. But as soon as I saw the GUI I held off. I know the original had hidden features, and I guess people complained, but adding all those features visibly is not working either. Still, it sounds amazing. But it's always been a difficult synth to wield.
I agree, and it's such a shame because it is a great synth. The problem isn't that the synth is complex, it really isn't since it's fundamentally emulating a quite simple and straightforward analog synth. The problem is that they make even the simple things very complicated and confusing. I tried reading the manual but already in the preset browser, there's a button named "RFR" which does a bunch of different things depending on where in the synth you are and how many times you pressed it. I had to leave the manual and read their FAQ to finally figure it out. Then I got to the Master section which just has a bunch of unlabeled buttons, a trimpot and numerical readouts. I couldn't figure out what the bottom horizontal row of 3 unlabeled buttons do in spite of reading the manual, and I've already forgotten what the other buttons do. Ended up "rage purchasing" the GForce version...
On the fence with this, trying a demo of it and the previous version. I leaning towards previous, mainly due to the UI. As mentioned by others, most of this stuff could be hidden, then presented better in an Advanced mode/view. Is the oversampling that different? I’m not really hearing much difference here? Could save me 30 euro Nice review btw, appreciated 👌
No, when you listen, you shouldn't care about anything. But, you know, when I do things, I do care what I use and how it behaves. Music listeners have nothing to do with it. But when I I speak as a producer - I value my time and efforts.
It's because he's Polish. If he was Icelandic, this "upgrade" would be crystal clear. I in fact checked with some uncontacted tribes (I floated them a message in a bottle), and they understood the Pro 3 right away (and proceeded to throw some spears at me in my little skiff.) ...But we can sum this up this way: companies gotta keep that gravy train rolling. Who needs Windows 11, for example? Answer: no one. M$ peaked out with Windows 10. This upgrade thing worked very well (do you remember Windows 3.1?) for a while, but there was nowhere to go after Windows 10. And check out the latest from Yamaha, for example - the Montage M. How many million useless patches do you really need? How many million ways do you need in which to manipulate those goofy, useless patches? Answer: Yamaha will fix you up for thousands of dollars, because they thought of one with that silly "super knob" thing. Whee! Lookie here - I got a new toy! Check back in say, 20 years, and they'll have the kitchen sink and a coffee maker packed into that board...because - like M$ - they will have run out of ideas. Gotta run - working extra hours so I can afford a Montage M! ...(And thanks for the HONEST review - you don't get many of those on YT - or elsewhere.)
The PRO 2 was and now the PRO 3 IS the best sounding VST i have - and therefore the one i use most. Anyway: YES. The interface is very difficult to understand and this makes it more a preset machine for me which is a mess. A small revamp of the interface, maybe some optional signal-flow popups here and there might help?
Is the quality & authenticity of the sounds from OP-X Pro 3 much better than the previous Pro 2 version? Also, is it possible to download this new Pro 3 version, but keep the previous Pro 2 version as well?
I believe that OP-X-PRO-3 has a new, oversampled engine. It was already great, but now it's simply stunning soundwise. I think it's worth the upgrade just in terms of sonic quality. Also, presets from PRO-2 can be used, yay!
agreed. absolutely stellar sounds. The guy who wrote it is a genius. Unfortunately the GUI is the worst. Why does it even have to be summarized on one page. There is so much going on but there could be many drill down screens. The presets are amazing though.
Your video it's exactly what i think about this VST.... Great sound, better than the version 2 but the interface are really chaotic... I've been used the version 2 since 2018, but i think i will waiting for an OP-x pro 4 😅 Even the name of this plug is a punishment... but the sound is great, of course but i don't wanna do a patch with it. This is such of pity 😩
the sound it produce is untouchable.... ok so the GUI is like if you have the real hardware molded this is how it will look ...thats the hole idea ...is not so bad looks cool ...just play with it and you will learn it ...or just play with all the preset and take one and tweak it
Unfortunately, it's true. Every detail I've explored confirms this. Despite having a license and loving the plugin's sound quality - possibly one of the best OBX plugins The unnamed functions and illogical interface are frustrating. Please Sonic Projects do it something
My only gripe with this synth, having designed a handful of sounds, is the Filter Envelope section. I swear the Filter Envelope behaves differently every time I use it lol.
Would be great, for starters, if it was obvious which white panel labels were actually switches/controls... This panel would look at home inside the old Space Shuttle! Good thing there are zIllions of presets (to tweak to taste), because programming from scratch is a _nightmare._
People need to differentiate between standard OBX knobs and engineers like tweaks. If you keep with OBX features, it's easy. The advanced features seem to be designed for those, that seek for it. Yes, it could have been done on the back, like it is done on u-he Repro. My experience is, that I use it more on this one page design. Sonic Projects could start with dedicated tool tip menues.
It's a shame the UI is so incredibly bad, because it's a really fantastic softsynth. All of the marketing and the website is also a bit of a travesty. With a serious overhall of the gui/ui and marketing this plugin could probably sell orders of magnitude more, and have a status equal to some u-he or arturia products. I feel bad for the developer, as they're missing out on a lot of business. That being said, I actually do recommend buying this plugin. If you take the time to learn it, it's a great way too get a deeper understanding of analog/subtractive synths.
It's very good sounding, but it's not the best sounding OB(X) sound out there. GForce OB-E and OB-X sound as least as good, if not slightly miore authentic. But I agree that the UI does not provide a well done overview and accesability.
Stworzyli potworka to jak programowanie w Basic Silnik jak słyszałem jest wspaniały filtry brzmienie soczyste Obsługa programowania syntha jest jaka jest jak stare pluginy vst 32bit Lepiej było wielu z nich nigdy nie używać bo psuły brzmienie Tak i tu ustawianie brzmienia psuje feeling oraz radość obcowania z narzędziem co jest chyba najsmutniejsze
Some of the most brilliant developers are completely clueless when it comes to the UI/UX side of things. So many wonderful instruments are ruined by confusing controls and unnecessarily steep learning curves. Audio developers either need to work alongside professional UI/UX software engineers or take on those skills themselves, because the look and feel of your instrument is a _massive_ part of your plugin that absolutely _must_ be front and center in the development process and never, _ever_ an afterthought.
This PRO 3 will not work on Windows 7 as it instantly crashes. I want to keep using my Edirol UA-25 and have found a possible way to manage the drivers for Edirol Ua-25 to work with Windows 10. I can't afford a $300 FocusRite box right now.
It took me a lot of putting in the exact same information, easily 20 times .and it finally decided to accept it , there support dept was very fast in response time , but being that I entered the same correct info that many’s times , before it works is not a good system., the plugin sounds are fabulous though.
Graphic design is definitely NOT their forte. Plus, it still looks like something out of Synthedit. I like the OB-X from GForce. Btw, I do have a real hardware Oberheim. (though admittedly not an OB-X)
That was a bit harsh.... I think the presets alone are worth the price of admission for most casual users, and this kind of review will probably prevent them from buying it.
The point of this vid is to show a weak side of this design, so that the creators can rethink it. I already discovered, that there is a buch of users thinking exactly what I do in this vid. Not every review is a positive one, I'm afraid...
Presets and how fantastic it sounds. Agree 100% It is not the easiest to get around so I get his point but once you take time and figure things out it's not that bad. The Pro II version is even easier to adjust things.
Hi Paul thanks for reaching out love a chat discussion but the link telegram reply email from RUclips is a bit confusing does not work for me is it text what is it tried everyday please give a bit more information of how to send personel contact info /facility which remains private between us
Locked in a box of a world that should operate the way we think it should operate. Nothing could be truer for you in that box... But the rest of the world just keeps turning...and generally doesnt care too much, so keep creating, gathering helpers, telling the Hindererssto get $#%!d and slipstream your way to what we all ultimately want.....
For you that is content, judgement, constructive crit, and I appllaud you for that. Be aware of the very narrowly defined box you operate within and you will go onto great success, beyond what is now.
its always written like this on any synth, always alot of knobs switches etc, always alot of fonts, always abreffiated, so i dont understand your problem with the synth. at the end its about the sound.
It is about the sound, but also about the way you get to this sound as a creator. It's also about your creative process. When the synth is easy to understand and operate, because it's well designed, it's also easier to create good sounds with it. When you're struggling too much, you'll create worse sounds or give up and make your sounds happen elsewhere...
i get you but its no other than any other synth, complexity whise, in my opinion but hey if its not your thing its not your thing, everyone is different, no?@@FoliaSound
![[SFM] Risky Recital](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RzNkY1_Nk3o/mqdefault.jpg)
Heeey! What do you think about PO-X-PRO 3 and my review? Would you like to see it simpler? Happy with current layout? Lemme know down below!
I agree. Good design shows simplicity on the surface, then depth *if you want to look at it*. This UI is a nightmare. I may still buy and use it, at least to make samples of. But honestly i’m just praying Softube will release an OB plugin. Because their plugins are beautifully designed for simplicity with depth if you want depth.
I really enjoyed your video. I am a OPX-PRO II user and great Sonic Projects enthusiast. They need all kind of feedback to make them to the top, where they really belong. I took some time in the manual, as well. I'm glad the new version has a standalone instance. It really makes a difference for those who want to learn and master the UI. I have to buy/test the OPX-PRO II someday and report my thoughts, too.
Your thinking on it is good here. They need to reprint some of the top panel text to avoid the "jumping through hoops" and to get the led button pushes more logical. And the use of different text fonts looks a bit on the clumsy [ ugly] side.
Notwithstanding, I am buying this tomorrow.
And, I can be ok with those little "flat tip screwdriver" trim pots once I know what they do. Being small helps keep the editing "On one page".
For me this is hands down the most alive, amazing sounding VST synth, along with DIVA-pure awesomeness and joy-this is more than worth the price alone, despite its problems. I’ll be getting the upgrade for sure. I secretly like that it’s not so well known.
I bought the upgrade. Soundwise it's a pretty big step up in terms of depth thanks to the oversampling. The sound is amazing and simply cannot be beat by anytging out there digital. I do not love the interface. I spent a bit of time learning OP-X II and knew all of it's hidden options. This new interface though I have tried for a few weeks to get used to, and just cannot wrap my brain around what he was thinking. Honestly he could have probably gotten a UX designer for 20% of sales and sold a ton more.
@@lorenmorgan1931100%! I too owned OPX PRO II and liked it very much, but with this "new" upgrade, I feel that he either really rushed it or phoned the upgrade in. Instead of paying to upgrade, I ditched OPX Pro III and got the G Force OB-X AND the OB-E that was just on sale. I paid a little more than I would have to get the Sonic Projects upgrade, but I got 2 really solid synths, and G Force has an amazing upgrade policy. Been using their impOSCar for nearly a decade. I wish he would have done a better job because I LIKE rooting for the underdog! 😕
Bad UI or not - I tried it and it sounds amazing. Since I am not going to program it (It has 3000 patches) - I may refer to it as a OB-X sample player. 🙂
Yep, OP-X-PRO-3 has tons of crazy presets and it sound amazing out of the box, I'll never deny it!
just listened to a demo of all the famous sounds, and if it just had those it’d almost be worth it, sounds epic! I’m not into sound design really, I just want those sounds already in there.
Thank you for this. It's not only the best sounding OBX, it's one of the best sounding synths, period. If they can improve the user experience, I'm sure they will sell a lot more. Thanks again for your honesty.
No problem, at your service, thank you too!
Are you including GForce's in that? Interestingly theirs has the official Tom O. seal of approval.
I'm buying this despite the idiosyncrasies. I can read. I'll read the manual. This instrument is worth studying and learning. GForce's is good but this one is decidedly better.
@@pthomas36 I disagree
@@pthomas36 I also think so. It sounds amazing. The guy who designed this has an exceptional ear and faithfully programmed it to be a beast.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the OBs. Usually I agree with your reviews. In this case, and speaking for myself I see you as drawing the wrong conclusion. I was once the UK London Oberheim agent for repairs and service, and toured extensively as a fixer/programmer with Oberheims and name bands, as well as recording with them extensively. Yes they are "interesting" (cough) to program, but that's what the hardware is like. With modern synths a big patch bank may be superfluous. With the original hardware, it was essential if you wanted to get sound within weeks of ownership. I suspect most Sonic Projects customers want the original behaviour as I do. If you want something easier there are other emulations... but not as authentic in sound. Yer takes yer pick! This model adds on Matrix 12 functions, and that was also a beast to program. It also adds many of the internal preset controls that were nominally inaccessible, hence the different knobs and controls... It can only be simplified substantially by castration of its capabilities. Don't program it by looking, program by ear! It takes weeks, not hours, to learn any of the OBs and the Matrix 12. Start with a patch and not from scratch. Cheers!
I got no problem with the original design and routings of the signals in this one. I have a strictly digital/UX problem with things being presented to the user in this particular plugin. This is the only point of my critics. Yes, we can make it as difficult as the original and kind of expert. We can also take care of presenting the beauty of Oberheim complexity in a more modern, accessible way. Thats it, thank for the comment, it's great to have a word with people who don't agree with my approach, but won't jump on me and don't make it personal. Thanks a lot, man!
There's far too much "personal" on the web. I respect your work, and appreciate your reviews, which have informed some of my purchases. I would have no objection at all if SoundProjects wanted to add an AI-ish interface to generate new patches quickly... as long as all the complexity is still available if I want it, as well. Let's suggest it@@FoliaSound 👍
Really enjoying the OP-X PRO 3 synthesizer, just bought it and already having fun with it. It sounds great, but can you tell me if selecting sounds from the list is only possible with the mouse? Can't you switch sounds using the keyboard arrows? I'm using the Windows version and playing around with it in Cubase 12.
Bro, I can only change presets with the mouse too. When will there be an option to switch presets using the computer keyboard?
Haven't checked on that...
Why didn't they just add tooltips or add information for each control on hover in the empty grey bar at bottom of the synth?
They should take a look at how Bitwig gives hints and playable manual for all their built-in instruments. It's implemented brilliantly.
That would be brilliant! This plus rearranging a couple of things and you're there!
As someone who primarily uses Arturia products, I agree with what you’re saying here… they do the same with tool tips and it makes referring to the manual basically a non-issue. Any Arturia synth has that same ability to hover and get a tip if a user so chooses. Undoubtedly it takes a lot more programming effort to add this function in, but had they done so, this review probably would have gone much better. In 2023 / 2024 I won’t even bother using a synth that doesn’t provide this option. 👍🏻
Tool tips would be a good start but unlabelled sections and knobs are just a hassle
I really appreciate your honesty in this video. I absolutely agree with the issues you've raised, and I really hope Sonicprojects listen and attempt some elements to modernise their synth.
I love the opx pro2 and the offer to get the upgrade, at a reduced price, made it impossible to refuse..
I love the rawness of this synth and, like others have mentioned, the presets alone sell this instrument.
Programming wise, I haven't approached that yet.. the gui has deterred me from that.
Sound wise, it's incredible...
Thank you for your honesty 😉
Thank you too for your support :) Enjoy OP-X-PRO-3 anyway!
I’m glad there are so many wonderful presets on this synth because trying to program it would be stressful, big time. The presets literally have everything any analog synth guy from the 80’s could want, no tweaking or programming necessary. Let’s hope the developers get the UI up to where the sounds and engine are. Regardless, I bought the update the day it came out and have been an owner and user of OP-X II Pro since it was originally launched. 5-stars!!
There is a large learning curve, no question ... sound wise I have not found an emulation better (tone / depth / sound / tuning ability) than this and I have had OP-X since 2015. It's extremely detailed and for me it's the sound that 100% counts. I also just bought the SoundForce SFC-OB MIDI CC mapping controller which really helps dial things in quickly.
I think you (or others) might like the Pro II version far better if you want to tweak things faster at face value / with what you see in front of you.
Think of the Pro II as a basic visual interface and the Pro 3 as more of a deep dive / more features for true enthusiasts as there is a lot more going on. The in depth features that are now showing on the PRO-3 have already been there (for the most part) in the OP-X II as well but was behind the scenes it's just that the PRO-3 interface brought MORE out front for users to see and adjust. 👍
Yep, looks like a thing for enthusiasts. SFC-OB MIDI CC? I'll check it out right now ;)
And how do you like that Sound Force controller?
@@andivax It's fantastic! I really enjoy using mine for all the OB-X plugins I have! Well worth the price and the time to set it up !!!
@@andivax I really like it because it adds the ability to quickly tweak things and it's hands on. It's been great for me and I am not just using it only on the OP-X as I have also mapped it with Ominsphere and other VST instruments. The build quality is top notch as well. Could not be happier with it.
I had totally forgotten this synth until recently. When it first came out I was amazed at the quality of the sounds. When the OPX 3 was announced and I decided to download the trial I quickly was annoyed by the timeout of 20 min and the every way to often sound drop out. The complexity of this software and the time limitations made it a no go. By the time I could get my head around it and reach for a parameter I had to wait for the sound to come back on. Not to mention the 20 min limitation made me re initialize an instance and try to pick up where I left off. This reminds me of Yamaha and other synth manufacturing who feel that complexity somehow makes the experience more satisfying. Like cracking it's code allows you into it's secret society. Anyways, the sound is spot on though and I will just stick to the OPX 2.
Very Honest of you, Great review, but I think, most people who purchase this VST will just use the presets or modify them a little, I agree with all of the negative bits, but I definitely do not regret buying, it sounds fantastic, just a little bit too damming at the end, I think you are one of my favourite reviewers, don't change, it shows you did an in-depth review, and did not just browse the presets,
Yep, presets and general tone of this machine - spot on, no objections here. Cheers!
Hey Paul, I am totally with you on this. As a proud owner of 2 oberheim synths I can truly say this the best one out there. Not just soundwise but also feelingwise it's like a real oberheim. But...yes... all you have mentioned today made me already doubt last week whether to upgrade to this latest version. I will probably stay with the latest version have. Thanks for this 🙏
The front panel is a absolute mess
You are correct in condemning it
Paul there are many reasons why I watch your channel you are my favourite for studio reviewer
One of these reason is you honestly
Keep doing what you do
I think the Gforce OB-X is the better option if you want the Oberheim sound
I agree
Better option for ease of manipulating the sound ...... yes. It's good but for sure not better as is the Arturia OP-Xa V, Obsession and even the Diva (which is a really great VST btw) can get you there but sound wise I personally don't think so. So far for me nothing has beaten the OP-X if someone (like me) is looking for that exact in depth OB-X / OB-Xa sound. I would go with the OP-X Pro II though (for anyone looking) as it's very solid but yes going into making your own sounds (as he said in the this video) it's very time consuming learning all the ins and outs. I have a feeling that this video in particular might lead to some changes for ease of use.
@@checkitout611 Right well my my experience with the Arturia version of the OB-x dates back to the first version, which didn't sound very much like an oberheim at all. Especially the filter left a lot to be desired. Of course it's gone through some rewrites so maybe it's better now.
I hope that Sonic Projects will have another look at their user interface, Just stick to the basic layout of an OB-X for the main panel, and stick all the extra stuff in some kind of advanced page. That would be really helpful to keep things clear and easy to use. It's just too cluttered right now. I'm sure i could work it out, but it doesn't look inviting at all.
@@payt01 That's a great idea actually. Basic layout control with an advanced layout option. That would solve a lot and make everyone happy. And yes the GForce is better than the Arturia (even with the newest version it's the same and 100% agree with your statement about it). I have all 3 (and then some) and sound wise OP-X / GForce are for sure far better to me. I guess the other thing is .... if people want easy just use the PRO II version as the initial visual layout is easy and if people want in depth control go with the PRO 3.
@@checkitout611 Does OP-X Pro 3 sound a lot better than OP-X Pro 2 ??
Have you taken a look at the synth from Synapse Audio called OBsession?
Pop up notes as you hover over the controls would help. You could activate the pop up notes by pressing a key on your keyboard, or right clicking the mouse.
This sounds pretty good to my aging ears. Hopefully, having got the sound engine right, re-doing the GUI is the easier thing to do.
I largely agree. The Pro-III GUI may look a bit friendlier than that of the Pro-II but it is still awfully convoluted. Before I got my real Obies (OB-6, OB-X8), I tried various VSTs. The Pro-II sounded great, but eventually I switched to the OB-Xd whose layout is much closer to the real thing, i.e. self-explanatory. Particularly the OB-X and Xa were very simple machines, whereas the OP-X prevents you from fast sound design and making music.
Bravo! Well said. I wish more reviewers would call out the dreadful designs we have to put up with in the name of emulation or authenticity. The whole skeuomorphic design ethos has to be dumped in favour of a function based interface, especially when dealing with an audience that has never even seen the original hardware, let alone used it.
I'm having trouble imagining that a musician designed this layout for musicians.
It looks more like the work of geeks living in the realm of schematics. No matter how experienced you are as a synthhead or sound designer, it's impossible to go through the process of learning a VST entirely from scratch when there's no reason to. The only reason would be if, for example, the synth offered entirely new technologies and controls (as happened in the past with FM or physical modeling synths).
When dealing with basic subtractive synthesis, it is at least off-putting to design a confusing and crowded control panel and expect it to be loved.
Yes, as you said, it's 2023. We've moved past the era of FM synths without external controls with numerous 8-character menu pages. We've moved past the era of flagship workstations with touch screens that never managed to surpass physical controls.
We are in an era where synths like Serum have shown that one can design an absolutely understandable and simultaneously deep in programming synth. In an era where companies like Nord have given musicians layouts that are both easily understandable and powerful in sound design.
The designers of this monstrosity could learn from Disco DSP's OB-XD or from U-HE DIVA, instead of designing something that only created stomach disorders and annoyance at first glance.
Shame.
p.s. Well done on the video.
I still believe some criticism may inspire Peter and Sonicprojects to rethink the GUI, because the synth itself is really amazing...
@@FoliaSound The fact that it has excellent sound does not change the critique regarding the UI design (us you mentioned). There are companies that produce sonically amazing synthesizers, such as U.D.O., and they make the same mistakes by renaming traditional controls just to differentiate themselves.
It's a bad idea about how marketing works- the idea that labels and titles differentiate us rather than substance.
It's such a shame to lose the game because of packaging when there is substance.
Aaa, sorry, I posted my comment in a wrong thread. This one was adressed at somebody else :)
🙃@@FoliaSound
Fair enough and you acknowledge the incredible sound quality. A ‘help’ hover over mode would assist deep programmers so I’m sure that’s an easy ‘fix’. The recent sonic projects a/b comparison with a hardware unit was an eye opener for me….the filter demo especially. As you say, hats off to SP for producing the best sounding virtual oberheim, quite frankly it sounder better than the older hardware unit for many presets. That takes some going. This and Cherry Audios GX-80 offer such a lot for little outlay. To reinforce the trust of your review, the interface on that emulation was very easy to understand and use.
Cherry Audio guys are great in terms odf GUI and general user experience, not only in terms of sound. Cheers!
It would be interesting to do a pros vs cons comparison between OP-X PRO 3 to GForce's OB-X.
Well we know which one Tom Oberheim prefers! 😂
I tried the "official" one you mentioned. It did nothing for me, just sounded like a generic soft synth. Op-x smokes it in feel and sound. Just my opinion.
I have the GForce OB-X. It instantly became one of my main tools. It is awesome - fat, smoky, creamy and dark. Play any happy melody and it doesn't matter. That classic melancholy Oberheim sound will fix it right. 😂 I trust that Tom knows his stuff. The GForce version is definitely worth it.
@@dna598 Absolute nonsense. I've used both for quite a while. There is nothing 'generic' about the Gforce version. In fact, it's one of the few if only softsynth that actually acts analogue, adding subtle movement and variation to each press of the keys...where all the others are static like most vst's. No, there's a reason that it's the only one that Tom Oberheim allowed his name to be put to and I'll trust that far more to some dime a dozen troll on the internet.
You only have to look at their website to see they don't value employing someone who can design UI/UX, it looks like a website from the 90s, which is always a big red flag for me.
Yep, I'm aware of that, but I didn't want to make it too personal.
GUIs are hideous. Sound and presets - amazing
@@frankbossert1002I believe you're wrong and you're trying to make it personal for no reason. First, I judged the synth by its sound and I stressed it out in the vid. Second, user experience and any GUI/front end is a vital part of any software or hardware design and you won't create a really good product not taking care about these.
@@frankbossert1002 I know you wrote about the website, but I decided to reply anyway, because what applies to the website, applies to the synth itself. I also felt personally attacked here, so maybe you should try to keep your comments a bit more modest?
@frankbossert1002 Yes, because you made a very general claim there: people who take care of how things look have usually little to offer. This is very unfair and untrue. The way synth looks and is structures is a vital part of its design. I've read through the manual, learned this synth from the inside and still: I won't use it, because it's very unfriendly.
Also, I'd like to defend the person you addressed directly in your comment: what this person said about the Sonicprojects website says very little about her/him. I could say same about your comments here: they say that you drive personal suggestions against people who don't agree with you.
Hope I clarified things a bit on my side.
Super sounding VST,yeah,hard learning curve,but sounds are amazing ! Love your review
Thank you, man!
I totally agree with you. IMO they should make an OP-X Pro version 3.5 with all those UI issues addressed. I also think that if they can't make everything fit right in one screen then they should use tabs or something similar to not sacrifice ease of use for the sake of a one screen layout. I want to buy it, but I'm going to wait and see if they actually address the UI issues.
Agreed!
We can learn what the button functions are, I think. It was decades ago when we got used to the different terminology such as "contour" "emphasis" "peak" "resonance" "2 pole" "4 pole" "12db" "18db" "24db" "ADSR" "ATT DEC SUST" "Retrig" .
Yes, some of the printed layout on the OPX PRO 3 was not fully thought out when expanding it from what came before. I know that the company will address the graphic issue.
That's why I am buying this tomorrow.
Sounds amazing, looks crammed AF. I would love it simplified, with hidden menus, instead of having everything in front of my face, I really don't know where to start, where to go, what to do. It looks busier than India streets!
Yep, many people's experience, I'm afraid. I hope tyhe GUI gets revamped sooner or later!
The manual has so many typos it’s annoying to go through. I just bought this to use with Logic Pro and have very little experience with editing synths. I’m eager to learn and hope the gui will get a little less confusing over time as it’s rather daunting for me. The presets sure are fun at least!
I don't mind the confusing UI, the tons pf presets alone are worth the price in my opinion and why do you want every software synth to follow a similar UI concept? I think the idiosyncrasy of this synth's UI adds to its unique character. But what I do mind is that the VST3 has an issue in Reason that causes infinite sustain. According to the developer the issue is with Reason and so I informed them about it. But seems they have no fix in sight. Bummer! Will have to stick with OP-X Pro II VST2.
If one purchases & downloads OP-X Pro 3 , does it overwrite the previous Pro-2 version, or it is possible to keep both versions on the hard drive?
@@derekbaker3279 you can use both, they don't overwrite each other.
I have been a hardcore user of Pro II since it came out. When Pro 3 was announced I jumped on it. While I agree that the GUI is different, some of the hidden features of Pro II are now visible, and also, I came up on stage with the DX7, so "difficult" GUI's are nothing new. I own far too many VSTi's, and have had to learn how to dig in to quite a few of them (admittedly I don't use a good quantity of them much, if ever - gotta love bundles or GAS), so learning 1 more really isn't that big a deal to me. You make a LOT of really good points though, let's see if Sonic Projects takes note. You are not the only critic I have read/seen on the GUI.....
Yep, I also have seen some other remarks on this. I absolutely agree with the fact of this synth being great and deep, yet it's always good to take care of UI design and user experience in general...
Opx pro II is one of my favourite and go to vst's. I agree it's probably the best sounding oberheim VST. It looks like for opx 3 it just seems the various sections have been rearranged and some of the hidden functions in opx pro II have been made visible. However the interface is still a mess. I think reading elsewhere that how developer has put together the interface for pervious versions of opx has painted them into a corner.
Might be! Thanks for a comment!
Interesting that Tom O. chose GForce to licence (or give, idk) his name to, though.
I much prefer the recent G-Force OBX release which I paid $65 for. It's a joy to use. This sounds great but I'd never use it.
yap love the sound but hate the interface experience feels very 90's..... I get the felling its one guy.
They need to hire a UI experience developer
Yes, UI designer is a must with a synth that advanced.
Thank you for making this video :) I'm sure, that a loooot of users, just use the presets and having fun with the sound. The most do not make there own sounds. for me it's also a no go with this GUI, it looks nice first time but the usability is not the best as you said.
i love this synth and I can live with the issues you mention. It sounds as good as my analog hardware synths and very few other VST's come this close. Great product
In terms of sound delivered - 100% true!
I’m happy to see this review, and I couldn’t agree more with your assessment. I bought OP-X II previously based solely on the amazing sound, but I almost never use it for exactly the reasons that you pointed out in this video. It’s simply not friendly to use from a sound design UI perspective. I want to love it, but the UI leaves me frustrated and I therefore avoid it.
Same here, same here. Cheers!
I just bought the upgrade license II -> III yesterday. Either way, I can deal with some cryptic UI, this thing sounds fantastic.
I'd love another company to make the Matrix 12 than Arturia. So much potential in that one
I really hope the developers take your feedback seriously and update the User Interface, sounds really good but gui is a real letdown 😢
Totally agree with you, although I know it's one of the best sounding Oberheim recreations, I find myself less tempted to use it just because of that user interface
This was going to be an insta buy for me when I got the announcement email. But as soon as I saw the GUI I held off. I know the original had hidden features, and I guess people complained, but adding all those features visibly is not working either. Still, it sounds amazing. But it's always been a difficult synth to wield.
I agree, and it's such a shame because it is a great synth.
The problem isn't that the synth is complex, it really isn't since it's fundamentally emulating a quite simple and straightforward analog synth. The problem is that they make even the simple things very complicated and confusing. I tried reading the manual but already in the preset browser, there's a button named "RFR" which does a bunch of different things depending on where in the synth you are and how many times you pressed it. I had to leave the manual and read their FAQ to finally figure it out. Then I got to the Master section which just has a bunch of unlabeled buttons, a trimpot and numerical readouts. I couldn't figure out what the bottom horizontal row of 3 unlabeled buttons do in spite of reading the manual, and I've already forgotten what the other buttons do. Ended up "rage purchasing" the GForce version...
Definitely not a VST for me, I like simple and easy,,, thanks for the review...cheers
Cheers, Johnny!
On the fence with this, trying a demo of it and the previous version. I leaning towards previous, mainly due to the UI.
As mentioned by others, most of this stuff could be hidden, then presented better in an Advanced mode/view.
Is the oversampling that different? I’m not really hearing much difference here? Could save me 30 euro
Nice review btw, appreciated 👌
SO, when I listen to one of your tracks, should I care what the interface you made it with looked like? If it sounds good, it is good.
No, when you listen, you shouldn't care about anything. But, you know, when I do things, I do care what I use and how it behaves. Music listeners have nothing to do with it. But when I I speak as a producer - I value my time and efforts.
It's because he's Polish. If he was Icelandic, this "upgrade" would be crystal clear. I in fact checked with some uncontacted tribes (I floated them a message in a bottle), and they understood the Pro 3 right away (and proceeded to throw some spears at me in my little skiff.) ...But we can sum this up this way: companies gotta keep that gravy train rolling. Who needs Windows 11, for example? Answer: no one. M$ peaked out with Windows 10. This upgrade thing worked very well (do you remember Windows 3.1?) for a while, but there was nowhere to go after Windows 10.
And check out the latest from Yamaha, for example - the Montage M. How many million useless patches do you really need? How many million ways do you need in which to manipulate those goofy, useless patches? Answer: Yamaha will fix you up for thousands of dollars, because they thought of one with that silly "super knob" thing. Whee! Lookie here - I got a new toy! Check back in say, 20 years, and they'll have the kitchen sink and a coffee maker packed into that board...because - like M$ - they will have run out of ideas.
Gotta run - working extra hours so I can afford a Montage M!
...(And thanks for the HONEST review - you don't get many of those on YT - or elsewhere.)
Well put. I agree, I also found OP-X Pro II often incomprehensible. Great presets though
The PRO 2 was and now the PRO 3 IS the best sounding VST i have - and therefore the one i use most. Anyway: YES. The interface is very difficult to understand and this makes it more a preset machine for me which is a mess. A small revamp of the interface, maybe some optional signal-flow popups here and there might help?
Is the quality & authenticity of the sounds from OP-X Pro 3 much better than the previous Pro 2 version? Also, is it possible to download this new Pro 3 version, but keep the previous Pro 2 version as well?
I believe that OP-X-PRO-3 has a new, oversampled engine. It was already great, but now it's simply stunning soundwise. I think it's worth the upgrade just in terms of sonic quality. Also, presets from PRO-2 can be used, yay!
agreed. absolutely stellar sounds. The guy who wrote it is a genius. Unfortunately the GUI is the worst. Why does it even have to be summarized on one page. There is so much going on but there could be many drill down screens. The presets are amazing though.
Thank you Paul I did think that that why no personnel detail
Take care keep the videos comming
Your video it's exactly what i think about this VST.... Great sound, better than the version 2 but the interface are really chaotic... I've been used the version 2 since 2018, but i think i will waiting for an OP-x pro 4 😅
Even the name of this plug is a punishment... but the sound is great, of course but i don't wanna do a patch with it. This is such of pity 😩
the sound it produce is untouchable.... ok so the GUI is like if you have the real hardware molded this is how it will look ...thats the hole idea ...is not so bad looks cool ...just play with it and you will learn it ...or just play with all the preset and take one and tweak it
I got nothing against the architecture, I still believe it could have been created better in terms of GUI and general user experience. Cheers!
Unfortunately, it's true. Every detail I've explored confirms this. Despite having a license and loving the plugin's sound quality - possibly one of the best OBX plugins
The unnamed functions and illogical interface are frustrating.
Please Sonic Projects do it something
My only gripe with this synth, having designed a handful of sounds, is the Filter Envelope section. I swear the Filter Envelope behaves differently every time I use it lol.
Would be great, for starters, if it was obvious which white panel labels were actually switches/controls...
This panel would look at home inside the old Space Shuttle! Good thing there are zIllions of presets (to tweak to taste), because programming from scratch is a _nightmare._
I have no problems with the UI. Could more than 45 years of experience with buying synths have to do something with that... ;-)
Oh, definitely. Cheers!
People need to differentiate between standard OBX knobs and engineers like tweaks. If you keep with OBX features, it's easy.
The advanced features seem to be designed for those, that seek for it. Yes, it could have been done on the back, like it is done on u-he Repro. My experience is, that I use it more on this one page design. Sonic Projects could start with dedicated tool tip menues.
Ok BUT this is the best VST Oberheim clone, maybe the best VST analog sinth at all
Best OB-X for sure!
Great for Preset-Play....but not for easy Sound-Design
It's a shame the UI is so incredibly bad, because it's a really fantastic softsynth. All of the marketing and the website is also a bit of a travesty. With a serious overhall of the gui/ui and marketing this plugin could probably sell orders of magnitude more, and have a status equal to some u-he or arturia products. I feel bad for the developer, as they're missing out on a lot of business.
That being said, I actually do recommend buying this plugin. If you take the time to learn it, it's a great way too get a deeper understanding of analog/subtractive synths.
It's very good sounding, but it's not the best sounding OB(X) sound out there. GForce OB-E and OB-X sound as least as good, if not slightly miore authentic. But I agree that the UI does not provide a well done overview and accesability.
GForce is great, true :) I'm still a fan of Sonicprojects' character. Cheers!
Yep Gforce is better
Stworzyli potworka to jak programowanie w Basic
Silnik jak słyszałem jest wspaniały filtry brzmienie soczyste
Obsługa programowania syntha jest jaka jest jak stare pluginy vst 32bit
Lepiej było wielu z nich nigdy nie używać bo psuły brzmienie
Tak i tu ustawianie brzmienia psuje feeling oraz radość obcowania z narzędziem co jest chyba najsmutniejsze
I just spent an evening deciding to play with this synth....I haven't felt this kind of Tech Rage since the days of Windows Vista viruses
Some of the most brilliant developers are completely clueless when it comes to the UI/UX side of things. So many wonderful instruments are ruined by confusing controls and unnecessarily steep learning curves. Audio developers either need to work alongside professional UI/UX software engineers or take on those skills themselves, because the look and feel of your instrument is a _massive_ part of your plugin that absolutely _must_ be front and center in the development process and never, _ever_ an afterthought.
I feel exactly the same. The synth is as good as good is user experience when using it, which of course must come with great tone.
hello my friend great show!!
Thanks, James!
siemka!gdzie można kupić ten program!
Is this thing just using samples, or is it doing real emulation?
You can build most realistic emulation with samples, but OP-X is an algorithmic machine, recreating behaviour of the original in every detail!
This PRO 3 will not work on Windows 7 as it instantly crashes. I want to keep using my Edirol UA-25 and have found a possible way to manage the drivers for Edirol Ua-25 to work with Windows 10.
I can't afford a $300 FocusRite box right now.
I just remember hearing opx pro 2 and comparing it to plugins i hear today and still thought it sounded better 😂.
Well. I'm going to add to other comments here. Trust me. GForce's OB-X. It's freaking... Good God Good.
They should have asked Axel H. for the design of the interface 🙂
Welcome to the 80's synthesizers, nothing easy but too much pain and sweat 😂
The license system is horrible.
Can’t even get it to work.
Sorry to hear that :(
It took me a lot of putting in the exact same information, easily 20 times .and it finally decided to accept it , there support dept was very fast in response time , but being that I entered the same correct info that many’s times , before it works is not a good system., the plugin sounds are fabulous though.
Graphic design is definitely NOT their forte. Plus, it still looks like something out of Synthedit. I like the OB-X from GForce. Btw, I do have a real hardware Oberheim. (though admittedly not an OB-X)
N i c e !
Thank you
That was a bit harsh.... I think the presets alone are worth the price of admission for most casual users, and this kind of review will probably prevent them from buying it.
The point of this vid is to show a weak side of this design, so that the creators can rethink it. I already discovered, that there is a buch of users thinking exactly what I do in this vid. Not every review is a positive one, I'm afraid...
Presets and how fantastic it sounds. Agree 100% It is not the easiest to get around so I get his point but once you take time and figure things out it's not that bad. The Pro II version is even easier to adjust things.
Hi Paul thanks for reaching out love a chat discussion but the link telegram reply email from RUclips is a bit confusing does not work for me is it text what is it tried everyday please give a bit more information of how to send personel contact info /facility which remains private between us
Hey, these are scammers lurking on my channel, man. Don't click anything!
Can't you just ignore the whole interface and just use the presets? Or is there something stopping you from using the presets?
Gutkowski Expressway
Schamberger Pass
Olson Summit
It's like: they made the panel on purpose bad to keep the number of sound enlightened people low.
But...if...they modernised it...what might happen...to...all the...
Happy Accidents? 😊
Not everyone thinks the way the modern intermerwebs does.
Its one of the BIGGEST traps to our creativity.
Locked in a box of a world that should operate the way we think it should operate.
Nothing could be truer for you in that box...
But the rest of the world just keeps turning...and generally doesnt care too much, so keep creating, gathering helpers, telling the Hindererssto get $#%!d and slipstream your way to what we all ultimately want.....
For you that is content, judgement, constructive crit, and I appllaud you for that.
Be aware of the very narrowly defined box you operate within and you will go onto great success, beyond what is now.
I feel I may be 'preaching to the Choir' 😅😅😅
Anderson Plains
Bartoletti Skyway
Harsh review. It's the best sounding analogue modeling synth. The first soft synth (op-xii) that made me part with my money.
9242 Sister Expressway
Reilly Ways
Kuvalis Prairie
Bashirian Mission
Devin Station
Rhea Hill
Steuber Key
24988 Arnaldo Ramp
Dora Crescent
its always written like this on any synth, always alot of knobs switches etc, always alot of fonts, always abreffiated, so i dont understand your problem with the synth. at the end its about the sound.
It is about the sound, but also about the way you get to this sound as a creator. It's also about your creative process. When the synth is easy to understand and operate, because it's well designed, it's also easier to create good sounds with it. When you're struggling too much, you'll create worse sounds or give up and make your sounds happen elsewhere...
i get you but its no other than any other synth, complexity whise, in my opinion but hey if its not your thing its not your thing, everyone is different, no?@@FoliaSound
Durgan Springs
Florida Canyon
8732 Alize Forest