It is a deep and complex synth, but on balance, its quick an easy synth to program I think. Its easy to program through the touch screen, but not as direct to program as a good knobby VA - ie far less direct knobbage. In some ways programming it is a bit like programming a soft synth with a knob/button box as many of the knobs taken on functions depending on the screen at times.
Rather than loads of complex mod routing to remember each major block in it has its own LFOs and Envelopes - this simplifies navigation, and allowes for hugely complex sounds to be easily created, but can add more to the programming effort than say simply routing the same env to several parameters when that is you you need at the time.
Preparing samples and loops can be a bit hit and miss until you get a feel for it, but how much so really depends on you aims for the sound you are trying to create.
I do think you have to be willing to ivest quite a bit of effort into it to get the best out - thats not saying its hard, it just that unlike say a virus TI there arnt huge numbers of presets that you will want to use all over the place, so there ismoe of a need to program it from the outset. Some of the best preset sounds are actually buried in ARP and the like - switch the arps off and youll discover a bunch of very useful sounds.
If it definately a tweakers/programmers machine though - if you aint willing to stick the time in and learn to program - then I wouldnt get one.
For a synth of its complexity and mangling power - then its one of the easier ones to porgram I think, especially with the included templates in OS V2.
|