Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.8 Software Synthesizer

THE must-have software synth. Import any audio source, or choose from hundreds of waveforms and thousands of presets -- and even control via hardware synths.

Spectrasonics Atmosphere Dream Synth (Mac and Windows)

No longer available at zZounds
3.7 gig core library. 1,000 patches. MAS, RTAS and VST Mac/PC included.

Spectrasonics Atmosphere Dream Synth (Macintosh and Windows)
The Atmosphere Dream Synth Module (tm), is a new type of software plug-in instrument that integrates a massive, three gigabyte core library of more than one thousand unique sounds and layer elements, with a powerful and intuitive interface for shaping new textures. Atmosphere works as a native plug-in instrument in all major hosts like Logic, Digital Performer, Cubase, Nuendo and Pro-Tools.

Atmosphere was designed from the ground up by acclaimed synthesist Eric Persing, well known for his sound design of classic Roland synthesizers and award-winning sample libraries.

Persing and his International team of sound designers developed the Atmosphere core library using over a hundred sound design devices and nearly every conceivable synthesis method including Granular, Additive, Wavetable, Wavescanning, Graintable, Neural Processing, Vintage Analog, Vector, Virtual Analog, FM, Plug-In manipulations, and unusual Acoustic sources as well. This custom core library gives Atmosphere its unprecedented variety of tonal textures, especially when compared to standard soft-synths.

The range of sounds this instrument is capable of is astonishing, from lush ethereal pads, to powerful leads, crystalline glass swells to dark brooding atonal clouds, unusual synth basses, evocative ambiences, deep drones, complex textures, vintage analog sounds, disturbing noise FX, europhasers, gorgeous ambient string ensembles, thick trance/techno read more sounds, wavetable sweeps, vocoded choirs, dense vocal washes, transparent evolutions, and shimmering prisms of harmonic convergence. Sounds this rich put even the best hardware synths to shame!

The stellar Sound Quality is this instrument's number one feature. The scope of sounds it can produce is very broad, making it extremely versatile in a wide variety of musical situations. This is made possible because there has never been a programmable synth released with such a massive, high resolution core wavetable to work with--completely dedicated to sound design elements (no stock pianos or oboes!)

Eric explains the recent enhancements to the instrument since the introduction of the Atmosphere concept in January: Our original design for Atmosphere was intended for producing evolving pads and rich ambient sounds. However, in the evolution of the development of Atmosphere, we have significantly expanded the range of the core library's sonic palette and added new functions and capabilities to the interface, which now allow for a vast array of synth sounds and sound design, including unique leads and percussive sounds as well. We are very pleased to be releasing Atmosphere as a much more powerful synthesizer, capable of many inspiring and fresh sounds across the complete range of electronic music. It's also gratifying that we've been able to include these new capabilities without making the interface more difficult to use. No matter how our instruments will be evolving over time, the cornerstone of our design philosophy will always be to make 'powerfully simple' instruments, that every user can get great results with.

The core library of a thousand powerful sounds is just the starting point for your own creations. The beauty of Atmosphere is in its dual-layer concept. You can immediately mix and match the layers of any of the 1,000 patches, and tweak each layer fully independently. That's over a million possible combinations! Each layer has its own multimode resonant filters, four LFOs, three envelopes and matrix modulation. There is also an additional master filter for quick tone shaping. The possibilities for creative manipulation are phenomenal... and yet it is so easy to use.

Atmosphere is an amazing sounding instrument, designed to inspire and surprise for many years.

3.7 gig core library offers vast array of textures to explore

1,000 patches by award-winning sound designer Eric Persing

All new sounds

Powerful interface and synthesis capabilities

Dynamic layering of sounds for over 1,000,000 mix combinations

Easy to use... Built-in patch management system

Fully programmable

Total recall with your sequence

Multimode resonant Filters for each layer, plus Master Filters

Three envelopes per layer for Pitch, Filter and Amplitude

Matrix-style modulation routing, four LFOs

Powered by custom 32 bit UVI engine

Cross platform plug-in compatibility

MAS, RTAS and VST Mac/PC included
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iLok compatible

Operates as a virtual instrument software plug-in in all major hosts like Logic 5, Digital Performer, Pro Tools Mac Free/LE/TDM/HD, Cubase (VST-Mac/PC & SX Windows only), Nuendo, Fruity Loops, Acid Pro 4.0 and other VST hosts.
*also works in Sonar with a VST wrapper (not included)

System Recommendations

512 MB RAM, 3.9 GB free hard disc space

MAC: OS 9 or higher, 500 mHz G3 or better CPU, MAS, RTAS or VST 2.0 host

PC: Windows 98 or higher, 600 mHz Pentium III or better CPU, sound card, VST 2.0 host

CPU load: Moderate

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 888-870-4223 or 818-955-8444
Email: info@spectrasonics.net
Web: https://www.spectrasonics.net/support

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (53 ratings)
Submitted March 9, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com

"AMAZING! SIMPLY AMAZING!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
It would overall deserve a 10, but I think it is a bit too heavy on the CPU. Besides that, this is an incredible product that pays for itself.
Sound
The best synths I have ever heard. Some cool stuff on there I'll probably never use, but at least it's there just in case. AMAZING!
Features
The only thing I think this is missing is some nice piano...
Quality
No quality problems as far as I can tell....
Value
For all the incredible sounds you get, I think it is more than worth it!
Manufacturer Support
Never had to contact support but I am sure they rock!

Musical Style:

Pop/Rock ala U2
7 of 8 people (88%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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