GForce Software has been putting out some fresh content for its software synthesizer with expansion packs by various sound designers. Aphelion’s Orbit takes a look at a selection in our latest review.
Intro
I’m a big fan of Gforce and often buy their products without even trying a demo. That’s how confident I am in their offerings, and their synths frequently find their way into my productions.
Like with any instrument, there’s a risk of hitting a creative wall where the usefulness of a soft or hardware synth wanes, and we seek new inspiration. For those who enjoy programming and sound creation, this might be less of an issue.
Recently, Gforce has been more aggressive in releasing some excellent preset packs for their soft synth collections that are worth checking out. I spent a couple of weeks exploring four packs, and here are my findings.
Setup
Click on the browser icon next to the favorite’s icon at the top. Select the folder next to collections. Select the import option at the bottom and import the preset file.
First Impressions
These presets are well-programmed and offer great value at their price point. Most packs include around 50-60 presets, each of which can be further tweaked using the built-in parameters of each synth. You’ll find classic bread-and-butter basses, leads, synths, keys, strings, and plucks.
Additionally, some of these presets are quite experimental and creatively idealistic. Below is my review of each pack and a selection of my favorite presets.
Minimonsta2 – Modern Pop by K/V
K/V nailed it with this pack. While the presets capture the pop sound, there’s so much versatility here that can be applied to almost any genre.
- A Kind Heart – This preset is a majestically grand, Prophet-like string pad.
- Bad Bromance – A resonant, detuned, brassy bass chord that shines when played in the lower register.
- Bunker Bay – A bass/kick combination that sounds good across the scale.
- Dreamy Scummy – A shimmering pluck type sound.
- Hologram – Another detuned bass type lead sound.
- So Close – An evolving pad that transitions from calm to aggressive and back to calm.
Oberheim SEM – Analog Studio ’74 by Polydata
This set perfectly captures the electronic scene of the mid to late 70s and early 80s. It’s great for film and movies.
Listening to this set, I hear echoes of early Dr. Who, Logan’s Run, and those late 70s/early 80s Saturday morning live-action kids’ shows like Electro Woman and Dyna Girl, Lidsville, and H.R. Pufnstuf—all that Sid and Marty Krofft psychedelia. If you enjoy evolving and sequenced sounds, this pack is for you.
- 1981 PBS Documentary on Nocturnal Animals – evolving textured pad/lead.
- Binary Logic – sequenced lead.
- Cool Out at Kenneth Hahn Park – lead.
- Crinkled Tape – lo-fi lead.
- Dawn in San Jose – sequenced lead with bottom.
- Jan Hammer at Montreux – badass lead.
- T-800 Lurks – slow funk evolving lead.
- Texture for Vibe – lo-fi textured evolving pad lead.
Oddity3 – Electronica Studio by GEOSynths
This set offers an array of essential sounds that are truly impressive. I often turn to this set when I want to explore and develop an idea from scratch.
- Chiming in – nice bell synth.
- Low Key – nice synth keys with a touch of FM.
- Outlier – sequenced patch with a funky bounce.
- Red Shift – evolving metallic sci pad.
- State Line – Chicago house Chord stab with lots of LFO.
Oddity3 – Dark Cinematic by K/V
Another fantastic set from K/V. I wasn’t sure what to expect beyond lots of cinematic pads, strings, and FX. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find this set offers much more.
It can be used across a variety of genres, including dance, Lo-Fi, darker tech, trap, and other electronic music.
- A Grand Reprisal – A short, stab lead with bounce.
- Antietam – A happy, creepy chord that’s fun to play, reminiscent of Woody Woodpecker on helium.
- Blades Running – A lead with character and great aftertouch.
- Brutus – An aggressive bass that really talks to you. Played higher up, it makes a really nice bass lead.
- Deep Drop – A riser with a killer drop.
- Spaceships – Another highly useful riser that evolves, swarms, and talks to you.
- Strawberry Fuzz – A nice lo-fi sounding lead.
- The Experiment – A read-aggressive evolving patch that showcases the power of the synth. Though aggressive, the patch is still playable.
Recap
I didn’t find any bad presets in these packs, nor did I notice much repetition. These presets offer great value. As with any preset pack, there will be some you’ll skip, but I found very few in this case.
Pros
- Great sounds.
Cons
- Left me with the feeling that I can’t wait for the next set to be released.
Final Thoughts
I’ve always believed that a new synth should come with great presets. Over the years, some excellent synths have missed that mark. Not everyone wants or has the time to tweak and sound design.
When there’s an opportunity to extend the life of an existing synth by creating new presets, it only makes sense to do so. I appreciate that Gforce has targeted this market and hope they continue. I wasn’t a frequent user of Oberheim SEM, but I am now after listening to the Analog Studio ’74 by Polydata set.
The sound packs are available to purchase at the GForce Software store for £14.99 GBP each.