IK Multimedia Sonik Synth 2 VST Mac

I'm a guitarist working in a home studio
Ibanez JS1000-Peavey JSX-POD XT Live-Presonus Firepod-Sonar 4-
Used to use the Sonar included GM based Cakewalk TTS-1(wich suck)
Now using Sonik Synth 2 and never been happier

Used to own a Korg M1 and if your have some knowledge of workstation keyboard you won't have difficulties to use Sonik Synth 2

Some reviewers said that Sonik Synth 2 sounded like a cheap Casio
Well it has some of theses sound in it and they nailed it right
Some sounds really sounds like casio sounds without the effects
But the Pads/Rhodes/Strings/Moogs and other bells and whistles are great and i mean really great
Only downside so far is that you can't import Wav and other samples in it It's a closed platform which suck but i plan to buy the Sampletank 2.5 XL to upgrade and to import So no big deal

Never had a crash so far
Very pleased with this producted
Became my main synth source in my home studio
and with 16 multi-parts and 5 FX per parts
who could ask for more

I bought my first synth, an ARP soloist, when the earth was new. Wrote for a few computer games. Did a few articles for what was once Music Technology magazine. Currently own gear by Kurzweil, Alesis, Roland, GeneralMusic, Emu, but then, who doesn't?

My first software synth was by BitHeadz, rest in pieces (they sucked)

Using this with DP 4.5 on a dual Mac 2 Ghz with 4.5 gigs of RAM, a water softener, and a flosser

Loads easily. Sound load quickly. Interface is a big step up from SampleTank (which I also own). My one grumble is latency on some sounds.

This sounds like a Casio from the 80s? That's what someone else wrote. I must disagree. While I wish IK had concentrated solely on synth sounds (like more deliciously wack Mello/Chamberlain patches), there's literally a ton here. And yes, some of them do sound like a Casio from the 1980s (thank you), but they also sound like a ton of real synths.

As for the non-synth sounds, I don't need the pianos, but the EPs and organs are just fine. Weirdo sounds for sound design are in great supply, too. Many of the acoustic sounds are on the cheap, but I love the full string sections.

Overall, I'd say of the 48 tons of sounds available, at least half of them are good to great, another quarter are fine, but I already have simliar sounds elsewhere, and the final quarter will probably never get used.

I got a great price on this last summer and the synth EFX alone make it worth the price. I'm not sorry I got it. There are a lot of sounds (even acoustic) that this does as well or better than other mfgers.

I'm a professional musician with 25 years experience,my main instrument is bass,also play keyboards and guitars.I use Soniksynth 2 mainly with Sonar 5 producer and Project 5 v 2. I use Dual Pentium D with 2 gigs of DDR 667 Ram,Raid 0 harddrive setup running XP Pro,Presonus Firebox audio card and KRK Rokit 6 Monitors.

Very easy for somebody with any midi recording experience.

Solid performer,many great presets,especially motion pads and orchestral sounds.

Totally worth it the price tag.Does good job in my setup.

I've been making music since the 80's. I've been using Sonik Synth 2 since last summer. Recently moved from PC based SONAR to a MAC G5 running Pro-tools 7 LE with a Digi oo2.

I use the Sonik Synth as my main synth for composing and synth tracking... mainly film music, Pop, Contemporary Jazz and Fusion.

I found this Plug-in extremely easy to use and set-up... though, a slightly lengthy install because of the amount of data.

The manually was fairly thorough.

Now, here's the whole reason why I decided to write a review.

I could not believe how the previous reviewer's were bashing this product.

I think most of the sounds are GREAT, with sooo many options to choose from...for every application.

Lots of "real-world" sounds---"Good" Pianos, "Nice" Brass, an "Excellent" Alto Sax in the Elements section, lots of Basses, Strings and Percussion.

The Motion pads, for me, are astounding! And, the vintage synth patches are a nice node to the Moogs, Ob's...etc

Personally, as soon as I installed it and played, I immediately realized that a lot of the Hardware synths that were cluttering my space would no longer be needed, and proceeded to sell many of them.

On the other hand, no one uses just "one" product alone, so I tend to use Sonik Synth with several other products by other companies (really digging the Wavestation and M1 in software form in the Korg Legacy Digital Edition). I own just about every other major Soft Synth available along with Native Intruments Kontakt and a variety of sample discs.

Sonik Synth 2 has already made it into my most recent and profitable projects. No problems. I'm very pleased.

I'm a professional composer, musician and producer. I have buy the v.2 to use with Steinberg V-Stack v.2 and Nuendo3 in my professional studio recording. I make ambient, pop-rock and electronic music.

Orrible graphics.

Oh my GOD !! This is a toy !! It sound like my Casio O'clock of '80 years !! Terrible sound without dynammic and warm. I have put my money into WC !! Don't buy it !!

This plugin it's incomparable. It's real @#$% !! Repeat: SAVE YOUR MONEY, DON'T BUY !!

I make a living with music professionally as a multi-instrumental sound designer. I use Mac and Windows across almost every recording application.

Classic IcK confusing interface. Shoddy graphics. Terrible installation and copy protection.

This sounds like a old Casio from Radio Shack. I was expecting top notch and got something my kid could have programmed.? Very disappointed. I should have checked it out more before losing my money . Buyer beware. Sounds like all of the toy sounding synths from samplestank.

The ads described this in a way that led me to try it. I feel that I wasted my money on this when I could have put the same money towards something of better quality. Never again IcK and Sonick Non-Reality. I would not reccommend this product to anyone looking for original sounds. I think most of the samples are re-hashed versions from an old samplestank. Better off putting your money down on Virus or Digi's new Synth.

Professional producer, main instrument is guitar, but I'm also a programmer. I run soft-synths in Logic (audio units plugs). Music style is rock, pop, etc. Definately on the modern side of things...

Very easy to use, it uses the Kontakt interface from Native Instruments, which is very intuitive.

The sounds are TERRIBLE. It sounds like a general midi bank from 1992. I really can't believe how cheesy these sounds are. I bought this because I was looking for some new sounds (I regularly use Atmosphere, Trilogy, ES2), and IK has a pretty good reputation with there guitar plug-in Amplitube, so I decided to risk it even though I hadn't heard it. What a waste of money. I definitely don't recommend it to anyone who is trying to make quality music with even a hint of originality.

Don't buy it. Feel free to e-mail me with any specific questions.

played keyboard and guitar in front of hundreds of thousands of people... i know my gear. period. almost any modern guitar or keyboard technology is what i'm really into.

pretty easy interface. may be a bit more difficult to use live, but for studio, it's just a breeze.

has the most ridiculous amounts of QUALITY sounds i've ever seen for the low, low price. i ordered it from fullcompass.com, contact george koury.

all the sounds are rich and real... all of them. and the synth section is insane... there's more synths than you'll ever need, that's for sure. weird sounds, movement sounds, straight forward sounds, analog, digital, and all sorts of strange originals.

totally worth the price and then some. ik sells it for 400 on their site! what a joke.