I don’t disagree that omnisphere is in a league of its own, but the jd-xi only has a fraction of the sounds you get in the Integra. It’s currently the most advanced hardware rompler, which is why I brought it up!
I suppose mildly on topic, I just programmed my Moog Sub phatty to control synthmaster plug in.
This makes my moog feel like a polysynth. I was blown away how much more I liked playing softsynths using the moog than using a novation impulse. Two truly different experiences, where one feels real and the other doesn’t. Aftertouch on the sub phatty would really put it other the edge.
Thus, reading that omnisphere has optimized use of some HW synths as controllers makes me want it A LOT!
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Makes you wonder why midi controller creators haven’t taken more risks and actually produced something with many properly grouped and labeled knobs and switches. It’s so generic and noncommittal to supply a keyboard with 8x knobs, 8x faders and 8x pads.
I guess Korg made an attempt with that MS20 controller, but IMO that was the wrong synth to gut for this purpose.
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Yes exactly @nfim that’s what I thought too! Maybe elektron will blow us away with something hehe. Hopefully they’ll just keep making very original hardware. I’m a total fan!
Congratulations to Spectrasonics for this update! It was a smart move to make this hardware-supported templates and don´t use the term “emulation” anywhere. The idea is not new, there are midi templates in the Virus TI to control different plugins but I guess that Omnisphere did a much better job by copying the oscillator waveforms and other stuff that is unique to each synth they implemented. The updated waveform view was overdue, I use the granular engine a lot and always hated to guess where I am when playing longer samples.
I won´t upgrade now because I am in the middle of an album production and don´t want to risk any incompatibilities with my projects. But I wonder if you can use the Virus A/B templates with a Virus TI as long as you stick to the features the old Virus synths had. Afaik the midi layout was not changed with the C and TI line.
I agree, the Integra 7 is superior to the JD-xi. I guess that the Jd-xi sound engine is some kind of slimed down version of the integra 7. The JD-xi can IMO only be used to its full potential, with a external editor. So much menu diving…
The idea from spectrasonics is awesome.
I have a Virus ti2 Desktop, and every time I use the total integration i have to remind myself to not use the mouse, even if the hardware is in front of me. Because the Virus has so many options that the mouse is still needed to switch between windows, effect algorithms and so on…
Omnisphere just keeps getting better
Eric Persing is a genius
Circuit monopoly station, but not circuit?
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Holding on to my last hardware synth (Virus Ti) hoping that they will add it soon. Feels reasonable since the virus a and b are already supported.
Anyone with some inside information?
Absolutely, I’m a fan of my Novation X-Station keyboard for precisely that reason - you can create some really in-depth intuitive mappings, and it has enough parameters to cover most common synths. Shame the controls are a bit cheap.
I’d love a MIDI controller with LED or e-ink text screens under each knob to label it, I guess the cost might be the issue…
Omnisphere 2.5 update induced me to get a Roland SE-02 …
tiny knobs but a great little Omnisphere controller for compact laptop noodling (with a free 3osc analog SE Moog thrown in)
And now Omnisphere 2.6 expanding the hardware list among other goodies!!
This thing is the reconciliation of hardware and software 
New Hardware Synth Profiles added in v2.6 include:
• Roland Juno-106
• Roland D-50/PG-1000
• Alesis Andromeda A6
• Behringer Deepmind
• Access Virus Indigo 1
• Access Virus Indigo 2
• Access Virus C
• Access Virus TI
• DSI/Sequential Pro 2
• DSI/Sequential Prophet 08
• DSI/Sequential Mopho
• Roland JP-8000
• Roland JP-8080
• Roland Gaia
• Roland JD-Xi
• Roland SH-201
• Nord Wave
• Nord Lead 3
• Nord Lead 4
• Nord Lead A1
• Nord Stage 3
• Moog One
• Moog Minitaur
• Korg MicroKorg
• Korg MicroKorg XL
• Korg Minilogue XD
• Korg MS-20i
• Korg MS-2000
• Novation MiniNova
• Yamaha Reface CS
Wishings for the next update
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Analog four??? Imagine Analog four with 4 tracks but unlimited voice count…
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Octatrack? With omnisphere’s effects and the granular feature…wait… Octagranular ???
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And the new arp has THE feature I’ve been hoping for; capture arp for some bars and then drag drop to your DAW.
Crazy that the 2.6 update will be free.
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I want to bump this thread…
What are your opinions after quite some time working with Omnisphere and hardware integration? Are you really using it or is it more of a marketing gimmick but in practice seldom used.
I am thinking of buying novations peak and using it also with spectrasonics hardware integration…
When this was released I was very impressed with how well it worked with my sub37 as a controller. The presets made for the sub37 worked well, but so did the presets for different controllers. So it was fun to play around with. But I dont play live and I tend to use omnisphere for its vast library of sounds when I need something in a hurry - meaning I just find a preset I like and use that, often with very little modification. So I dont really need that level of hw integration. I would not say its a gimmick though. I’d say they put a lot of work into making it work as seamlessly as possible with a lot of popular hardware.
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Because of the similarity in sound architecture (4 layers: 2 oscs, 2 sample oscs), Sequential’s Prophet X makes it actually fun to play Omnisphere. I never had any desire to jam with Omnisphere until I got the Prophet X. But then, Catch-22, I don’t spend much time jamming with Omnisphere precisely because I’ve got the Prophet X.
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I wonder, is it bi-directional? If so, I imagine my Nord Lead 3 rack, with it’s LED ring encoders would be an ideal controller.