In this blog, Electronic Music Production instructor and contributor Joe “Computo” Caputo writes about the reasons you should consider using Vital, a free spectral warping wavetable synthesizer.
In the past 10 years, Serum from Xfer Records has taken over digital audio workstations (DAWs) as the go-to synthesizer. Along with it’s extensive sound shaping feature set, Serum benefitted from a huge user base who created and shared preset packs, which have skyrocketed the plugin to popularity.
However in the past few years, a new synth has emerged to compete with Serum: Vital.
Vital offers almost all of the features found in Serum, with an additional fully featured oscillator as well as a built-in sampler, which can double as a noise generator. Vital is offered in a few packages, including a bundle with presets or a subscription plan for constant content updates. However what has set Vital out from the crowd is the full featured FREE version which has a collection of essential and creative wavetables for creating your own sounds built in, but includes no presets.
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On that note, here are three reasons you should use Vital:
1. The sound shaping possibilities are unparalleled
Vital offers some of the same features as most of today’s wavetable synthesizers, like Massive, Pigments or Serum. In addition to a basic wavetable synthesis feature set though, Vital offers a number of complex spectral shaping techniques that do not appear in other instruments.
Each oscillator features two separate spectral and wave shaping mode menus and controls, on top of wavetable manipulation. These include modes like FM and wave bending, as well as some of the more complex and unique methods like “harmonic stretch” and “time skew”. These wave shaping methods expand the palette of sounds that Vital offers the musician, and sets it apart from the growing pack.
2. It can do everything your other wavetable synths can do, plus more
Vital is ready for extreme modulation and playability. One area that sets Vital apart from most other synthesizers is audio rate modulation. Like almost every other synth, LFOs and modulation play a huge role in the crafting of sounds. However one of the most interesting forms of modulation (often is overlooked in modern synths) is the idea of modulating parameters beyond the typical ranges of LFOs, which usually oscillate between 0 and 20 cycles per second (hence the “Low Frequency” part of LFO).
Changing aspects of your sound at faster frequencies or rates tends to generate more complex tonal results. Of course, entire synthesis techniques have emerged from this process, including Frequency, Amplitude, Phase and Ring Modulation. However, the ability to modulate ANY parameter between 20-20,000 times per second offers a new range of sound sculpting to the synth user.
Vital also boasts MPE support, making performance based modulation accessible to anyone with an MPE controller… or with a DAW that can map MPE modulation.
3. It’s free!
Vital has set itself apart from the world of software synthesizers by simply making their professional instrument available for free. While presets are not included in the free option, working without a long list of sounds to sift through has benefits. If you are trying to learn a synthesizer or create original sounds, presets might slow or hinder the process. Remember, entire records have been made on synthesizers without presets or the assistance of computers! Use the lack of presets as an opportunity to treat this synth like a synth, rather than a preset player.
Of course, there are paid options for Vital, so supporting this project is encouraged! It’s a labor of love by a single creator, so a few options do exist if you would like presets, or to participate in the Vital community. Two tiers of paid versions are available, a Plus version which includes a limited preset collection or a Pro version which includes way more presets, skins, a Discord perks and more. The monthly subscription includes the same perks plus regular preset content packs.
And don’t forget there are options for other synths, that make them more affordable and attainable, including the pay as you go plans on Splice, who offer Serum for only $10/month.
Vital offers an extremely powerful and unique synthesizer and plugin for any DAW, and it’s incredible price point and feature set make it a no brainer for any upcoming or professional producer.
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