So I’m not looking to emulate analog synths, make basslines or leads, I have several analogs for that.
I want a Wavetable synth for creepy textural soundtrack stuff. Looking at P12, peak or hydrasynth.
I know the P12 doesn’t technically have “wavetables” but it does have morphing between waveforms which I think could get creepy enough.
Has anyone owned more than one of these and can compare them?
Thanks!
I have all three, and all three can transition from one wave to the other in wavetable operation. The P12 has a pretty limited wavetable palette, though, and if you specifically want a wavetable synth I'd recommend against it. OTOH if you want a deep synth with 10 different ways to create creepy, overdriven soundscapes, the P12 is magnificent.
Peak has a ton of built-in wavetables and you can add your own. Peak also has the analog signal chain post-oscillator, same as the P12, and it sounds fantastic. The sound engine and modulation options are very extensive -- I absolutely love the kinds of crazy inharmonic sounds I can get out of it, especially with a randomizer. Wavetables on the Peak have 5 wave components.
Hydrasynth is fully digital AND it sounds great. The dual filter & multiple filter models are extremely powerful, 5 LFOs, 5 EGs...it's deep and you can probably creep out until you can't creep no more with it. My favorite part of the HS isn't the sound engine, though, it's the poly AT keyboard and ribbon controller. The Wavetables have 8 wave components, although there's currently no way to upload your own, so that might be a limitation you don't want to deal with.
Personally, if I had to choose, I'd probably go with the Peak for the droolworthy basic sound and flexibility and use something like Zebra or Serum if you need digital wavetable capabilities. That's just a gut feeling, though -- I could imagine anyone else making a perfectly correct different choice.