Does anyone use Arturia Analog Lab? Quick questions about 4 and 5

[u/ruby_yng]

I'm using the demo version of 4 and the intro version of Analog Lab 5 that comes with the Arturia Minilab mk III.

My questions is it looks like there are so much more variability and sound design choices in 4 than in 5. And the instruments are so good in 4 as well. Am I missing something. I'm feeling closer to upgrading 4 than 5. Also, maybe it's just a bug but sometimes the sounds cut out in 4 and i have to reload the project to get it started again.

[u/whatupsilon]

I have an older version of V Collection and also use Analog Lab which is basically the presets only. Nothing in Analog Lab is really considered sound design, usually you have a few macro knobs. The sliders you are looking at are probably there for the DX7 only. You should compare the same preset in each version for apples to apples.

The main downside with Lab is you cannot make the presets fully dry. Just a guess but the reason the sound cuts out is probably because you are in the demo mode.

One note about UI controls and UX, since I used to do that for a living. A design challenge is always how much to give the user because you want things to be easy and smooth, which is normally simple. More control is not always better.

While Apple design is often oversimplified and frustrates advanced users, plugins like Harmor or Phase Plant can be confusing and frustrating for beginners. You may actually be advanced at production but the designer has to create with the average user of the product in mind. Thus an upgrade might have simpler controls and aesthetic choices that don't feel strictly like an upgrade, and so you just have to decide if they work for you personally.

If you like sound design I highly recommend saving up for the full V Collection, worth it IMO.