Moving from HN2 to Synfire Sparks
Before considering a move from HN2 to Synfire Sparks, it is important to understand what distinguishes the two programs. While Sparks adds plug-in hosting and phrase editing, some features and capacities are less powerful than HN2.
With the second generation of Synfire, the features of all editions have been carefully rebalanced in order to make every edition as useful as possible for their envisioned target audience and at the same time allow us to offer more affordable options as an alternative to the flagship Pro edition.
- The Sparks edition is a great entry into the world of Music Prototyping. It helps you understand music theory, write and arrange songs and create instrumental phrases for export to your DAW. Its intended audience is songwriters, students and teachers.
- The Express edition offers additional creative tools, increased capacities and more control over the details. It is great for home producers that don't yet need the advanced features of the Pro edition.
- The Pro edition includes all prototyping features ever made for Synfire, offering the most comfortable and productive workflow for professionals and music enthusiasts.
Harmony Navigator has been discontinued. Its features are now integrated with the Synfire family. Since it doesn't have a direct successor, there are two options if you want to make the move to Synfire 2.
Upgrade To Express
The natural upgrade from Harmony Navigator 2 (Advanced Edition) is Synfire Express. It includes all features of HN2 and is a lot more powerful in every regard. If you are looking for a solid feature upgrade across the board, we recommend this step.
What Extras You Get
- Vastly more powerful tools for collecting phrases, arranging and editing.
- Much improved user interface that is easier to use.
- Snippets (Live Loops).
- Compatibility with latest macOS and M1.
- Host your VST3/VST/AU audio plug-ins.
- Host plug-ins in Drones in your DAW.
- Detailed phrase editing.
- Save more than 250€ compared to a new purchase (circa).
Switch To Sparks
If you consider moving from HN2 to Synfire Sparks, you need to know that some features and capacities were moved to Synfire Express in order to rebalance the new product family. Depending on what your priorities are, you may or may not miss some of these features.
What You Gain
- Much improved user interface that is easier to use.
- Compatibility with latest macOS and M1.
- Host your VST3/VST/AU audio plug-ins.
- Detailed phrase editing.
- Library accessible from sidebar.
What You May Miss
- The catalog is not editable and includes only 576 chords (24 different chord types). You can still enter any possible chord into the input field, but they won't show up on the palette.
- Supported parameters are limited to Harmony, Figure, Interpretation, Volume, Pan, Pause, Take. That's more than enough to do a lot of stuff, but if you have used other parameters with HN2, you may possibly miss them.
- Old HN2 files can be opened, but new files support up to eight instruments only.
- Online repository for device descriptions not included.
- Only one palette can be open at a time.
- Palette is integrated with arrange window.
- Progression editor is integrated with arrange window.
Sketches
With HN2 you could select a Sketch from a menu to use as the basis for a song. This feature has been replaced by the ability to convert any Sketch to a song (arrangement) and edit that as you need. You can also replace the phrases in the root container now to achieve the same effect.
Detailed Comparison
For the most informed decision, please check out the complete comparison of all Synfire editions.
How You Can Arrange With Synfire Sparks
How You Can Arrange With Synfire Express
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2022-11-01