PREMIER SOUND FACTORY vs Surge XT

PREMIER SOUND FACTORY sells sampled software instrument libraries for music and other production work. Its catalog includes acoustic and electric pianos, Japanese instruments, drums, basses, and Mellotron sounds. KAWAI Legend is offered in 96kHz/24bit, with a 48kHz version for sessions at 48kHz and 44.1kHz; listed features include harmonic resonance, release-trigger, damper and half-pedal playback, and Velocity+. KAGUYA includes two koto instruments, 16 articulations, 36 Japanese scales, and 214 audio phrase patterns. Drum Tree, KAGUYA, and Shakuhachi Premier G work with Kontakt Player; other products require full Kontakt. Specifications list Audio Units, VST, AAX Native, ASIO, Core Audio, and WASAPI, along with support for several named DAWs. Standalone app and built-in samples are listed. Free products are available, and paid products start at $81. A license covers two computers, but cannot be transferred. Download links expire after one month.

Surge XT is a free, open-source virtual instrument plugin and hybrid synthesizer for making music. Each patch has two scenes that can be layered or split, and each scene has three oscillators with 12 algorithms, including wavetable, FM, string, and audio input. Its listed library includes over 2,800 patches and over 700 wavetables. Other features include 12 LFO units, flexible modulation routing, and 16 effect units with 27 algorithms. Performance support includes MPE, Scala and MTS-ESP microtuning, and Open Sound Control. Surge XT runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with plugin formats varying by platform: CLAP and VST3 on Windows; AU, CLAP, and VST3 on macOS; and CLAP, LV2, and VST3 on Linux. It primarily needs a DAW or another compatible host, though a standalone executable is available. Version 1.3.4 is identified as the stable release for normal production use. The software is licensed under GPL3.