GETTINGSTARTED

WelcomeToOmnisphere2

GETTINGSTARTEDQuickstart

ThisQuickstartprovidesanoverviewoftheessentialthingsyouwillneedtoknowinorderto
getstartedusingOmnisphere.
Omnisphereisasoftwareinstrumentplugin,andrequireshostsoftwarein
ordertorun
Omnispherecanbeamemoryintensiveinstrument,especiallywithMultis
loaded.AsystemwithplentyofRAMwillgreatlyenhanceperformance.Besure
andcheckouttheConcepts:PerformanceOptimizationchapter.

1.InstallOmnisphere
Installingcantakefrom4~6hours,andonceinstalled,thelibrarywilltakeabout64GBof
freeharddrivespace.

2.AuthorizethePlugIn
AuthorizationcanbedoneimmediatelyfromanycomputerconnectedtotheInternet

3.GetEverythingUpdated
MakesureyouhavethelatestversionsoftheSoftware,SoundsourcesandPatches:
OpenOmnisphereandclickontheSpectrasonicslogo
Selectthebuttonlabeled"CheckforUpdates"toopentheSystemStatuspage
Statusindicatorsinredmeanthatanupdateisnecessary.ClicktheGet
Updatesbuttontodownloadthem.
Afterinstallingtheupdates,Omnisphereisreadytogo!
NOTE:Besuretoquityourhostsoftwarebeforeinstallingthedownloaded
updates.

4.UseOmnisphereMultitimbrally
Omnisphereisamultitimbralinstrument,soyoucanuseasingleinstanceto

Omnisphereisamultitimbralinstrument,soyoucanuseasingleinstanceto
loadandplayeightdifferentsoundsondifferentMIDIchannels
Setupyourhostsoftwareformultitimbraloperation

5.LoadingSounds
TherearethreetypesofsoundlibrariesinOmnisphere:
Patches,MultisandSoundsources
ToloadaPatch:
SelectaPartNumberButtonintheHeader
ClickonthePatchNameDisplayjustbelowthelargeOmnisphere
title.
ThePatchBrowserwillopen,allowingyoutoselectandload
Patches
ToloadaMulti:
ClicktheMultiNameDisplayintheOmnisphereHeader
TheMultiBrowserwillopen,allowingyoutoselectandloadMultis
ToloadarawSoundsource:
SelectClearPartfromtheUtilityMenuintheHeader
ClicktheSoundsourceNameDisplaybelowLayerA
TheSoundsourceBrowserwillopen,allowingyoutoselectand
loadSoundsources.

6.ExploreandLearn
Formoreindepthinformation,watchadditionaltutorialsandexploreoutthisReferenceGuide
whichistheprimarymanualforOmnisphere.Thisguidecanbeviewedonanycomputerand
canbeprintedandsearchedforeasyaccesstofindtheinformationyouneed.
Ifyourenewtosynthesis,werecommendstartingwiththechapterson
Concepts,TheMixer,Browsers,MainPages,ArpeggiatorandLiveMode.
Ifyouhavesomeexperiencewithsynthesis,besuretocheckoutthechapters
onTheFXRack,Automation&MIDILearn,TheLayerPagesandStack
Mode.
Experiencedsynthesistscangoindepthwithzoomingconceptsthatare
coveredinthechaptersonModulation,Oscillators,Filters,LFOs,and
Envelopes.

8.SupportResources
Onlineresourcesareavailablethatcananswermosttechnicalquestions.Pleaseloginandvisit
ourKnowledgeBaseat:http://support.spectrasonics.net

9.HaveFun!
EnjoyusingOmnisphereandwehopeyoumakesomegreatmusicwithit!

TheSpectrasonicsTeam

GETTINGSTARTEDSystemRequirements

SYSTEMREQUIREMENTSFORALLUSERS:
2.4GHzorhigherprocessor
4GBRAMminimum,8GBormorerecommended
DualLayercompatibleDVDROMdrive
64GBoffreeharddrivespace

MacRecommendations:
OSX10.8MountainLionorhigher
AU,VST2.4orhigher,RTAS/AAXcapablehostsoftware
AudioUnitrequireshostwithsupportfor"Cocoa"basedAUplugins
Native64bitand32bitonOSX

WindowsRecommendations:
VST2.4orhigher,RTAS/AAXcapablehostsoftware
MicrosoftWindows7/Vistacompatible
Native64bitand32bitonWindows

GETTINGSTARTEDMacOSXInstallationontheStartupDrive

FollowthissetofinstructionstoinstalltheOmnispherelargesoundlibraryfilesontoyour
startupharddrive.Youneedover64GBoffreespaceavailableonyourstartupharddrivein
ordertocontinue.

NOTE:ThesescreenshotsaretakeninOSXYosemite.Installationonotherversionsof
MacOSXmaylooksomewhatdifferent.

INSTALLINGDISCA
1.AfterinsertingOmnisphereDiscAintothecomputer,openthedisc"Spectrasonics
Omnisphere"torevealitscontentsfromtheDesktop.

2.OpentheMacfolder,thendoubleclick"Omnisphere2Installation.url"tobeginthe
installationofOmnisphere.

3.You'llbedirectedtotheSpectrasonicswebsitewhereyou'lllogintoyouruseraccount.Ifyou
don'tyethaveauseraccount,youcancreateonebyselectingthe"CreateNewAccount"
button.

4.You'llselectthedownloadlinkforMactodownloadtheDiscInstaller.

5.Oncethezipfiledownloadsandextractsitselfyoushouldhaveafoldercalled
"Omnisphere_2_Installation".Openthefolderandfirstreadthefilecalled"Important!"asit
containsvitalinformationabouttheinstallprocessandrequirements.Next,openthefolder
called"Step1Installer".

6.Thenopenthefoldercalled"Mac".

7.Doubleclickthefile"Omnisphere2Installer.pkg".Theinstallermightneedtoquitand
reopentoensuresupportforolderversionsofOSX,sojustclick"OK".

8.Followthestepsasyou'reguidedthroughtheinstallationprocess.Makesuretoreviewthe
InstallationInfoandLicensingFAQ.Thenatthe"DestinationSelect"step,choosetheoption
"InstallforallUsersofthiscomputer."AftertheInstallationTypeinformationyou'llenteryour
systempasswordtostarttheinstallprocess.

9.ThepluginfileswillthenbeinstalledonyourMac'ssystemdrive.

10.ThenatthePreparationstep,you'llselectwheretoinstallthelargecorelibraryfiles.By
defaulttheywillbeinstalledtoyoursystemdriveorchooseasecondarydrivebyselectingthe
button"ChooseLocation."

11.Theinitialsetofdatafileswillthenbewrittentoyourselecteddrive.

12.Aftertheinstallationiscomplete,closeouttheinstallerandreturntoyour
"Omnisphere_2_Installation"folderandopenthe"Step2DataUpdater"folder.

13.OpentheMacfolderandrunthe"Omnisphere2DataUpdater.pkg".Again,theinstaller
mightneedtoquitandreopentoensuresupportforolderversionsofOSX,select"OK".

14.Followthestepsasyou'reguidedthroughtheinstallationprocess.Atthe"Destination
Select"step,choosetheoption"InstallforallUsersofthiscomputer."AftertheInstallation
Typeinformationyou'llenteryoursystempasswordtobeginthedatainstallprocess.

15.AtthePreparationstep,you'llseewherethelargedatafileswillbeinstalledonyour
system.

16.ThelargedatafileswillnowbecopiedfromtheDVDstoyourselecteddrive.Allowfor30
45minutesperdisc(approximately46hoursforalleightDVDs.)

17.Whenthedatafromtheeighthdischasbeeninstalled,it'stimetoopenupOmnispherein
yourhosttoauthorizeit.

PleaseconsulttheAuthorizationsectionforassistancewithauthorizingOmnisphere.

GETTINGSTARTEDWindowsInstallation

FollowthissetofinstructionstoinstalltheOmnispherelargesoundlibraryfilesontoyour
startupharddrive.Youneedalmost64GBoffreespaceavailableonyourstartupharddrivein
ordertocontinue.

NOTE:ThesescreenshotsaretakeninWindows8.Installationonotherversionsof
Windowsmaylooksomewhatdifferent.

INSTALLINGDISCA

1.AfterinsertingOmnisphereDiscAintothecomputer,openthedisc"Spectrasonics
Omnisphere"torevealitscontentsfromtheDesktop.

2.OpentheWindowsfolder,thendoubleclick"Omnisphere2Installation.url"tobeginthe
installationofOmnisphere.


3.You'llbedirectedtotheSpectrasonicswebsitewhereyou'lllogintoyouruseraccount.Ifyou
don'tyethaveauseraccount,youcancreateonebyselectingthe"CreateNewAccount"
button.

4.You'llselectthedownloadlinkforWindowstodownloadtheDiscInstaller.

5.Oncethezipfiledownloadsandextractsitselfyoushouldhaveafoldercalled
"Omnisphere_2_Installation".Openthefolderandfirstreadthefilecalled"Important!"asit
containsvitalinformationabouttheinstallprocessandrequirements.Next,openthefolder
called"Step1Installer".

6.Thenopenthefoldercalled"Windows".

7.Doubleclickthefile"Omnisphere2Installer.exe".

8.Followthestepsasyou'reguidedthroughtheinstallationprocess.Makesuretoreviewthe
InstallationInfoandLicensingFAQandthentoagreetothelicenseagreement.

9.ThepluginfileswillthenbeinstalledonyourPC'ssystemdrive.

10.AttheSelectComponentsstepyou'llchoosetoinstallthe32bitand/or64bitversionsof
Omnisphere.Ifuncertainwhichtochoose,selectthemboth.Thefollowingstepswillthendetail
thedefaultlocationforbothversionoftheVST.


11.ThedefaultlocationofthelargeOmnispheredatafileswillbedisplayednextandifyou
wishtoinstallthecorelibrarytoasecondarydrive,selectthe"Browse"buttontoselectan
alternatedrive.


12.Oncetheinstallationpathshavebeenconfirmed,theinstallationwillbegin.


13.Aftertheinstallationiscomplete,closeouttheinstallerandreturntoyour
"Omnisphere_2_Installation"folder.

14.Openthe"Step2DataUpdater"folder,theWindowsfolderandrunthe"Omnisphere2

DataUpdater"

15.Followthestepsasyou'reguidedthroughtheinstallationprocessandtoagreetothe
licenseagreement.


16.TheinstallerwillverifythelocationofyourSTEAMfolder,wherethelargedatafileswillbe
installed.

17.ThelargedatafileswillnowbecopiedfromtheDVDstoyourselecteddrive.Allowfor30
45minutesperdisc(approximately46hoursforalleightDVDs.)


19.Whenthedatafromtheeighthdischasbeeninstalled,it'stimetoopenupOmnispherein
yourhostsequencertoauthorizeit.


PleaseconsulttheAuthorizationsectionforassistancewithauthorizingOmnisphere.

GETTINGSTARTEDAuthorization

Omnisphereauthorizationcanbedoneimmediatelyfromanycomputerconnectedtothe
Internet.Thereisa4daydemoperiodfromthetimeyoufirstopentheplugintoauthorizeitif
immediateInternetaccessisnotavailable.
AfteropeningOmnisphereinyourhostsequencer,anauthorizationwindowwillappear.A
ChallengeCodewillbeprovided.YouwillneedthisChallengeCodealongwithyourSerial
NumbertocompletetheonlineAuthorizationprocess.

GETTINGSTARTEDAuthorization

Yourcomputermustbeconnectedtotheinternetwhilefollowingtheseinstructions.Ifyouneed
directionsforauthorizingonacomputernotconnectedtotheinternet,pleasefollowthesteps
detailedhere

1.AfterinstantiatingOmnisphereintoyoursequencer,clicktheOmnispheresplashscreen.

YouwillnowseetheOmnisphereAuthorizationSystemwindow:

2.ClicktheCOPYbuttontocopythechallengecode.LogintotheSpectrasonicswebsitewith
yourUserAccountnameandpassword

http://www.spectrasonics.net/authorization
YouwillbetakentoyourUserAccountpage.Ifyoudon'tyethaveaUserAccount,youcan
createone.

3.IfthisisyourfirstauthorizationofOmnisphere,you'llneedtoaddittoyouraccountby
pressingthe"Addaproducttoyouraccount"buttonundertheRegisteredProductstable.

4.Filloutallofyourpersonalinformationonthispage.SelectOmnisphereasyourproduct.
Whenfinished,click"Next"atthebottomofthepage.

5.You'llthenpasteyourChallengecodeinthefieldontheAuthorizationpage.Pleaseenterthe
detailsaboutyourComputeraswell,asitwillbenecessaryifyourequiretechsupport.


6.You'llthenreceiveaResponseCode,whichyou'llselectwithyourcursorandcopy(Control
ConWindowsorCommandConMac):


7.ReturnbacktoOmnisphere.ClickthePASTEbuttonandtheResponseCodewillnowbe
displayedinOmnisphere.

8.ClicktheCONTINUEbutton.
9.RemoveOmnispherefromyourhostsequencer.
10.ReinsertanewinstanceofOmnisphereintoyourhost.Omnispherewillnowbeauthorized
andfullyfunctional.

GETTINGSTARTEDAuthorizingonacomputerNOTconnectedtothe
Internet.

1.AfterinstantiatingOmnisphereintoyoursequencer,clicktheOmnispheresplashscreen.

YouwillnowseetheOmnisphereAuthorizationSystemwindow:

2.ClicktheCOPYbuttontocopythechallengecode.

3.OpentheRTFfileonacomputerwithanInternetconnection.Highlighttheentirechallenge
codeinthedocumentandCopyit.OnaMac,holdCOMMANDandpress'C'.OnaPC,holdCTRL
andpress'C'.


4.Openatexteditorapplication(suchasTextEdit(Mac),Notepad/Wordpad(PC)).Pasteinto
ablanknewdocument.OnaMac,holdCOMMANDandpress'V'.OnaPC,holdCTRLandpress
'V'.Thechallengecodewillnowappearinthedocument.SavethedocumentasaRichTextFile
(RTF)withafilenameofyourchoice.

5.MovetheRTFfiletoaflashdrive,harddrive,orotherportablemedia.Youwillneedto
transportthisdocumentovertoacomputerthathasanInternetconnection.Flashdrivesare
recommendedbecausetheyarecheapandquicklymovefilesbetweencomputers.

6.LogintotheSpectrasonicswebsitewithyourUserAccountnameandpassword
http://www.spectrasonics.net/authorization
YouwillbetakentoyourUserAccountpage.Ifyoudon'tyethaveaUserAccount,youcan
createone.

7.IfthisisyourfirstauthorizationofOmnisphere,you'llneedtoaddittoyouraccountby
pressingthe"Addaproducttoyouraccount"buttonundertheRegisteredProductstable.

8.EnteryourOmnisphereserialnumberintheboxthatappearsbelowthebutton:


9.You'llthenpasteyourChallengecodeinthefieldontheAuthorizationpage.Pleaseenterthe
detailsaboutyourComputeraswell,asitwillbenecessaryifyourequiretechsupport.

10.AfterSubmittingyourChallengecodeyou'llreceiveaResponseCode,whichyou'llselect
withyourcursorandcopy(ControlConWindowsorCommandConMac):


11.Openupablanknewdocumentinatexteditorapplication.Presspaste(ControlVon
WindowsorCommandVonMac.)TheResponseCodewillnowappearinthedocument.Save
thedocumentasaRichTextFile(RTF)withafilenameofyourchoice.

12.MovetheRTFfiletoaflashdrive,harddriveorotherportabledrive.Youwillneedto
transportthisdocumentbackovertothemusiccomputer.

13.OpenuptheRTFfilewhichcontainstheResponseCodeonyourmusiccomputer.Select
andhighlighttheResponseCodeinthedocumentandCopyit.OnaMac,holdCOMMANDand
press'C'.OnaPC,holdCTRLandpress'C'.

14.ReturnbacktoOmnisphere.ClickthePASTEbuttonandtheResponseCodewillnowbe
displayedinOmnisphere.


15.ClicktheCONTINUEbutton.

16.NowremoveOmnispherefromyourhostsequencer.InsertanewinstanceofOmnisphere
intoyourhost.Omnispherewillnowbeauthorizedandfullyfunctional.

GETTINGSTARTEDDemoMode

Werecommendthatyouauthorizeimmediately,butifyouwouldratherauthorizelater,then
youmayactivatetheDemoperiod,whichwilllast4days.
ThiscanbeusefulifyouwanttotryOmnispheretemporarilyonasystemtotestits
performance.InDemomode,savingisdisabledandaudioartifactswillbegintoappearinthe
signalafteraperiodoftime(loadingofsongsandpatcheswillworkthough).Youwillstillbe
abletoauthorizeduringorafterthedemoperiod.
AfterpressingtheDEMOMODEbuttonyouwillseethisscreen:

GobacktothehostsoftwareandcompletelyremovethisinstanceoftheOmnisphereplugin.
ReopenitandyouwillbeinDemoMode.ItwillsayDemoModeatthetopofthepluginand
therewillbeanAuthorizebuttonbelowtheUtilityMenubutton.

Ifyouwanttoauthorizeduringthedemoperiod,presstheAuthorizebutton,andyouwillsee
theOmnisphereAuthorizationSystemwindow.Afterthe4daydemoperiodhasfinished,you
willbesentbacktotheAuthorizationSystemWindow.

GETTINGSTARTEDAuthorizationTroubleshooting

IfyouarereturnedtotheWelcometotheOmnisphereAuthorizationSystempageorthedemo
modeversionofOmnisphereafterreopeningOmnisphere,thenthatmeanstheplugindidnot
accepttheresponsecodeanditmayhavebeenincorrectlyentered.Youcancheckyour
responsecodebyreferringtotheemailthatwassenttoyouafteryouregistered.Try
authorizingagainwiththeinstructionsgivenintheAuthorizingsection.Makesureyouare
enteringtheresponsecodegivenbythewebsiteandNOTtheserialnumberfromyouruser
guide.
WhileinDemoMode,ifyouaccidentallypresstheAuthorizebutton,simplyclosetheinterface
windowandreopenit.

NOTE:Ifyouneedfurtherassistance,pleasecontacttechnicalsupportat
info@spectrasonics.net

GETTINGSTARTEDMovingTheSTEAMDirectory

Afterinstallation,youcaneasilymovethelargeSTEAMdirectorycontainingallthesoundfiles
toasecondarydriveifyouwishtofreeupspaceonyouroriginalinstallationdrive.

WINDOWSMOVINGTHESTEAMDIRECTORYAFTERINSTALLATION

DragorcopytheSTEAMfolderfromyourinstallationdrive
(C:\ProgramData\Spectrasonics)totheharddrivelocationofyourchoice.
Thiscanbeanotherdrivepartition,asecondaryinternaldriveoranexternalharddrivesuch
asaFirewireorUSB2harddrive,etc.
Next,rightclicktheSAGEfolderinthenewlocationtocreateaShortcutToSTEAM.
Next,copytheshortcuttoC:\ProgramData\Spectrasonics.
Finally,makecertaintoremovetheShortcutTofromthename(includingremovingthe
spaces),leavingthefoldershortcutnamedSTEAM

MACOSXMOVINGTHESTEAMDIRECTORYAFTERINSTALLATION

DragorcopytheSTEAMfolderfromyourinstallationdrive
(ForExample:MacintoshHD/Library/ApplicationSupport/Spectrasonics)
totheharddrivelocationofyourchoice.Thiscanbeanotherdrivepartition,asecondary
internaldriveoranexternalharddrivesuchasaFirewireorUSB2harddrive,etc.

Next,hold(ApplekeyandOptionkey)onthekeyboard,clickanddragtheSTEAMfolderto
thedesktoptocreateanaliasofthefoldernamedSTEAM.
Next,movetheSTEAMaliasfromthedesktoptoMacintosh
HD/Users/Username/Library/Application/Support/Spectrasonics

GETTINGSTARTEDUsingOmnisphereStandAloneonaComputer

Omnispherewasdesignedtoworkasapluginwhichcloselyintegrateswithinyourmain
sequencingapplicationandcomputer.Werecommendusingitthiswayforbestresults.
Alternatively,Omnispheremayalsobeusedwithasimplehostapplicationtoworkasasound
moduleforliveperformance.Omnispherehasspecialsmodeswhicharedesignedtomakeit
anidealinstrumentforuseinlivesituations.
Thirdly,youcanalsouseOmnisphereondedicatedhardwaremusiccomputersliketheMUSE
ReceptorandNEKOKeyboards,whichessentiallyarePCsdedicatedformusicperformance.
However,thereareafewthingstokeepinmindwithusingOmnisphereonastandalone
system:
1.Omnispheremustresideinahostapplicationontheothercomputer
2.Omnisphereisapluginanddoesnotfunctionasastandaloneapplication.It
mustfunctionasaVirtualInstrumentpluginwithinahostregardlessofwhat
computerit'son.TherearemanyfreeandinexpensiveVSTandAudioUnithost
applicationsthatwillrunOmnisphere.
Youcangetacomprehensivelistofhostsonwww.kvraudio.com

LatencyandTimingaccuracy
Asaresultofbeingonastandalonecomputer,thelatencybetweenMIDIandAudiointerfaces
willcauseOmnispheretoplaylaterthanitwouldonthemainsequencingcomputer,soyouwill
needtocompensateforthelatency.Also,whenOmnisphereisusedonthemaincomputer,the
timingofplaybackisextremelytightsampleaccurateinmostcases.Onaslavesystem,this
typeofaccuracyisnotcurrentlypossible.

GETTINGSTARTEDCheckingForUpdates

Thelatestversionsofthesoftware,Soundsourcelibrary,andpatchlibraryforOmnispherecan
befoundonourwebsiteat:
http://www.spectrasonics.net/updates
WithOmnisphere,we'veincludedawaytoquicklycheckforupdatesdirectlyfromtheplugin.
SimplyclicktheSpectasonicslogotorevealtheSplashpage.Inthemiddleleft,selectthe
buttonCheckForUpdates:

Selectingitwillcomparethecurrentinstalledversionsonyoursystemwiththelatestavailable
updatesontheSpectrasonicswebsite.Rememberthereareseparateversionsforthe
Omnispheresoftware,Soundsourcesandpatches,somakesurethatallthreearealwaysupto
date.