Korg Forums

teuf · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 3:22 pm Post subject:

I never used softsynth because I don't want power on a computer to play music...
...But I would like to see something the nEKO but without "windows" and without OS on a HDD Very Happy

Teuf

Clarence322 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 8:47 pm Post subject:

I would turn him my back, I don't like that. Let's get things like music real, with instruments instead of computers... Mad

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JohnnyAardvark · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 10:45 pm Post subject:

Like Riot, Daz and no doubt others felt I had to choose "Exclusively Software". Again its not entirely true, I have my “trusty” Kawai K4 I’ve had for years, but its mainly been used as a controller keyboard for a while now (just been reborn since I have some half working sysex editors/librarian software running!).

On the plus side, softsynths are relatively cheap compared to their hardware counterparts and if your PC is up to it you can often run many of them together.

My favourites are the Native B4 (possible the best Hammond sounds I have ever used), Novation V station that has some great Virtual Analogue Bass, Leads and ARPS, and Reason (2.0). The sounds on Reason aren’t always so hot and lack some oomph but I also use rewire and pipe them through Cubase. So Reason’s just another software sound module (well a rack of them!) The ‘best of all’ for reason with me is the ability to automate EVERY knob and switch to your hearts content. That is truly awesome (IMHO)

One the down side, with my setup, I quickly (well… I ask a lot of it!) run out of processing power and memory. Also, I need more portability so I am about to invest in some new hardware sounds.

Additionally I have been known to play “live” music. I’ve been playing music with some friends in London on and off for the past few years and its kinda Psycadelic/Prog/Folk/Rock. Not a computer in site! More excuses for me to buy hardware. But I could always get a laptop I guess? It would look a bit weird with a controller keyboard only, but as part of a bigger hardware setup I think it would be cool!
Cool

Steve

RiotNrrd · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:00 am Post subject:

... and Reason (2.0).

2.0? Why not upgrade to 2.5? It's a free upgrade, and you get a whole BUNCH of stuff. New reverb unit, the Scream distortion unit, a vocoder, and (my favorite) the Unison effect.

JohnnyAardvark · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:51 am Post subject:

I should get that sorted shouldn't I!

So how much of an improvement are the new effects/modules?

GregC · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 1:00 am Post subject:

what audio/midi interface are you using for soft synths ?

I have an Apple PowerBook and want to get the Arturia Moog
soft synths.

I believe I need to buy a good audio interface with midi. I have been
reading up on MOTU ( expensive) , Edirol ( new) and M-Audio
( works poorly with MAC)
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RiotNrrd · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 1:41 am Post subject:

So how much of an improvement are the new effects/modules?

It's almost like getting a whole new program.

The reverb unit is significantly better than the old one (although it's also more CPU intensive - I tend to still use the old one because I like its simplicity).

I'm not really into distortion, so the Scream unit doesn't do a lot for me, although some people just can't get enough of it. However, it also serves as a tape saturation/compression unit, thus I use it between the mixer and the hardware interface to "warm up" the final mixes and make them sound a bit less digital.

The vocoder is a vocoder, which you can do some pretty interesting things with. 4 to 512 bands (and can also serve as a graphic equalizer, although I haven't used it as such).

I mentioned that the Unison was my favorite, and I use it a LOT. Has a much nicer sound than the old chorus unit. 4, 8, or 16 detuned layers of whatever sound you pipe through it.

I forgot to mention the Spider audio splitter and combiner. You can use them to split (or combine) Reasons audio signals, which can yield some very interesting patch combinations. They don't do anything to the sound themselves - they just make routing a lot more flexible.

If you like Reason, you MUST upgrade to 2.5. They added SO much, AND it's free (to registered users).

dreamaiden · Guest

Greg, I have the MOTU Micro Express and it's great. Not one problem ever. MOTU is very Mac oriented. Works perfectly with DP and Logic, etc. It's about $300.

Cheers,
Sioux

Lorenzo · Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 9:49 am Post subject:

Greg, I use a powerbook 12 inch 1,33 1.25 ram and a little quattro audio device.
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JohnnyAardvark · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:18 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info Riot,

I look forward to sampling Reason 2.5's delights. Processing power is likely to be a bit of an issue to me though.

Greg, Not that its what you you'll be looking for but for your info I am getting by with an Audigy at the mo. Its an interim card for me until I upgrade. I got it on the cheap for its low latency (My card prior to that was an SB Live 1024.) I am however dreading getting a new audio interface as I will probably have to resample many of my recorded audio (due to the audigy's 48000Hz sample rate issues) Crying or Very sad

Ok, its not a pro card but it lets me make music! Smile

Steve

blinkofanI · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:20 pm Post subject:

Hi Greg,
I use a FWAudiophile with my iBookG4 running 10.3.4 and it's rock-solid. They're great interfaces for the price and solidely built, a thing to consider if you want to take it on the road. My retailer guarantees me, with that kind of products, that if it doesn't work i can exchange it. Try to get that from your store before you buy.

Blink

GregC · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 12:53 pm Post subject:

sioux, yes, MOTU products are great for the Mac. The MKII 828 would be perfect for me- but its expensive

Lorenzo and Johnny- Its good to heat the M- audio products are working well with your Apple. I have read that the M-audio driver files for the Apple are a mess. Obviously thats not your experience ?
The M-audio defintely fits my budget. If I buy 1 I will make sure I have return priviledges
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Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams Smile

https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994

GregC · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 1:03 pm Post subject:

sioux, yes, MOTU products are great for th Mac. The MKII 828 would be perfect- but its expensive

Lorenzo and Johnny- Its good to heat the M- audio products are working well with your Apple. I have read that the M-audio driver files for the Apple are a mess. Obviously thats not yor experience ?
The M-audio defintely fits my budget. If I buy 1 I will make sure I have return priviledges
_________________
Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams Smile

https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994

Synthoid · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 1:06 pm Post subject:

Too bad more people didn't vote.
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GregC · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 3:10 pm Post subject:

true , 23 people isn't a big bunch. Your survey is definitely a good idea- manufacturers must be all over this customer data on a large scale in an effort to monitor the market and make product decisions
I would give your survey a full week
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Kronos 88. MODX8
Achieve your musical dreams Smile

https://soundcloud.com/user-898236994