Hi Kevin
Firstly a quicky - could not view those videos on my PC - perhaps is just my PC but thought I'd flag it.
Just download Quick Time or update your windows Media player. Your media player would have to be very old not to play these files. They are just standard mp4 files.
I'd highly recommend taking the time to get them working because you won't believe how fast the keyboard is.
This workstation looks intriguing. I checked their website and it seems they have a huge range of workstation models dating back some years.
There's technically only two products at the moment and from those you have different variations of them like standard editions or pro editions. It's the same as Open Labs for example. They have the Neko and depending on how much you want to spend you can buy different versions which have more options included as standard.
As for the age of the Mediastation, it's their first product but it's a real open ended product. They might at some point stop manufacturing it but that makes no since you can still upgrade it's PC parts and keep on installing the new OS.
So it's not something that's just supported whiles it's in production. Even after it's discontinued the OS for the replacement products will run on it, and in time if it starts to feel a little dated and slow, you can upgrade it's PC.
What is the nature of these workstations - are they like open labs in running VST plugins and the like? Will it run plugins you already own?
They are Open Keybaords based on linux, but also have lots of additional hardware controls and a custom OS that allows them to also be Open Arranger Keyboards too. So it's like a workstaiton, Arranger and Open Keyboard all in one.
Also because it's based on Linux, you can run 8 Asio Hosts, where on a Neko you can only run 1 because of a limitation of Windows.
Is it Linux based so only run particular soft synths?
No, it should run anything. Wine is running under Linux which allows you to launch applications written for windows on the keyboard.
you mention Giga - is that Gigasampler? Aren't they now gone so this feature is effectively useless to anyone not owning gigasampler samples. Can it run other sample package designed fo Kontakt and EXS24 for example?
No, Garritan bought it from Tascam
http://www.garritan.com/
It's not Gigasampler anyway, it's Linux Sampler which reads Giga Libraries. You really need to see the video to understand how all this works with the custom OS.
In the video you will see me going to sounds that are over 500MB in size just like I was selecting a sound on the screen of the OASYS. No PC interface, no Linux or Windows. Just a simple screen that displays the sounds like a normal workstation that also loads massive files in way less than 1 second..
Not forgetting you can also install whatever you want on it if you don't feel like converting libraries.
For example just because AKAI format is dead doesn't mean I have to throw away Symphony Of Voices and my many other AKAI Libraries. They sound just as good when converted to Giga format.
I find it curious that these workstations have not by and large featured in the music media, are never reviewed by the music mags I've never seen reference to them, at all, beyond your post though I keep my ear to the ground on these matters. Very curious to me.
lol... I really don't know how you missed it but they are well known.
So are they reliable, reputable, stable...
No idea as I have yet to fully test the keyboard myself. All I've done so far is what you can see in the video's. It's a completely different concept to anything I've seen ever before and so there is a learning curve to this one for sure.
So right now the only thing I can say is that as a machine playing back giga files in Linux Sampler it's rock solid, but that only makes up for a fraction of the entire systems abilities and I have a long way to go yet.
If several years old, how capable are they these days hardware and software wise?
Makes no difference as the system is truly open. For example, the Mediastation line was first launched 5 years ago yet a brand new Dual Core 2.8Ghz CPU was installed in my unit along with new motherboard and additional ram last week. Now I have a current model again and it only cost 150 for the PC parts
Overall, I'm picking up something slightly 'suspect' with this workstation line - I can't put my finger on it and I may well be prejudiced but also it may be because they look so amazing yet have clearly not captured the broad keyboard player market imagination.
Lots of people have a problem with the website not being clear, and the official video's never really answering any questions you would have as a musician.
http://www.youtube.com/lionstracs
I think part of it is down to the language barrier.
Do check out my video's though. I know you will be interested in what you see.
Regards
Sharp
