...But I would like to see something the nEKO but without "windows" and without OS on a HDD
Teuf
Softsynths
Moderators: Sharp, X-Trade, Pepperpotty, karmathanever
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Clarence322
- Full Member
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:49 am
- Location: Friesland, Netherlands
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JohnnyAardvark
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 12:06 am
- Location: UK
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!
Steve
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!
Steve
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JohnnyAardvark
- Platinum Member
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- Location: UK
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RiotNrrd
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2002 10:00 pm
- Location: Portland Oregon Metro Area
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).
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).
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dreamaiden
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JohnnyAardvark
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 12:06 am
- Location: UK
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)
Ok, its not a pro card but it lets me make music! 
Steve
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)
Ok, its not a pro card but it lets me make music! Steve
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blinkofanI
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 778
- Joined: Fri May 17, 2002 5:11 pm
- Location: Quebec, Canada
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
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
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GregC
- Platinum Member
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- Joined: Wed May 15, 2002 12:46 am
- Location: Discovery Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
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
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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GregC
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 9451
- Joined: Wed May 15, 2002 12:46 am
- Location: Discovery Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
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
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
