Hardware VA Synths
Hardware VA Synths Posted on: 09.02.2012 by Dorie Scelzo (full disclosure: crossposted from DJF, please don't reply to both threads)So | |
| Dorie Scelzo 13.02.2012 | RTA stuff all works the same way |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by Tarekith
If I can find one, I can maybe afford a C some time this summer. AFAIK, that loses FM and the plugin IO compared to the TI/TI2. I believe that was what I was leaning towards anyway |
| Dorie Scelzo 13.02.2012 | RTA stuff all works the same way |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by Tarekith
If I can find one, I can maybe afford a C some time this summer. AFAIK, that loses FM and the plugin IO compared to the TI/TI2. I believe that was what I was leaning towards anyway |
| Dorie Scelzo 13.02.2012 | RTA stuff all works the same way |
| Romelia Stankard 13.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
|
| Pauletta Place 13.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
Once you stick these in a mix with 4 or 5 other parts, any of the synths you listed will be difficult to identify. All of them sound good, and you can make great music with each of them. |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by Tarekith
If I can find one, I can maybe afford a C some time this summer. AFAIK, that loses FM and the plugin IO compared to the TI/TI2. I believe that was what I was leaning towards anyway |
| Romelia Stankard 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by thegeek
Synths should have knobs so touch is out. And generic midi mapping some controller to a synth is not the same as using a real synth that has been designed decently because people have to use it hands on. Also you really can't map most software synths the way you are believeing. There are intricate menus and stuff and most don't have that kind of midi mapping capabilities. The best you will do in a lot of cases is map a few macro knobs, not enough to do sound design purely on a controller. If a company made a software synth with a full controller to go with it kind of like maschine I would be all over it, but midi mapping something isn't the same. I want some sort of hardware synth too but it's a lot of cash and I have no idea what I would want either. |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by thegeek
I know this is hard to understand on DJTT, but I like hardware. And I'd rather spend money than map controllers again. My time and happiness are worth more than a few hundred bucks. |
| Dorie Scelzo 09.02.2012 | (full disclosure: crossposted from DJF, please don't reply to both threads) So |
| Dorie Scelzo 13.02.2012 | RTA stuff all works the same way |
| Romelia Stankard 13.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
|
| Pauletta Place 13.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by mostapha
Once you stick these in a mix with 4 or 5 other parts, any of the synths you listed will be difficult to identify. All of them sound good, and you can make great music with each of them. |
| Dorie Scelzo 14.02.2012 | The big knob doesn't require software. And I don't really believe in room analysis like that, mostly because those RTA mics aren't like ears. Plus, I learned a long time ago that same price + more features usually means less quality. If nothing else, it looks like the crossover is digital (digitally controlled abalog hardware might be too expensive for that price point). At any rate, the EQ is, which I wouldn't have a problem with except tht it defeats the purpose of good converters on the output side. I believe the big knob is about the cheapest thing I'd want to use for that kind of thing. And I haven't completely decided on it as opposed to just saving up for something better anyway. |
| Romelia Stankard 13.02.2012 | Yeah don't get me wrong I wouldn't buy it for that price, it's just a cool idea and too bad no one makes controllers like that in the $300-$400 range since there might be demand for it and it would solve some of the problems with VSTs. As a side note- I would look at an MSC1 over a big knob for a home studio. Let's you switch between two sets of monitors, toggle a sub, has multiple inputs, has a big volume control knob, and also has room analysis and correction software that automatically creates room filters that you can toggle on and off on the unit for the same price as a a mackie big knob. http://www.jblpro.com/MSC1/MSC1_Overview.html |
| Dorie Scelzo 13.02.2012 | With shipping, it's also 900 quid. For that money, I could get a DSI Prophet 08 or a Radias and upgrade to PT10 and buy a Big Knob. And I believe that doesn't include the cost of the plugin. |
| Romelia Stankard 13.02.2012 | have you seen this? Touch Digital Controllers makes a hardware controller for the soft synth ImpOSCar 2 with full integration. Here's a review of both the software and the hardware controller. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gejxn...layer_embedded The controller is expensive but it's pretty cool that it exists since I was looking for something like that- tons of knobs. I'll probably just get a virus but so many knobs... |
| Monserrate Rupnow 10.02.2012 | No, the C is different. It uses different lower end D/A (some people believe it's warmer), and it loses out a lot on the number of effects and kinds of voices it can run. The Ti's can to delay AND reverb on each part of instance/ I've had 5 Virii over the years (was on the beta team for years) and the TI2 was the best of them all IMO. I liked the way the C looked though, I loved that red LCD. Personally, I always ignore the whole VST plug in aspect except for backing up my patches. It worked for the most part, but if I spend that much for a hardware synth, I want to use it like a hardware synth. If I want to use a plug in, I'm better off just using Omnisphere or Zebra2. Which ultimately is what I did. |
| Romelia Stankard 10.02.2012 | This thread has got me looking at viruses and I'm intrigued. I was believeing I wanted an actual analog synth but I can't ignore what the virus offers with VST integration and general versatility- looks exactly like what I've been wanting. I might have to skip out on buying CDJs. So I know the Virus TI and Ti2 run the same OS but does the C run the latest too? Do they all run the same version of the VST plug in as well? |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by Tarekith
If I can find one, I can maybe afford a C some time this summer. AFAIK, that loses FM and the plugin IO compared to the TI/TI2. I believe that was what I was leaning towards anyway |
| Pauletta Place 10.02.2012 | I have had an MS2k and an R3, which has the same sound engine as the radius. I quite like the sound of the MS2k. It is nice, dark, and gravely. Great for hard leads and big dirty bass. Not so great for warm pads or soft/layered bass lines. The Radius is quite the opposite. It is soft but cold, as if you sanded off the rough bits of the MS2k. Nice for spacey or ariy leads. The Radius has better pads than the MS2k, but still not that great. The Radius has pretty nice built in effects; I use the tape delay a lot. The arpeggiator on the Radius has some nice features. You can set a number of arp steps then turn some pf them off, eg you could have a 7 step pattern, but notes only play on steps 1, 4, and 6. I believe the MS2k would be a good compliment to the Minitaur, and the Radius would be a good compliment to the Minibrute. |
| Monserrate Rupnow 10.02.2012 | VA synths usually have a lot more features, and way more voices. |
| Romelia Stankard 10.02.2012 | What are the advantages of a VA synth like a virus desktop over a similarly (or cheaper) priced polyphonic analog desktop synth like a Prophet 08 with 8 voices? I know there is computer software for it that allows synth control similar to the virus as well. |
| Monserrate Rupnow 10.02.2012 | HArdware synth guy myself, as much as I love the sound of some virtual synths, nothing comes close to dedicated knobs. In terms of an all around general purpose synth my own vote would be for the best Virus desktop you can afford, as those have comparitively more features for the price and sound great. The Radias would be my second choice. |
| Romelia Stankard 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by thegeek
Synths should have knobs so touch is out. And generic midi mapping some controller to a synth is not the same as using a real synth that has been designed decently because people have to use it hands on. Also you really can't map most software synths the way you are believeing. There are intricate menus and stuff and most don't have that kind of midi mapping capabilities. The best you will do in a lot of cases is map a few macro knobs, not enough to do sound design purely on a controller. If a company made a software synth with a full controller to go with it kind of like maschine I would be all over it, but midi mapping something isn't the same. I want some sort of hardware synth too but it's a lot of cash and I have no idea what I would want either. |
| Dorie Scelzo 10.02.2012 |
Originally Posted by thegeek
I know this is hard to understand on DJTT, but I like hardware. And I'd rather spend money than map controllers again. My time and happiness are worth more than a few hundred bucks. |
| Meaghan Kallmann 09.02.2012 | Maybe you need a better control surface than a mouse? iPad + Lemur App + Midi Keyboard? I just believe it's silly to buy a hardware VA synth when it's just a control thing. Spend a day doing some quality mapping and never believe about it again. But, that's just me. |
| Dorie Scelzo 09.02.2012 | Virus Cs tend to go for about the same as the Radias. I know I can't afford a TI or TI2. And thanks, that about matches my research thus far. Always nice to hear a real person, though. I'm pretty sure the Radias would win out over the MS2000B unless someone has some horror stories or something. Any comparison to the Nord Lead/Rack series in your experience? It's the one I know the least about. |
| Rebbecca Fennell 09.02.2012 | ms2000 is pretty awesome, as is the radias. i believe the radias is the best deal for the money - sounds better then the 2000, has more modulation features, better arp, better filter, better fx, display is more usable, both are multi timbral the 2k has 2 parts with the radias is 4 parts... go for the radias. no complaints with the virus ti except you can buy like 3 radias for one virus. if you really want to skimp on money the 2000 in combo with a sampler/ sequencer like maschine can do a lot of fun shit - the radias can just do a lot more for marginally more. |
<< Back to Producer tips and DAW informationReply