Hiya Freebie fans,

In our second installment, we bring you an all new free VST instrument on the cover of issue 40 (if all goes to plan) which is on sale on Friday 26th October. Its bigger and better than CM-101 and, we hope, will blow you away.
Its called SR-202 and again has been produced in conjunction with our friends at Muon-software. Its not an analogue synth, but for now, thats all we are going to say. We will be releasing a screen grab very soon which will reveal all, untill then, keep your eyes open over at http://www.computermusic.co.uk...

L8rs,

Red

[ 10 September 2001: Message edited by: Red ]

Hi Red

I recently subscibed to your mag and just received my first issue. Congratulations! Good work and a great CD-ROM, that one is at least worth the price of the mag...

Can't wait for that non-analogue synth... When did you say we can see the screen grab?

Pepe

Thanx Pepe!

The final gfx need to be erm...finalised, when we have the grab, so will you...

Red
CDROM Researcher/Staff Writer
Computer Music Magazine,
Future Publishing
30 Monmouth St
Bath
UK
BA1 2BW

Is it the Rex file player (a la Reason's Dr Rex) I've asked Dave for a few months ago?

This may be a dumb question, but what issue are you on now? I'm in the states so we're a few months behind. I just got issue 37 about a week ago, but the place I got it from seemed to be an issue ahead of everyone else who still only had 36. I'm just trying to figure out how far behind the US is, as far as getting your mag, and how long it will be before issue 40 will be available in the states.

hmm, guess ill probobly be subscribing to CM so i dont have to hunt ones down out of town whenever somthing is on those cd's i'm in the usa also so hopefully i wont have to wait too long for the current issue *we who post here are kinda "ahead of things" sometimes as it is*

Only reason i hadnt subscribed before is i dont need any tutorials on "how to write techno music" or any other kind of music really, or program synths, nor do i need second-hand "expert" reviews of software, since we can usually see for ourselves if we really care to find out.

seems most music magazines are for the somewhat lazy newcomers, and if you're not too lazy you're not a newcomer for long, but if you are, you'll be indefinately?! however, if i subscribe im sure i'll probobly enjoy the mag once i start getting it heck i enjoyed electronic musician and that mag is sooo pretentious! ack! hehe

[ 11 September 2001: Message edited by: exponent ]

quote:

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Originally posted by exponent:
heck i enjoyed electronic musician and that mag is sooo pretentious! ack!

hehe

[ 11 September 2001: Message edited by: exponent ]

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Hey, if you have the september electronic musician, look on page 90 and you'll see my smiling mug

Ok, enough self promotion for now....

i would definately say its either a rex file player or some sorta drum machine.

id really like a rex file player.

yo Funkybot
I'm in the UK where CM is published and I got issue
38 October 2001 a week ago, it says in the back page, 39 on sale
2nd October

Red !!! I see CM is reviewing Creatives new Audigy card
next issue , is there any chance CM can find out on behalf
of the thousands of soundblaster users WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY
DOING ABOUT THE PROMISED ASIO DRIVERS ??? will they ignore
CM like they ignore their customers.
Thank you
Respect
Raven

We are on issue 38 here in the UK, that is untill 39 which is out on 2nd October. You can always figure out where you are in relation to the UK newstand by hitting our mainpage at www.computermusic.co.uk

pssst, Raven - Audigy ASIO drivers wont work wif the SBLive range, they are not backwards comp. However Audigy ASIO gives an impressive 4ms latency on the Audigy FOR 90 QUID! I wouldnt hold out for SBL ASIO tho... Full review in issue 39...

pssst, Raven - Audigy ASIO drivers wont work wif the SBLive range, they are not backwards comp. However Audigy ASIO gives an impressive 4ms latency on the Audigy FOR 90 QUID! I wouldnt hold out for SBL ASIO tho... Full review in issue 39...[/QB][/QUOTE]

Iv seen alot of post on the web with poeple stating that these drivers work with the SB range......gonna be alot of disappointed heads out there
Although why you would want to use the SB when the Audigy is released is beyond me, then again why anyone would want to use the Audigy is beyond me as well!

I bet its a virtual Kazoo!! C'mon Muon, get in there before JXPlugins finish theirs

Again with that bloody Kazoo!!!


Doug

Well we need to work out what SR-202 relates too.

SR:

Simple REX (Player)
Some kind of Wavestation (The SR connection)

202:

er, could be anything, its their 2nd VSTi and 202 follows 101, the third will probably be XX-303


What do you all reckon?

How about SampleR-202? 202 refers to the fact that this is a 'sequel' to CM-101. I dont know, a less powerful(and of course with a totally different GUI)version of Positron maybe?
I dont mean to say that CM will put a crippled version of Muon Positron on the cover CD, I LOVE Computer Music and its CDs(and anyway, positron isnt even out, so how can they put out a cut-down version?).
Maybe, as was the case with CM-101, its aimed at beginners and offers basic functions that most of us never go beyond...

Thanks for having the patience to read this...

Doesnt say nowt about ASIO tho does it. 'Drivers'=MME DX and the latest Liveware innit. They dont nesesarily have to support 4th party drivers (ASIO=Steinberg) particular to a relatively small 'genre' of use.
Maybe now Audigy ASIO is there they can easily convert it to SBLive? I dunno, seems to me that now the Audigy is out chances are development will go to the flagship and away from the lesser cards but I'm only speculating. Anyways, time for a new thread on this topic maybe....

Red,

once again thanks for a great mag, been following since issue one. Any chance you can talk your subsriptions into keeping the 6 issue subsciption going.

SR = Synth Robot!

Its going to be a synthesised voice instrument, kind of like Stephen Hawkins

quote:

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Originally posted by Gumdrop:
SR = Synth Robot!

Its going to be a synthesised voice instrument, kind of like Stephen Hawkins

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Cool, I like that!

ooohhhh....tempted to release some details - but you'll have to wait...
What i can confirm is:
a - its not a kazoo
b - its got nothing to do with Mr Hawkings
c - theres not a REX file in sight...
d - its gonna be bloody great!

L8rs

Red

So Wavestation SR it is then!!

A decent VST wavetable synth would be brilliant!

Well if it's a bitchin' freeware Wavestation-style VSTi I'm going to WET MY PANTS!

And while I'm jabbering mindlessly, I just need to point out how excellent Computer Music mag really is. I started buying it at newsagents before I started my computer-music set up and it has never stopped assisting me with information about synthesis, reviews on software, valuable links to resources etc. and it doesn't only concentrate on big name companies with the big brand price tag attached. It really is a magazine for everyone. Congratulations Computer Music.

Mindless babble now over....

It aint a wavetabe synth either - but its a fine idea for the next one maybe...mmmm - wavetable...

BASTAGE!!!!

Sample-based drum machine?

Oh, go on then.... Yup, its a 16pad Drum sampler featuring:

1. File loading and saving
- SR-202 will load up to 16 WAV or AIFF format samples (on Mac & PC), one for each pad, directly from the front panel.

- SR-202 will be able to export a file of its complete state to disk via the VST bank load/save mechanism. Files will be exchangeable between both PC and Mac versions, and contain all the samples needed.

2. Voice channel architecture
- There will be 64 voice channels with dynamic assignment.
- The user will be able to specify that a particular pad can belong to one of four choke groups or not. Pads assigned to choke groups will be monophonic.
- Pads will also be assignable to either the stereo output or one of the four mono outputs.
- Each pad will have three attack/decay envelopes for filter, amplifier and pitch.
- Low pass/High pass switchable filter.
- There will be two effects pre-filter - Distortion and BitCrusher.
- There will also be a switch to see if a voice should respond to Note off messages.

3. Graphical User Interface
- There will be two seperate screens in SR202. The main screen will show 16 large square buttons ("pads"), plus level/pan sliders and mute/solo buttons for each pad. There will also be load/clear/edit buttons next to each pad.
- Hitting the edit button next to a pad will display the pad edit screen. This will show the detailed controls for editing a drum voice and will overlay on top of the main screen.
- The parameters per pad will be as follows:
- Level (0 to 100%)
- Pan (-100% to +100%)
- Choke Group (off,1-4)
- Mono/Poly switch (mono/poly)
- Note Off Mode (cut/ignore)
- Output (stereo, 1-4)
- Distortion (off to 100%)
- Bitcrusher (off, 16 bits to 1 bit)
- Transpose (-24 to +24 semitones)
- Detune (-100 to +100 cents)
- Pitch EG mod depth (-100% to +100%)
- Pitch EG attack time (1 to 500 ms)
- Pitch EG release time (1 to 2000 ms)
- Pitch EG velocity mod depth (0 to 100%)
- Filter cutoff (0 to 100%)
- Filter resonance (0 to 100%)
- Filter EG mod depth (-100% to +100%)
- Filter EG attack time (1 to 500 ms)
- Filter EG release time (1 to 2000 ms)
- Filter EG velocity mod depth (0 to 100%)
- Amp EG attack time (1 to 500 ms)
- Amp EG release time (1 to 2000 ms)
- Amp velocity mod depth (0 to 100%)

4. SR-202 will come with at least 6-8 full drum kits, ranging from standard kits to wild effects, analogue kits, and usefull percussive kits - all will be available on the cover CD at time of release - the 28th October (if beta phase all goes to plan). Further Kits will follow over the coming months - we aim to bring you a full range of usefull and electic kits and we will build this library up and up ad infinitum.

We have recieved a mock up screenshot and it looks sweeeet as a nut - we will release a pic of this as soon as it is finalised (by next Monday we hope). Above all, its free with Computer Music magazine and will feature on the cover CD alongside CM-101 from issue 40 onwards to infinity.

We are dead chuffed to be able to bring you this and I suppose its a testament to the wonders of the VSTi world that we can even concider it in the first place and a big thanks must go out to those fantastic guys at Muon-software for helping us in this venture. But dont think its gonna end there, we have big plans afoot over the next 6-8 months that for now are strictly classified but believe me, you wont be disapointed.

We are currently on the lookout for about 3-5 more beta testers to join our SR-202 crew for next monday. If you are interested and wanna get your grubby mits on this baby before anyone else, then drop me a line at kevin.redding@futurenet.co.uk
Note - you will be expected to devote some time to the testing and report back on a regular basis, so no hangers-on please.

Red

[ 17 September 2001: Message edited by: Red ]

[ 17 September 2001: Message edited by: Red ]

Looks impressive. But aren't you worried about killing small VSTi developers if you just give stuff like this away?

Good point, but I think smaller developers would need to specialise now, anyhow.

(The long pause was killing me!)
H

Heheheeeeee!

Well, I **know** what the instrument will be.
But then again I'm not telling.

Bram.

<big fat evil grin>

I know what it is! It's the follow-up to the stylophone! Except instead of 1 sound, it's got 2 sounds.

Here are the specs:

- 1/4 pole low-pass filter
- 1 note arpegiator
- dsrb style envelope
- 1 sample delay effect
- 1 inch by 1 inch room simulator. You can even open the door!
second oscillator can be detune by 1 cent only.
- you get a free stylo also. You can't download it from the net though.
- modular architecture too. You can interchange notes. instead of cdefgab , you can do configure the keyboard to be fabgecd.
- Perfect for microtonal music. So precise you can't here the difference in the keyboard layout!

Isn't that great!!!

[ 18 September 2001: Message edited by: paradiddle ]

it sounds great...especially the bit crusher

will it load lm4 kits

i also forgot to ask..... does it have assignable cc`s

Bummer - a drum sampler.

Oh well, I'll get it anyway. :-)

I buy Computer Music magazine religiously anyway even at $20 a shot so I'll learn to love it as CM help build up many professionally programmed kits.

Woohoo! It's sounding better already.

Hiya,

Its a good point Lotuz - but I dont think so. If anything, we hope it'll encourage new CM readers and those just getting into this field to gain an interest in the VSTi market - the more of us that are using this stuff the better for the market and users as a whole yes? Besides, SR202 will only provide "just enough" functionality to get started - once new users get used to what they can do with a VST drum sampler, they are bound to run into its limitations eventually and end up wanting more functionality. This is where the likes of the fantastic RM3 from Linplug or fxpansion's DR-008 will come in - after all, you cant really compare SR-202 to these amazing VSTi's. You could say it's just a taster for what is to come, just like CM-101.

Dave also informs me that There are a couple of place where the spec has changed - here's the list:

1) Managed to squeeze all of the controls on just the one screen
2) 5 choke groups not 4
3) Bit crusher goes from 32 bits to 1bit.

Thanks to everyone who has offered their services for beta testing - please no more! We will be selecting from the entries based on OS, host application etc and you'll all be hearing from me soon enough.

L8rs

Red

[ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: Red ]

Wowee!!!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!

Does it sound as good as it looks?
Who is your graphic designer? Is it someone who used to work for Propellerheads???

Very good job guys! I have many Muon Plugins and I will not miss this!!!
Now only try to have a better distribution of your mag in Italy (and a lower price too...)

But I think I will subscribe to the mag (this was included in your marketing plans, right?)


Check out some of my tracks and download FREE SAMPLES

Oops, sorry for the stretch there Ben, heres a smaller shot...
For the full size grab, hit http://www.computermusic.co.uk

Red

quote:

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Originally posted by Red:
Besides, SR202 will only provide "just enough" functionality to get started - once new users get used to what they can do with a VST drum sampler, they are bound to run into its limitations eventually and end up wanting more functionality. This is where the likes of the fantastic RM3 from Linplug or fxpansion's DR-008 will come in - after all, you cant really compare SR-202 to these amazing VSTi's. You could say it's just a taster for what is to come, just like CM-101.

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Hmmmmm.

If this is the purpose then wouldn't it make sense to have LM4 export or something. I mean if you are going to spend quite a lot of issues of your magazine building up drum kits ad infinitum and you're expecting people to move on to bigger and better things....

Sorry I might be missing the point, but why continue to present drum kits in a format you will not really be expecting people to use?

Ok, the main purpose of this native format is to ensure our FruityLoop using friends are not restricted from using our banks straight from the off, something we found with CM101 and isnt intended to restrict other VSTi users whatsoever. In fact we will be giving any samples contained in the kits away on the CD too for other such users (and if we find the time, we may even build up LM4/HALion/Refill files to accompany them)