KVR Audio

Post by **Ben [KVR]** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:20 pm

I'm in Market Research mode today and I was wondering what audio news/info sites you visit regularly, apart from KVR, and what you like about them and why? I'd be interested to know what you prefer about them and what you prefer about KVR - stuff such as design, navigation, features, content, advertising (amount and positioning), affiliate deals/offers, merchandise, anything else, etc.

This isn't a "tell me KVR is great" thread its to try to understand what is good or bad about the various sites (and KVR). I know what I like and dislike but this may not be the same as everyone else

Spe3D · Post by **Spe3D** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:27 pm

Ben [KVR] wrote:I'm in Market Research mode today and I was wondering what audio news/info sites you visit regularly, apart from KVR, and what you like about them and why? I'd be interested to know what you prefer about them and what you prefer about KVR - stuff such as design, navigation, features, content, advertising (amount and positioning), affiliate deals/offers, merchandise, anything else, etc.

This isn't a "tell me KVR is great" thread its to try to understand what is good or bad about the various sites (and KVR). I know what I like and dislike but this may not be the same as everyone else

Seriously there is no where better for Plug-In news, its updated and comprehensive here plus backed up by a easy searchable database – and – you host the official forums of ‘most’ of the leading plug-in developers.

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

Post by **Ben [KVR]** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:30 pm

Well this isn't about plug-in news as such, I'm just interested to know what people like about other sites, particularly sites such as Harmony Central, Sonic State, etc.

Spe3D · Post by **Spe3D** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:31 pm

Bad is the Muse button just above News

it defeated ergonomics (easy site navigation) as its between two home urls

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)

t-willy · Post by **t-willy** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:35 pm

i agree with spe3d. this is the one stop place to get up to date info on the latest plugs and updates.

my only major gripe is the cafe, but that's more of a personal preference and the types of music presented there. i visit various other sites to check out music that suits my taste, but ONLY to check out music.

i'll swing over to patch arena to grab some more presets every once and again as well since they seem to be THE PLACE for patches and presets.

lates

t-willy

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:36 pm

Occasionally I may visit Harmony Central and the likes... but usually only after a link has been posted at KVR or one of the mailing lists I'm on.
A while ago I used to visit a few guitar oriented sites as well, but even that has stopped because I'm pretty much sorted for the rest of my life regarding axe related equipment.
So I can't tell much about pros and cons of other sites, just that Harmony Central IMO doesn't offer a great overview and it's too much ad-laden as well.
The hardware reviews however are helpful on occasion.

ResonantOrder · Post by **ResonantOrder** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:40 pm

I miss the extra forum posts being displayed on the front page. I don't really go to any other audio sites. Most seem to be about audio recording (and the snobbery of audio recording) for the most part, while (of course) KVR is heavy on the vsts. I really don't know of any other music sites I actually like. Everything else I visit is item specific, such as NI or Sonar.

Basically, I second what Spe3D says and I miss the other forum posts on the front page.

Post by **Ben [KVR]** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:41 pm

ResonantOrder wrote:I miss the other forum posts on the front page.

Choose which forums you want to appear there - http://www.kvraudio.com/ma.php?m=lt

Post by **Ben [KVR]** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:42 pm

Spe3D wrote:Bad is the Muse button just above News it defeated ergonomics (easy site navigation) as its between two home urls

Stupid American Pig · Post by **Stupid American Pig** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:46 pm

I use harmony central, sonic state and when they used to update it prorec. The only really useful one besides KVR is harmony central IMHO.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:46 pm

sonicstate for hardware and non-synth news and reviews
harmony central for convention coverage

kvr for everything else.. really.. I visit kvr near everyday.. the other 2 mentioned maybe once a week at best..

kvr? I think its too compacted and cluttered (information overload).. sure its an ordered compactness but its just too much information for me squeezed into one page/design.. but it has the most thriving community.. I think the ability to minimize the sides would be an interesting and useful thing. or a page with just news only. User Review system is poor though and needs a rehaul.. the review categories many times dont apply and theres a N/A option on it so one must rate a value regardless if it pertains to that synth or not.. which is then calculated into the score of the synth.

but back to the site. hmmm... not enough contests here for big prizes.. when was the last time we saw a company step up and give away a UAD or Powercore card here.. or midi controller?

A lot of the time I notice the popularity and information on synths here is based on the forum's response to that product.

The kvr contest is a halfhineyed attempt at a contest.. better focus on whether or not its a contest would be welcome here.. maybe a page dedicated to the contest with a link on the main page 'enter the monthly contest, win ______' and on the dedicated page could be an automatic uploader or simply linker.. with all the entries listed. This uploader app would scan the audiofile and check to see if its within the rules (file size, duration, bit depth) and would also have an option for review.. like this quick reply box and a rating of the song (during voting).

that would probably generate more interest.. theres things like that here that could be developed a bit more..

I dont think this site quite too newbie friendly.. thats probably the main reason there arent quite too many new faces here.. that and the fact that you can read all the info and news w/o signing up.. I know I did that for quite awhile..

anyways.. maybe there should be a newbie board with very basic information 'what is a vsti' 'what is a host' 'how to connect vsti into host' '"best" synths for ______ style of music' 'how do i plugin my midi keyboard to my pc?' etc.. with stickyfied threads on some of hte more common questions.

tutorials could also be developed a lot better here.. as well as preset uploading.. make it automatic... and have a better rating system (better being more vague with the static vote scale and an option to enter user views on bank/sounds)

sonicstate? I feel their site design is a bit worse though.. I have 1024 pixels of space on my screen.. stop using only 800px!

and its hard to find what im looking for there.. but lots of good hardware reviews and background information on synths etc

harmony central? their website design reminds me of mine.. ...back in 1997! hard to find new stuff but I like their convention coverage.. pretty well thorough and direct.. page for each news bit is nice with a TOC for the various company releases (during a convention) fun to refresh and see whats popped up on screen.

enjoy deciphering the rambling.. or skipping completely over..

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:52 pm

No other sites, really. Well, the Cakewalk forums occasionally.
My other sources of information are mainly mailinglists:
PD, AudioMulch, 313TechKnow for technical stuff (although the PD-list gives me headaches most of the time) and 313 and .microsound for general stuff.

Groet, Erik

MickGael · Post by **MickGael** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:53 pm

For a friendly and informative audio community (with a focus on higher-end stuff and engineering) few are better than Lynne Fuston's 3DAudioInc site: http://www.3daudioinc.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

These guys are all very generous with their time....

Sicklecell666 · Post by **Sicklecell666** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:56 pm

I visit the Reaktor forums & mod at the Auditorium, that's it for regular browsing.

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:57 pm

I use some product specific sites, but no other "over-sites" like KvR. Auditorium, but that's for the music and not the tools.

I wouldn't mind a less conspicuous colour scheme, but it does help me not use it too much at work.
(hey I'm at work now)
No it doesn't. I want different colours

Other Audio News sites - Your opinions?