Be a Reviewer and get Free Synths

[Lawnmower Of The Damned]

The second bit was clearly aimed at me, as I've always been under the impression that writing mainly consisted of licking lollipops and playing frisbie with your dog.

[shamann]

From my experience, it involves a lot of looking away, often towards something like KVR.

[DevonB]

...and my writing style is TOTALLY different for Recording Magazine. It depends what the editor wants...they are a LOT of hard work, long hours, and not as much about play as you'd like to believe.

Wasn't criticizing, just noting an observation on style. I'm not sure if that second bit was aimed at me or not, but as a professional writer myself, I wouldn't suggest otherwise.

The comment is noted though. Sean, the editor, isn't heavy handed on what an article is exactly supposed to contain. Cover the bases in how you see fit. That's rare. I've considered more 'in use' comments as Har is doing (and yes, I've been noticing that with his articles more than most reviewers in general).

Devon

[ouroboros]

Hi, I am interested, though I don't know if I am qualified; I am confident about writing having done so before, but musically, I am only an avid hobbyist. 4 a year sounds reasonable, though I couldn't start until July. I also only use FL Studio and the occasional tracker, and UVI plugs are probably out of the question. Without the insider's presence in the music tech. industry I could only offer my perspectives and experience with said plugs.

[VitaminD]

I cannot apply for this job. I have too many plugins as is.. sorry.

























...though I'm still willing to take in anymore freebies you have laying around











I'm also willing to take in free hardware as well.. especially studio monitors that need a good home.

[munchkin]

For writing you have to have a proper typewriter that goes click, click, click, ching!

I'd like to do it but I know not this synthesis stuff which considering it's synth reviews is a bit of a handicap. I could do the summing up section:

PROS:
GUI: very pretty
Presets: lots
Ease of Use: works with Cakewalk adapter

CONS:
Bit of a CPU hog

That's it!

[Amberience]

For writing you have to have a proper typewriter that goes click, click, click, ching!

I'd like to do it but I know not this synthesis stuff which considering it's synth reviews is a bit of a handicap. I could do the summing up section:

PROS:
GUI: very pretty
Presets: lots
Ease of Use: works with Cakewalk adapter

CONS:
Bit of a CPU hog

That's it!

Boy am I glad you're not the local authority on synths!

[Sascha Franck]

If it only was in german... guess I'd like to volunteer for this, but at the same time I know my choice of words (or better: repetition of them) is getting horrible on anything longer than a few 100 words.

[Meffy]

For writing you have to have a proper typewriter that goes click, click, click, ching!

For serious typing:

* Several IBM Selectrics, 1960s-1970s (the king of typewriters) and one Univac-branded modified Selectric

Or, for the old-style click and zing:

* Early 1920s deluxe Royal (with bevelled glass side panels so you can see it work)

[jens]

here's mine:

[ew]

If I'm not mistaken NFR copies are not only not for resale, but (at least in some cases) are not entitled to the same upgrades/updates that purchased copies are. I know this to be the case, at least for Virsyn, since once I accidentally took home the nfr copy instead of the my copy, and this turned out to be the case. Or else, why not just distribute a regular version?

Virsyn's always been good about updates/ upgrades for NFRs in my case, as have Steinberg/Wizoo, OhmForce and NI... resale's a definite no-no, though.
ew

[Sascha Franck]

I second ew's statement: Most NFRs can be updated. All you can't do is: Sell them - which the "NFR" is allready stating.
Companies (obviously) don't want reviewers to use old versions of their plugins.

[x_bruce]

Hello,

first, thanks Kevvvvv, I didn't know until after the post that you started this thead.

As for getting free synths, if that's the reason you're doing this you might be disapointed. Yes, we have a good number of synths and have good relations with most developers and companies.

We want people interested in the synths people use and to help them find good ones in all catagories, from free to pro-sumer. In the reviews we want to see a good conception of the item reviewed and not a simple rewrite of the feature list. We want to know why you like it and expect you to be capable of writing about why it's such a cool synth. We want to see genuine enthusiasm.

If you do this we will work with you as much as possible to get a NFR for a synth that might be shareware or commercial.

You'll have to show not only us but our audience what you have. And if you are willing to write articles that either we or you come up with we will be very careful to make sure you get your just due.

About NFRs. They have zero value, can not be traded without concent (and you will probably not get concent from the developer). Anyone at musicFAQ doing this would cease being a musicFAQ writer.

About pressure...right now, I have a lot of pressure on me. We've needed writers for some time and every person who offered to get involved didn't provide a single article or review.

I especially want to thank all the folks that contacted me. All of you would be fine writers for musicFAQ. You all know that we are interested in writers that are willing to do articles, writers williing to write about their own stash of synths and in a few cases in entertaining prose.

Anyone else interested, please contact me. We aren't a glorious site but we have a very good audience which we wish to thank by providing more content.

I am very impressed with the people who've written in so far. I consider them good writers and on the reviews they've already written, they are excellent.

But musicFAQ is also about the ways we make music, what music is, how virtual and new technology in sound stack up to hardware in efficiency, quality and new ways of synthesizing.

If this appeals to you, I want to talk with you and have even gotten interesting sources for interviews and technical issues.

We have several high-end products currently in review. But you'll also see lots of shareware and Synthedit/freeware because these areas seem to be our audience.

Feel free to reach me at x_bruce@yahoo.com

Our next issue will double musicFAQ's size and will be the most diverse update we've ever done, and hopefully we will continue to help people with their decision as to what's worth getting.

[Kriminal]

What about if you already get nearly everything free anyway?

[x_bruce]

If you are getting free stuff and do not violate an agreement with another source you're more than welcome to work with us.

I'd love to have you working with us.

But I'm being honest here - at this point I'd like to do some new ideas that go beyond reviews. As they are meant for musicFAQ I'll leave the details to staff or potential staff who I'm comfortable won't steal the ideas.

We will always need reviewers although we are more concerned with everyone involved finding a goal and helping them to make it happen.

We are also involved with Traxmusic http://www.traxmusic.com and in several instances share content. We believe working in a complimentary way is better for everyone as the flow of information gets to sites we identify with and want to continue ties to.

There will always be enough synths relesed for every site to review. It isn't the matter of getting the synth necessarily, but getting people to pay attention to synths that we like as a site.

I know this might read like post-modern communist hippie bullshit but I'm quite sincere. I'm not in it for the synths. I like music and I am enamored with virtual synthesis; from SE works to high end synths and sound libraries.

I happen to think this is a great time for music in general. Here's an example... I have 2 studios now. One is my DAW. It would take to long to describe, but the other was built out of frustration with looking at a sequencer and computer. Again, the description would take forver lest to say we now have hardware emulating software. We have black boxes that have simple computers in it. I have the makings of an article about how real the old way of doing things is. You can buy a hardware 8 track with 40 GB drive for $399. It has digital I/O and a USB drive along with midi in and out. It can be it's own station or part of my workstation. There's going to be a PODxt vs N.I.'s Guitar Rig article soon. These are the kinds of ideas I hope to see from our new writers and from myself as my backlog is freed.

I care about music and think someone should be documenting it as it happens; not as a blog, but in a more scientific/technical manor. People think that sounds cold but think about this, do you think scientist don't have sex or poop?

I want musicFAQ to be a place of information, a place of interesting synths that will help you to work and sell at all price points. It's not enough that these items exist. It's up to sites like musicFAQ and Traxmusic to help preserve the new music revolution.

Anyone who wants in let me know. If you are a tech kind of person you can advise us, if you're a writer, you can work with us. It's that simple.

I need nothing to make high quality music. I may want something but I have been exceptionally fortunate and if there's one thing I can do it is to give back to the people who helped me and to let people know about some synths they don't seem to pay attention to, and are really loosing out because of this.

Ok, no more rant.