Hi all,
I've been looking at Receptor as a possible option to offload processing in the studio, as well as using it live.
My question though is.. why would this option be more viable than getting a mac mini duocore with a cheap touch panel screen, loading a plugin host on it (either OSX or now Windows XP) and loading up virtual instruments and Plasq's Wormhole software to connect over airport to my logic 7 system?
Receptor seems very cool, but it also seems that this would do the same thing at a cheaper cost with more compatability for varions plugins and instruments, or is there something I am missing?
The small drive and ram in Receptor (plus the inability to easily upgrade the drive on my own) led me to thinking of this as an alternative.
I'm interested in any thoughts in this.
Cheers,
TC
Receptor vs Mac Mini with Wormhole
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 29 Apr, 2005 from Fort Lauderdale, FL
Not really sure what the pros and cons are, but that is part of the reason Receptor is great...usually, it just works!
If you decide to go down this road, please do let us know how it turns out. My gut reaction is that latency is still going to be your worst enemy, but I'd like to be proven wrong. Also, I think the Airport idea is asking for trouble...don't know that there are any viable ways to implement wireless and audio just yet...but again, its just my .02.
-Matt
If you decide to go down this road, please do let us know how it turns out. My gut reaction is that latency is still going to be your worst enemy, but I'd like to be proven wrong. Also, I think the Airport idea is asking for trouble...don't know that there are any viable ways to implement wireless and audio just yet...but again, its just my .02.
-Matt
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- KVRist
- 387 posts since 24 Aug, 2004
Here's my opinion:
It would depend on your specific application.
For purely live use - Receptor is probably way more convenient, user friendly and plenty powerful. No additional audio ins/outs needed. Rackmountable. Software is fantastic.
For something like using it as a Logic node, or for a more stationary use....you might be better off with the mini. Most especially if you don't need additional audio hardware.
It would depend on your specific application.
For purely live use - Receptor is probably way more convenient, user friendly and plenty powerful. No additional audio ins/outs needed. Rackmountable. Software is fantastic.
For something like using it as a Logic node, or for a more stationary use....you might be better off with the mini. Most especially if you don't need additional audio hardware.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 71 posts since 30 Dec, 2004
Great, thanks for the quick responses.customdigi wrote: My gut reaction is that latency is still going to be your worst enemy, but I'd like to be proven wrong.
Regarding the latency, I can't see Wormhole being worse than the new Receptor uniwire technology? Isn't it basically the same concept?
Plasq says wormhole works with airport, but I guess testing this out in a working environment would tell. If not it's no big deal to use an ethernet cable.
I'm probably going to try this first anyway, as the mini can always be used as a node.
Cheers,
TC
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 29 Apr, 2005 from Fort Lauderdale, FL
Uniwire usage is not as of yet the best way to use the Receptor, in my opinion. Using it as an external synth module triggered by midi from your host totally gets you around the latency issue, and you can run 32-64 sample buffer pretty easily with most plugs. You can also use it as an effets box (reverb, comp, eq) the "old fashioned" way, by sending audio to the receptor and getting it back via spdif, adat, or the analog i/o. You don't need uniwire for that, and if you set up a template for that application in your host, you are ahead of the curve.
-Matt
-Matt
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 29 Apr, 2005 from Fort Lauderdale, FL
"You are ahead of the curve"
I just typed that, and I have no idea what that means, or what the curve is. But it sounded good at the time.
What is plasq, by the way? Sounds like it needs to be investigated on my end to remain even further ahead of the curve!!!! Or at least not to fall further behind it.
-Matt
I just typed that, and I have no idea what that means, or what the curve is. But it sounded good at the time.
What is plasq, by the way? Sounds like it needs to be investigated on my end to remain even further ahead of the curve!!!! Or at least not to fall further behind it.
-Matt
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- KVRist
- 44 posts since 17 Aug, 2005
My two cents. I run out of horsepower fast using VIs in ProTools on a dual G5 with 2.5G of RAM. I've switched to running the VIs on Receptor the old-fashioned way, w/MIDI and analog I/O and it's killer. I love the patch management. I just set up a multi patch for the PT session, load it up and go. Like Matt said, it just works. In my opinion, Uniwire isn't there yet. Too much latency. The only thing that would improve Receptor for me at this point is another ADAT out so I could get 16 channels of digital I/O hooked up to the Mac.
Jason
www.chromasound.net
Jason
www.chromasound.net
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 29 Apr, 2005 from Fort Lauderdale, FL
>>I run out of horsepower fast using VIs in ProTools on a dual G5 with 2.5G of RAM.<<
You must be runnin' a buttload of plugs!!!
Id like to cast another vote for 16 channels of digital i/o...
You must be runnin' a buttload of plugs!!!
Id like to cast another vote for 16 channels of digital i/o...
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- KVRist
- 44 posts since 17 Aug, 2005
Nowhere near a buttload! Just trying to run them with low enough latency to make them playable. Force the buffer size down and you run out of steam really fast. Everything works much better with VIs over on the Receptor.
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 29 Apr, 2005 from Fort Lauderdale, FL
AHh, true...I have been "working around" latency for so long now, I assume that everyone does the same. (IE recording midi from my triton while monitoring crappy piano sound directly, then using a VSTi (Ivory) during mixdown instead of said crappy triton.) It is much more inspiring to hear your best sounds back while you are recording, if you can get the latency low enough...and that is where the receptor comes in.
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- KVRist
- 135 posts since 8 Jun, 2005
For a semi permanent studio installation, I'm doing a variation of this right now with a G5 Dual 2.7 Ghz.... Since wormhole, and a lot of these networking things still seem to be more trouble then they're worth, I'm using a MOTU 828MKII audio/midi interface to use the G5 as a big huge glorified sound module running Ivory, BFD Drums, Miroslav Philharmonic, MSI, Reason, etc....
I'm interested in seeing what NI's Kore will add to the mix when it comes out.
For live, I'm using a MacBook Pro running RAX as a host with several plugins.
I too have seriously considered Receptor for the last year but am waiting for an upgradable version....
-Vincent
[quote="Soundloop"]Hi all,
I've been looking at Receptor as a possible option to offload processing in the studio, as well as using it live.
My question though is.. why would this option be more viable than getting a mac mini duocore with a cheap touch panel screen, loading a plugin host on it (either OSX or now Windows XP) and loading up virtual instruments and Plasq's Wormhole software to connect over airport to my logic 7 system?
Receptor seems very cool, but it also seems that this would do the same thing at a cheaper cost with more compatability for varions plugins and instruments, or is there something I am missing?
The small drive and ram in Receptor (plus the inability to easily upgrade the drive on my own) led me to thinking of this as an alternative.
I'm interested in any thoughts in this.
Cheers,
TC[/quote]
I'm interested in seeing what NI's Kore will add to the mix when it comes out.
For live, I'm using a MacBook Pro running RAX as a host with several plugins.
I too have seriously considered Receptor for the last year but am waiting for an upgradable version....
-Vincent
[quote="Soundloop"]Hi all,
I've been looking at Receptor as a possible option to offload processing in the studio, as well as using it live.
My question though is.. why would this option be more viable than getting a mac mini duocore with a cheap touch panel screen, loading a plugin host on it (either OSX or now Windows XP) and loading up virtual instruments and Plasq's Wormhole software to connect over airport to my logic 7 system?
Receptor seems very cool, but it also seems that this would do the same thing at a cheaper cost with more compatability for varions plugins and instruments, or is there something I am missing?
The small drive and ram in Receptor (plus the inability to easily upgrade the drive on my own) led me to thinking of this as an alternative.
I'm interested in any thoughts in this.
Cheers,
TC[/quote]