Considering Buying Receptor - Advice Please

[kilgoretrout]

Hi
I am considering purchasing a receptor, but I am worried that I might be doing it for the wrong reasons.

I have a powerful DAW (dual processor 3.4GHz P D, 2 GB...). I am running Sonar 6 PE. I have a UAD1 and a TC Powercore Firewire. I do a ton of tracking using my guitars and bass. I also have a bunch of vintage synths.

I currently use Stylus RMX a lot, and have most of the SAGE expanders. I use a handful of VST synths but have shyed away due to the fact that I CANNOT STAND glitches in my PC. I tend to prematurely freeze tracks to make sure my PC is always running less than 30%.

I do use several of the PSP plugs - Nitro and the couple of delay products. I have a pretty full UAD1 (considering buying a second to try the NEVE plugs).

I do not take my PC anywhere so the mobility features of the Receptor are of no importance to me.

I do not like most of the free plugs. I like esoteric things. But I also need a decent stockpile of traditional instruments. My controller keyboard is a Waldorf Wave and while it is really good at what it does, it never really sounds like a Rhodes or a Tuba (though I don't use tubas much).

I want to purchase the NI Komplete, but need to make sure everything will work with whatever system I use. Again, I cannot stand using Reaktor on my PC then trying to record a couple of guitars. Glitches drive me nuts.

I think the Receptor would work much like my UAD or my TC (though more universal support) in how the plug ins appear in my DAW - correct?

What about some of the odder synth or effect plugs? Can it handle Spektral Delay? Arturia's CS80/Moog Modular or the likes?

Does it take a long time for things to become available for the Receptor format?

If I have a ton of SAGE expanders for Stylus RMX, will those upload to the Receptor, or do I have to repurchase those?

When selecting a Receptor, it seems like going for 2GB ram is a given. What determines the size of the hard drive you need? Is it just how many sample libararies you intend to use?

How difficult is file management on the receptor? If I installed a bunch of things that I ultimately decided to kill, is it easy to get them off?

I see things about 16 instruments ... (though I would guess this is limited by the demands of the instrument). Can you store hundreds of instruments and pick the 16 (or whatever) you want?

Are there areas where there are products that you wish were supported but arent' and don't appear to be any time soon?

Has Rapture or Dimension ever worked on Receptor?

How difficult is it to set up?

What about Sonar? Does it work flawlessly with Sonar? Or is there a headache setting it up.

Finally, if you were to suggest a great general purpose sample library to work with this - something that included strings, keys (but not necessarily synths), horns, reeds... What is the best for the $$$

We compose some type of spacey rock crap that is remniscent of a blend between Pink Floyd pre-DSOTM, ELOY, Hawkwind, mixed in with some Man-or-Astroman surfy stuff. I also have a big collection of hardware stuff (Modcan Modular, Wave, Memorymoog, Synthex, Prophet 5/10/VS, and more and more...)

Thanks for your help. I apologize if some of these questions are really basic, but I want to make sure I don't shell out $3500-4000 for a Receptor and plugs to find this is not what i thought I wanted.

Peace

[duncanparsons]

you've been quiet a long time! 1 post for reg in 2002!!

I'm bookmarking, since I'm interested in the answers as well. I'm not as well stocked, but I'm very interested in a Receptor for my current VST dev work..

DSP

[kilgoretrout]

I dont use many VSTs. Most of my questions for UAD1 are on UAD forums. I used to be an electronics engineer. As such many of the technical things are not so hard to understand for me. I also record a lot of real vintage synths and real guitars/basses, sax... Not much help from KVR on that.

I guess I never had a question I needed answered.

I am hoping to find this more useful in the future, should I go the Receptor route.

[Kermit Jagger]

I am worried that I might be doing it for the wrong reasons

You don't need a reason to buy a Receptor.

I think the Receptor would work much like my UAD or my TC (though more universal support) in how the plug ins appear in my DAW - correct?

If you use Uniwire, then yes, it will appear as a plug in your sequencer. However, you need to check whether your sequencer is supported. Uniwire 1.0 doesn't like MOTU for example. Fine with Cubase though.

What about some of the odder synth or effect plugs?

Receptor can handle a lot, but only if you are a dab-hand at editing its registry so you can enter your own products serial numbers. Most the plugs that don't work on Receptor do not because of the protection scheme they use. The Arturia stuff doesn't work very well. Some do, some don't. And the later ones do not since they need a syncrosoft key, currently not supported on Receptor.

Does it take a long time for things to become available for the Receptor format?

Unfortunately, I have to say yes. Offering new installers for new plugs or updates is not a strong point from Muse. There are lots of plugs that are listed as supported which still appear as old versions.

You have to accept that Muse is a small company compared with other vendors, and that they have to prioritise what they work on. A bit frustrating at times when you're waiting for a particular plug or OS feature, but part of the course. Also, they could be better at telling us what they're doing. Apart from the odd email saying "we're working on Komplete, or Real Guitar...", you don't get much feedback from what's going on in terms of development.

If I have a ton of SAGE expanders for Stylus RMX, will those upload to the Receptor, or do I have to repurchase those?

No idea, but RMX is still version 1.2 on Receptor, this may cause problems as I believe some expanders need 1.5.

it seems like going for 2GB ram is a given. What determines the size of the hard drive you need? Is it just how many sample libararies you intend to use?

2gb is a must of you use samplers. Even though some stuff works well with DtD, nothing beats getting a bank in RAM for playability. As for the drive, it depends what you intend to put on it.

If used purely as a VST player, and no sampling or sample VSTi like Kontakt and banks based around the player or Kompakt, then you could still get away with the standard 256Mb RAM and 40Gb HD.

How difficult is file management on the receptor?

How good are you with using RedHat 8 ? Uninstalling is easy enough though, via the GUI you can remove installed plugs. As for unsupported plugs, just delete the folder and do the power x 3 holding multi to rebuild the database of stuff installed.

However, if you are only using the Mac or PC utility to control your Receptor, some things cannot be deleted or moved. For that, you need to log on your Receptor with enough priviledges to change things. oGG's FAQ is a must read to see whether you understand what's involved or not.

Can you store hundreds of instruments and pick the 16 (or whatever) you want?

Yes.

Has Rapture or Dimension ever worked on Receptor?

So far, I haven't heard either working. I have neither so couldn't try myself.

How difficult is it to set up?

From very easy to fiendishly difficult, depending as to what you're doing. Installing a Muse rpm package is dead easy. Hacking the registry to install a plug is another story. And finally, modifying WINE to make some VST run is another level altogether.

What about Sonar? Does it work flawlessly with Sonar?

No idea as I use Cubase. Read the manual to see how Uniwire runs. Somebody will have to confirm how well Uniwire is working with Cubase.

What is the best for the $$$

For me, Philharmonik is it, best price-feature ratio in my opinion. And soon, you will be able to run it on Receptor as IK Multimedia are giving up the syncrosoft dongle.

I want to make sure I don't shell out $3500-4000 for a Receptor and plugs to find this is not what i thought I wanted

Receptor is a great product, but the use you get from it will vary. It all depends as to what you can do yourself with it. If you can only use what Muse gives you, then make sure the plugs you want to run are on plugorama.

[kilgoretrout]

WOW Kermit. Thanks for taking what must have been a long time to address everything I asked. I have to go back and digest all of this.