DKS Pro Feedback

[lurker]

Hi Folks

I purchased DKS Pro last night using the Microtonic crossgrade. What an incredible value!!

Thanks for being so competitive and keeping customers in mind! Very cool of you. I would not have bought this at full price, because I don't really need any more VST plugins, but at this price it is impossible to resist. You certainly understand the competitive price points.

Anyway, I have been having a very good time with this plugin - congradulations and thanks for making such a great plugin.

I have a couple of questions and problems though.

One, in regards to the kick drum sounds. Maybe it is something wrong with my computer, but every kick drum sound preset with DKS Pro sounds like it has all sorts of wierd delay, or perhaps very strange envelopes. The snares and claps and toms and all the other sounds in DKS Pro are very 'round' and 'snappy', however all the kicks seems to 'echo and stutter' and none of them are snappy and round at all, they are all difficult to use as kick drums on their own without adjustment. I've found by shortening the envelopes I can (mostly) make the problem go away, but that leads to the next problem.....

The sliders, in particular the Attack and Release sliders, are impossible to use with any precision. I either get the standard "stuttery, echo-ey, too long" bass drums, or a 'blip' that is way too fast. No precision on the sliders at all, and they are waaay too short (and I can't type a manual value into the display box), which makes things really frustrating.

Any suggestions?

Also one last thing - I'm amongst the group that thinks that even a very basic internal sequencer would be very valuable in a product like this.


Thanks for considering my feedback, and thanks again for a wonderful product at a fantastic price.

Oh yeah, it would be nice to see somewhere what the default MIDI channel and note number are assigned to each drum slot.

Perhaps I just need to read the manual? sorry, been having so much fun playing with this that I haven't even looked. I'll be embarrassed if the answers to my problems are in there.

thanks again.

[Aldo]

Hi Folks

I purchased DKS Pro last night using the Microtonic crossgrade. What an incredible value!!

Thanks for being so competitive and keeping customers in mind! Very cool of you. I would not have bought this at full price, because I don't really need any more VST plugins, but at this price it is impossible to resist. You certainly understand the competitive price points.

Anyway, I have been having a very good time with this plugin - congradulations and thanks for making such a great plugin.

Very kind of you!

I have a couple of questions and problems though.

One, in regards to the kick drum sounds. Maybe it is something wrong with my computer, but every kick drum sound preset with DKS Pro sounds like it has all sorts of wierd delay, or perhaps very strange envelopes. The snares and claps and toms and all the other sounds in DKS Pro are very 'round' and 'snappy', however all the kicks seems to 'echo and stutter' and none of them are snappy and round at all, they are all difficult to use as kick drums on their own without adjustment. I've found by shortening the envelopes I can (mostly) make the problem go away, but that leads to the next problem.....

The envelopes resemble the characteristics of many analogue drums machines. We are already improving them -- and we'll have to add a few of new controls on the UI; they are necessary to control the "punch" and shape the sound the way you want.
More VFM for you, more fun for me writing code that sounds good

The sliders, in particular the Attack and Release sliders, are impossible to use with any precision. I either get the standard "stuttery, echo-ey, too long" bass drums, or a 'blip' that is way too fast. No precision on the sliders at all, and they are waaay too short (and I can't type a manual value into the display box), which makes things really frustrating.

Any suggestions?

Hold down the shift key when you drag the sliders.
I think you will get enough resolution.
Please let me know if you think that the "fine" resolution should be "finer".

Also one last thing - I'm amongst the group that thinks that even a very basic internal sequencer would be very valuable in a product like this.

What would you like to see in DKS? There are several options and we are evaluating them.
A step sequencer?
A sequencer with variable quantization grid?
An SMF player? (fits well with the one above)

All the sequencers will have to support groove quantization, imported via MIDI files. Most of the times the right quantization is an essential element for convincing drums (at least in my opinion).

Thanks for considering my feedback, and thanks again for a wonderful product at a fantastic price.

No, thanks to you for your feedback.

Oh yeah, it would be nice to see somewhere what the default MIDI channel and note number are assigned to each drum slot.

Near the channel number (on the mixer) there is a display with the MIDI note. By clicking on the "learn" button below you can also quickly assign the midi note to each sound generator by playing it on your MIDI keyboard.

Perhaps I just need to read the manual? sorry, been having so much fun playing with this that I haven't even looked. I'll be embarrassed if the answers to my problems are in there.

thanks again.

Thanks to you!!!

Aldo.

[dusted william]

I got this, and I love it. It is sooo worth the money.

I like that fact that you want to implement groove quantize into your sequencer.

dw

[liars&ashes]

----Any other cross-grades available ? Just curious, and it never hurts to ask.

Jeff

[lurker]

liars&ashes - i believe there are offers available for users of DK+ Virtual Drums, Waldorf Attack, Microtonic, ManyOne and Grand Electrix.

Aldo, thank-you very much for the information and reply! Greatly appreciated. I should have tried shift-drag before, it's such a common approach. I guess it slipped my mind because i was distracted by all the other cool features in this plugin. The skin choice is very nice as well.

It's MUCH more managable with shift-drag. I would like a bit more resolution if you are considering it, but it is fine the way it is.

Great to hear that this will evolve and that you are planning new features!! Very nice. As for a sequencer, i think a simple grid with groove quantize options would be smashing. I wouldn't even care if it could import midi or other formats, as long as it had simple patten/note/selection cut/copy/paste and importing and exporting of it's own patterns i'd be in heaven. i'd pay for an upgrade like that

thanks again, very happy with this purchase

[pw]

What would you like to see in DKS? There are several options and we are evaluating them.
A step sequencer?
A sequencer with variable quantization grid?
An SMF player? (fits well with the one above)

A sequencer with variable quantization grid

[phraggle]

I just bought this with the crossgrade from Microtonic as well. Talk about great value - no way to resist at that price! Thanks guys.

I haven't had time to delve into it too deeply yet (just got it a couple of hours ago) but I like what I'm hearing so far. I'll post back if I have any more useful feedback.

Cheers!

[mellotronaut]

What would you like to see in DKS? There are several options and we are evaluating them.
A step sequencer?
A sequencer with variable quantization grid?
An SMF player? (fits well with the one above)

A sequencer with variable quantization grid

+1

great sounds, great tool!

thanks

[Cabinfever]

I just bought it too. Absolutely love how you can just activate any pad and assign the note number ! brilliant and simple.

And +1 on the step sequencer, but it *must* be 32 displayed steps. 16 steps is a toy imho. In regards to the 'variable quantization', perhaps some sort of 'nudging grid' below the steps ? Nudge individually or via saved nudging 'styles'. Something vaguely similar to the Acid 'groove templates' perhaps ? In this case it might fit happily with your 'wizard' concept. You apply various 'quantise wizards' to the grid ?

[liqih]

thanks to all,
it's a lot of time Aldo and I talk about an enhanced step sequencer for drum plugin,
since the DK+ release!

BTW we'll enhance DKS the envelopes as well and
we'll have a GUI update to take care of some issues, especially different sizes for different resolutions

you shouldn't wait more than a few weeks (sequencer will take some more)

[Aldo]

The next update is coming in a few days. All the known bugs and compatibility issues have been addressed.
Also... the upcoming update will also include a little surprise for those who love the TR-808 sound... I can't tell you more atm.

As for the sequencer, there can't be wizards but MIDI groove templates. You need the same groove quantization in the host program to quantize properly the rest.
The bad thing is that groove quantization is not available in many entry level sequencers.