Hi folks,
Ive been thinking of ditching alot of my outboard effect units/compressors for a TC powercore firewire rack unit.
Im having trouble decieding though if I could part with so much gear for one rack unit!
From what I have read about the Powercore, I am very tempted to do so.
Would you exchange a Lexicon mpx 550, Aphex 206 Aural Exciter, TC Electronic c300 Compressor and a Behringer Ultratube EQ for a Powercore firewire?
I would like to keep them and buy the Powercore in addition but due to lack of funds, I would have to sell. Plus, I cant see the point of keeping them (rack units) if Ive got a Powercore with superb plugins which can do all this.
Please help me decide!!!
Regards,
Michael.
TC Powercore... is it worth buying?
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- KVRAF
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Hi Aallvor,aallvor wrote:Keep the Lexicon, it offers quite a different reverb sound to TC's algorithms. Let the rest go.
I must admit, I thought the same to! I'm finding it hard to ditch the Lexicon. It is a great reverb unit!
I've heard nothing but good things about the TC Powercore firewire.
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- KVRian
- 1322 posts since 30 Oct, 2003 from Pacific NW, USA
While the TC Powercore system offers great plug-ins, both from TC Electronics and third-party developers, I must say that I am very impressed with the sound quality and versitility that the Focusrite Liquid Mix has to offer. With 40 compressors and 20 eq's plus a FireWire hardware control surface, this unit can really make your mixes shine. And at $799 you'll be saving some money since the Powercore FW costs $1199.
But there's another contender that is well-known and respected among professional producers and remixers...UAD's Powered Plug-ins Bundles. And for people with a laptop, they have released the UAD-XPander, the world's first ExpressCard audio DSP expansion system. Since it utilizes an ExpressCard 34 connection, it leaves your FireWire and USB ports open for connecting a FW or USB audio interface and/or an external HD to your computer. The Powered plug-ins range from studio-grade compressors, eq's, reverbs, chorus, delay, guitar processor and a channel strip. This is a no-compromise suite of processors ready to handle any recording or mixing session. When helping a friend put together a medium-size recording facility, we made sure to include a UAD DSP Card for 'in-the-box' tools for pro mixing, post-production and mastering. The results have been incredible!!
Peace - morphex
But there's another contender that is well-known and respected among professional producers and remixers...UAD's Powered Plug-ins Bundles. And for people with a laptop, they have released the UAD-XPander, the world's first ExpressCard audio DSP expansion system. Since it utilizes an ExpressCard 34 connection, it leaves your FireWire and USB ports open for connecting a FW or USB audio interface and/or an external HD to your computer. The Powered plug-ins range from studio-grade compressors, eq's, reverbs, chorus, delay, guitar processor and a channel strip. This is a no-compromise suite of processors ready to handle any recording or mixing session. When helping a friend put together a medium-size recording facility, we made sure to include a UAD DSP Card for 'in-the-box' tools for pro mixing, post-production and mastering. The results have been incredible!!
Peace - morphex
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Hi Morphex, thanks for the input. As far as Liquid Mix goes, I have heard it is a great piece of hardware/software. Even though it has some of my needs, ie compressors/limiters and eq, I was looking for a little more in the way or reverb and fx plugins all running from a self powered unit.
I'll have a good read on UAD.
Again, thanks for the input!
I'll have a good read on UAD.
Again, thanks for the input!
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- KVRist
- 285 posts since 24 Feb, 2005 from Berlin, Germany
i have uad and powercore, if i should choose only one of them i would choose the uad. if you have a look at the online shop of universal audio you will notice that their prices are really interesting. and they have very often special offers!
i have the dreamverb and i like it really a lot. then there is the plate 140 reverb, i don't have it but i have a friend who literally fell in love with it.
the plugs included in the powercore are quite outdated and the optional ones, that for sure are very good, are quite expensive.
another thing i don't like of the powercore is the way the authorizations of the optional plugins are managed: if you own 2 cards, you can only authorize one of them, if you want to move an authorizaation from one card to another one (both of your property) it's extremely complicated. uad licenses are managed in a very flexible, customer friendly way.
the powercore had (and still has) some problems: there is an independent forum http://www.powercore.noheaven.com/
where you can make yourself an idea of the plus and minus of the powercore.
hope this helps
peace
i have the dreamverb and i like it really a lot. then there is the plate 140 reverb, i don't have it but i have a friend who literally fell in love with it.
the plugs included in the powercore are quite outdated and the optional ones, that for sure are very good, are quite expensive.
another thing i don't like of the powercore is the way the authorizations of the optional plugins are managed: if you own 2 cards, you can only authorize one of them, if you want to move an authorizaation from one card to another one (both of your property) it's extremely complicated. uad licenses are managed in a very flexible, customer friendly way.
the powercore had (and still has) some problems: there is an independent forum http://www.powercore.noheaven.com/
where you can make yourself an idea of the plus and minus of the powercore.
hope this helps
peace
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Hi edoosx,
thanks for your input! I'll look at Powercore forum.
thanks for your input! I'll look at Powercore forum.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Sorry everyone, can I ask another question concerning Powercore firewire???
As my setup mainly consits of midi and usb, I run my soundcard/interface through firewire (Presonus Firebox). Would it be possible to run both the firebox and powercore simutaniously? Sorry I know this might sound like a dumb question??
As my setup mainly consits of midi and usb, I run my soundcard/interface through firewire (Presonus Firebox). Would it be possible to run both the firebox and powercore simutaniously? Sorry I know this might sound like a dumb question??
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- KVRist
- 285 posts since 24 Feb, 2005 from Berlin, Germany
mikelo,
i have e very similar situation: my audio interface (m-audio firewire 1814) is connected to the firewire port of my computer and to the powercore firewire. all works with no problems here. i'm on osx but i guess it will work under windows too.
btw, if you plan to use it with a desktop, personally i would choose the pci version. but perhaps you are on a laptop...
peace
i have e very similar situation: my audio interface (m-audio firewire 1814) is connected to the firewire port of my computer and to the powercore firewire. all works with no problems here. i'm on osx but i guess it will work under windows too.
btw, if you plan to use it with a desktop, personally i would choose the pci version. but perhaps you are on a laptop...
peace
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Hi Edoosx,
again thanks for your input. Well I use both a desktop and a laptop (pc xp) so the Firewire rack would be ideal for me. I've also heard that the pci cards are not as powerful as the rack firewire? Is this true? I remember reading somewhere the other day on this subject. Anyhow, I must admit, I am drawing to the conclusion and favouring the Powercore firewire rack but Im gonna have a good read on the UAD's.
again thanks for your input. Well I use both a desktop and a laptop (pc xp) so the Firewire rack would be ideal for me. I've also heard that the pci cards are not as powerful as the rack firewire? Is this true? I remember reading somewhere the other day on this subject. Anyhow, I must admit, I am drawing to the conclusion and favouring the Powercore firewire rack but Im gonna have a good read on the UAD's.
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- KVRist
- 285 posts since 24 Feb, 2005 from Berlin, Germany
the firewire and the pci versions of the powercore are exaclty the same, no difference in performance.
universal audio launched a new model for use with the laptops, http://www.uaudio.com/products/uad/xpander/index.html
it's not so cheap though but always have a look at the bundled software, uad plugins are real bargains, especially when there are special promotions. have a look at their site, under the promotions and compare the prices for the extra plugs for powercore and for uad. as i said i've both uad and powercore but having to switch to intel based mac (with the new pci-e standard) i bought 2 new uads and no powercore.
universal audio launched a new model for use with the laptops, http://www.uaudio.com/products/uad/xpander/index.html
it's not so cheap though but always have a look at the bundled software, uad plugins are real bargains, especially when there are special promotions. have a look at their site, under the promotions and compare the prices for the extra plugs for powercore and for uad. as i said i've both uad and powercore but having to switch to intel based mac (with the new pci-e standard) i bought 2 new uads and no powercore.
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- KVRist
- 181 posts since 9 Jan, 2007
I have a TC Powercore. I like it, but it is problematic.
The biggest thing you need to know is that the "bundled plugins" aren't that great. Yes, there are some very good ones, especially the "Classic Reverb". But be warned that Powercore is - first and foremost - a sales tool. TC is trying very hard to get everyone to buy its expensive (although excellent) Optional (add-on) Plugins. TC does this by:
1. Giving you a generous demo period to try out all the optional plugins (20 hrs.)
2. Providing a way to buy the plugin(s) directly from your web browser.
3. Not giving you much you can use in the included plugin bundle.
So, YOU WILL find that you'll be longing for the wondrous optional plugins, even after you shell out your cash, install Powercore, and get it working.
One example: The included plugin bundle lacks any form of gated reverb. To get gated reverb on Powercore, you'll need to BUY the separate "TC NonLin Reverb" plugin - $325.00 at discount shops.
Powercore is great, but DO NOT EXPECT the bundled plugins to do everything you need. It won't happen. If you expect to use Powercore to do most of your signal processing, be sure to budget extra money to fill in the gaps left by the bundled plugins.
The biggest thing you need to know is that the "bundled plugins" aren't that great. Yes, there are some very good ones, especially the "Classic Reverb". But be warned that Powercore is - first and foremost - a sales tool. TC is trying very hard to get everyone to buy its expensive (although excellent) Optional (add-on) Plugins. TC does this by:
1. Giving you a generous demo period to try out all the optional plugins (20 hrs.)
2. Providing a way to buy the plugin(s) directly from your web browser.
3. Not giving you much you can use in the included plugin bundle.
So, YOU WILL find that you'll be longing for the wondrous optional plugins, even after you shell out your cash, install Powercore, and get it working.
One example: The included plugin bundle lacks any form of gated reverb. To get gated reverb on Powercore, you'll need to BUY the separate "TC NonLin Reverb" plugin - $325.00 at discount shops.
Powercore is great, but DO NOT EXPECT the bundled plugins to do everything you need. It won't happen. If you expect to use Powercore to do most of your signal processing, be sure to budget extra money to fill in the gaps left by the bundled plugins.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Hi Bluepride. Thankyou for your words of wisdom . By listening to Powercore users, I quickly gathered that to get the best out of it, you'd be spending alot more than what you have already payed.
. By listening to Powercore users, I quickly gathered that to get the best out of it, you'd be spending alot more than what you have already payed.-
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1819 posts since 10 Mar, 2004
Hi again edoosx, cheers for the info on UAD. Just reading some of the info on them! They sound good to!
Aggrrr! Now Im really confused!!
Wish I never started this thread now! lol! Maybe I should sell my house and by the Powercore, UAD and the liquid mix!! lol!
Aggrrr! Now Im really confused!!
Wish I never started this thread now! lol! Maybe I should sell my house and by the Powercore, UAD and the liquid mix!! lol!