If you don't care, then don't read on...it won't hurt my feelings
Really the main reason I got out now was that I recently updated my studio computer to a monster quad-core system from ADK. It runs more plugins than I EVER thought possible...there is no way anything I could reasonably compose, record and mix will overtax this machine (at least not with my current line-up of instruments). I don't even freeze tracks anymore, and I used to freeze almost everything before final mixdown.
I bought the Receptor at a time when my studio computer was a Dell P4 3.2 HT that was just not nearly powerful enough for what I wanted to do, so I thought the "blade approach" would be good. Plus the added bonus of being able to use Receptor live (which I have three whole times, I only play out once or twice a year!).
So, really it's just that I don't NEED a Receptor anymore (and I found a buyer that does, is going to primarily use it live) and I thought I'd get out now while I could get a decent amount of cash for my unit.
Now, all that said, I must say that I have been pretty disappointed with the rate of advancement that Muse has produced in two years. I think the financial reality is such that they cannot grow their staff enough to make progress on OS updates and plugin receptorization fast enough to keep us here happy...and I think most of us are reasonably patient people. But I hope this changes, and I hope they keep at it, because they are some of the NICEST people I have EVER encountered in ANY field, must less the music-gear industry. Torin, Farhan, Brian, Rick, Dan... all of them. Just GREAT guys who genuinely believe in what they do, and believe in supporting their customers. This is SUCH a rare thing these days too.
On the negative side, let's face it, the hardware platform itself is looking very underpowered compared to the latest crop of dual and quad core machines. With quad-core laptops probably only a year or less away from the mainstream, I think the current Receptor hardware is going be looking increasingly underpowered and probably loose the battle to laptops for live use, unless they can manage to produce a very serious new Receptor model (perhaps with 4 cores, 64-bit OS so that more than 4GB of memory can be addressed, and multiple/larger drives for streaming samples better).
Lastly, and this is a personal failing, with something like Receptor in my studio, I simply spend WAY TOO MUCH time hacking, tweaking, etc, when I should be trying to compose and such. I'm just such a gadget and computer geek (IT professional by day) that I cannot resist. So, divesting myself of this unit was also a "self-improvement" tactic, and so far it's working...I am spending more time composing.
Anyway, I do STILL believe in this product. If folks continue to PM me with questions (like happened just yesterday) I will continue to help people out with their receptor. I have met a lot of great people here, from all over the world, and that's been a really good "community" experience. The quality of the threads here in the Receptor forum is SO FAR ABOVE the rest of KVR it's not even funny! (practially "Troll free"!)
I want to say THANK YOU to all you receptor-heads that have helped ME out and participated in our lively debates, bitch-sessions, and general geeking out over this platform.
ROCK ON!
John Hagewood
Hybernation Music
Nashville, TN USA
, 4 hard drives, TI chipsets, MOTU 828 MK II, etc. I'll start loading software this weekend on it.
