Muse Research needs a Conscience...

[keyboardgenius]

This is a venting from a recent user who purchased a Receptor and was enamored by its possibilities from Muse's website. I watched every single video on Muse's website and spoke with numerous tech. guys there and one of the "higher-ups" before purchasing.

I am a serious VSTi user and was assured from Muse BACK IN NOVEMBER that they would be coming out with Direct Install Technology sometime around NAMM {January} which would allow ANY AND ALL VST PLUG-IN to be used on the Receptor.

When I actually bought my Receptor in the Spring, I was ASSURED that Direct Install would BE COMING OUT ANY DAY NOW. In fact, I was told that I shouldn't send my Receptor in to Muse Research for Komplete 5 Installation {meaning that I was willing to pay an ADDITIONAL $200 for this shipping & installation} because, once again, the release of Direct Install would be occurring within 2 Weeks.

Now, after 3 MORE MONTHS of waiting, and a letter of False Assurance from Muse to all Receptor Owners more than 2 Weeks Ago stating that Direct Install would be coming out in 1 or 2 Weeks and would ONLY BE FOCUSED ON NATIVE INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS. What happened to ANY AND ALL VST-PLUG-INS?

But beyond my frustration with Direct Install, the company is deceptive in keeping outdated videos showing supposedly-straightforward, outdated installation methods on its website {especially with the NI Service Center}. $2000 is a lot of money for most of us and we shouldn't have to put up searching through arcane forums and going through complex & convoluted installation methods to figure out how to use our favorite plugins.

Also, when I had spoken with the "higher-up" before purchasing, he left the clear impression that basically any plugin could be installed on the Receptor if I sent the unit to Muse Research. In actuality, as it later turned out, even they could only install "supported" plugins.

I would strongly encourage Muse to Develop a Conscience and Stop Lying to its Loyal Users. They should remove outdated, deceptive videos from its website, get their act together with Direct Install for ALL VST's, and develop a policy of Honesty & Straightforwardness that is commensurate with the fundamental quality of its product.

[Curois]

And this is one of the reasons I sold my receptor last week. I'm gonna buy me a nice Asus laptop which will - in combination with my motu soundcard - do everything the receptor does, and more, faster, better and even more reliably. Over the 2 years or so I had the receptor the alleged pro's started to be outweighed by far by the cons.

[richwhite9]

FWIW one of the beta testers on the Yahoo thread has a lot to say about Direct Install. He's impressed.

We'll see how it goes this month.

[gizmostatic]

FWIW one of the beta testers on the Yahoo thread has a lot to say about Direct Install. He's impressed.

We'll see how it goes this month.

Are you talking about the Muse Receptor group?

I'm part of that and the only thing I've read someone say about it is that it's 'really cool' but can't divulge any info about it.

What have you read?

[Hybernation]

To the original poster: as a former Receptor owner I have felt the exact same type of frustration you have. But where I strongly disagree with your post is that you imply there is some level of premeditated deception and highly unethical behavior on the part of Muse Research.

I believe that Muse is a small company (this is a fact actually) with very BIG ambitions (this is self-evident) and that the realities of the economy and software development cycles (which I know something about) drive the results that so frustrate you and many (perhaps most) of the customer base.

Ultimately Receptor IS what it IS: A slick and sturdy little Linux device that fills a niche market. Will is become better? Yes, but not on your or my or anyone else's time-table. These things just take time. Give the Muse folks the benefit of the doubt, as I'm sure that is how you would like to be treated.

Thanks for listening to this troll

[keyboardgenius]

Now after Direct Install beta has been issued, it is once again, far short of what is what supposed to be. Although the user-interface is slick, the program only supports NI Komplete and other NI programs, nothing else. What happened to the "Any and All Plugins" promised at NAMM?

Again, the point of my original post was to encourage Muse to get its act to together. It's much better to have solid product, an up-to-date website, and truthful, honest marketing versus the deceptions Muse has been feeding many of us. For a $200 piece of software, the developer can be off-the-mark in my opinion with its release dates and have a 2nd-rate website. For a $2000 piece of serious hardware, the developer should really have its act together.

Ambitiousness is good, but not lies.

[blackboyrockinit]

Now after Direct Install beta has been issued, it is once again, far short of what is what supposed to be. Although the user-interface is slick, the program only supports NI Komplete and other NI programs, nothing else. What happened to the "Any and All Plugins" promised at NAMM?

Again, the point of my original post was to encourage Muse to get its act to together. It's much better to have solid product, an up-to-date website, and truthful, honest marketing versus the deceptions Muse has been feeding many of us. For a $200 piece of software, the developer can be off-the-mark in my opinion with its release dates and have a 2nd-rate website. For a $2000 piece of serious hardware, the developer should really have its act together.

Ambitiousness is good, but not lies.

Why not go visit their office and speak with them person to person, or give them a phone call. Take positive steps and speak with someone about your feelings because your anonymous public post on the internet sounds kind of negative, i mean no offesne by saying so, but i'm sure by talking with them in person or at least over a phone you will have a better understanding and not feel so left in the dark.

[projektio]

I am no "fanboy" of Muse, so before you flame me, consider my first hand experiences with dealing with their staff.

While I am as irritated as most of you for the SLOW release of the "mainstream" VST plugs to become available on the Receptor, I am VERY impressed with dealing direct with Muse.

Every single time I have had a tech support question, an upgrade or even wanted to see where things were at with them on a specific VST release date, I always had a friendly and courteous phone call or email with their people, and felt a lot better about the state of their projects, and happy with my decision to keep a Receptor in my arsenal.

I am very much looking forward to Direct Install to see if this will finally ease a lot of my own VST woes, and I have no doubt that Muse is working very hard to get this released as soon as possible.

People need to cut the guys and gals at Muse some much needed slack, and stop making lame, whiny, sniveling posts about delays which are frankly bound to happen on a product of this nature.

Yes, each of us spent $1,500+ on a Receptor, and I am sure we all bought it for different, albeit, important reasons, but you can't tell me that some type of delay is preventing you from doing the most important thing you can, which is BEING CREATIVE.

This piece of hardware can't possibly be preventing you from accomplishing what you want in your studio while you wait, and I doubt that any serious musician/composer/producer would be stopped from making a #1 hit single, an Oscar nominated soundtrack or some good original songs to take gigging on the road this summer, without having <insert VST here> installed last week...

projektio

[c3boy]

I am no "fanboy" of Muse, so before you flame me, consider my first hand experiences with dealing with their staff.

While I am as irritated as most of you for the SLOW release of the "mainstream" VST plugs to become available on the Receptor, I am VERY impressed with dealing direct with Muse.

Every single time I have had a tech support question, an upgrade or even wanted to see where things were at with them on a specific VST release date, I always had a friendly and courteous phone call or email with their people, and felt a lot better about the state of their projects, and happy with my decision to keep a Receptor in my arsenal.

I am very much looking forward to Direct Install to see if this will finally ease a lot of my own VST woes, and I have no doubt that Muse is working very hard to get this released as soon as possible.

People need to cut the guys and gals at Muse some much needed slack, and stop making lame, whiny, sniveling posts about delays which are frankly bound to happen on a product of this nature.

Yes, each of us spent $1,500+ on a Receptor, and I am sure we all bought it for different, albeit, important reasons, but you can't tell me that some type of delay is preventing you from doing the most important thing you can, which is BEING CREATIVE.

This piece of hardware can't possibly be preventing you from accomplishing what you want in your studio while you wait, and I doubt that any serious musician/composer/producer would be stopped from making a #1 hit single, an Oscar nominated soundtrack or some good original songs to take gigging on the road this summer, without having <insert VST here> installed last week...

projektio

+1

[Hybernation]

This piece of hardware can't possibly be preventing you from accomplishing what you want in your studio while you wait, and I doubt that any serious musician/composer/producer would be stopped from making a #1 hit single, an Oscar nominated soundtrack or some good original songs to take gigging on the road this summer, without having <insert VST here> installed last week...
projektio

++1

this is just SO incredibly true, and so easy to lose sight of

[markmorgan]

-1,000,000

Lets get one thing straight. When people pay they're hard earned cash for something they are entitled to vent their frustration when so many of these promises come to nothing.
Its all to easy to start a response 'now im an ordinary customer, just like you..but....' and then frankly spend a few paragraphs stating how wonderful Muse are. I've had both good and poor support via Plugorama so I'd be happier taking a more balanced view of them. Im also intrigued by your assertion that all products such as this are bound to suffer such serious delays. Don't mind me asking exactly what experience you have in this field...
Even more insulting is your attempt to make this guy feel small for saying something. Where's YOUR Oscar winning soundtrack, did I miss YOUR number one ?? Your whole 'creativity works regardless' argument borders on nonsensical as well. If that were the case, then we wouldn't need receptors in the first place. They are TOOLS to get a job done.
So next time you decide to cower behind a post that starts 'please don't flame little old me..then rant on about people being 'lame' and 'whiny' (and of course they can't flame you back can they?) maybe YOU should realize that these people are in the same position as you are and they've spent their money just like you spent yours.

Mark

[jcschild]

Maybe you Muse owners/former owners can answer a question

why would you buy the muse as apposed to buying/building a VSTi box (computer)?

for 2k you could have the system and Komplete. and not be limited to what Muse sells supports...

scott
ADK

[amyjer]

As a Receptor owner, here are my observations. My initial decision to buy a Receptor was very simple: I wanted to run Ivory live without dragging along an external hard drive and audio interface and praying when I held down the sustain pedal for more than one second. Here are my other observations:

(1) Receptor is more stable than a standard computer for live use in my experience. Is it more stable than a non-hard drive based hardwired keyboard? No. But the ability to use Ivory, Pianoteq, B4, Guitar Rig and other softsynths more than offsets the stability issue for me. I can attest to the fact it reboots quickly and certainly more quickly than my laptop.

(2) Before my recent purchase of a new DAW system, Receptor extended the useful life of my Windows based laptop for recording. I was able to offload Ivory, BFD and other resource intensive applications to the Receptor through Uniwire and save very valuable CPU cycles on my outdated laptop.

(3) The support offered by Muse is outstanding. They have been incredibly responsive both by email and phone.

Thanks.

Jeremy


www.apothecaryband.com

[Hybernation]

Maybe you Muse owners/former owners can answer a question

why would you buy the muse as apposed to buying/building a VSTi box (computer)?

for 2k you could have the system and Komplete. and not be limited to what Muse sells supports...

scott
ADK

Scott,

That is an increasingly valid question! I can only speak for myself, of course, but back when I bought my receptor (Nov of 2005) the main attraction for me was:
1) using it as a supplementary "blade" for my main DAW computer at the time (an again P4 3.2 HT)
2) the promise of using it "live" without having to have a monitor/keyboard (Which was really the high-point of my ownership experience, though it required an awful lot of work before each gig)

And at the time the Receptor hardware specs were not that far off in dollars for a similarly equipped rack-mount PC and soundcard.

When I bought my quad-core system (from you) last fall, it became obvious to me just how under-powered the current Receptor hardware has become though. I detailed my thoughts on this when I sold it in this thread.

Some of the promise is still there I believe. Remember that the Receptor contains a very good soundcard with Analog and SPDIF in/out AND an ADAT out (adding 4 stereo outs, separately addressable). It's footprint is smaller than the rackmount PC's I have seen. And also, it can be used live with no monitor/keyboard if one is willing to spend the time/effort setting up multi's/snapshot banks. As noted in some recent threads (and many times in the past) loading times on sample-based plugins like Kontakt, Acoustik Piano, etc is definitely as issue (and would be for a normal computer as well, though my new systems loads them quite quickly compared to the Receptor - still not fast enough for the "wedding band" dude though ).

The fact that it's Linux-based is both a strength and a major weakness. The strengh being, when a plug-in "crashes" receptor is only crashes the VST "Shell" Muse provides (based on Wine I believe). So recovery is very very fast (not a reboot at all). When a plugin crashes a PC-based system, you often have to completely reboot (at least that has been my experience with three different ASIO aound cards) to get back to normal.

The major weakness of Linux is of course that not all Windows VST's will run under this "shell". Many will run only if you hack the Receptor to death (which I rather enjoyed doing ), gaining root access and running things installers directly under Wine via SSH, manually doing registry entries, changing permissions, etc. So much for the promise of "plug and play" huh?

All that said, I think ADK is well positioned to offer a bundle "rack-mount PC" with something like Komplete5 or Ivory or BDF2 pre-installed (and perhaps a live hosting environment like this one or this one. I'm surprised more vendors are not doing this yet. There is almost nothing that I'm aware of that is Windows-based that is competing with Open Labs (and they ironically don't make a "rack" version without a keyboard). I think Apple saw this obviously opening and hence the "Mainstage" application they have. Once the MacBook's go quad-core (probably this year!) I believe this may become with platform to beat for live usage of virtual instruments.

Sorry for the rambling answer.

John Hagewood

ps. my ADK system totally rocks! I even gave you a little free advertising on my blog post back in November. Ha Ha, as if anyone actually reads my blog (other than my wife and my mother )

[supersor]

Maybe you Muse owners/former owners can answer a question

why would you buy the muse as apposed to buying/building a VSTi box (computer)?

for 2k you could have the system and Komplete. and not be limited to what Muse sells supports...

scott
ADK

Is there any way to build a vsti computer that bypasses windows? In my case I needed a live vst running machine... Needless to say that booting into windows and mickey mousing around to get to my soft is not an option in a live situation, especially if you consider the stability of such a system. Still, lately I'm begining to wonder if Muse could have just stripped down windows and saved all the headaches... mind you I'm no software pro... I just know that I need (and paid for) a stable vst machine. A vst machine should play vst's... kinda makes sense to me... not ONLY specific vst's or only NI stuff etc. But anyway I do hope Muse comes through... just throwing my 2 cents in here...