V-Machine

[Tony Ostinato]

i gaurantee at least one person will take this out onstage and completely wow the audience and enjoy the convenience of not having to setup any more than he needed to.

to call it worthless might alarm me that i might be becoming entirely binary in my thinking, quantizing v-machine to either all powerful ubercomputer or worthless brick and losing all that resolution in between.


worthless to you is one thing, worthless to everyone is hard to call and again i have no doubt this will show up onstage in many bands doing things entirely enviable and maybe with some of these "crap" freebies.

[alpha60]

worthless to you is one thing, worthless to everyone is hard to call and again i have no doubt this will show up onstage in many bands doing things entirely enviable and maybe with some of these "crap" freebies.

After one week of struggling with the little V, I'm starting to get more and more convinced that I will actually use this unit onstage. I expect more work to be done on the software, because it still feels more like a beta than a final product (the promised OS X version isn't even available yet for instance). Better ease-of-use, including a more intuitive and powerful GUI, is probably the most important improvement I would like to see. The ability to pre-load several patches into memory would be great as well, and the list of requirements goes on and on. Hopefully we'll see a much richer version of the V-Machine firmware and the Windows/Mac/Linux software in a few months.

The key to success for the V-Machine is its simplicity. The buyer of this thing is most likely looking for a neat, simple, handy, nice way of bringing VSTs onstage. I believe that there are lots of people who are ready to spend more money on such a thing rather than getting a cheap laptop and an external audio interface with lots of cables and terrifying Windows popups all over the stage.

Martin

[breakbeatmonster]

Right. I'm quite fine with the V, but the try'n'error method testing a VST is annoying of cause. Right now I can't see whether a VST works well or not until I copy it via usb-stick on the V. Also the error-messages are a little bit "cryptical" Yesterday I get an error everytime I publish the V-machine setting direct to an (old) usb stick. I don't now what it was and start to delete the new plugins one by one. The reason for the error: the USB stick was TOO SMALL! My fault! But a better error message whould be:"Alex, you stupid key-pressing-nerd! Use a lager USB-Stick!"

Maybe you can't never avoid collecting information the specific PlugIn needs. I hope for a Host-Software which helps a little more and emulates the V-Machine enviroment 1:1. So I save time puting the usb-stick in, change into plug-parade, see it dosn't work and back again and again and...

But after all I belive in the further development of the V. I'll keep it.

My TOP2 next features for stage are: key-split, MIDI inc/dec (workaround was allready disscuss here)

[PX5]

VFXAU wrote:

Hi, your machine obvisouly has lost or not installed it's normal windows USB MIDI driver, it is ok, easy to solve.

Download from Windows support USB AUDIO DEVICE drivers and

1. let the computer auto detect the first device as a composite device.
2. force the detected vmachine to install the attached files as a 'usb audio device' under the heading 'generic usb devices'

Thank you for the hint, it's working now.
For the info:
- I was missing usbaudio.sys, I copied the file from another notebook to c:\windows\system32
- In c\windows\inf, I had to rename wdma_usbinf.bak and wdma_usbpnf.bak to wdma_usb.inf and wdma_usb.pnf (probably renamed through another installation)

So, I was able to update the vmachine with the latest firmware and tried to load a preset (TruePianos) from vfx application to the vmachine.
I tried to sync but now the vmachine is hanging (even after restart) with the message:

Loading: Preset 1
Please Wait...

How can I reset the vmachine?

Best regards,
Marco

[breakbeatmonster]

If you got the new Host-Software:
- Start the V-Machine in Learn-Modus (Push the two buttons)
- Choose "Format V-Machine" (or something similar) from Host Menu

[VFXAU]

VFXAU wrote:

Hi, your machine obvisouly has lost or not installed it's normal windows USB MIDI driver, it is ok, easy to solve.

Download from Windows support USB AUDIO DEVICE drivers and

1. let the computer auto detect the first device as a composite device.
2. force the detected vmachine to install the attached files as a 'usb audio device' under the heading 'generic usb devices'

Thank you for the hint, it's working now.
For the info:
- I was missing usbaudio.sys, I copied the file from another notebook to c:\windows\system32
- In c\windows\inf, I had to rename wdma_usbinf.bak and wdma_usbpnf.bak to wdma_usb.inf and wdma_usb.pnf (probably renamed through another installation)

So, I was able to update the vmachine with the latest firmware and tried to load a preset (TruePianos) from vfx application to the vmachine.
I tried to sync but now the vmachine is hanging (even after restart) with the message:

Loading: Preset 1
Please Wait...

How can I reset the vmachine?

Best regards,
Marco

Format will remove everything.. I would not do this.

Also.. It says in the FAQ, not to put anything into preset 1 in case you have an issue with the DLL, now to explain, you cannot just put any DLL and hope it will work (sadly). Truepianos especially needs an installation, you can read thru this forum and you will find plenty of info about this.


To get your V-Machine back to normal I would first change what is in preset 1 in your VFX application back to Sample Tank or another plugin which you know works and sync this preset again with the v-machine.

Otherwise, in the V-Machine's menu, delete this preset.

[Nitrofunk]

Did anybody actually got "Truepianos" to run on the V-Machine?

[PX5]

@breakbeatmons and VFXAU, thanks for the quick respons

VFXAU WROTE:

Format will remove everything.. I would not do this.

Also.. It says in the FAQ, not to put anything into preset 1 in case you have an issue with the DLL, now to explain, you cannot just put any DLL and hope it will work (sadly). Truepianos especially needs an installation, you can read thru this forum and you will find plenty of info about this.


To get your V-Machine back to normal I would first change what is in preset 1 in your VFX application back to Sample Tank or another plugin which you know works and sync this preset again with the v-machine.

Otherwise, in the V-Machine's menu, delete this preset.

Ok, I deleted the preset1, and the bank in vfx application. Then I tried to Sync. No effect, vmachine still shows the message:

Loading: Preset 1
Please Wait...

That's the problem. I cannot enter the menu on the vmachine, the buttons do'nt seem to work while the message is on the screen.

Any idea?

Best regards,
Marco

[breakbeatmonster]

this could be the problem. you CAN'T sync because the v-machine hangs before sync is possible

what about creating a USB-stick with a fixed set of preset an bangs (without ani dangerous DLLs on patch 1),
Start V-Machine in learn modus and plug the stick in when "Update..." appears on screen??? Never tryed it, just a guess...

otherwise: format it

[DustnPottyMouth]

I find it funny how you guys are all pretending like you know everything is gonna workout with this thing. After all its a great idea, but the truth sucks and that is that the v-machine is worthless. If all it can do is play these lame ass freebies and demo's it nothing but a pile of crap. I hate to say it. I wanted it to work out but its not gonna play the plug-ins I want or anything close to them and I'm not gonna sit there for 3-5 hours AGAIN programming/copying files to try and make it. This thing was made for the purpose of ease but its so difficult to use its not even worth it. I sent mine back. Thanks for the effort but at the end of the day this unit still doesn't do what I want.

It is fine to have your opinion, but to say worthless? I think that is going a little bit far... I am not here to argue with people, just to help if I can. Also I don't appreciate posting information which is not correct such as the V-Machine only playing FREEBIES AND DEMO's. I can see you are upset about the situation and the V-Machine will not be everything to everyone! but it does what it does VERY WELL>

I understand you might take it personal but I find it offensive that this product is on the mass market when you have to do all this to get it to work with a plugin especially ones you pay for! Even with a wizard file you still have to gather your DLL files and that can be just as difficult for most people. Good luck, but my sympathy isn't enough to warrant another chance for this product. Not to mention the fact that your software is responsible for erasing all my data off my desktop, and don't tell me it warned me cause there is no reason why it couldn't have pushed it to the trash instead of clean sweeping it all away never to be recovered, and even if thats irrelevant to you I will have you know I was under the impression it was creating a subfolder. You also have to take into account most people who have their daw optimized don't have the restore feature enabled. The only nice thing I have to say at all is that you guys should be commended for the idea but its a long shot off from working the way it was advertised on youtube and it also has lesser specs than the unit he was using on there as well....

[VFXAU]

@breakbeatmons and VFXAU, thanks for the quick respons

VFXAU WROTE:

Format will remove everything.. I would not do this.

Also.. It says in the FAQ, not to put anything into preset 1 in case you have an issue with the DLL, now to explain, you cannot just put any DLL and hope it will work (sadly). Truepianos especially needs an installation, you can read thru this forum and you will find plenty of info about this.


To get your V-Machine back to normal I would first change what is in preset 1 in your VFX application back to Sample Tank or another plugin which you know works and sync this preset again with the v-machine.

Otherwise, in the V-Machine's menu, delete this preset.

Ok, I deleted the preset1, and the bank in vfx application. Then I tried to Sync. No effect, vmachine still shows the message:

Loading: Preset 1
Please Wait...

That's the problem. I cannot enter the menu on the vmachine, the buttons do'nt seem to work while the message is on the screen.

Any idea?

Best regards,
Marco

Start V-Machine in Learn Mode, then start the VFX application
From the VFX Application you can Format the V-Machine if you want.

Then you can save to V-Machine in the VFX application the complete PLUGS and BANKS (to a USB stick) and then you can copy the banks back into the V-Machine as you wish.

One thing to note, please make sure your Sample Tank Directory is "IK SAMPLETANK 2 SE" so rename is if it is not, please follow the FAQ to add teh TXT reference file to the stick as well so you can load sample tank and it's registrations back into the machine.

[AzureCrystal]

I find it funny how you guys are all pretending like you know everything is gonna workout with this thing. After all its a great idea, but the truth sucks and that is that the v-machine is worthless.

Others can tell you that similar products have had to go through this same growing pain, the only fault one could find here is perhaps the V-Machine may have launched before it secured support for major plugins, but then again, there are hundreds of different products and it's up to them to help the vmachine guys out !!

The product filled a great void, I had been wishing for someone to come out with something like this at this price point for years, that they are "almost" there is incredible to me. I don't think anyone at Sm-Pro is suggesting that we should all go into our registries and write these elaborate VFX files, it's more of; "We want to offer this now, and until we get support for all(a big number) plugins, here are workarounds you can try". Yes, when I first got it and read some of the steps needed to install a complex plugin I almost sent mine back, but I took a deep breath and decided I would wait for plugin support and firmware updates that surely will come in time.

Maybe you already know this, but the V-Machine is a COMPLETE mini computer in there running with a full operating system(Linux I assume) and emulating windows to run these plugins, that is uber-cool in my geeky book ! The only other machine this size that advanced that I know of, we use in my company to build firewalled routers and those don't have half the logic, power, and features this little box has, I'm keeping mine cause I just love the idea, and I am willing to wait for them to work the kinks out, based on the prompt support and good sportsmanship they have displayed here, on this very busy board, and also via email tech support(I once had an issue with some bundled software and they replied immediately and solved my issue), I know that they must be earnestly working on these issues and will have a lot more plugin support coming. Bottom line, if a commercial plugin company does not wish to offer their support to make their product install on V-Machine, I can't fault Sm-Pro, they are bound to run into some roadblocks, but others have been there before and worked it out !!

[VFXAU]

I understand you might take it personal but I find it offensive that this product is on the mass market when you have to do all this to get it to work with a plugin especially ones you pay for! Even with a wizard file you still have to gather your DLL files and that can be just as difficult for most people. Good luck, but my sympathy isn't enough to warrant another chance for this product. Not to mention the fact that your software is responsible for erasing all my data off my desktop, and don't tell me it warned me cause there is no reason why it couldn't have pushed it to the trash instead of clean sweeping it all away never to be recovered, and even if thats irrelevant to you I will have you know I was under the impression it was creating a subfolder. You also have to take into account most people who have their daw optimized don't have the restore feature enabled. The only nice thing I have to say at all is that you guys should be commended for the idea but its a long shot off from working the way it was advertised on youtube and it also has lesser specs than the unit he was using on there as well....

I take your point, and I am sorry it caused you some problems, We see is as a tool and many customers are using it for what it is, I am an optimist and I hope one day we can get you back... (don't answer yet )

[AzureCrystal]

Hi Danny;
Thanks in advance for any help or insight, I do have a question for you or anyone who knows the answer, I'm a little confused about the use of the VFX Info file;

What I understand is that the VFX software reads that file to know what files and directories to copy over to the /documents and settings/user... etc.../vxf directory, and what registry settings are needed. Does the actual V-Machine read and require that file ? If the files are in the right place they were in the plugins original directory before importing, would it work ??

For instance, I did a simple import of a demo plugin that does have a number of subdirectories with wave files in them, copied the subdirs into the plugs subdirectory that VFX created unto my usb stick, the V-Machine found the plugin and it played with no issues, and I know it had to have found the subdirectories becuse this particular plugin uses those samples to make sounds... I did not edit the VFX info file so I know those directories were not listed in there, therefore my question, I am a little confused as to what exactly gets read by the hardware, and if it reads that file at all ??

Any insight will be greatly appreciated, I am writing software to automate the building of a VFX Info file and more info on this file will help !!

[breakbeatmonster]

I think: Every VST is different!

If the developer of the VST did a line of code like "look in the directorie you are right now and find the sub-directories x,y,z. If you can find nothing, look in the registry-key abc for an absolute link...if you still can't find the subdirs we need, throw an error-message" something like that.
So, if the VST is happy with copying all files in the same directory,...fine. Others aren't.