Looking to buy Receptor

[Meo]

Hiya everyone,

I'm looking at getting a receptor unit. I play in band, mostly for fun, with occasional live performance. I have grown tired of carrying my gear around (Triton xtreme 88 and novation SL) and all the wiring for my laptop and sound card.

I have to basic question:
-Does anyone regret getting the Receptor 2 instead of the PRO 2? I don't use VST extensively but I like having m-tron op-x and a few more available at my finger tip. I want to ensure the basic unit is sufficient.

-Also, I want to avoid using a mouse and a screen for gigs or live. But every video I have seen of receptor, sure enough, there's a mouse and a screen. That's too similar of using a laptop to me. Is there anyway to change patches and bank using midi command directly from the controller instead of clicking a mouse button? If yes, is this operation pretty intuitive or does it needs hours of configuration and a specific controller?

I'd appreciate any inputs you guys might have.

Best regards,
DG

[projektio]

To answer the second half of your question, I don't personally use a mouse and screen for my Receptor at gigs. You can setup all of your presets and patches ahead of time for individual songs, and save them in multi or single banks.

You can access all of the Receptor's sounds and effects from the front panel very easily, but if you use the "snapshot" option of saving banks, this will save you the trouble of having to fiddle with knobs during a gig.

If you are like me, and really only use some of the same sounds throughout an entire gig, like a piano, some pads or strings, the Receptor is very easy to use live.

As for your first question, I bought Rev C originally and then sent it back for an upgrade to a Pro Jr. Had I known that they were going to release a Receptor 2 or Pro or Max (whatever) a year later, I would have waited.

My advice is to buy the best current model of the Receptor that is available today and be happy with it for the next 2-5 years before worrying about upgrading it...

projektio

[Meo]

Thanks for your input.

Yes I'm using very similar setup as you do. I don't need 15 vst pre-loaded.
A string, a few pianos, a couple synth.

Every video I looked there's a mouse involved. I'm suprised they never covered any other ways to interact with it. Perhaps for most users it goes without saying but not for me. Being fairly new at all this that iss.

Yes I guess getting the Pro2 sounds about right, but still, it's $600 more.
More is always nice but I'm on a budget.

If I may ask, did you ever run out of juice (cpu) with your unit? Because if it always been plenty of headroom for vst, I don't see how I could possibly ever run out with the new basic unit.

Thanks again,
Cheers,
DG

[batgab]

Meo, in addition to projektio's excellent information, I think the first 2 videos on this page http://www.museresearch.com/support.php?r=videos should give you an idea of how the front panel controls (2nd video) relate to the bigger picture of the GUI (1st video). In essence, the front panel controls and the GUI are redundant, providing two ways to control the unit.

You can also download the Receptor user manual here and get a little more familiar with it: http://www.museresearch.com/updates.php

- batgab

[projektio]

If I may ask, did you ever run out of juice (cpu) with your unit? Because if it always been plenty of headroom for vst, I don't see how I could possibly ever run out with the new basic unit.

No, so far I have never encountered a problem with CPU running out of power. I have run multiple instances of Spectrasonics Atmosphere and Trilogy, along with Native Instruments Akoustik Piano. I have two M-Audio controllers I rig up to it, so having enough sounds at my finger tips is easy.

Also, if I were to run one instance of Akoustik Piano, Guitar Rig 2 and BFD, I could have three musicians playing off of one Receptor, which is pretty nuts if you think about it. Hell, I could probably even run a microphone through it for FX like reverb or whatever.

Never tried that before, but I am certain it can be done. I guess I will have to convince my wife to pick up her guitar to test that idea out one of these days...

projektio

[Meo]

Meo, in addition to projektio's excellent information, I think the first 2 videos on this page http://www.museresearch.com/support.php?r=videos should give you an idea of how the front panel controls (2nd video) relate to the bigger picture of the GUI (1st video). In essence, the front panel controls and the GUI are redundant, providing two ways to control the unit.

You can also download the Receptor user manual here and get a little more familiar with it: http://www.museresearch.com/updates.php

- batgab

Yes I've seen the vids. I must have missed the part where it showed how to optimize access during a live gig. Like I said, I'm a newbie at all this stuff. It could very well have been under my nose the whole time...


I just wanted to make sure this is THE way to go for live gig. I must say that I'm a little disapointed at the very few feedbacks though. Mostly because this is such a unique piece of equipment. I guess the receptor crowd is a quiet one.

[Meo]

If I may ask, did you ever run out of juice (cpu) with your unit? Because if it always been plenty of headroom for vst, I don't see how I could possibly ever run out with the new basic unit.

No, so far I have never encountered a problem with CPU running out of power. I have run multiple instances of Spectrasonics Atmosphere and Trilogy, along with Native Instruments Akoustik Piano. I have two M-Audio controllers I rig up to it, so having enough sounds at my finger tips is easy.

Also, if I were to run one instance of Akoustik Piano, Guitar Rig 2 and BFD, I could have three musicians playing off of one Receptor, which is pretty nuts if you think about it. Hell, I could probably even run a microphone through it for FX like reverb or whatever.

Never tried that before, but I am certain it can be done. I guess I will have to convince my wife to pick up her guitar to test that idea out one of these days...

projektio

Nice. I'm sure my singer would love this. So it does sound like the basic unit would be enough for me. At first I thought Rev B,C where software updates. But it's really hardware updates right? So how does the new base unit compares to, say, a Rev C model?

I don't do studio, aside from setting up my live gigs. If I'm unhappy with it I can always sell it back. But darn it's a pricey mofo.

[projektio]

Nice. I'm sure my singer would love this. So it does sound like the basic unit would be enough for me. At first I thought Rev B,C where software updates. But it's really hardware updates right? So how does the new base unit compares to, say, a Rev C model?

I don't do studio, aside from setting up my live gigs. If I'm unhappy with it I can always sell it back. But darn it's a pricey mofo.

Yeah, if saving a few hundred dollars or so sounds like a good idea, stick with your guns and don't blow all your hard earned money on the super-duper-fantastic version, the basic Receptor 2/Pro or whatever will do you just fine.

And yes, your assumption about "Rev C" or "Pro Jr" being hardware versions is correct. There is a software OS that is always getting tweaked and upgraded. If you buy a brand new Receptor it will come with OS 1.8, whereas my version has 1.7 for now. They are working on getting 1.8 available to all Receptor owners.

The Receptor 2 Pro is far and away a much better *cough* "computer" than the original Rev B and C models. They have much newer motherboards, CPUs, RAM and I think they will eventually support SATA hard drives (if they don't already). So the latest incarnation is quite a bit better than when I originally bought my Rev C, and is still a bit better than my upgraded Pro Jr.

Muse Research works very hard at keeping their product as relevant as possible, so I think you'd be safe buying one and knowing that there will still be support 3-5 years from now (and hopefully much, much longer). The unit is not without its quirks, but mine has always been stable.

I think the single biggest complaint (which you will see from reading threads on here) is, "Hey Muse, why don't you support X plugin?" Far be it from me to explain why they can't get 100% of what everyone wants working, but that's not the point. We should be happy with what our gear allows us to do, which is to make music. There is not a single software/hardware company out there that will cater 100% of what 100% of their users want.

So if you can accept that premise, check the lists of plugins at Plugorama, and read up on the "Unsupported Plugins" thread here at KVR for plugins that DO work, I think you will make an informed decision!

projektio

[johnrule]

-Does anyone regret getting the Receptor 2 instead of the PRO 2? I don't use VST extensively but I like having m-tron op-x and a few more available at my finger tip. I want to ensure the basic unit is sufficient.

-Also, I want to avoid using a mouse and a screen for gigs or live. But every video I have seen of receptor, sure enough, there's a mouse and a screen. That's too similar of using a laptop to me.

For the price, your best option (and infinitely more versatile, compatible) is a laptop. However, I would suggest buying a used Receptor C to experiment with. If you become enamored with it despite its limitations, you will be ready for a Receptor 2 or 2 Pro.

JR

[Meo]

For the price, your best option (and infinitely more versatile, compatible) is a laptop. However, I would suggest buying a used Receptor C to experiment with. If you become enamored with it despite its limitations, you will be ready for a Receptor 2 or 2 Pro.

JR

Hi John, thanks for your input.
May I ask what limitations you are referring to? It appears that most popular VSTs are compatible.

Besides I already have a laptop. Since its sound card is kinda low end, I ended up getting an external EMU 1616M. But most VST sounds so weak (compare to fat), it's not even funny. But it's a single core P4.

Part of my decision is base on the "fact" that the receptor is said to sound much better. I hope this is not some kind of urban legend. I'd really be upset to find out it sounds just as bad.

Feel free to comment, I really need inputs before buying such an expensive piece of equipement.

Regards,
DG

[gregh1]

Also, if I were to run one instance of Akoustik Piano, Guitar Rig 2 and BFD, I could have three musicians playing off of one Receptor, which is pretty nuts if you think about it. Hell, I could probably even run a microphone through it for FX like reverb or whatever.

This is close to what I do, but with three analog inputs (voice, guitar, bass), and different key and drum plugins. I'm using a Rev B.