Available soon: Tone2 ElectraX

[pdxindy]

I don't think ElectraX will replace Gladiator, they are both two great tools and different products. BTW has been a long time I was waiting for something to program complex patches like I used to do in XPhraze. I think that if Vangelis had something like ElectraX two instances had been enough to score the Blade Runner main titles (not kidding)

Are there separate outs for each layer?

[MaxSynths]

Are there separate outs for each layer?

No, but I think it would be a cool feature

[AdmiralQuality]

Comment: I also own a license for Poly-Ana; the problem (for me, anyway) is one of clarity...Poly-Ana would have a *GREAT* front panel if it existed as hardware 'in the real world', but not as a virtual.

Poly-Ana sounds really good, though.

-goldenanalog

Thanks golden. Keep in mind that real world synths don't have a tooltip magically appear floating over the control when you hold your finger above it, not only showing you the name of the control but its exact current value as well.

I have no problem with the perspective knobs on this one, though all the colors, glare and glow throw me off a bit. But still, I'd never reject a virtual instrument or effect based on how it looked.

I sometimes think people reject Poly-Ana without even trying it. I use this interface too, and it's JUST how I like it. Of course tastes vary, but again, I don't really care how anyone's plug-in looks, rather, how the interface feels to use. How the controls behave is far more important to me than what they look like. For example, I'll reject a plug-in because it forces me to use linear knob mode (as with every SE plug-in). I know other people who hate circular mode. Best to offer both (and relative circular too!) Knob detents that automatically snap the knobs to the "sweet spots" are another trick I use to make editing nice and zippy and only requiring one hand (so your other can be on the music keyboard, where it belongs).

[1-2-Many]

... BTW has been a long time I was waiting for something to program complex patches like I used to do in XPhraze. ...

Care to share?

[goldenanalog]

Thanks golden. Keep in mind that real world synths don't have a tooltip magically appear floating over the control when you hold your finger above it, not only showing you the name of the control but its exact current value as well.

I have no problem with the perspective knobs on this one, though all the colors, glare and glow throw me off a bit. But still, I'd never reject a virtual instrument or effect based on how it looked.

I sometimes think people reject Poly-Ana without even trying it. I use this interface too, and it's JUST how I like it. Of course tastes vary, but again, I don't really care how anyone's plug-in looks, rather, how the interface feels to use. How the controls behave is far more important to me than what they look like. For example, I'll reject a plug-in because it forces me to use linear knob mode (as with every SE plug-in). I know other people who hate circular mode. Best to offer both (and relative circular too!) Knob detents that automatically snap the knobs to the "sweet spots" are another trick I use to make editing nice and zippy and only requiring one hand (so your other can be on the music keyboard, where it belongs).

You are a synth god, AQ!

Specifically, in terms of clarity: My eyes are old (I'm 50+), so the labelled circular controls on Poly-Ana are a little hard for me to read, so they're somewhat of a problem (for me, anyway) when I'm trying to work fast.

But to reiterate: If Poly-Ana existed 'in the real world' as hardware, IMO, it would be a museum piece. Poly-Ana's visual presentation is beautiful; it's just a little hard for me to work with under certain conditions, that's all.

BTW: I want to purchase a 2nd license of Poly-Ana for my laptop; can you cut me a deal? (You're welcome to PM me!)

That's how much I personally like Poly-Ana, AQ!

Back to ElectraX's interface:

While I understand the criticisms made about the UI; for me: I don't know if any of ElectraX's lighting/shadowing/user perspective/control layout 'personality' is going to affect workflow.....I won't know that until I actually start working directly with it, in the context of production.

But my initial reaction to the UI is one of deep appreciation for the amount of effort that has gone into (if nothing else) delineating ElectraX from the pack. The UI is indeed, gorgeous.

Anyway: It feels like there's a real work ethic that's behind the developement of ElectraX, and my guess is that the ethic will probably be there for a while; so tell y'all what: After I've actually used it in real-world production, I'll get back to you guys and let you know if there are any genuine hinderances to workflow.

I serious doubt that I'll find any, but who knows? It's possible.

-goldenanalog

[AdmiralQuality]

You are a synth god, AQ!

Aw shucks, thanks!

Specifically, in terms of clarity: My eyes are old (I'm 50+), so the labelled circular controls on Poly-Ana are a little hard for me to read, so they're somewhat of a problem (for me, anyway) when I'm trying to work fast.

I'm 42 and my vision is starting to go too. I was fixing circuit boards on a friend's digital piano yesterday and couldn't believe how I've lost my ability to see up close -- I need bifocals now! Fortunately, I still see fairly well at average screen distance. A nice big, sharp flatscreen LCD monitor also helps. I was trying to use my friend's machine yesterday that has an old glass monitor and I had a headache within 5 minutes.

BTW: I want to purchase a 2nd license of Poly-Ana for my laptop; can you cut me a deal? (You're welcome to PM me!)

As long as you only plan to use Poly-Ana on one machine at the same time, I'm happy to provide you with a key for your second machine, free of charge. Just email me with your 2nd machine's Poly-Ana serial number and I'll set you up. sales@admiralquality.com

But my initial reaction to the UI is one of deep appreciation for the amount of effort that has gone into delineating ElectraX from the pack. The UI is indeed, gorgeous.

I like it too, but yes, until it's released it's hard to say exactly how workflow will feel. I had considered doing knobs in multiple perspective too, so I admire what they've done here. (Although after much bashing, I'll be throwing all perspective away when I get around to Poly-Ana 2.x. I've never heard anybody complain about LACK of perspective in an interface design, so I've learned my lesson and I figure now that's the way to go. )

[jens]

I'll be throwing all perspective away when I get around to Poly-Ana 2.x. I've never heard anybody complain about LACK of perspective in an interface design, so I've learned my lesson and I figure now that's the way to go.

Yes, it surely is - don't go away too far from the hardware paradigm though or else it'll be loathed about as much as your current GUI... e.g. I'm sure Kubik would sell much much better if its GUI (which personally I find great) would be more conventional.

[AdmiralQuality]

I'll be throwing all perspective away when I get around to Poly-Ana 2.x. I've never heard anybody complain about LACK of perspective in an interface design, so I've learned my lesson and I figure now that's the way to go.

Yes, it surely is - don't go away too far from the hardware paradigm though or else it'll be loathed about as much as your current GUI... e.g. I'm sure Kubik would sell much much better if its GUI (which personally I find great) would be more conventional.

Well, Poly-Ana's GUI is VERY polarizing. People seem to either love it or hate it. Unfortunately, most of the praise comes to me in email, and most of the loathing happens here in public, so it can seem a lot more universally reviled than it really is.

Whatever I do, I will certainly be keeping the hardware paradigm. It's important to me that the look of the product evoke a sense of the kinds of sounds I designed it to create. I set out to make the ultimate imaginary dream-synth from 1977, so the "made in someone's garage" look was quite intentional. 2.x might have some more "industrial design", but it'll still look like something that would be possible to achieve with hardware from the classic period.

[rob_lee]

I'll be throwing all perspective away when I get around to Poly-Ana 2.x. I've never heard anybody complain about LACK of perspective in an interface design, so I've learned my lesson and I figure now that's the way to go.

Yes, it surely is - don't go away too far from the hardware paradigm though or else it'll be loathed about as much as your current GUI... e.g. I'm sure Kubik would sell much much better if its GUI (which personally I find great) would be more conventional.

Well, Poly-Ana's GUI is VERY polarizing. People seem to either love it or hate it. Unfortunately, most of the praise comes to me in email, and most of the loathing happens here in public, so it can seem a lot more universally reviled than it really is.

Whatever I do, I will certainly be keeping the hardware paradigm. It's important to me that the look of the product evoke a sense of the kinds of sounds I designed it to create. I set out to make the ultimate imaginary dream-synth from 1977, so the "made in someone's garage" look was quite intentional. 2.x might have some more "industrial design", but it'll still look like something that would be possible to achieve with hardware from the classic period.

Sorry to go off topic but i never seen this Poly-Ana before till now..
Now that's a proper synth..

Rob

[ATS]

WTF I thought this thread was for ElectraX

[AdmiralQuality]

Sorry to go off topic but i never seen this Poly-Ana before till now..
Now that's a proper synth..

Rob

Thank you Rob!

And yes ATS, I didn't mean to hijack this thread, it's just that the debate about the look, and particularly the use of perspective, is all too familiar territory for me. And I'm not just a developer, I buy stuff too, and I wanted to chime in with my vote. Admiral likes!

[cain]

oh rob polyana is a great synth surpised you had never tried it now back to topic looking forward to demo when tone2 releases it

[goldenanalog]

I'm 42 and my vision is starting to go too. I was fixing circuit boards on a friend's digital piano yesterday and couldn't believe how I've lost my ability to see up close -- I need bifocals now! Fortunately, I still see fairly well at average screen distance. A nice big, sharp flatscreen LCD monitor also helps. I was trying to use my friend's machine yesterday that has an old glass monitor and I had a headache within 5 minutes.

LOL! Trust me: It doesn't get any better with age!

My primary music computer is a Thermaltake Lanbox comp w/a retractable 9" touchscreen monitor (very 'James Bond' like)...it's great for bringing 'true' desktop horsepower into live situations, but it's screen is simply too small for lengthy viewing.

I knew that when I built it; what I didn't count on, though, were the headaches associated with looking at the screen for too long!

Here's a link to what I'm talking about; mine's in silver:

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Products.aspx?C=1320

Of course: I hook it up to a full-size monitor for any 'real' editing.

I like it too, but yes, until it's released it's hard to say exactly how workflow will feel. I had considered doing knobs in multiple perspective too, so I admire what they've done here. (Although after much bashing, I'll be throwing all perspective away when I get around to Poly-Ana 2.x. I've never heard anybody complain about LACK of perspective in an interface design, so I've learned my lesson and I figure now that's the way to go. )

The sound of Poly-Ana is top-drawer, AQ. And I would argue that it 'sounds like it looks', if that makes any sense.

You know, AQ: What developers such as yourself (and Tone 2) are wrestling with is this very interesting and engaging question:

How do you virtualise hardware?

It's a question with so many facets, that it literally shines like a diamond.

The direction (temptation?) on the part of ASW developers seems to be to create incredibly accurate on-screen images of the hardware that they're trying to virtualise; to create a pseudo 'emulation of the actual experience' of using the hardware of sorts...I think that some of the work that has been done to date is literally fantastic.....truly.....but I work differently when producing on a computer as opposed to say: on my Korg M3.

Some of the differences I can articulate, and some I can't.

Further, In the realm of the computer: I'm completely dependent on developers such as yourself to provide me with logical tools that present me with best choices, as well as limiting work flow obstacles (when possible).

And: I only 'know' about audio software from what you guys sell me. It's a Paradox.

There are times when I might be semi-critical of this or that ASW for one reason or another; but what I'm always respectful of is the enormous amout of work that's behind (and often-times in front of) a Poly-Ana or an ElectraX; I couldn't do it for a variety of reasons....

-goldenanalog

[pdxindy]

Are there separate outs for each layer?

No, but I think it would be a cool feature

It seems like an essential feature if you are gonna talk about having a lead and a bass sound playing and a kick as well all in one instance... Aren't most users gonna want to be able to output them to separate tracks?

[MaxSynths]

Are there separate outs for each layer?

No, but I think it would be a cool feature

It seems like an essential feature if you are gonna talk about having a lead and a bass sound playing and a kick as well all in one instance... Aren't most users gonna want to be able to output them to separate tracks?

Yes but I'm not the boss... BTW I've suggested this to Markus because I think it's a good feature. In the meantime freezing to different tracks it's a good option too.