ElectraX: why aren't more people raving about it?

[billcarroll]

vst cat wars are silly and pointless. all vst synths have their own unique character and negative/positive points. even OnePingOnly can sound impressive
in the hands of a skilled sound designer.

The intent of the thread was to spread some love for ElectraX.

Instead of some war we could focus on ElectraX ...

Maybe share usage tips and patches. Links to great commercial banks, etc.

[IrionDaRonin]

Where's the love for the newer sounding synths like ElectraX?

I love the sound from Electrax too, the gui, the features. It sounds very different to other synths, Tone 2 guys are always creating new type of synthesis, new ways to tweak the sound in a easy way with fantastic results, and this is very important to me.
But i'm not using Electrax much due the huge RAM usage.

I'm also in FL Studio, that is just 2 gygabites of RAM, which means that i can only use 8 instances of Electrax as maximum.
I'm still in love with Gladiator and its little brother Firebird+, huge and powerful sound source and easy to use, which i don't have this RAM "issue".

Have a nice day

hi IrionDaRonin,

sure you know that there's finally a x64 beta out but anyway, you can increase the working memory of FL Studio x86 to 3GB or even (if you run Win7 x64 OS) 4GB!

here's the instructions, its very simple:

Code: Select all

There is an 'FL (extended memory).exe' file in the FL Studio installation directory. Using this to start FL Studio after making the following changes to your Windows operating system will give FL Studio access to 3 GB or 4 GB (up from 2 GB) depending on your OS:

    Windows 7 & Vista - 64 Bit: FL Studio will automatically have access to 4 GB of RAM when the '..\Program Files (x86)\Image-Line\FL Studio\FL (extended memory).exe' is used to start FL Studio.
            1. Make a Windows Desktop shortcut to the extended memory FL Studio executable '..\Program Files (x86)\Image-Line\FL Studio\FL (extended memory).exe' and use that to start FL Studio in future. 
    Windows 7 & Vista - 32 Bit - Use the 3 GB switch to access 3 GB of RAM.
        Enable the 3 GB switch:
            1. From Windows Start browse to Programs > Accessories and Right-click the Command Prompt file. Click 'Run as Administrator'.
            2. In the Command prompt window, type bcdedit /set IncreaseUserVa 3072 and press enter on your keyboard. Allow the change to be made when security windows appear.
            3. Restart the computer.
            4. Make a Windows Desktop shortcut to the extended memory FL Studio executable '..\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio\FL (extended memory).exe' and use that to start FL Studio in future. 
        Disable the 3 GB switch:
            1. From Windows Start browse to Programs > Accessories and Right-click the Command Prompt file. Click 'Run as Administrator'.
            2. In the Command prompt window, enter bcdedit /deletevalue IncreaseUserVa and press enter on your keyboard. Allow the change to be made when security windows appear.
            3. Restart the computer.
            4. Remember to use the original FL Studio executable '..\Program Files\Image-Line\FL Studio\FL.exe' in future. 

best regards

Many thanks.
But i have tried all that already. The problem with 64 bits Windows is that i can't use my old soundcard, compatibility with drivers, etc.
And also, for some reason (maybe the fact that i'm unable to use the Soundcard) the CPU usage is insane in 64 bits Windows.
That's why i have to stick with Windows XP 32 bits to use my old soundcard, no problems with CPU or RAM.

EDITED: Oh, i will try the 32 bits version, let's see if i can do something with 3 gigabytes at least. Thanks!

Have a nice day, dude

[Sequent]

The intent of the thread was to spread some love for ElectraX.

Instead of some war we could focus on ElectraX ...

Maybe share usage tips and patches. Links to great commercial banks, etc.

Good point... and I already mentioned two sources for some fantastic third party banks. Here they are again, this time with links:


1)ElektraX from Patchpool

http://www.patchpool.de/electraX.html


2) Atmosphera, Electronix, and Percussion Elements from MaxSynths

http://www.maxsynths.com/


Best by far, imo, is when you roll your own!!! But Simon (aka Patchpool) is a sound design genius and you can't go wrong with any of his sounds! Massimo is also brilliant and his patches are scattered throughout the various banks available at Tone2. With Atmosphera, Electronix, and Percussion Elements it's all Massimo!

I'm a fairly new user so I can't think of any usage tips off the top of my head except to maybe turn off the reverb and spatial processing bits, especially if you're using a lot of your own reverb. Sometimes it sounds okay but other times it tends to be too much... especially if you don't want that fine polished kind of sheen but are looking for more grit. I hope that makes sense.

[djanthonyw]

I was intrigued by ElectraX as an alternative to Z3ta until Z3ta was finally released for Mac.

[billcarroll]

I was intrigued by ElectraX as an alternative to Z3ta until Z3ta was finally released for Mac.

Yeah, I'm really fond of z3ta +2, especially for that big supersaw trance sound. I can't say it covers the ground that ElectraX does, but it is an awesome synth.

[himalaya]

I just don't quite get their product offering. Seems like too much overlap between products.

Looking at Gladiator, ElectraX, Saurus and RayBlaster I don't see any overlap. Each is very different. Firebird is the only one which can be described as similar to Gladiator, being the original Tone2 release, a kind of proof of concept for the big brother - Gladiator - which came out later. But otherwise, each Tone2 synth offers something new and fresh.

Anyway, I wanted to add my voice to those liking ElectraX. A superb power synth.
I even like the UI.

[Examigan]

I just don't quite get their product offering. Seems like too much overlap between products.

Anyway, I wanted to add my voice to those liking ElectraX. A superb power synth.
I even like the UI.

I really like the UI, looks good to me and works well too

[Examigan]

Where's the love for the newer sounding synths like ElectraX?

But i'm not using Electrax much due the huge RAM usage.

I'm also in FL Studio, that is just 2 gygabites of RAM, which means that i can only use 8 instances of Electrax as maximum.
)

Yes but 8 instances of Electrax is actually like having (up to)
32 synths at once, so that's actually great

[Teksonik]

The nasty reputation they got due to the phone-home of the ware version has garnered them all this flak

Just to set the record straight the registered version of Warmverb I own still phones home. Trust me when I say that I've never ever used warez....never will.....

Here's a screenshot from when I just loaded Warmverb in Orion (for the first time in a very long time)



I don't want to rain on Bill's thread but I just wanted to set the record straight........

[fluffy_little_something]

Well, my problem was that when you first ran Gladiator or Warmverb (at least v 1.0), it checks is there is any internet connection avaliable. If not, it doesn't do nothing and it runs as expected. If it's avaliable then it does some call to home, but if your internet connection is unstable or very slow it delays a bit. Then, with a big delay, the thread stops, and if it stops the ASIO buffer detects a problem and it crashes, so your host crashes too.

Firebird was clean, it hasn't this antipiracy protection (useless, btw). But Gladiator and Warmverb, 3 years ago, had this problems. I had few debates with Tone2 staff about this, and the best thing they suggested was "turn off your internet connection while you do music". Then I decided sell all from Tone2.

If this has changed in this year, then I could consider purchasing again some Tone2 plugins.

Gee, a company that treats customers like that should be boycotted into bankruptcy

I also read somewhere that Tone2 uses watermarks in the sound created with their synths. I have no idea how that works, but the idea of having something in the music that does not belong there is not what would make me spend 100 bucks or more.

I had their demos on my computer some time ago, but there were always things I did not like about every one of their synths, things that kept me from buying. Back then I did not even know about the watermark and calling home thingy, yet...

I do think Tone2 has a typical sound, polished and slick, but at the same time a bit shallow and bland in the long run. Similar to Dune somehow. At least the makers of Dune are a nicer company from what I can tell.

[billcarroll]

Well, my problem was that when you first ran Gladiator or Warmverb (at least v 1.0), it checks is there is any internet connection avaliable. If not, it doesn't do nothing and it runs as expected. If it's avaliable then it does some call to home, but if your internet connection is unstable or very slow it delays a bit. Then, with a big delay, the thread stops, and if it stops the ASIO buffer detects a problem and it crashes, so your host crashes too.

Firebird was clean, it hasn't this antipiracy protection (useless, btw). But Gladiator and Warmverb, 3 years ago, had this problems. I had few debates with Tone2 staff about this, and the best thing they suggested was "turn off your internet connection while you do music". Then I decided sell all from Tone2.

If this has changed in this year, then I could consider purchasing again some Tone2 plugins.

Gee, a company that treats customers like that should be boycotted into bankruptcy

I also read somewhere that Tone2 uses watermarks in the sound created with their synths. I have no idea how that works, but the idea of having something in the music that does not belong there is not what would make me spend 100 bucks or more.

I had their demos on my computer some time ago, but there were always things I did not like about every one of their synths, things that kept me from buying. Back then I did not even know about the watermark and calling home thingy, yet...

I do think Tone2 has a typical sound, polished and slick, but at the same time a bit shallow and bland in the long run. Similar to Dune somehow. At least the makers of Dune are a nicer company from what I can tell.

Their copy protection with ElectraX is a simple license file. They seem to be listening to their customers and treating them pretty well from what I can see.

As for "watermarks in the sound" do you have any reference for that or is it a rumor? Personally, I've paid for the synth and couldn't care less about some watermark if it does exist, as long as it doesn't affect sound quality and can't be heard.

In any case I love the sound of ElectraX, which was the motivation for the thread. As I start programming some patches I'll post them here.

[billcarroll]

The intent of the thread was to spread some love for ElectraX.

Instead of some war we could focus on ElectraX ...

Maybe share usage tips and patches. Links to great commercial banks, etc.

Good point... and I already mentioned two sources for some fantastic third party banks. Here they are again, this time with links:


1)ElektraX from Patchpool

http://www.patchpool.de/electraX.html


2) Atmosphera, Electronix, and Percussion Elements from MaxSynths

http://www.maxsynths.com/


Best by far, imo, is when you roll your own!!! But Simon (aka Patchpool) is a sound design genius and you can't go wrong with any of his sounds! Massimo is also brilliant and his patches are scattered throughout the various banks available at Tone2. With Atmosphera, Electronix, and Percussion Elements it's all Massimo!

I'm a fairly new user so I can't think of any usage tips off the top of my head except to maybe turn off the reverb and spatial processing bits, especially if you're using a lot of your own reverb. Sometimes it sounds okay but other times it tends to be too much... especially if you don't want that fine polished kind of sheen but are looking for more grit. I hope that makes sense.

Thanks for posting those links. I'll check 'em out.

I think I'll primarily start programming some stuff from scratch. I've been at home sick for a few days and for some reason starting at init with ElectraX sounds fun. Might be the cold medicine

[vata44]

I personally do not like Tone2's tone. They are powerful, but there is something about them which just does not translate well with my ears. Maybe I am deaf.

[Nightpolymath]

I personally do not like Tone2's tone. They are powerful, but there is something about them which just does not translate well with my ears. Maybe I am deaf.

I don't know if I am making any sense but Rayblaster, Gladiator, ElectraX, and Saurus all sound different but yet sound the same at the same time. I guess it's that Tone2 sound signature. They have a personality of their own. I don't have any issues with their interfaces, in fact I like them a lot. It's fairly uniform across their product lines.

[foosnark]

I don't know if I am making any sense but Rayblaster, Gladiator, ElectraX, and Saurus all sound different but yet sound the same at the same time. I guess it's that Tone2 sound signature.

Rayblaster sounds incredibly dull to me. Gladiator and ElectraX I've demoed multiple times and they just don't excite me. I just reinstalled the ElectraX demo, and oh yeah, I don't like the look of the UI any more than the sound.

Saurus never seemed interesting in concept to me, so I never tried the demo until just now to see if I was missing something. Nope, I don't like it.


On the other hand, I liked FireBird quite a bit (though I don't find myself using it that much anymore) and am a big fan of their FilterBank filters.