Tone2 Electra 2

[Frantz]

I think the missing demo functionality is to discourage would be crackers. The demo, even if cracked, would not contain full functionality. Of course, it doesn't offer much protection since crackers would just target a licensed version purchased on a stolen credit card.

I'm having a lot of fun with both sample import and resynthesis. Both work quite well. I found it sounded nice to layer the sampled waveform with the resynthesized version to create extra interest.

The only minor annoyance with sample import/resynthesis is the WAV file needs to be a 44.1Khz PCM WAV file. So I had to convert a WAV I created in Studio One into a PCM WAV in Audacity. It only took a minute but it would be nice if Electra was more flexible with accepting different WAV formats.

[Liero]

I think the missing demo functionality is to discourage would be crackers.

That doesn't make my demo limitation frustration any better, unfortunately. The main features I'm interested in Electra2 are locked away from me so it's quite difficult to make a decision regarding purchase.

[Frantz]

I think the missing demo functionality is to discourage would be crackers.

That doesn't make my demo limitation frustration any better, unfortunately. The main features I'm interested in Electra2 are locked away from me so it's quite difficult to make a decision regarding purchase.

I understand your frustration. I too wish they would take a more customer friendly approach on these matters. I was sold on the functionality available in the demo, bought it, and am loving it. That doesn't help your situation but what can I do?

[Robmobius]

I'm getting so irritated at so many of you on KVR... this is why I seldom post anymore. QUIT BITCHING ABOUT THE GODDAMN GUIs not being colorful enough or too colorful, or too bland, or whatEVER, and GO MAKE SOME MUSIC. Seriously! This is getting so old. As long as I can locate what I need and it's responsive and functional, I could give two shits about how pretty the GUI is. Sure, a nice looking one is always a pleasing EXTRA, but that's what it is: icing. As long as it works well and is legible, please, stop hanging out on KVR and griping and pursue what should be, by virtue of you having an account on here in the first place, your passion: MAKING music. Not talking about it constantly and racking up tens of thousands of posts. It's pitiful.

Amen!

[sonicpowa]

I could give two shits about how pretty the GUI is. Sure, a nice looking one is always a pleasing EXTRA, but that's what it is: icing.

Good for you, but I don´t agree. I like nice graphics and if we are paying for a commercial product the whole package should be good.
For example I couldn´t stare at the ElectraX´s amateurish glowing-like-a-Xmas-tree GUI so I didn´t buy it back then, though the synth was good. Now the GUI is much better so I did purchase it. So for me it was 100% to do with the GUI.

[Gribs]

A decent GUI means a lot to me because I find smaller programs having smaller GUI's difficult to use and thus difficult to use to make music. For me the GUI doesn't have to be pretty, it has to be comfortable to read and operate, especially during long evening of use for programming sounds and making music. Many GUI's are just not designed well for higher resolution displays. However the size of the Electra2 (demo - haven't bought it yet) GUI on an HD screen is just about perfect. There are software synths that I have demo'd and not purchased because the GUI was difficult/uncomfortable for me to read and those with which I like to work not just because of the sound but because the GUI is comfortable.

I confess that I just received my first pair of "computer glasses" bi-focals. The bottom half of the lenses are focused as traditional reading glasses and the upper half is focused for optimum clarity during near-to-mid range use with a computer. They do not work well for far-field viewing but they make using a computer for long periods of time much easier on my eyes! I work as an industrial theoretical physicist and spend most of my time either writing out math or programming and running mathematical software so the glasses are a big help and good ergonomically (and thus provided by my employer).

[DrWashington]

Gribs: perfectly valid consideration, like I said in my post above; legibility is one of my concerns, as well.

Sonicpowa: I've owned ElectraX since the beginning, and I've always liked it. The GUI really didn't bother me all that much. By choosing to ignore its graphical shortcomings, I got to use it and know it well and am pretty adept at this point. I'm liking the new version a lot, too. I hope you're getting what you need out of it.

I've always wondered at some of Tone2's business decisions, but I like the way their stuff sounds for the most part, particularly this synth. Sits quite well in a mix and doesn't sound cheap. I generally make my own presets or modify those I think almost fit into exactly what I had in mind, so I'm not incredibly keen on a lot of the electro/trance-sounding presets, but if it moves copies, good for them. I like making complex, moving, wavetable-textured sounds. I find this is really good for that, and the filters can work quite well indeed.

Either way, my point stands: these are often boutique software companies who don't have in-house graphic design, but they may have a hell of a lot of DSP knowledge. We're not making collages of our plugin GUIs, we're making music. I've used the HELL out of VOPM, and that's an ugly-lookin' synth if I ever saw one. It sounds gritty, tough, biting... fantastic. That's what's important to me. I'll work around my limitations if the sound is what I'm looking for. I have a lot of really, really good software now, and I'm quite pleased with what I have to work with. I feel really lucky, actually. People in the '70s could never dream of what we have today, so I'm just a little disgusted with the whining I hear on KVR sometimes.

Some AMAZING records were made with some damn ugly gear. I think we'd do well to remember that.

If it sounds right, it IS right.

[pdxindy]

Gribs: perfectly valid consideration, like I said in my post above; legibility is one of my concerns, as well.

Sonicpowa: I've owned ElectraX since the beginning, and I've always liked it. The GUI really didn't bother me all that much. By choosing to ignore its graphical shortcomings, I got to use it and know it well and am pretty adept at this point. I'm liking the new version a lot, too. I hope you're getting what you need out of it.

I've always wondered at some of Tone2's business decisions, but I like the way their stuff sounds for the most part, particularly this synth. Sits quite well in a mix and doesn't sound cheap. I generally make my own presets or modify those I think almost fit into exactly what I had in mind, so I'm not incredibly keen on a lot of the electro/trance-sounding presets, but if it moves copies, good for them. I like making complex, moving, wavetable-textured sounds. I find this is really good for that, and the filters can work quite well indeed.

Either way, my point stands: these are often boutique software companies who don't have in-house graphic design, but they may have a hell of a lot of DSP knowledge. We're not making collages of our plugin GUIs, we're making music. I've used the HELL out of VOPM, and that's an ugly-lookin' synth if I ever saw one. It sounds gritty, tough, biting... fantastic. That's what's important to me. I'll work around my limitations if the sound is what I'm looking for. I have a lot of really, really good software now, and I'm quite pleased with what I have to work with. I feel really lucky, actually. People in the '70s could never dream of what we have today, so I'm just a little disgusted with the whining I hear on KVR sometimes.

Some AMAZING records were made with some damn ugly gear. I think we'd do well to remember that.

If it sounds right, it IS right.

Give me a great sounding synth that has the filter cutoff on one page and filter resonance on another and I will find that frustrating. If various parameters are not organized well, or if some controls are too small to easily click on, etc then that affects usability. The GUI matters.

If I am starving, any crust of stale bread will be welcome. If I am not and there are an abundance of options, then I pick among the various loaves on offer and my criteria will likely be insignificant. That is just how life is.

And today with synths we have riches. There are lots of excellent sounding synths. So it is reasonable to then choose based on some secondary characteristics, including the GUI, added value, developer policies, frequency of updates, small price differences, etc.

It is natural that as the quality and quantity of what is easily available go up, that the criteria used to choose become less significant.

[sonicpowa]

I hope you're getting what you need out of it..

Thanks, I´m already deep into synthesis..

If it sounds right, it IS right.

Of course this is true, but - as pdxindy also said - there´s so many those right sounding synths in the market that nobody has to buy anything until the whole package is good.

You mentioned VOPM as really ugly synth. I checked it out (Yamaha FM emulation?), I could work with it, the graphics don´t bother me. Usability is bad, everything looks small in a big monitor (is it a synth from the 90s?).

[trimph1]

Ok i understand that this is Kvr. It saddens me though that Kvr feels nowdays like a "weep and cry". What is wrong with you people. Most of you complainers have probably software to last you for a lifetime. Dont like the upgrade price? Fine.. Move on. Invest time in what you got instead of complaining of what you dont got. Seriously how old are the folks around here? 12-13? Cause people born in the 70's would atleast have the good will to know how spoiled we are with great software nowdays. Imagine what a synth like Electra2 would have cost you in the 80's. "Only reserved for Georgio Moroder and Harald Faltermeyer."

+1

The whaaaambulance should be around soon.

If there were no complaints one would not see improvements.

But, yeah, the general tone seems to getting a bit much here.

[BBFG#]

To those that have made the leap;

Are the licenses the same from your ElectraX to your new version of Electra 2? Or did Tone 2 issue a new separate license for it?
I guess what I'm really asking is,
"What keeps a person from buying the upgrade and then selling the old version?"

Just curious.

[Gribs]

I am going to buy a new software synth this weekend. I am still trying to decide between Electra 2, Dune 2, and a few of others (including PolyKB II and Imposcar 2). I am not looking for anything in particular - just something new.

[Ingonator]

To those that have made the leap;

Are the licenses the same from your ElectraX to your new version of Electra 2? Or did Tone 2 issue a new separate license for it?
I guess what I'm really asking is,
"What keeps a person from buying the upgrade and then selling the old version?"

Just curious.

There is a new key file for Electra 2. Electra 2 will not be unlocked with an old ElectraX key file.

Theoretically you could sell ElectraX if you upgraded but practically it would be illegal.
A legal transfer also includes that the new owner receives a new key file from Tone2.

[BBFG#]

To those that have made the leap;

Are the licenses the same from your ElectraX to your new version of Electra 2? Or did Tone 2 issue a new separate license for it?
I guess what I'm really asking is,
"What keeps a person from buying the upgrade and then selling the old version?"

Just curious.

There is a new key file for Electra 2. Electra 2 will not be unlocked with an old ElectraX key file.

Theoretically you could sell ElectraX if you upgraded but practically it would be illegal.
A legal transfer also includes that the new owner receives a new key file from Tone2.

Thanks, I feel pretty much the same way. I personally like keeping both in effect if there is a difference in sound between the two. The reason I asked was because I've suddenly seen a couple of ElectraX being sold on the Market Place and wondered if they were doing something like that or just calling it quits, as sometimes people do during priced upgrades.

[Frantz]

I personally like keeping both in effect if there is a difference in sound between the two.

It could be difficult because they have the same DLL name. In fact, Tone2 recommends uninstalling ElectraX before installing Electra2.