StiX : MultiSynthesis Drum Machine (v1.6 Released + Flash sales)

[Kwysix]

Hi Lotuzia,
I joined KVR so I could interact with you,
I've read about the release of the beta of StiX on Audiofanzine and I'm actually quite interrested into it as I'm always feeling concerned by the thing brought by new plugins and hardware on the market.

I will probably take the beta offer but as I'm already working with a combination of Geist & Tremor by FXPansion, can you tell me a bit about the benefits I could draw from using this soft.

Actually, I hear that it sounds awesome for many different type of sounds (accoustic & analogic), but what would the soft offer me that is different from what I actually do with the combination of the FXPansion tools ?

Forgive me for the tricky question, but I'd just like to get your opinion about this

[cranium]

Currently when tuning knobs (in particular fine-tuning using the right mouse button) it only makes adjustments when staying within StiX's GUI.

Is this something that will be improved as well?

You can use shift + mouse or right click to make fine adjustments. Works OK here when operating whithin StiX UI (Cubase 7/64b) . Then, Im not sure I really understand your question. Do you mean something like knobs/controls created by the host and tied to StiX parameters, and that you can operate outside of StiX GUI ?

Hopefully the animated gifs will clear things up:

I'd like to see StiX behave like other VST's (I used Twin 2 in this GIF). Currently while holding the mouse button to alter a knob/slider in StiX and the mouse pointer leaves the GUI of StiX it stops altering the knob/slider.

This is particularly inconvenient while fine-tuning a knob/slider in StiX.




In the Animated Gif "StiX" leaving the GUI while holding the mouse button does stop the adjustment of the knob.

StiX.gif

In the Animated Gif "Twin" leaving the GUI while holding the mouse button does not stop the adjustment of the knob.

Twin.gif

[jbuonacc]

thanks for posting that gif, shows it perfectly. actually, i think all Xils stuff is like this (need to check), i'm pretty sure that PolyKBII had me pulling my hair out over this but i never realized that it was due to the cursor moving "out" of the GUI. i assumed it was just "thinking that i had taken my finger off the mouse button".

this needs to be fixed, seriously.

[Lotuzia]

Currently when tuning knobs (in particular fine-tuning using the right mouse button) it only makes adjustments when staying within StiX's GUI.

Is this something that will be improved as well?

You can use shift + mouse or right click to make fine adjustments. Works OK here when operating whithin StiX UI (Cubase 7/64b) . Then, Im not sure I really understand your question. Do you mean something like knobs/controls created by the host and tied to StiX parameters, and that you can operate outside of StiX GUI ?

Hopefully the animated gifs will clear things up:

I'd like to see StiX behave like other VST's (I used Twin 2 in this GIF). Currently while holding the mouse button to alter a knob/slider in StiX and the mouse pointer leaves the GUI of StiX it stops altering the knob/slider.

This is particularly inconvenient while fine-tuning a knob/slider in StiX.




In the Animated Gif "StiX" leaving the GUI while holding the mouse button does stop the adjustment of the knob.

StiX.gif

In the Animated Gif "Twin" leaving the GUI while holding the mouse button does not stop the adjustment of the knob.

Twin.gif

Ok capito Gifs perfectly show what is the subject. I can confirm it's the same on my systems. Well, I must have performed hundreds of thousands knob teaking on Xils synths, but never was confronted to this Probably because I avoid all large mouse movements more/less consciously. We'll see what can be done.

[Lotuzia]

Hi Lotuzia,
I joined KVR so I could interact with you,
I've read about the release of the beta of StiX on Audiofanzine and I'm actually quite interrested into it as I'm always feeling concerned by the thing brought by new plugins and hardware on the market.

I will probably take the beta offer but as I'm already working with a combination of Geist & Tremor by FXPansion, can you tell me a bit about the benefits I could draw from using this soft.

Actually, I hear that it sounds awesome for many different type of sounds (accoustic & analogic), but what would the soft offer me that is different from what I actually do with the combination of the FXPansion tools ?

Forgive me for the tricky question, but I'd just like to get your opinion about this

Thanks and *Bienvenue sur Kvr* Kwysix.

Well, first difference, as you already spotted it : The sound ( Xils filters, morphing analog oscillators, analog modelled envelopes, FM and cross synthesis etc)

Then, part of the answers can be found, as sometimes, in the question itself : Tremor offers Synthesis, while Geist only deals with samples. In StiX, you have both simultaneously.

It has some direct consequences : In StiX, you can simply layer the two synthesis methods in a drumpad (like the Bass Drum of the Click & Sub global preset ( here the click is a sample, and the boom part is an analog oscillator, wich is a method sometimes found on specialised drum modules synths that only deal with a drum subtype, like Kicks ) So to perform similar to this with the Tremor/Geist couple, you would have to program the same sequence in both units, deal with minimum two outputs etc. But this doesnt stop there. With StiX you can perform FM and cross synthesis with all the parameters. ( You can listen to the *cross synthesis* audio demo for an example of this) So you can perform FM between a sample and 1/2 oscillators, or FM feedback. Or cross synthesis to modulate an LFO speed by a sample + and oscillator for example ! Here there are endless possibilities, and tbh, I have explored only a few of them until now, because of a lack of time. But it's there. And this is strictly impossible to perform in the Tremor/Geist couple afaik.

There are other differences, like the osc section, or the EV section ( StiX are ADSR, Tremor use 3 segments EVs ). In StiX you have micro position for Sequencer steps. And this has a lot of consequences on your sequences 'life'. You have the PolyStep modulator. Unseen on any drum machine. Another Life feature. You have per step Gate Time. The worflow is completely different also. We have tried to make StiX workflow as fast and intuitive as possible, given it's depth, yet some people might prefer the workflow of other drum machines. We'll see. Etc etc.

Then, not to be mistaken, Tremor and Geist can also certainly do things StiX cant do.

All in all, in any case, I think these three Drum machine can compliment each other nicely, for those ( and I made a poll last year about that, so I know there are many of them, at least in this forum) who use at least 2 different drum machines. And for those who will have to make a choice because the wallet is NOT extensible, well, demo versions of these different programs are there for that purpose !

[Lotuzia]

Hey, Lotuzia - thanks for answering my rant in depth I really respect that .

I tried to make some demo of more experimental rhythms, but every time I tried to record the output of the plugin (on Reaper 4.x 32 bit, OSX, VST version) I was unable to. I tried recording the output, I tried sending the output to another track and recording that. I even tried to bounce the whole Reaper output to disk. Every time StiX stopped responding to - I think - transport messages. Playing the track and using the play button in the plugin - the XoX grid wasn't "playing" (I mean the animation) and there was no sound. When I wanted to change the pattern - it was blinking forever, never changed to the pattern I chose.

I tried it twice and since there is no saving in the demo - I won't repeat it for the third time from the scratch .

Thanks, I try to answer to all the questions ( when I can, and when ... I understand them )

What version of StiX are you using atm ? Demo version with restricted features but not time limited, Time Limited Demo-No restrictions, or the full -bought- version ?

[ENV1]

Ok capito Gifs perfectly show what is the subject. I can confirm it's the same on my systems. Well, I must have performed hundreds of thousands knob teaking on Xils synths, but never was confronted to this.

You were.

I had reported the same issue with XILS3 LE in this post. (See second 'UI Handling' item near the bottom.)

I also still have the GIFs you and Xavier requested.



In the words of Master Yoda: A fix we need.

[Lotuzia]

Hmmm. indeed. Aware we could have been earlier !

[Kwysix]

Hi Lotuzia,
I joined KVR so I could interact with you,
I've read about the release of the beta of StiX on Audiofanzine and I'm actually quite interrested into it as I'm always feeling concerned by the thing brought by new plugins and hardware on the market.

I will probably take the beta offer but as I'm already working with a combination of Geist & Tremor by FXPansion, can you tell me a bit about the benefits I could draw from using this soft.

Actually, I hear that it sounds awesome for many different type of sounds (accoustic & analogic), but what would the soft offer me that is different from what I actually do with the combination of the FXPansion tools ?

Forgive me for the tricky question, but I'd just like to get your opinion about this

Thanks and *Bienvenue sur Kvr* Kwysix.

Well, first difference, as you already spotted it : The sound ( Xils filters, morphing analog oscillators, analog modelled envelopes, FM and cross synthesis etc)

Then, part of the answers can be found, as sometimes, in the question itself : Tremor offers Synthesis, while Geist only deals with samples. In StiX, you have both simultaneously.

It has some direct consequences : In StiX, you can simply layer the two synthesis methods in a drumpad (like the Bass Drum of the Click & Sub global preset ( here the click is a sample, and the boom part is an analog oscillator, wich is a method sometimes found on specialised drum modules synths that only deal with a drum subtype, like Kicks ) So to perform similar to this with the Tremor/Geist couple, you would have to program the same sequence in both units, deal with minimum two outputs etc. But this doesnt stop there. With StiX you can perform FM and cross synthesis with all the parameters. ( You can listen to the *cross synthesis* audio demo for an example of this) So you can perform FM between a sample and 1/2 oscillators, or FM feedback. Or cross synthesis to modulate an LFO speed by a sample + and oscillator for example ! Here there are endless possibilities, and tbh, I have explored only a few of them until now, because of a lack of time. But it's there. And this is strictly impossible to perform in the Tremor/Geist couple afaik.

There are other differences, like the osc section, or the EV section ( StiX are ADSR, Tremor use 3 segments EVs ). In StiX you have micro position for Sequencer steps. And this has a lot of consequences on your sequences 'life'. You have the PolyStep modulator. Unseen on any drum machine. Another Life feature. You have per step Gate Time. The worflow is completely different also. We have tried to make StiX workflow as fast and intuitive as possible, given it's depth, yet some people might prefer the workflow of other drum machines. We'll see. Etc etc.

Then, not to be mistaken, Tremor and Geist can also certainly do things StiX cant do.

All in all, in any case, I think these three Drum machine can compliment each other nicely, for those ( and I made a poll last year about that, so I know there are many of them, at least in this forum) who use at least 2 different drum machines. And for those who will have to make a choice because the wallet is NOT extensible, well, demo versions of these different programs are there for that purpose !

Hey Lotuzia, thanks for the long and thoughtful answer (et merci pour l'ersatz de French Touch), I see that Stix offers some amazing layering possibilities, and the cross modulation features appear to be full of promise for some insane drum synthesis. You convinced me to put some bucks in it as soon as my bank account gets refilled.

Btw, I took a look at the GUI to see how it's organized, and I have to say that despite all the space available, it seems quite intuitive (not as much as Drumazone, but way more than Microtonic or Tremor).

[PALU]

I tried to make some demo of more experimental rhythms, but every time I tried to record the output of the plugin (on Reaper 4.x 32 bit, OSX, VST version) I was unable to. [...]

What version of StiX are you using atm ? Demo version with restricted features but not time limited, Time Limited Demo-No restrictions, or the full -bought- version ?

Demo version with restricted features. I'm sorry I cannot do more extensive testing - my older kid is sick and I don't have much free time to do it:(.

[Lotuzia]

I tried to make some demo of more experimental rhythms, but every time I tried to record the output of the plugin (on Reaper 4.x 32 bit, OSX, VST version) I was unable to. [...]

What version of StiX are you using atm ? Demo version with restricted features but not time limited, Time Limited Demo-No restrictions, or the full -bought- version ?

Demo version with restricted features. I'm sorry I cannot do more extensive testing - my older kid is sick and I don't have much free time to do it:(.

No probs Szalonykp, kids health is much more important than synths.
I wonder, could it be that you simply reached the 15mn limit when the plug has to be reloaded ? (It's one of the restricted features of the version you choose)
+ all the best for your kid

[Lotuzia]

We"re working on the next GUI/UI incarnation atm. And some of the people who posted here will soon find out that .... we listened to them . Thanks to all

[Lotuzia]

Currently when tuning knobs (in particular fine-tuning using the right mouse button) it only makes adjustments when staying within StiX's GUI.

Is this something that will be improved as well?

You can use shift + mouse or right click to make fine adjustments. Works OK here when operating whithin StiX UI (Cubase 7/64b) . Then, Im not sure I really understand your question. Do you mean something like knobs/controls created by the host and tied to StiX parameters, and that you can operate outside of StiX GUI ?

Hopefully the animated gifs will clear things up:

I'd like to see StiX behave like other VST's (I used Twin 2 in this GIF). Currently while holding the mouse button to alter a knob/slider in StiX and the mouse pointer leaves the GUI of StiX it stops altering the knob/slider.

This is particularly inconvenient while fine-tuning a knob/slider in StiX.




In the Animated Gif "StiX" leaving the GUI while holding the mouse button does stop the adjustment of the knob.

StiX.gif

In the Animated Gif "Twin" leaving the GUI while holding the mouse button does not stop the adjustment of the knob.

Twin.gif

Some news about this one : It affects only Windows, it works Ok under Mac OS. It will be fixed in the future, after StiX v 1.0 has been released.

[cranium]

Thanks for the information concerning the above Lotuzia.

[pdxindy]

You have the PolyStep modulator. Unseen on any drum machine.

What is the PolyStep modulator?