anyone tried soundforce control surfaces?

[grrrz]

I'm contemplating buying a hardware synth but then I'm wondering about using one of those fancy control surface that soundforce have made for plugins. They've got the prophet; juno and jupiter. Since I extensively use prophet V and jup V I'm thinking it's maybe not a bad idea instead of sinking a grand or more on a poly.
The price is quite high for what it is and it's not exactly super sleek but I don't know any alternative (and a generic midi controller is not the alternative I'm talking about).
does anybody has any experience with those? does this feel like having a real synth?
I'm thinking more the SFC-5 for prophet since it's more compact and a lot less expensive
(see https://sound-force.nl/?page_id=2412)
The other problem I see is inside live if you want to automate a parameter you have to add it to the list and assign it a different CC (or you know just have the CC automated but then you have to go through the list of CCs and it's not practical). This is always an issue with plugins; and usually I prefer to assign CC directly through ableton than to the plugins, so that could be annoying.

[gentleclockdivider]

Imho way to expensive for what is essentially a glorified midi controller .
Way better of buying something from faderfox

[grrrz]

Imho way to expensive for what is essentially a glorified midi controller .
Way better of buying something from faderfox

it is a midi controller, the point is to have a 1:1 replica of a software so it's indistinguishable from the hardware equivalent; that's not something I'm gonna get from a faderfox controller (which are not cheap either); but yeah it is quite expensive. It also can be mapped to other synths with minor differences as a bonus.

[rod_zero]

For some years I used a System 8 to control Diva and it was good enough, probably the closest you are going to get given the sheer number of controls on the System 8, which is around 70, way above this controllers and one of the most populated synths on the market (you have to look at the matrixbrute or polybrute to get more knobs). I used MIDI learn in diva to assign the controls.

So, if the plugins you are trying to use have MIDI learn, you can use a hardware synth, cheaper options are System 1m. If the plugins doesn't have MIDI learn then this controllers by Sound force seem ok, but IMHO still not enough controls to justify the price.

[grrrz]

Those controllers are not mass produced, they're from a small manufacturer, the price is comparable to faderfox stuff I think. Buying a synth as a controller seems crazy, using the ju08 mini synth for the jupiter may not be the worst idea though.

[elxsound]

Just another thought on this…
It’s a tough call only because it’s basically designed just for those 2 synths. But you do say it’s what you use and if it helps you work faster, then that alone could make it worth it.

Because it’s an emulation it’s not like you have to worry it’ll stop functioning as a useful controller. Even if the Arturia and u-he ones stop working, there will likely be another version out there.

[grrrz]

Just another thought on this…
It’s a tough call only because it’s basically designed just for those 2 synths. But you do say it’s what you use and if it helps you work faster, then that alone could make it worth it.

Because it’s an emulation it’s not like you have to worry it’ll stop functioning as a useful controller. Even if the Arturia and u-he ones stop working, there will likely be another version out there.

I thought it could scratch the itch to get actual hardware.
but I won't know until I've tried it.

[kritikon]

If your itching that badly to get hardware...don't bother scratching it, just buy the hardware. It'll cost more but make you way way way happier than a dedicated controller.

[grrrz]

I have already semi-modular and modular hardware; and a microfreak; and was thinking about a true poly. Thing is I already have quite a bit of options with arturia stuff (mostly jup 8; prophet; buchla and synclavier); but I do like making patches on hardware. Options I considered was polybrute (amazing sound but sadly definitely too big and also too expensive); novation peak; prophet rev 2 (still on the too expensive side); and nymphes (seems great but maybe I want something with a bit more possibilites). It would need to have enough character so its not entirely redundant with my vsts. Also a hardware synth is great but it has drawbacks when working in a DAW; mainly that you can't open several instances of it (obviously) and have to record one instance to use another. That's why I thought maybe I just need a nice controller and this way a hardware poly will seem less obvious as a next purchase.
To be absolutely clear I know I don't absolutely need anything more; it's just the hardware addiction kicking it; I'm perfectly happy working on compositions inside ableton with the occasion spice from hardware for my actual job; and the occasional jam. so here you go. But after a while new things can spice up creativity a bit so why not. I also do little jams (either completely noise or melodic ambiant); but I also can open a vst for this if I need to (and for this the controller also made sense). So yeah it's a very first world problem basically

[cryophonik]

Those SoundForce controllers do look pretty nice and seem to be solidly built. Definitely seems like something that could make using soft synths a little less boring.

Also a hardware synth is great but it has drawbacks when working in a DAW; mainly that you can't open several instances of it (obviously) and have to record one instance to use another.

Some of us see that as a workflow advantage, rather than a drawback

[T-CM11]

If your itching that badly to get hardware...don't bother scratching it, just buy the hardware. It'll cost more but make you way way way happier than a dedicated controller.

Almost 10x more...https://www.thomann.de/be/sequential_pr ... module.htm
It's not much of a choice if you don't have that money.

[grrrz]

If your itching that badly to get hardware...don't bother scratching it, just buy the hardware. It'll cost more but make you way way way happier than a dedicated controller.

Almost 10x more...https://www.thomann.de/be/sequential_pr ... module.htm
It's not much of a choice if you don't have that money.

that's a nice remote for the plugins
I think I'd prefer a rev 2; modulations on the original prophet are pretty limited. I'm also thinking of the novation peak; you can find it used for 800/800 euros.