KVR Audio

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Wed Jul 12, 2023 6:40 pm

tracking for spectraphon 2

back in business tomorrow!!

McLilith · Post by **McLilith** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 3:06 pm

I just found out my SOMA Ether should arrive later today—four days ahead of schedule!

EmilEert · Post by **EmilEert** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 3:46 pm

Bought new headphones (Hi-X65) and looking forward to buying a new synth or synths later this year! Possibly Behringer Pro 800 or A Behringer Edge.

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 4:09 pm

Andertons confirmed my Edge is literally on a slow boat from China. Reckon I may possibly get it in 2 weeks if customs aren’t tossers.

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:07 pm

McLilith wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 3:06 pm I just found out my SOMA Ether should arrive later today—four days ahead of schedule!

Lovely device. But a bit scary to hear how certain things sound like. Put it next to the wifi router for some chilling noises

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:10 pm

DrGonzo wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:07 pm
McLilith wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 3:06 pm I just found out my SOMA Ether should arrive later today—four days ahead of schedule!
Lovely device. But a bit scary to hear how certain things sound like. Put it next to the wifi router for some chilling noises

as mentioned earlier, try it near a mobility scooter motor, it gets old fast

skreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:11 pm

vurt wrote: Wed Jul 12, 2023 6:40 pm tracking for spectraphon 2
back in business tomorrow!!

ok, tomorrow!
which means back in business saturday afternoon, as the missus is over tomorrow.

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 6:30 pm

62C3AC74-14A9-4065-BFD6-5892DA01896E.jpeg

I’ve been watching for one of these for months now and snagged a bargain on a like-new one!!!

McLilith · Post by **McLilith** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:59 pm

DrGonzo wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:07 pm
McLilith wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 3:06 pm I just found out my SOMA Ether should arrive later today—four days ahead of schedule!
Lovely device. But a bit scary to hear how certain things sound like. Put it next to the wifi router for some chilling noises

I just turned on my SOMA Ether for the first time. I'm sitting in front of my computer, and I'm also surrounded by lots of electronic devices. Naturally, the first thing I did was hold it near my wifi router. I'm not sure what's going on with your router, but mine is making more of a gentle purring sound.

However, I can't say the same for most of the other electronic devices I've pointed it at so far. Most of them are much more "aggressive" in tone than my wifi router. My next step is to see how it gets along with my Zoom H6 field recorder. Then, I'm off to explore whatever disembodied electrical entities I can find lurking beyond these four walls.

The Ether does pick up some sounds that are similar to my inductive sensors, but it also picks up a lot of things they don't. I've only used it about 5-10 minutes so far, but my initial impression is a positive one.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:43 pm

vurt wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:11 pm
vurt wrote: Wed Jul 12, 2023 6:40 pm tracking for spectraphon 2
back in business tomorrow!!
ok, tomorrow!
which means back in business saturday afternoon, as the missus is over tomorrow.

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 3:17 am

Got my Roli stuff today. I can tell the previous owner smoked a lot, and nothing particularly fun, and silicone rubber absorbs odors. But it's not too bad.

Once I figured out that the power button is the other one I was in business. The Seaboard Block is a lot of fun, though I'm a bit surprised at how much force it takes to get full velocity with the default setting. Pressure, slide and glide all work very well for me though, it's a keeper.

The Lightpad Blocks are kind of fun toys that came along for the ride. Maybe I'll find a way to make them useful, but they don't feel as responsive as the Seaboard itself (or Planar, Sweet Sixteen etc.) I didn't check for Bitwig scripts for them though. Could be fun to use them as VU meters or something

I definitely should at least skim the manuals though...

elxsound · Post by **elxsound** » Sat Jul 15, 2023 3:57 am

Yeah the lightpads are decent for use as an x/y pad or anything with slide gestures. Otherwise they require too much force… at least that’s my take on them.

I got rid of almost all the roli stuff when I ordered Push 3, except for two lightpads just in case I want to use them as controllers.

WatchTheGuitar · Post by **WatchTheGuitar** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 12:04 pm

Ordered a used one of these

a hocketing I shall go

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 4:31 pm

elxsound wrote: Sat Jul 15, 2023 3:57 am Yeah the lightpads are decent for use as an x/y pad or anything with slide gestures. Otherwise they require too much force… at least that’s my take on them.

These are the Lightpad Block M, which I guess is the newer version, and I've heard it doesn't require as much force. The Seaboard Block OTOH does require quite a bit of force to get max velocity/pressure.

What I don't like about the Lightpads:
- Latency is pretty noticeable, and X/Y pad stuff just is not very smooth.
- It's nearly impossible to get the sliders to hit 0.
- Since I'm on a PC and there is no MIDI over Bluetooth

, I have to use USB. But the magnetic links between blocks aren't stable enough to keep them connected securely... so the Lightpads might work for a while and then drop out and try to pair over BT, never reconnecting indirectly via the USB. So each device needs its own cable, which means I need another USB hub if I want to use all of them

- Bitwig MIDI controller setup leaves a few things to be desired, and it doesn't directly support Roli Blocks, so you have to use the Rise or Grand profile. You can't rename it to match what it really is. The inputs/outputs change if you plug into a different USB port, so unless I do get that hub and am consistent about what goes where, it'll continue to be confusing.

I might just resell both of the Lightpads and keep the Seaboard Block. I could use a sturdier stand though, given how much force it wants.

elxsound · Post by **elxsound** » Mon Jul 17, 2023 5:37 pm

foosnark wrote: Mon Jul 17, 2023 4:31 pm
elxsound wrote: Sat Jul 15, 2023 3:57 am Yeah the lightpads are decent for use as an x/y pad or anything with slide gestures. Otherwise they require too much force… at least that’s my take on them.
These are the Lightpad Block M, which I guess is the newer version, and I've heard it doesn't require as much force. The Seaboard Block OTOH does require quite a bit of force to get max velocity/pressure.

What I don't like about the Lightpads:
- Latency is pretty noticeable, and X/Y pad stuff just is not very smooth.
- It's nearly impossible to get the sliders to hit 0.
- Since I'm on a PC and there is no MIDI over Bluetooth , I have to use USB. But the magnetic links between blocks aren't stable enough to keep them connected securely... so the Lightpads might work for a while and then drop out and try to pair over BT, never reconnecting indirectly via the USB. So each device needs its own cable, which means I need another USB hub if I want to use all of them
- Bitwig MIDI controller setup leaves a few things to be desired, and it doesn't directly support Roli Blocks, so you have to use the Rise or Grand profile. You can't rename it to match what it really is. The inputs/outputs change if you plug into a different USB port, so unless I do get that hub and am consistent about what goes where, it'll continue to be confusing.

I might just resell both of the Lightpads and keep the Seaboard Block. I could use a sturdier stand though, given how much force it wants.

I’ve heard Lightpad M was an improvement over the first generation ones. I had the Lightpad M and still didn’t like them.

Again, they’re not bad and I didn’t have the experience you’re having, but I still wished for better responsiveness and I had some of the same connection problems.

2023: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2023)