DMS-Ascension

[DMSAdmin]

Thanks. I just fired up the studio and I already have the Cubic Audio version 1.5 installed.

I wonder if I can just install this update on top. Off to find out now........

I'd recommend a clean install from 1.5 > you can find out how to do that here.

[Teksonik]

Thanks. I just fired up the studio and I already have the Cubic Audio version 1.5 installed.
I wonder if I can just install this update on top. Off to find out now........

I'd recommend a clean install from 1.5 > you can find out how to do that here.

Thanks I had managed to get it all installed. Not the easiest update I've ever done to a plugin but I appreciate it being free.

I had originally purchased it through Plugin Boutique and it does not show the 1.6 update as available in that account.

Audio Plugin Deals Ascention for $4.90.

https://audioplugin.deals/product/ascen ... bic-audio/

That really is a no brainer price.

[HydrogenHuman]

Definitely glad you guys are still working on the plugin! I just bought it at that no brainer price. Lots of sounds to mess around with.

[Teksonik]

Unfortunately this seems to be really brutal on the CPU even with relatively simple patches and with OSC and ROM quality set to Medium. Probably one of the most demanding I own.

[OscSync]

Unfortunately this seems to be really brutal on the CPU even with relatively simple patches and with OSC and ROM quality set to Medium. Probably one of the most demanding I own.

100% agree and I'm not even sure it sounds that good to warrant it.
That said, the presets and the MIDI make it an easy purchase for <$5.

[DMSAdmin]

Hey guys, with regards to excessive CPU usage, if you send over on some diagnostic information about your systems, DAW and Ascension version, along with preset names that cause high CPU I can pass it on to the developer.

https://cubicaudio.co.uk/customer-support

All the best,
Peter

[Examigan]

Audio Plugin Deals Ascention for $4.90.

https://audioplugin.deals/product/ascen ... bic-audio/

Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered it.

[Teksonik]

Hey guys, with regards to excessive CPU usage, if you send over on some diagnostic information about your systems, DAW and Ascension version, along with preset names that cause high CPU I can pass it on to the developer.
https://cubicaudio.co.uk/customer-support
All the best,Peter

Ok fair enough, next time I boot the studio I'll list a few factory patches that are particularly CPU hungry (especially in relation to other plugins in my collection).

Here's one test I always perform in any synth. Take a single Osc, set Unison Voices to 7, Detune to about 10 O'clock (full spread if the synth has that parameter), Poly to 16, add some ADSR release time and play a series of chords.

It's a pretty good test for the CPU demand of one synth compared to another.

Ascension is not unusable by any means but the CPU cost in relation to sound returned does make it hard for me to reach for it in a project. I have so many other options at my fingertips these days that I'll just pick one that is more CPU friendly and which sounds just as good.

EDIT: Ok here's some presets that can drive my cpu to spike over 50% when playing a series of chords:
Most of the PD presets in the Nutty Traxx folder
PD Argentum Cetus and PD Buffer Zone in the EXP 1.6 Folder

Many of the Pad sounds can drive the CPU meter in Waveform to the red while none of my full projects ever come close.

i7 8700K (non-overclocked) 6 core 12 thread that turbos at 4.7 GHz. Windows 10.

[DMSAdmin]

Thank you @Teksonik! I really appreciated your time in doing that.

Could you please let me know what version of Windows you're using plus complete machine specs and Tracktion Waveform version?

All the best, Peter

[(|Audiopath|)]

Hey guys, with regards to excessive CPU usage, if you send over on some diagnostic information about your systems, DAW and Ascension version, along with preset names that cause high CPU I can pass it on to the developer.

https://cubicaudio.co.uk/customer-support

All the best,
Peter

(Windows 10, Gigabyte board running AMD FX 8350 CPU, 32 GB RAM, Behringer UMC404HD interface, Cubase Pro 12, Arturia Minilab mkII controller, Ascension 1.6)

I didn't go through all the presets because I got too frustrated, but I'm sure I tried some mentioned above - nearly all I tried rested at @30% CPU and blasted the CPU usage over 50-70%, maxing out and stuttering after a few notes faster than quarter notes, even on the lowest quality and voice unison settings.

In my limited testing, I've isolated the problem to presets with a long tail/release (pads, choirs etc) that have polyphony set higher than 2.

Reducing polyphony to lowest setting (AND turning off Reverb in some cases) stops the stuttering and choking. They all still idle a little to high for my taste...but hearing it without glitching is good enough to use ...maybe.

I know the price was ridiculously low (thanks Code Audio) but I haven't had synth VSTs stutter on me since the 32bit Windows days. After the initial nostalgia wore off...it's so annoying I had to unload it. It kind of makes me feel we've been duped into being beta testers. (Also nostalgic, but I digress)

Hate to say it, but I likely won't be reaching for this synth any time soon until it's fixed ...I just don't have time for it. Too bad because when it works it sounds great. But there are plenty of other great sounding synths on the market (even free ones!) that can handle all their functions...juuuuust saying.

[Teksonik]

Thank you @Teksonik! I really appreciated your time in doing that.
Could you please let me know what version of Windows you're using plus complete machine specs and Tracktion Waveform version?
All the best, Peter

i7 8700K (non-overclocked) 6 core 12 thread that turbos at 4.7 GHz. 16 gigs ram. Nvidia GTX 1050ti. Focusrite 6i6 ASIO.

I don't think the Windows 10 version matters but it's 22H2 Build 19045.4529

Waveform Pro 13.1.2, Same results in FL Studio 24

I have over 1,000 plugins installed on that system. Ascension is one of the more CPU hungry.

[mesamask]

Accidently stumbled upon this thread, and to my surprise it's not mentioned that version 1.6 introduced the ability to use custom skins with Ascension.

There's a skin gallery here --> https://cubicaudio.co.uk/ascension-skins/
(That website has a rather annoying bot verification going on, sometimes it's not loading or ends up with error 405 and such. But this might just be on my end and probably depends on the browser etc)

Examples:

hallowedbean.png

innerlogic.png

destruct.png

The last one is the one from gumroad, it's not in the gallery, seen on vstskins >> https://vstskins.com/destruct/

[mesamask]

Ascension for $ 5.00 (excl. VAT) here:

https://boundplugins.com/product/plugin ... ubicaudio/

[DMSAdmin]

Ascension VST3 / AU plus all current Expansions for £8.99 GBP at BoundPlugins...
https://boundplugins.com/product/bundle ... on-bundle/

[DJErmac]

Don’t let its price fool you : you get a nice Nexus-like synth with a very honorable sound quality.

I don’t really get why it never got any attention. But I’m afraid its rollercoaster price policy might have been related : once it’s too high and you don’t jump in, the next time it’s too low and you suspect something fishy.

Seriously : it’s very decent.