Phuturetone GR-8

[mjolnir]

That's okay if you don't want to develop a Linux edition, WINE & Yabridge (or WINE & LinVST) are used to run Windows VST3's and VST2's and CLAP's. A lot of them work just fine. The main idea is, I download the Windows compatible files and run them in LINUX via the Yabridge / Wine "adapters". It's relatively rare for the GUI of a plugin to have such issues, but the flickering was really bad, almost unusable on the GR-8.

Unfortunately, the solution proposed at a different site involving DirectX or something actually broke the plugin and made it unusable, just a black screen. I was forced to just remove GR-8 for now.

Supposedly, according to gossip, the WINE devs are working on a solution to the VST interface bugs (stemming mainly from Wayland implementation, I guess). However, I won't believe it until we get something we can test out here in the masses. Seemingly Wine / Wine-Staging version(s) 9.21 is the last relatively stable version and all others after that are affected by some kinds of regressions (bugs, issues).

I know it's not your responsibility to fix WINE bugs. However, your VST instrument is rare in how it flickered instead of crashed. Seems like if you happen to figure out how to fix the flickering, you might accidentally stumble onto how to fix the WINE bugs and pass that info on to the WINE devs. Or maybe I'm just an idiot because I don't know how to do any programming LOL.

Thanks for the GR-8 nonetheless. It's got good sounds.

To other Linux users, try this as a similar substitute: https://blaukraut.info/#download (Charlatan3 VST3, CLAP, for Linux)

[BONES]

Why put up with this shit, just to use Linux? It's madness.

[mjolnir]

Why put up with this shit, just to use Linux? It's madness.

yeah, that is how it feels too, sometimes.
right when i was about to go back to windows 10 it got basically discontinued too.
windows 11 is too demanding for my wimpy computer.
and my computer came with windows 10 but can't run it with stability.
i have to get a used functional system and switch back to https://multitrackstudio.com

[BONES]

Windows 11 doesn't use any more system resources than W10, as far as I know,. It certainly doesn't feel like it does. And unless you build your own custom kernel, Linux is at least as bloated as Windows, often a lot more so.

Multitrack Studio looks OK, if a bit pricey for what it seems to be. $59/$99 for the Standard/Pro editions might make it a bit more attractive but, as it is, it's more than I paid for Studio One Pro.

[mjolnir]

To be honest, in my Windows XP days, I used to own MultitrackStudio Pro plus and I was MUCH happier than all this Linux *#$%#.
But I kinda got suckered into believing Linux is better when really it's just different, not better. But I got used to it. And I can barely even run Windows 8-10 compared to how I was doing registry hacks and stuff with 32-bit Windows XP SP2 OEM. But musically, i was much more productive on my Windows offline rig and I miss that a lot.

The way forward for me seems to be to go back to Windows or to switch to hardware. I won't be able to run Windows 11 (on my low-tech laptop; I checked), but I could downgrade to Windows 7 or 8 or 10. There's a repair technician who tells me he'll install Windows on my Linux laptop for 100 dollars. So I'm thinking about it.

I would miss Linux a lot for the first few months, but I'd probably get a lot more DAW work done.

P.S.- I apologize if I seem kinda spaced out in this post and others. I'm having trouble concentrating lately, and I'm not 100% confident that I'm communicating coherently lately. Also, I apologize if I sound crude or rude. I'm just not 100% with it these days. And I got a mental health disability too.

[Phuturetone]

@HydrogenHuman, Thanks! I've forwarded the issue to the framework developer; will let you know as soon I get some info. Cheers!

[Phuturetone]

...if you happen to figure out how to fix the flickering, you might accidentally stumble onto how to fix the WINE bugs and pass that info on to the WINE devs. Or maybe I'm just an idiot because I don't know how to do any programming LOL.

#metoo LOL

I'm using a framework, so I don't know anything about back-end stuff. Let's hope the framework developer will be able to fix it.

[mjolnir]

thanks Phuturetone.
i still like your product.
if I switch back to Windows, which I might, I'll be back onboard with you guys and your excellent product.

[HydrogenHuman]

@HydrogenHuman, Thanks! I've forwarded the issue to the framework developer; will let you know as soon I get some info. Cheers!

Nice! Looking forward to seeing if the issue gets resolved.

[3lu5iv3]

Can we expect GR-8 2? This is a really underrated synth. Love to see it gets updated with new features.

[Phuturetone]

Can we expect GR-8 2? This is a really underrated synth. Love to see it gets updated with new features.

Hi Elusive,

Which new features you'd like to see added?

Thanks,
Sasha

[3lu5iv3]

Can we expect GR-8 2? This is a really underrated synth. Love to see it gets updated with new features.

Hi Elusive,

Which new features you'd like to see added?

Thanks,
Sasha

I don't know. Maybe Wavetable osc? Granular osc?

[BONES]

I don't know. Maybe Wavetable osc? Granular osc?

No! No! No! No! No! There is already plenty of that kind of shit around. GR-8's simplicity is a big part of its attraction. If you are going to add anything to it, it should be things that enhance what's already there. e.g. Morphable HP, BP and Notch modes for the filter (like a SEM) or a pre/post filter overdrive to really push the sound. Maybe a sub-osc or per-oscillator unison. Or perhaps the ability to morph between the oscillator waveforms, like the hardware analogue UNO Synth does. Those kinds of things would be useful, digital style oscillator options would not.

To be clear, I'm pretty happy with it as is, I don't think it needs much, if any enhancement.

[Phuturetone]

Thanks guys for your suggestions, I'm interested in hearing them all!

I'd rather try each type of synthesis (wavetable, granular) as a separate plugin before trying a hybrid synth.

I prefer simplicity and ease-of-use too.


Cheers!

[BONES]

Well, in that case, after a bit of proper thought, if I had to prioritise my wishes, it would go -

1. More filter modes - HP, BP and Notch.

2. Pre/post filter overdrive/saturation.

3. MSEG with flexible routing - i.e. select destinations with those lovely silver switches or a drop-down menu - and mod depth. It would need at least two destination assignments (2 x switches or drop-downs).

4. Adjustable width of resonant peak (Q). (Not sure if it would be useful but it feels like it might.)

5. Morphable waveforms (with modulation).

6. Filter morphing between modes (with modulation).

7. Per oscillator unison.

8. Increased polyphony.

Most of these are just my own selfish desires but I think an MSEG broadens the appeal and possibilities of any synth for anyone. I'd see it as an extra modulation source, not as a replacement for the ADSR envelopes, able to be used as a one-shot or looped for more LFO-like uses. It would be something you'd use for specific things, not for everyday tasks like the ADSRs. Making it self-contained (with it's own destination selectors) means it doesn't complicate the basic workflow and can be completely ignored when you don't need it.