KVR Audio

Gymnopedies · Post by **Gymnopedies** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:36 pm

Anybody using their Products?

What I'm really looking for is opinions from anyone who uses the audio inputs from their sub $500.00 Synths to effect guitars and such.

The Darkstar & Elevata look interesting, as well as this http://www.ampmusic.demon.co.uk/emixgear.html

Anyone using an EVolver for this application?
Although I'm really looking for straight forward analog devices.

Please point me to some interesting options

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:40 pm

Got a second-hand Darkstar XP2 recently. Not a bad wee beastie, and nicely compact. Not played with routing stuff through the filters yet, but I do know the filtering isnt always-on. You need to have MIDI notes playing to activate the filter.

The joystick's particularly fun, BTW.

Gymnopedies · Post by **Gymnopedies** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:46 pm

whyterabbyt wrote: You need to have MIDI notes playing to activate the filter.

The joystick's particularly fun, BTW.

Cool,I'll be using a combination of 3 midi variable- control pedals & 2 CV pedals.

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:11 pm

okay but they'll usually be sending MIDI CC's; you need MIDI note-on messages to trigger the filters... if you're pedals can produce them, you're fine, otherwise you're gonna have to find use something else as well...

intel · Post by **intel** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:18 pm

whyterabbyt wrote:The joystick's particularly fun, BTW.

he's correct. much more fun than a wheel or slider. the dark star has a very specific sound, though. you may or may not have a place for the sound. I throw all the oscillators out of tune and drench it in reverb for hellish dark ambient textures. but if you're trying to write pop music, this mightn't be your instrument of choice.

Steven West · Post by **Steven West** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:27 pm

I got the Micro-Sync BPM a long time ago, and never really used it.

But, it does look well made and very accurate from the little I've fooled with it at least.

As for affecting a guitar through a synth - I still swear by my Yamaha CS-10 synth.

There's just something about playing through a real analog synth and adjusting your playing style and triggers to be just so. It can really be funkier than a Wah-Wah with a good synth and settings. I think a good ol' second hand Yamaha CS is still one of the best. I tried a Arp Odyssey - and it just wasn't as rewarding. Great synth, lousy audio effector.

I think you've been by www.ex5tech.com correct? I've been hitting Ski up about the Evolvers audio and trigger levels - and I believe he reported there was only 2 settings for input (-10/-3db something like that) and that there was no 'trigger' for the VCA and VCF's to speak of? Basically like a ol' ARP again.

Trust me, if you ever get a chance to plug your axe into a Yamaha CS-5 even and get good velocities to trigger open the VCA/VCF's with good shapes on them - you'll ditch all your pedals and effects.

Red Sound Products....