KVR Audio

ZenPunkHippy · Post by **ZenPunkHippy** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:41 am

loveyoumaxin wrote:DSP = Infinite core cpu.

This doesn't even make sense

Mushy Mushy · Post by **Mushy Mushy** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:42 am

ZenPunkHippy wrote:
loveyoumaxin wrote:DSP = Infinite core cpu.
This doesn't even make sense

Clearly the DSP in that kids core noggin is quite finite.

faun2500 · Post by **faun2500** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:57 am

justin3am wrote: I understand that you aren't having fun with the stuff that you are using but that doesn't mean that all hardware is a chore to use.

Agree.

spacecult · Post by **spacecult** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:58 am

ZenPunkHippy wrote:
loveyoumaxin wrote:DSP = Infinite core cpu.
This doesn't even make sense

Dark-matter Supertemporal Processor.

I don't know why he let this out the bag, but obviously he has the beta hardware and was telling y'all about it. Intel gonna be

!

Lucky for him it's just good old Intel and not apple. Intel just be like

... but if it was apple he'd be like

and they would be like 'whatever, fool' and then they would take him off somewhere and he would come back like

faun2500 · Post by **faun2500** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:59 am

DevonB wrote:They sound good and have their own niche sound...

This too.

faun2500 · Post by **faun2500** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:04 am

I use a mix of digital softsynths and analog hardware.

I find mixing a track that's made with analog synths much easier than a track made with all softsynths. Softsynths still sound flat to me while analog sounds 3d. The only software synth that sounds unique (imo) is Massive and FM 8 but even they are hard to mix and flat in a mix.

Hope that makes sense.

spacecult · Post by **spacecult** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:14 am

Mostly just treat them as sample material anymore. Riffs, phrases, pads, effects, perc sounds. Sometimes, if I'm intent on using a particular hardware sound i will get a similar patch going in a vst and after i work something up and am pretty much done i will then send the midi to the hardware and record it. I still program beats on an asrx alot though because i like using it and make patches on hardware for fun/obsessive compulsive disorder. I would never use a hardware sequencer ever again. Uhm, except for the beats!

spacecult · Post by **spacecult** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 9:24 am

faun2500 wrote:I use a mix of digital softsynths and analog hardware.

I find mixing a track that's made with analog synths much easier than a track made with all softsynths. Softsynths still sound flat to me while analog sounds 3d. The only software synth that sounds unique (imo) is Massive and FM 8 but even they are hard to mix and flat in a mix.

Hope that makes sense.

It does. And what you're saying is true. imo. It shouldn't be as true as it is and it doesn't make sense that it is what it is. Hardware produces a different sound and feel. I'd be on the hardware bandwagon but after i fell off i was just too lazy to get all the way back on.

danbroad · Post by **danbroad** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:22 am

I usually keep at least one hardware synth around a software setup. It has to offer a different workflow, a unique sound character, or have a nice control surface that inspires. One synth at any one time, MIDI I/O and audio into the soundcard.

Right now I'm in a state of transition - I recently started to use a POD HD Pro as a sound card, which has stereo inputs for a synth and Hi-Z inputs for my Tele etc. The useful thing about the Pod is that it can act standalone, sometimes I just want to turn up and play. As soon as the DAW plays [and I moved back to Logic a couple of days ago, still finding my feet again] then the POD becomes a USB sound card - in the same way my Virus TI used to.

So, new soundcard, new DAW. I figured I'd fancy a new synth, too, so I have a Prophet 08 on order. The 12 doesn't appeal as much as the 08 does ATM - I have plenty of interesting granular/digital/aggressive synths and so the warm cushions of the '08 better match what I'm doing.

rob_lee · Post by **rob_lee** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 10:35 am

IncarnateX wrote:
Thus, I just have to ask you guys how you make sense of hardware synths ( and drum machines) beyond jamming and live performances. Are there anyone who would go through a proces like the above to produce some synths and why would it be worth it to you?

Well some of us here were brought up on hardware synths. There was no soft synths around when i first started out in 1985. Nada. Or if there was any i wasn't using them till the 2000's..It was hardware all the way bought and paid for by long hours on construction sites just to pay for 1 synth, oh i remember those days that's why it's hard for me to give them up. Sure i also use them to make tracks etc. The hands on control (there's nothing like it) Now though young kids can come along with 1,000k laptops and a few plugins and start knocking out tracks (easy yes but not inspiring) just my opinion though.

I'll never give up hardware synth iv'e used them 28yrs now and they're just as good if not better than soft synths IMO.

Nothing better than twiddling those knobs.. oh anyone remember Bars & Pipes? Shit that name just popped right in to my head lol i think that was one of the first software i used haha.

I hope i can still use my fingers in another 28yrs from now and still use my hardware

Rob

faun2500 · Post by **faun2500** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:41 pm

The hands-on workflow and limitations of my Moog Slim Phatty make me create! In software I will just go through presets looking for something inspiring and work from there. This is a great way to get inspiration but with my hardware synths I find myself programming a sound for a particular need, be it a pad, bass or lead and then save that patch as a starting point if needed in the future. This might be because I don't really create patches from scratch on my softsynths because there are 1000484780087380973 patches already made for every softsynth. The Slim Phatty only has about 99 preset locations and more than half of them are my own.

With the DSI Tetra I use the software editor to control it because it is quicker. I use the hardware to change octaves/filter cutoff/resonance and scroll through my patches and this is actually a lot faster that using the software. But why did I spend £100's on a tetra and control it with a mouse? THE SOUND! Yes the sound is incredible! (did I mention The sound? or REAPER?? lol) I fell in love with the sound of DSI when I heard the demos of the Prophet 8 on Youtube and the tetra gives me that sound and more (feedback/sub osc).

I feel these couple of points justify using hardware with my softsynths.

Oh shit, I forgot to mention the Moog filter! hehehe

faun2500 · Post by **faun2500** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:45 pm

rob_lee wrote:
IncarnateX wrote:
Thus, I just have to ask you guys how you make sense of hardware synths ( and drum machines) beyond jamming and live performances. Are there anyone who would go through a proces like the above to produce some synths and why would it be worth it to you?
Well some of us here were brought up on hardware synths. There was no soft synths around when i first started out in 1985. Nada. Or if there was any i wasn't using them till the 2000's..It was hardware all the way bought and paid for by long hours on construction sites just to pay for 1 synth, oh i remember those days that's why it's hard for me to give them up. Sure i also use them to make tracks etc. The hands on control (there's nothing like it) Now though young kids can come along with 1,000k laptops and a few plugins and start knocking out tracks (easy yes but not inspiring) just my opinion though.

I'll never give up hardware synth iv'e used them 28yrs now and they're just as good if not better than soft synths IMO.

Nothing better than twiddling those knobs.. oh anyone remember Bars & Pipes? Shit that name just popped right in to my head lol i think that was one of the first software i used haha.

I hope i can still use my fingers in another 28yrs from now and still use my hardware

Rob

Your too old Rob!

I was bought up listening to the sounds of analog & digital hardware and that is the sound I love. But my first synths were VA about 13 years about. Dance Ejay and Rebirth were my first software so I have grown use to using software for years now.

Just got back into hardware last year but only analog. My next synth will be the ms20 mini!

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:48 pm

justin3am wrote:Having a computer with multi-I/O audio and MIDI interfaces as a hub and interface for hardware makes things a lot easier, IMO. Patchbays won't hurt either.

To answer your question more directly... sometimes the slow, deliberate process can be enjoyable. I understand that you aren't having fun with the stuff that you are using but that doesn't mean that all hardware is a chore to use.

I have just as much fun with hardware synths and sequencers as I do with DAWs and controllers. It's all good.

360 systems midi patcher is a lifesaver, I bought mine when I started working for the last music store I worked at (2001) and I dont know how I got along without it. The funny thing is this is the store that had all the used gear and was a large chain (Daddy's Junky Music) and when I went into the store I saw the midi patcher in their rack for 40 dollars (it listed for close to ten times that as I recall, 360 systems is not cheap as I found out doing research). I was told and later confirmed it had been in the system for years and no one wanted it. When I started working I found out there you were not allowed to buy used gear as an employee without permission from corporate, when I asked in my first week they couldn't wait to get rid of it and sold it to me for 20 dollars I think...I would not sell it for ten times that.

One nice thing is you can set it up as merger as well and it has program changes for each channel so you can set up to 99 programs with patches. The down side is it doubles your midi cables, but worth it

here's the best pics I could find online

rob_lee · Post by **rob_lee** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:54 pm

faun2500 wrote: Your too old Rob!

Hehe yes i am mate

danbroad · Post by **danbroad** » Sun Jul 21, 2013 4:59 pm

Hell yeah, I'd like to join the 'too old' club too. Do we have to be in our fifth decade, or will [very] late fourth do?

How the heck do hardware synths make sense to you?