Softube Modular

[trusampler]

I've tried on my iPad, both PCs, (win 7 & 10) IE, Firefox, Chrome and Safari using the 64-bit Windows link on the website, the links posted previously and even URL encoded the parentheses in the URL. No dice. Ping and tracert both return, so this is odd that some are able to download with no issues and others can't.

It appears it was something to do with either Comcast or Comcast wireless. I finally turned off wireless on my phone of all things and was able to download that way. Comcast or Comcast wireless must have some buried setting not to download exes that big, although I've downloaded plenty of monster exes in the past.

So, if you're having issues getting the 404 or page not found, try changing your Internet connection...

Thanks for the tip!! downloading now on the smartphone!

Jeez softube, maybe zip the file next time!

[Kindred]

When they iron out the bugs, this feels like a game changer. Could be to modular/Eurorack what Diva was to analogue polysynths...if they get it right and the ecosystem gets buy in from the various boutique modular companies. Who knows, arguably Reaktor 6 should get that honor, already established as a rock solid product.

One thing's for certain, Reaktor 6 is a lot more stable than Modular. The good news is that the patches I have heard sound unbelievably good. The bad news is - changing patches in Cubase 8.5 gives me instant crash. The few times when it hasn't crashed, it sounds like it is about to with that horrible juddering sound it makes changing patches. Normally the only thing that gives me an instant crash like that is when I have a project almost finished with a heap of plugs/samples and my ram maxes out. I have a 4790k/32gb rig - just loaded Modular into a project -

(task manager, not Cubase)
CPU - went from 3% to 19%
Memory - went from 1gb to 1.4gb



Next time I get in front of the computer, I will try loading it into a project as the very first item...

[lnikj]

Stupid question removed

I'm not sure why you removed the question, since it didn't seem at all stupid to me. I haven't tried this yet, but I would think that you could get Softube Modular and Reaktor Blocks talking to each other over virtual audio cables. No idea how well that would work, but it would be interesting to try.

Immediately after posting it occurred to me that I should just route the audio to and fro in my DAW though I note that in Live I am not seeing separate L and R channels but just 4 straight AUX channels that take the combined signal.

Might need to use a more modular DAW in that case... Bidule or something.

Hmmm ... yes. Unfortunately, whilst all the outputs are exposed in Bidule, there is only a single input. Reaktor exposes up to 16 inputs as well as outputs. Kind of limits the routing possibilities.

[MikeCallon]

Tech tip.

For people on win 10 64 bit having Live and having ilok problem. You know people which need to run Live in Windows 8 compatibility mode.

Ok that will work but keep in mind Live will drastically slow down on big sessions especially if you are using plugins like Nebula or if you are using Max For Live plugins. Your Live will drastically slow down and max for live will take ages to load in some cases. It was debated a lot on various forums.

This appear to be only at 64-bit windows 10 and so far only Live and Presonus studio one have this "ilok" issue where one need to run their host in compatibility mode.

However....if you have performance problems you can do what i did. It occurred to me by reading that only 64-bit OS version have this problem so i was thinking - ok what will happen if i run same plugin but 32 bit over jbridge in to 64 bit host?

Well it works!! I have Live and to run these problematic plugins in 64 bit environment without enabling compatibility mode one can wrapp 32bit version over jbridge. No performance problems, same sound no compatibility problem. Super transparent solution until developers update their plugins.

I talked with two independent developer teams and they told me it's not Host fault it's the way ilok works and few host dependencies but the point is that iLok is responsible for this. Apparently there is new ilok SDK and developers need to update their plugins AND their copy protection (it's separate process and usually developers only update to new copy protection) in order for this to not have problems anymore.

Until that happen with your plugin you can bridge 32 bit version via jbridge. Once when "fix" is available and your plugin is updated and not having this weird problems you can simply delete jbridged version and start using 64 bit version. Session will recall perfectly even if it was previously saved over jbridged plugin because host thinks that it is actually 64 bit version. I tried it and it works.


So in short if you have performance problems in compatibility mode (for example NI Replika won't work in Ableton which is running in compatibility mode) you can wrapp 32 bit version of Softube Modular into 64 bit host over jbridge and it is working super nicely. Only con is that you actually need to order jbridge which is super useful and cheap anyway.

Kind regards

Is this really an iLok issue ?

I haven't had to run Live 9 in Compatibility mode until I installed Modular (my first Softube product). Live has been happily running UVI, Soundtoys, AIR & XILS iLok plugins without any issues at all. It seems to me this issue is more down to Softube's implementation of iLok than iLok itself

Anybody else have 'general' iLok issues with Live 9 64Bit or just with Softube plugins ?

[deastman]

I was having the same problem with most or perhaps all of my ilok plugins after upgrading to Windows 10 x64. I've been running Ableton in compatibility mode since then, and I can't say that I've really noticed any performance issues resulting from that. I stopped installing 32 bit plugins a long time ago, so the jbridge solution would be a huge nuisance for me.

[trusampler]

Sounds good, but had to hike up my Asio driver to 512 to play it without crackling. I normally play on 64, so this synth while has potential, I don't think I'll be buying anytime soon. Reaktor 6 n blocks have my modular needs pretty well covered

I agree though with a comment said earlier it's cool to see softube take this approach on with this synth. I can only hope more to follow, n wish this one good luck ,but it appears to need some fine tuning under the hood before I'd take it seriously to consider investing in it.

Good luck

Compatibility mode on win10 isn't a workaround btw it's a complete nightmare with load times, softube really need to fix this situation with their plugins, jbridge works a lot better for those who face that

[aMUSEd]

There is something slightly perverse to me about getting an emulation of a eurorack modular and then immediately starting to worry about presets.

Ya think?



There are decent hardware sounding synths like Diva that should do you fine with lots of preset banks. I actually thought Modular V sounded quite good too. This is more for people who want to dig in.

I mean, preset management is not an unreasonable request for a virtual synth. But if you're buying this one only to use presets, you're kind of missing the point.

Actually I think you are, the concern about preset management is not about having them so much as being able to save them in a format you can use between different DAWS and users. Surely the main point of a software modular is the ability to save patches and quickly change as opposed to having to take out all the cables and rewire everything from scratch every time you want to create a new setup, or having to use diagrams and photos to recall great setups?

[tripleflows]

For newbies a good idea is to analyze these basic tutorial patches:
Tut Fig2 Easy
Tut Fig3 Sequencer
Tut Fig4 Beat Sequencer
Tut Fig5 Linked Sequencers
Tut Fig6 Basic Poly Synth

[kmonkey]

Is this really an iLok issue ?

I haven't had to run Live 9 in Compatibility mode until I installed Modular (my first Softube product). Live has been happily running UVI, Soundtoys, AIR & XILS iLok plugins without any issues at all. It seems to me this issue is more down to Softube's implementation of iLok than iLok itself

Anybody else have 'general' iLok issues with Live 9 64Bit or just with Softube plugins ?

According to developers it is ilok issue and one version prior latest copy protection scheme. You mentioned exact case. It's up to developers implementation. But they could not implement it until ilok actually released update.


Example - i am using all of Slate plugins, they are using latest ilok protection and latest ilok framework and they don't force me to run Live in compatibility mode. Soundtoys also work no problem.

Softube, SSL Duende, Relab does not work and need compatibility mode. Like i mentioned some developers confirmed that they are aware of this and that they will update their plugins in future and this won't happen anymore. I do know that Softube is aware of this issue but why they did not implement fix for current release - i do not know reason for that.

[thetechnobear]

lots more playing, and still very happy.

my experience on Mac OSX 10.11.5 Live (9.2) 64 bit, no stability issues, performance I think is very good - Ive been running 4 instances, for 4 MPE voices, without any issue
(sounds like the main issues are on Windows)

presets, are for me, just to save my patches... and for that it works fine... the nice thing about using the 'standard' format is they can be recalled directly from my Ableton Push. the automation is great, and with Isotoniks PrEditor opens up the option of saving racks, with customised parameter mapping for your favourite rigs

sounds, I think is great... actually i bought modular after I did some simple patches for using with my Soundplane, and even these without reverb etc, just sounded so good - i was 'sold. if the simple stuff is this good, cant wait to see what I can make once i get into more complex patches.

later started doing less conventional patching, making use of audio rate modulation, and really held up well, and the sequencing and clocking and utility modules really show the power of a 'proper modular'... the notable thing is how 'midi' doesn't hinder it. (e.g. I find U-he Bazille is too midi based in particular its reliance on note on for triggers)

Its not as extensive as Reaktor Blocks (yet?) but generally oscillators and filters I think do sound better than anything I found in the UL (and Monark.. which i do like, just its not as nice as this).

I tried to link via the 'hardware audio interface' between Blocks and Modular, and could get Reaktor to calibrate the oscillators, but not trigger notes... Im thinking due to DC blocking? perhaps by Ableton when routing plugin audio? need to do some more experimentation.

what id like to see:
- more modules
a quantiser, as another poster mentioned is a curious omission. some more spacing save modules (quad D env)
Id love to see more 'west coast inspired' modules, which I think generally are under represented in VSTs.

- UI improvements.
cut n paste groups of modules, and drag n drop moving (the add/edit modes is not ideal)
user cable colouring
consider scaling... i.e. can we have multiple racks with some how can communicate with each other , or sub racks.
big eurorack rigs are often split into multiple cases. sure we can interconnect via audio/midi, but I want audio rate modulation between rigs

overall, its noticeable though, that my wishlist is doesn't need any fundamental changes, the only sound improvements is just more modules ( which softube have already said are 'in the pipeline')

anyway, its fantastic, and I think could be a 'game changer' for virtual modulars .

[flametop]

I get terrible crackling on my audio interface (Focusrite Pro40 Firewire) whenever I mouse over the GUI and it paints the 'ghost' patch cables. Anyone else get this?

[hivkorn]

anyway, its fantastic, and I think could be a 'game changer' for virtual modulars .

I fell the same.It is easy to use and it sound great ! Softube RULEZ!!!

[lnikj]

anyway, its fantastic, and I think could be a 'game changer' for virtual modulars .

I fell the same.It is easy to use and it sound great ! Softube RULEZ!!!

This is a genuine question ... why a game changer?

What does it have that is so much better than the vastly more flexible Reaktor 6 Blocks, or BEAP, Oscillot or Audulus, all of which are cheaper (potentially very much cheaper in the long run)?

I am enjoying playing with it as much as everybody else is, but I am not clear yet what additional advantages it is bringing me.

Is it 'just' about it emulating specific hardware, which I can understand to be an attraction to those already in possession of said hardware, or wanting to 'demo' that hardware, or is it something else that makes it a "game changer"?

[lnikj]

oops .. double

[Dostoyevsky]

This is a genuine question ... why a game changer?

What does it have that is so much better than the vastly more flexible Reaktor 6 Blocks, or BEAP, Oscillot or Audulus, all of which are cheaper (potentially very much cheaper in the long run)?

I don't get it either. The people I've been talking to keep telling me Softube modular is cheaper compared to Reaktor 6. This is just silly. Even if 90% of Reaktor's UL were crap, which isn't the case by far, there is enough stuff to explore for a life time. There are already more than 250 free blocks. It's easy to build a hybrid hardware/software synth and to at least everybody I know audio quality is beyond doubt.
If you do not like blocks for any reason, why not go for a System 63? It's 220+ modules including lots of authorized ones from Animodule, Ryo, Synthrotek, Emw.

So apparently it's the emulation of existing hardware modules. This seems pretty schizophrenic to me as well. Personally I prefer to have the real thing. And if I lost interest I could easily sell the module. Good luck with ilok transfers. And why isn't there any road map of what modules are going to be released next? Meh.