Tone2 I2 vs Trueno Analog

[ENV1]

If they can find a way to fit some toobs in there then it's a wrap!

Maybe if they squeeze a little...

[Vertion]

I just listened to the demos and to be honest, they sound really good. I'm still a complete skeptic but who knows.

Now you have me skeptical. The argument about it being a concealed dongle is possible.. however, considering the investment costs of starting a company and packaging a physical product, it's unknown. I would be able to discern if I had access to one instantly.. I have the tools to monitor all communications on my computer and I am a master at code analysis from the old days. If, however, they are telling the truth.. then this is truly groundbreaking.. the problem is it is unproveable to know if they are actually good or deceptively good (evil) until we verify the product itself. However, logically.. regardless of the result.. the idea is SOUND (real and groundbreaking). Embracing the concept is still SAFE, even if the product is not. Someone needs to test it and get back to us, otherwise we'll be left with unprovability.

[Robmobius]

The demo examples sound very nice to me... For 159 quid it's a bargain.

You're losing the tactile experience but that's what midi controllers are for. This is a very interesting development as far as I'm concerned.

[ghettosynth]

Until I see a high quality image of the board inside I will presume this USB is basically a copy protection dongle for the plugin and nothing more, the picture on their Facebook page looks fake

Not to me, if it's fake they've done a good job of faking what IC lettering and solder looks like at an angle. Having seen enough boards in my day that looks like the real thing.

Why wouldn't it be BTW? It's just a monophonic monosynth in surface mount. There would be no reason to make it that large if it were just a USB key.

I don't dislike the idea, but I'm not sure that I care much. This is just an analog sound module in a USB stick format. For live, I'd rather have the knobs, in the studio, I don't really need the tiny form factor, and, in fact, don't want that sticking out of the back or top of my computer.

It sounds ok, but, they've of course had to compromise to make it sellable with the digital oscillators and the paraphonic nature. Ok, I would expect that and it's fine at the excellent price point. I just don't need that really. By the time that you make this complex enough to be interesting to me, e.g., an M12 style true polyphonic with incredible routing and 12 actual VCO based voices, the price is now back up to where the cost of adding the knobs is low relative to the product and adding those knobs makes for a more compelling product.

[iosys]

Looking further into it, you can get the installer from their website and install it without the USB, it just doesn't make a sound when you load it as a plugin or through the standalone app.

Deeper still, it makes heavy use of libusb which I guess is the IO to and from the USB thingy

I find the GUI a little hideous, it doesn't look that great and feels a bit clunky

[pdxindy]

- This is the first product of a much larger market, visualize the possibilities before the limitations.
- Lower price than equivalent softsynth that is only a watered-down mimic of hardware.

Let's see... currently RePro1 and 5 cost $99

RePro-5 has 8 voices. I would have to buy 8 of these to equal that. Which would be something like $1350...

[foosnark]

This is:
-- one instance of a mono/paraphonic synth
-- on a USB 2.0 dongle
-- with no analog outputs
-- with no physical controls
-- with added latency
-- which is partially digital, stuck with its built-in DAC and runs at 44.1kHz
-- which doesn't even run on Windows 7, which still outnumbers Windows 10 installations
-- which may have compatibility problems with some audio interface drivers
-- with a claimed analog oscillator design that they are being vague and cagey about
-- not available from US retailers
-- for a slightly higher price than something like a Meeblip or Volca which has none of those disadvantages
-- from a company you've never heard of

[Vertion]

Looking further into it, you can get the installer from their website and install it without the USB, it just doesn't make a sound when you load it as a plugin or through the standalone app.

Deeper still, it makes heavy use of libusb which I guess is the IO to and from the USB thingy

Sounds legit so far.

[braj]

This is:
-- one instance of a mono/paraphonic synth
-- on a USB 2.0 dongle
-- with no analog outputs
-- with no physical controls
-- with added latency
-- which is partially digital, stuck with its built-in DAC and runs at 44.1kHz
-- which doesn't even run on Windows 7, which still outnumbers Windows 10 installations
-- which may have compatibility problems with some audio interface drivers
-- with a claimed analog oscillator design that they are being vague and cagey about
-- not available from US retailers
-- for a slightly higher price than something like a Meeblip or Volca which has none of those disadvantages
-- from a company you've never heard of

But... FINIALLY! Lol, yeah sure, it will leave the now-mature soft synth market in shambles

[Vertion]

- This is the first product of a much larger market, visualize the possibilities before the limitations.
- Lower price than equivalent softsynth that is only a watered-down mimic of hardware.

Let's see... currently RePro1 and 5 cost $99

RePro-5 has 8 voices. I would have to buy 8 of these to equal that. Which would be something like $1350...

Once again:

- This is the first product of a much larger market, visualize the possibilities before the limitations.

It's alright... the soft synth developers MUST defend their customer base. It's only logical to resist change that requires change.

[iosys]

But... FINIALLY! Lol, yeah sure, it will leave the now-mature soft synth market in shambles

And pci usb cards will soar in value to unfathomable heights!

[braj]

But... FINIALLY! Lol, yeah sure, it will leave the now-mature soft synth market in shambles

And pci usb cards will soar in value to unfathomable heights!

Just visualize the possibilities

[Vertion]

The ol' analog vs emulation argument: Ok, here is an old one I did for ImageLine forums once upon a time.. Completely random vst preset and then a completely random analog synth preset (ad nauseam):

https://soundcloud.com/brite1000/soft-analog-example

[Sg1122]

The ol' analog vs emulation argument: Ok, here is an old one I did for ImageLine forums once upon a time.. Completely random vst preset and then a completely random analog synth preset (ad nauseam):

https://soundcloud.com/brite1000/soft-analog-example

the soft synth sounds better imo

[braj]

Yeah, like you aren't biased I wouldn't be surprised is you aren't working for that company. Just the first 5 seconds and I can tell all of what that clip was about.