KVR Audio

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Sun May 08, 2022 6:57 am

For quite some time I've been working to get the Softube Console 1 + Fader into my workflow but no matter how I set it up it's just feels like I'm adding extra steps that complicate things.

I really like the hardware and the mixing section is absolutely brilliant as are the emulations of mixing gear. It's just that I can do all that, faster with better clarity in software. The reason for that is probably that there are no indication on the Console hardware which track you are working on. The Softube solution is to have an On Screen Display on the computer where you can see where you are in the mix. But that's no different from using other plugins.

Do you guys have any similar experiences where you have something that just... complicate things?

/Carl

DJ Warmonger · Post by **DJ Warmonger** » Sun May 08, 2022 7:23 am

CableGuys MIDIShaper:
The ability to send complex LFOs to any device sounds cool... until I need to set up the mappings. Works especially bad with Ableton racks which in general do not accept MIDI control signals.

Ableton Arp (M4L device from Suite):
Looks great, sounds great, but doesn't sync with bar during rendering... which means the pattern in randomly shifted at freeze. I need to set up a separate audio track and record arpeggio in real time.

All kinds of drum(ish) machines that allow uploading samples, or samplers altogether. Preparing custom samples takes time and the result is a hit or miss. Especially with novelty instruments such as iZotope BreakTweaker.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Sun May 08, 2022 7:46 am

EZkeys

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Sun May 08, 2022 7:59 am

Credit Cards.

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Sun May 08, 2022 8:16 am

I looked closely for 5 years or so for any hardware that might assist working in daw, but it all added more cumbersome workflow.

Mackie Universal, Avid/Eventide(or what name was), Icon and Console 1 too.
Console 1 had good potential with 20 buttons(2 pages) to directly put you on a daw track, but in contact with Softube that was not the object.

To quickly activate any track in a project with a button I looked at Launchpad a bit, but seemed not flexible enough.

The best addition from this search though was Shuttle Express, the smaller version
https://www.contourdesign.com/product/shuttle/

With left hand I easily zoom timeline, move cursor position with jog wheel and some buttons for some functions. Easy to design for each process/program what benefit you can get in that software.

And right hand free for mouse or keyboard actions.

Best $50 I spent, I think.

Some good idea was a console completely made up of a touch screen with faders and stuff like a console. But silly expensive at the time, and was not long on market. To have pages of faders like that could benefit quite a bit. Not exactly like motorized faders, but close enough.

Now as software
https://savethehuman5.com/

cryophonik · Post by **cryophonik** » Sun May 08, 2022 2:41 pm

Maschine, with each new update. It started out as this amazing hw/sw hybrid drum machine with a very fluid workflow at mk1, but now it’s grown into this hideous, convoluted mess that somewhat resembles a DAW, but fails miserably at that. All at the expense of destroying its utility as a drum machine.

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Mon May 09, 2022 6:06 am

cryophonik wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 2:41 pm Maschine, with each new update. It started out as this amazing hw/sw hybrid drum machine with a very fluid workflow at mk1, but now it’s grown into this hideous, convoluted mess that somewhat resembles a DAW, but fails miserably at that. All at the expense of destroying its utility as a drum machine.

It's really interesting you bring up Maschine. On one hand I feel that the mk3 has an incredible workflow, but every time I start to make something I always end up feeling way more lost that I do with like the Octatrack. I feel like some things it does really well and something not so well. You are probably right that it has grown too much into a DAW.

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Mon May 09, 2022 6:07 am

Uncle E wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 7:46 amEZkeys

This one surprises me. It got EZ in its name, surely it must be a walk in the park?

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Mon May 09, 2022 3:15 pm

The original Maschine was perfect. It simply added the things that most DAW’s lacked.

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Tue May 10, 2022 2:28 am

Any hardware synth, recalling, printing, autiomating, all a PITA

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Tue May 10, 2022 2:53 am

rod_zero wrote: Tue May 10, 2022 2:28 am Any hardware synth, recalling, printing, autiomating, all a PITA

I was going to reply exactly this, except spell automating correctly.

But still I use them. I love the different types of sounds they provide.

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Tue May 10, 2022 2:55 am

cryophonik wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 2:41 pm Maschine, with each new update. It started out as this amazing hw/sw hybrid drum machine with a very fluid workflow at mk1, but now it’s grown into this hideous, convoluted mess that somewhat resembles a DAW, but fails miserably at that. All at the expense of destroying its utility as a drum machine.

I think you nailed how I feel about it too.
rsp

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Tue May 10, 2022 2:57 am

cryophonik wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 2:41 pm Maschine, with each new update. It started out as this amazing hw/sw hybrid drum machine with a very fluid workflow at mk1, but now it’s grown into this hideous, convoluted mess that somewhat resembles a DAW, but fails miserably at that. All at the expense of destroying its utility as a drum machine.

For the most part, I still use it the same as I did back when it was first released. I should probably buy some sort of Master Class to get the most out of it. I’ve sort of ignored most of the updates.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Tue May 10, 2022 3:05 am

zerocrossing wrote: Tue May 10, 2022 2:57 am For the most part, I still use it the same as I did back when it was first released. I should probably buy some sort of Master Class to get the most out of it. I’ve sort of ignored most of the updates.

It might be the best way to do it. Maschine could now be an all-in-one for some people but I prefer to just have it be a loop/step sequencing environment inside my linear DAW.

DrGonzo · Post by **DrGonzo** » Tue May 10, 2022 3:14 am

Uncle E wrote: Tue May 10, 2022 3:05 am
zerocrossing wrote: Tue May 10, 2022 2:57 am For the most part, I still use it the same as I did back when it was first released. I should probably buy some sort of Master Class to get the most out of it. I’ve sort of ignored most of the updates.
It might be the best way to do it. Maschine could now be an all-in-one for some people but I prefer to just have it be a loop/step sequencing environment inside my linear DAW.

This is so damn true.

One thing I always seem to forget is that I don't have to make use of every single function from something. Using only the basic functions of Maschine is a very clever idea. I think I should try that with the Softube Console before I sell it, and just remove the Fader controller and see how that feels.

Products that complicate your workflow