Anything in development for a box that lets you play VSTi's live without a computer?

[spigmu]

There are a few almost feasible options as an FX box for a guitarist using VSTs, but I'm not finding anything for a keyboardist. Specifically, to bring to a gig with just a controller, no laptop or tablet, and have VSTi's loaded and have a logical switching interface for toggling between multiple instances of them. There really seems to be no commercially available widget that does VSTis well enough to use live at all and have several up available at once and selecting one is fast and easy. Guitar FX boxes that load VSTs are available, but that's another thing.

The Mod Swarf is the closest under a grand but it seems not near a solution for a live keyboardist.

There had been a few Raspberry Pi based widgets but that would be a last ditch option here.

Any Go Fund Me's or

[lfm]

If modelled VST instrument it might be doable, but the memory needed for external sampled stuff might be fail.
- these stomp box size things

But workstations like Korg Nautilus and others from Yamaha and Roland is directly what you ask for, but their built in stuff then.

Not all familiar with features of the Nord's, but they have at least some libraries to pick from.
- Nord Electro or Nord Stage etc
- Nord Electro are rather light weight as I recall

A used Nord Electro 3 or so might do the job, guitar in one hand, Nord in the other.

[spigmu]

Thanks, lfm. A workstation or really any keyboard larger than mini keys defeats the goal, which is to bring a single widget to a space where there already is a controller and be able to use a simple handful of loaded up VSTi's (as opposed to any module's on board sounds). I'm steering clear of solutions that, as my father used to say are "like buying a truck to put sugar on your cereal" Doesn't have to be small as a large pedal but needs to fit in typical carry case. I've been keeping an eye out for a while on Kickstarter, unsuccessfully. Most of what general searches turn up is generally commercially manufactured hardware, either deep into modular connecting, bulky and for sounds that are far from useful to me, or a box for a guitarist to load fx VSTs, and if they handle VSTi's it's almost like a nod to the fact that it can technically do it but they can't function as a simple rompler of sorts in a live setting by a long shot.

Cheers,

S

If modelled VST instrument it might be doable, but the memory needed for external sampled stuff might be fail.
- these stomp box size things

But workstations like Korg Nautilus and others from Yamaha and Roland is directly what you ask for, but their built in stuff then.

Not all familiar with features of the Nord's, but they have at least some libraries to pick from.
- Nord Electro or Nord Stage etc
- Nord Electro are rather light weight as I recall

A used Nord Electro 3 or so might do the job, guitar in one hand, Nord in the other.

[wintoid]

Not VSTs but VCV rack can be run on a Raspberry Pi, but perhaps you already know about that.

[FranklyFlawless]

Sounds like a job for the Zynthian:

• https://zynthian.org/

[bmanic]

I've been thinking of cannibalizing my Mac Mini M1 once it gets replaced and placing it inside a keyboard shell of some kind, one with enough space within it so that I can build a support structure for the M1 motherboard + soundcard (probably some old cannibalized RME) + some sort of touch screen or screen+trackball. Then have some kind of auto-boot system that boots right into a pre-configured Reaper instance.

This would allow me to have super flexible one button does all kind of operation where I could load up plugins as I please and have my own computer based keyboard that I can quickly take with me anywhere. Heck I may even add a bank of batteries just because the M1 draws so little power.. but that would require much more design and some cooling solution.

At some point there's going to be thousands of cheap M1 mini's out there in the used market and in my experience they've been rock solid. Already many can be had for like 200 euros or less. They are amazing!

The other option would be to just keep the M1 Mac Mini as is but still make it auto-boot configured with Reaper as above, and use it as some sort of external module.. but I do like the workstation keyboard concept more. The tricky part is finding an opportunity to pop the hood of a bunch of midi keyboards to see where I have the most ample space and decent keyboard with enough controllers and buttons.

[spacepluk]

I know you are trying to avoid it but it sounds like you need a laptop… That’s the only thing that will load any VST without making you waste a lot of time.

The other alternative is only using hardware synths that have software counterparts. Then you can still share patches, etc. with the computer and still have a good hardware experience. Most of them have keys though…

- Roland SYSTEM-8 & plug outs
- Roland Jupiter-X
- Waldorf Blofeld
- Korg Wavestate, Modwave, opsix, multi/poly
- Arturia minifreak
- Arturia Astrolab

The only thing that comes to mind without keys is an MPC or Machine+

[GaryG]

The platform is a pretty big factor in this, windows, mac or linux. A widget running any of these is a mini pc obviously, I can see you'd need to access it pretty regularly for maintenance. You'd avoid licensing issues using linux but then probably need wine or something to access the VSTs you want. I'd probably look at a windows Surface tablet for portability, maybe an ipad if the plugs you need are available.

[cryophonik]

Anybody still using a Muse Research Receptor? Any chance that would work for the OP, or is it too outdated now?

[psycho45039]

Anybody still using a Muse Research Receptor? Any chance that would work for the OP, or is it too outdated now?

That was essentially a rack mount computer which I'm sure is very outdated by now. Sweetwater has these:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... orkstation

Another option would be the new Mac Mini. It starts around $500 and would run almost anything he could want.

[Uncle E]

Another option would be the new Mac Mini. It starts around $500 and would run almost anything he could want.

[zag4139@comcast.net]

Octave HS 1 Mini PC Audio interface Windows system. Touch screen. Bought one and slowly evaluating. Pleased so far.

[Uncle E]

Octave HS 1 Mini PC Audio interface Windows system. Touch screen. Bought one and slowly evaluating. Pleased so far.

Very cool. Is it durable? BONES had good things to say about the Lenovo Legion Go and that seems pretty tough.

[zag4139@comcast.net]

Seems well built to me. No crashes. Runs every thing I have installed on it so far and I have a lot. Mostly guitar pedal stuff and effects which it’s designed for but I have installed a couples of older keyboard vsts too. Pretty compact unit with audio in and out.

[zag4139@comcast.net]

https://octavetech.eu/product/octave/
Here is a link to to company’s info.