From jake92028@yahoo.com Sun Oct 09 07:37:25 2005
Subject:OT Muse Receptor & VST's?

I've been looking over the Muse Receptor site and their Plugorama
link to buy/download online, etc. The concept is really interesting,
but unless you've already been involved with the earlier computer
based VST's for home studio or are one of the members that are
playing them live, it's a bit confusing. I'm not very familiar with
computers and music - Band-in-a-Box is my limit so far : ) My
questions are geared toward just playing the sounds of a limited
group of VST's live = taking the Receptor and a MIDI keyboard to
perform:

How do I know what I need per the extra memory and HD offered if I'm
just going to get the B4-II coming soon with vintage instruments like
they used to offer (Vox, Farfisa, Indian Harmonium), one or two of
the premium EP packs, a premium piano or two, and a general synth
package to just play the expected synth sounds without much tweaking?
Do I really need any internal Receptor computer boosts?

Is there a big difference in price and/or convenience between buying,
for instance, the B4-II which is just about due out, from one of the
usual online stores and loading it myself with my older but still no
crashes non-internet computer? ..as opposed to doing it online via
Plugorama. Like Ethernet on my old desktop with Win98SE - umm duh?
what where is it what does it look like <:(

What do you "really" need in terms of a MIDI controller? They say any
MIDI controler will work, but what about splits - set 'em up on the
controller or the Receptor? How many channels needed? Like could I
set up some splits and sounds on the Receptor and merge them into one
MIDI channel on the controller? It would seem probable that my Casio-
to-NE2 Rack basic setup will not provide the best controller although
I love it's little upright piano feel and cost.

Are the "presets" for what you want to play live located on the MIDI
controller or the Receptor, I guess both? Obviously you need a fast
swap for live play - seems like you must have a controller with a
fair amount of patch/performance user presets.

I don't want to be hauling a heavier (for me) piano controller plus
organ controller around - would really like to play just one board.
My old Fantom seems the least expensive route that would surely do
the job, but the keys are kind-of halfway between organ and almost-
piano (light-weighted) and have just a touch of rubbery and rounded
feel to them which sometimes I like as they're slick and easy to
play - but sometimes the feel irritates the heck out of me. I've used
it as my "best" controller since I can't find a dawgone thing that
impresses me as a stand-alone controller with presets for a long
time. It seems like the better models are all computer based music
studio setups with no presets or are heavy-weights -> "for me" means
with my back it's gotta be in the 25-30lbs or so weight range. Some
of the mid-low back nerves affected if re-abused from lifting cause
tremors in my lower arms and wrists that last for hours, but no
problem if I keep the weight of gear moved low.

Any and all info greatly appreciated, offline is cool too.

TIA ~ Walter j