From tonysounds@yahoo.com Sun Oct 09 08:26:58 2005
Subject:Re: OT Muse Receptor & VST's?


First, you're better off buying the software
ELSEWHERE. Plugorama charges list, and there's no
bargaining. The advantage to buying from Plugorama is
you buy it for the receptor, then go to iLok.com and
the license is sitting in your account, you plug your
iLok into your USB port, hit Synchronize, and 2
minutes later, you own the program. When you buy the
software elsewhere, you have to pay a "CROSS GRADE"
fee to use it on the Receptor platform, but if you
click the link on Plugorama for each software that
says "DO YOU OWN THIS ALREADY? CLICK HERE FOR
CROSSGRADE SOMETHINGOROTHER."
Most of the crossgrade programs are $19.95.

I bought my software from NovaMusik, usually for 60%
of what Plugorama charged, and even with the
Crossgrade fee, I was still $20-30 ahead.

Apparently a limited number of VSTs have to be ordered
through Plugorama. As of now, the only one I know for
sure is Arturia's CS80v. This is because the
developer (Arturia) was being difficult in providing a
cross-grade, and decided instead to develop a version
of CS80 specifically for the Receptor. So I had to
return the CS80v to Nova (THANK GOD I DIDN"T OPEN IT),
and then purchase from Plugorama. Of course, that
cost me $60 more than buying from Nova. Like I said,
the only one I know that works like this is Arturia.

When you buy software elsewhere, you have to register
the software with the developer (the software's
developer), then go to Plugorama for your crossgrade.
Then when you click the "OWN IT ALREADY" link, you'll
be asked for your software's serial number and ID
number; after filling out that form, you'll informed
that there is about a 2-3 day wait while they receive
approval from the developer that it's ok to give you
the crossgrade. (You can thank the concept of "it's
computer-stuff, it should be free, here, take a copy
that I got from somebody else from somebody else who
didn't buy it either." They want to make sure you
actually own this program first. *This rant applies
only to the unlicensed or unapproved "shareware". As
you'll see on Plugorama, there is plenty of real,
legit free shareware available.) Now, I bought two
packages from G-Force: M-Tron (fantastic Mellotrons!),
and MiniMonsta (Yeah, a MiniMoog program that just
kills). They had my approval in less than 48 hours.
I bought B4, and applied for the crossgrade Monday
night, and as of yet, I STILL haven't received
Native's permission to crossgrade it.

(Am I clear how this works? You don't physically load
anything into the Receptor -a concept I didn't grasp
at first; iLok.com does it via the iLok key. You do
the crossgrade at Plugorama.com, select any or buyware
freeware you want at Plugorama, pay for it if
necessary, then go to iLok.com -where you
pre-register- and then log in, and it'll tell you "YOU
HAVE LICENSES!!!". You plug your iLock key (a blue
plastic key-shaped USB device) into your USB port, hit
SYNCHRONIZE, and log out. You plug your iLock into
the front of your Receptor, turn it on, and when you
go to your programs, you'll find the programs are
already there, fully functioning. It's cool as hell.)

Now, lest this all seem to daunting, keep this in
mind: before you buy any of these programs, those
programs I mentioned and a whole lot more, like
Native's Pro-53 (which I am now buying), and AbSynth
come as free demoware on the Receptor that works for
30days, so you can try them all for a month before
deciding "I HAVE GOT TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM!" B4 is one
of them. That's pretty cool.

Now your midi controller issue depends on one thing:
do you intend to run only one program from your
Receptor? Let me just say right now that even if you
think you will, you wont. I'm a prog-geek. I bought
this specifically because I wanted MiniMoogs,
Mellotrons and the CS80v. B4 blew me away in SO many
ways I can't tell you. There are piano programs like
Bosendorfer 290 available right now, and as we speak,
Muse is working with IVORY to get the application
working. (What a concept, huh? "Let's make sure this
thing actually works before we sell it to them.") The
sound quality of many of these programs will simply
freak you out.
You will find yourself adding more programs, because
unlike a synth or clone or digital piano, most of
these new sound engines cost between $200-400.

Now if you're using your Fantom (or keyboard Z) as a
midi controller working a few different modules,
you'll know how effortless or arduous it is to program
it. If you're satisfied the way it works presently
controlling a few modules, then you'll be fine. I
have a Fantom X7, but after using an A90 for ten
years, I have certain expectations and needs from a
controller that it, or my Motif won't meet. I was
PRAYING that the NordStage would answer those issues,
as well as provide the piano source and Hammond source
for my rig. Unfortunately, FOR ME, it was inadequate
on all fronts.

So now I went and bought another controller, but I
knew right out of the gate that I would be using at
least 4 programs simultaneously. The way I'm working
with it right now (and I'm sure there is another way
because you can obviously load more than 16 programs
in) is you load the programs into the slots on the
mixer and then go into each channel and select the
patch you want for that engine. I'm pretty sure you
can do it your way, which is "for this song, I want
b4II, Ivory piano, some LoungeLizard, and some Cheeze
Machine (that's their free "string machine" program),
split across the keyboard in fashion X, Y, and Z."
Then after programming it, save it as Preset Number
XXX.

As for upgrades, all I can tell you is this: it IS a
computer, and the rule of thumb is "overbuy." Some of
the programs like CS80v, use a lot of CPU. And the
piano programs like Ivory take up a LOT of processing
(That's why they sound so good). If you know already
you're going to use it for piano, you've got to do the
upgrade. (I bought the 160g HD, and another GB of RAM,
and had it shipped that way from Muse. While you can
do the RAM yourself, the HardDrive upgrade has to be
done by Muse or your vendor. I knew I would end up
needing it, and I didn't want to be without my
Receptor for 3 weeks or more after getting used to
it.)

The Receptor, so far, is easy to understand thanks to
its GUI (you really need to use a monitor, or computer
with this to see what you're doing).

So to recap:

1. Yes, get the hardware boosts.

2. There are no options here:if you own the software,
you have to buy a crossgrade; if you don't own the
software, you pay full boat for the program from
Plugorama but it's ready go to, whereas if you buy it
from a vendor, you can probably get it cheaper, and
with the Crossgrade free, you'll sill be ahead.
Either way, it'll work fine once you own it. Just
make sure before buying anything that you see it on
Plugorama (not KVR!)and that it has the "OWN IT
ALREADY?" link. Anything on the Plugorama site will
work the way it should (even if you buy it elsewhere).
CS80v is the only software on Plugorama I saw that
didn't have the "OWN IT ALREADY" link.

3. You probably already know whether your controller
will be enough; if you intend to use multiple VSTs,
make sure your present controller works to your
satisfaction, like has independent control over CC
messages, does splits, etc..

Hope that helped.
T

--- jake92028 wrote:

> 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
>



__________________________________
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
http://mail.yahoo.com