From ccmacdon@rogers.com Sat Jul 21 06:00:47 2012
Subject:Re: Kronos X. . . vst vs workstation?

Mark, there is obviously a learning curve for whatever instrument or configuration you choose to use. With a PC or Mac solution you have a laptop, an operating system, a VST host application, numerous VST's, audio/midi interface, a controller (or two), audio cables, midi cables, and there are a lot of things to learn and things that could go wrong with every element in the chain.

With a workstation like the Kronos, you have only interface to learn, and basically one point of failure, the workstation itself, rather than possible laptop, OS/App failure, interface, midi, or controller failures or compatibility issues to resolve etc...

There can be cost savings with a VST based system, but not as much as you might expect IF you choose premium components.. a top quality laptop, top quality VST's, high end audio/midi interface, top quality controller etc...

The real advantage to VST based system is that you really can tailor it to your needs AND it is upgradable on a component by component basis.. you can change or upgrade VST's at will, and you can upgrade/chance any of the hardware elements as required.. you typically can't do that with a Workstation.

However, today's workstations, like the Kronos, are becoming more and more powerful, and having the 9 synth engines in the Kronos is like having 9 different VST's loaded and fully accessable.

Whether someone chooses a VST gig rig or a workstation, really depends on the individual.. for some the flexibility of the VST gig rig is fantastic, for others the complexity of it and hassle of integrating all of the components into a reliable system is beyond them, too time consuming, or simply too complicated and risky and they just want to take a single keyboard out and plug it into an amp and play.

There's lots of guys on this list who perform with VB3 and a laptop and there are lot's of guys on the list who prefer the real clone/workstation approach.

For me right now, I love my mojo/kronos rig! That said, I have everything I need to put together a VST/laptop based rig and I may do that some day..

Regarding your suggestion that workstations like the Kronos should run VST's.. I don't expect that to happen too quickly, but you are seeing closer integration between hardware and DAWS (between roland hardware and Sonar, and between Yamaha Hardware and Steinberg Cubase). However, most workstations today have audio inputs, as does my Kronos. So, I could easily set up a laptop running VST's, control it via Midi out from the Kronos, and have the audio run directly into the Kronos, and further process that audio through the Kronos effects and send it out the Master Kronos outputs (or one of 4 individual outputs), kind of like a self contained system. hmmm maybe I'll have to give that a try!

Craig

--- In CloneWheel@yahoogroups.com, mark k wrote:
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