Mánibranðr Studios

The Meter/Key view is a great tip, it would help when I mess with alternating time sig progressions like 7/8-6/8-7/8-15/16 repeatingx4

So I have a problem when working on this specific project where Cakewalk would lock up when attempting to load Dimension Pro as a synth on it. It would lock up infinitely, with the CPU usage in the 35%-42% range. Even when closing the program, the process stayed stuck to the memory until I suspended and then terminated the process. (Using taskkill didn't work.) That, unfortunately, ended up hijacking the ASIO driver and I was forced to use WASAPI shared for the rest of the session, because only a full system restart would bring the ASIO driver ability back. I have attached the problematic project file. The dump file is sent to tech support. What's weird is that it's this project specifically that is causing the issue, I tested loading Dimension Pro x64 in a blank project and it loaded just fine. Freedom Redux.cwp

I think I may have figured it out. I had CleanMem installed to clean up unused memory every 30 mins. I installed that thing years ago and never touched it since. I have since uninstalled it and it seems to alleviate the problem. Worked around for 2 hours without issues afterwards. (Then i went to bed)

Okay so I have been getting this weird issue where the ASIO driver just silently disconnects from the DAW and wouldn't come back, spitting this error message whenever I tried to play back. Usually restarting the app brings the ASIO driver mode back, but seeing this like 30 mins after opening the project is unacceptable. I have has no other apps open at the time.

This is good to know, Ultra Analog is a really nice synth. If you're on the fence, go get it. You won't regret it.

This is a pretty nice offering, the number of bands available is pretty mind-blowing. Though, I think I'd use TDR Nova more often, due to the dynamic EQ functionality.

How do I get the updates if I got Shreddage 3 Abyss through Native Access?

I had the Sessions 2, yes

So I decided to pick up on the combined upgrade and intro discount, and wow holy shit this is pretty amazing. I am pretty blown away with how the rhythm patches can do arps or pads and percussive lines at the same time with a single chord input. The amount of things you can do with this is nothing short of impressive! I think this will be a great plugin to do a 1-synth challenge on.

Taking stock of your library, what kind of plugins and sounds you're really missing, doing research and asking about every deal to see if what you're getting is actually good. There's also keeping your ears to the ground for upcoming sales, so that you won't drop...say $60 on a pretty good plugin that was worth $200, when the very next week, you get T-Boned with a top of the line plugin of the same type, that normally sells for $399 and is selling for $150. Sure, you'd be spending way more, and the savings ratio isn't as good, but the price drop is larger, and you won't end up lusting after the top of the line plugin after making that $60 purchase. There's also factoring in skill and readiness to take full advantage of the deal. Like, right now, I would LOVE to have the current orchestral tools deal on NI right now, but a) I don't have the drive space b) I am not very skilled at orchestral scoring, so I am better off with something more general, so I took the Palette Symphonic Sketchpad deal. Understanding what you just bought is an important factor. Avoiding unnecessary overlap is also a thing. For example, this deal looks very attractive to me right now, but I pretty much already have everything I need to make music in the synthwave style in the form of a massive synth collection. I am just missing drum machine plugins, but there are ways around that. Picking that library up would be a vanity purchase, when I am not trying to save up for something else.

Keep in mind, the freebie can't be claimed if what's in your cart is another free item.

Well, one thing I do is I put it in my wishlist, and then see if it pops in my head, and if I can visualize my workflow using it.

Kontakt is one of those things I had to get eventually, so I prepared for the sale last summer. I planned for it too, making strategic purchases that will serve me, and knock the price down to $125 when it goes on sale. Well worth it, considering how many deadass good libraries don't use the player.

I have a rule for these things, which has saved me from a lot of GAS. I ask myself "Will I ever find myself using this? Will this be useful for my project?" If the answer is yes, then I'll consider it. Another question I'll ask is "Can I do better?" If the answer is yes, then I'll skip the deal. Part of why I ignore the Sonivox deals, I know that If I get an orchestral library, I want it to be useful to me in the years to come, and not have to worry about it breaking and not being able to get support for it. So I hold out for something that will serve me in the long run, and it had paid off. Today, I managed to pick up the Palette Orchestral Sketchpad, and it has most of everything I need. (Melodics is gonna be something I'll pick up later, since I really can use the solos.)

Welp, rest in peace. I really really hope Sonivox gets their stuff in order soon then.

Oh holy shit, this is gonna be a godsend for electronic music producers.

Are the samples at least unencrypted? It could be worth it to try to create a Kontakt patch out of it so that owners of the instruments can at least have something functional and reliable.

Keep in mind, they are essentially abandonware at this point. There is a reason they're on sale for so low.

Oh wow, this is real nice! Always looking for more world instruments!

Palette Symphonic Sketchpad Ultra Analog VA-3 Also saving up for an Arturia Keylab Essentials controller.

So, one thing I wanna know, when will the introductory price last until?

This deal seems to resurface as soon as it expires. Keep an eye out for the deal later on.

I really love how Audio Assault plugins are really effective at getting that wall of sound effect with their plugins, while not being bogged down with an overly complex UI. I'd pick this up, but I am still learning the ins and outs of Grind Machine II and XCTR

Same, but I did not regret buying the bundle. DDly is really one of my favourite Delay effects plugins, and Trash 2 is just a lot of fun to mess with. You also got RX Elements, which is pretty much essential if you do recordings and don't have the luxury of sound isolation, which is the case for me.

I mean, it's an analog synth, there's a lot of those out there. However Ultra Analog does have the capability of keeping up with the competition by essentially being a no-frills synth that has great sounds and great customization, even at the Sessions tier.