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Tezza

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Posts posted by Tezza

  1. On 5/18/2023 at 7:44 AM, Jimbo 88 said:

    Amazing, I can see a use for this straight away when I want to test out vocals and I'm too lazy to sing it myself or there is noise everywhere so I can't mic. The EULA seems to say that even with the paid pro version, for commercial release, you must attribute the vocals to the Synthesizer V voice database that is singing. ie you cannot rename the singer. I also wonder how much work must be put in to get the sort of results being advertised.

  2. So I tried a bunch of different ones. The one I'm sticking with for the moment is the Focusrite Clarett USB 4pre. I decided I wanted the 4 XLR and dedicated line in's and I managed to pick it up for a good price. The sound is taking a little while to get used to though. Soundwise, I preferred the Audient id14 but I will give the Clarett a bit more time, see if I can get used to it. Trying the different interfaces has been an eye opener for me. They all sound very different to me.

    The Clarett has all the connections I need and the sound is very revealing in the higher frequencies, not sure about the bass though, seems to be lacking a bit, I will try adjusting the monitors and see how it goes with recording.

     

  3. Different interfaces have different things that they are good and not so good at. I was surprised for example, that the Focusrite Clarett+ 2Pre has great dynamic range but quite weak preamp gain. The MOTU M series seems to do quite well at everything and other interfaces also have different areas where they are good and not so good..

  4. For those interested in purchasing a new audio interface, Julian Krause is considered by many as the god of audio interface selection. He conducts lots of independent tests of the different audio interfaces and there are some surprises about the manufacturers stated specifications, and how they stack up against his independent measurements.

    Personally, I like to see that the interface I am going to buy has the approval of Julian Krause although specs are not everything of course. Here is his general audio interface buying guide but he also has videos on his tests of specific interfaces. Oh wow! I just realized this is my 1000th post, do I get a lolly?
     

     

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  5. On 2/28/2023 at 12:07 AM, bluzdog said:

    Just my opinion but I wouldn't let an on/off switch preclude an otherwise great solution. You could always use a power strip, smart plug, etc.

    Yes, I didn't know that you could get a powerboard for USB devices that has individual USB port on/off switches, thanks for that. With the audio interface though, I feel more comfortable with it going straight to the computer rather than through a hub. Because I use the computer for website building and graphic design a lot now, for me, having a way to turn off the unit is a deal breaker.

    I liked the SSL2 interface and wrote to Solid State Logic asking them to perhaps consider that home musicians buying these smaller interfaces are probably using their computer for other things as well, and would like an on/off switch. They said they would forward my comments to their Product Manager. I think it is always a good idea to provide feedback to these companies, even though I am aware of just being a small fish in a big pond. In my travels around the net, I see this is a common complaint amongst a certain group of people. Thankfully, there are still good options out there that have an easy way to turn the unit off. The Motu M series seems to be leading the pack at the moment for me. The more I look at this interface the more I like about it.

    • Like 1
  6. 35 minutes ago, Byron Dickens said:

    Focusrite.

    Thanks for that, I initially dismissed the Focusrite boxes because they have no on/off switch but apparently the Scarlett 8i6 does have an on/off switch and so does the Clarett 2pre. I think I might have to accept that I need 2 interfaces, one for the studio with the on/off switch and one for when I'm out and about on the laptop where an on/off switch isn't important.  A local shop has the Clarett+ at $689.00, which is a good deal, a little stretch for my budget but doable, the Scarlett 8i6 is about $450.00 which is within my set budget of approx $500.00.

  7. 7 hours ago, Alan Tubbs said:

    I would think most any interface meets your 7 wants.  The most important thing is money.  for 3000$ you can get a racked lynx with all sorts of digital modules or go from 8 to 16  ADA for another grand.  No pres, however.

    on a more affordable scale I think the Audient is a great line.  Their new 2x2 unit ought to work fine for you.  For about a tenth of the lynx cost.  If Motu has worked out the kinks with windows, the motu mk 5 looks like a winner, tho it has a plethora of ins outs for about $600.
     

    I almost got a motu mk 5 but wasn’t sure how well that would work on pc.  So nice to know about the 4 software, rsinger .

    Thanks, I am looking at the smaller interfaces as I only really need 2 XLR inputs, I've never used the full 4 on my UR44. The lack of an on/off switch seems to knock a lot of these small interfaces out. I really liked the Audient stuff but alas, no on/off switch. Th MOTU boxes do have the on/off switch but as you say, there may be some problems with windows, I will buy new, so if there are problems at least there is a warranty, I guess that's one way to protect myself against that.

  8. So, I am about to purchase a new audio interface. My current one is the Steinberg UR44. I've been whizzing around Google looking at the options and looking at the reviews on Youtube. I thought the choice would be easy but it really isn't. There are many new interfaces on the market but from my perspective, a lot of them don't provide what I need or seem to have dodgy drivers or unreliability, quite a few complaints by people out there.

    The UR44 has been great as far as latency, drivers and general reliability and it meets all my requirements  but I think I might be able to get an interface with better sound quality. Looking at the specs, the UR series of interfaces, seem to be lacking a bit, in relation to the newer interfaces out there. Maybe some others are using different interfaces?

    I have a number of requirements and I am not sure whether there are workarounds. I was about to buy one only to find it had a severe drawback related to monitoring vocals. I am on windows 11. So my requirements are:

    1. Must have an on/off switch

    I do other stuff on my computer that is not audio related and need to be able to turn off the interface when I'm not using it. Most of the options out there have no on/off switch.

    2. Must have zero latency direct monitoring of some sort.

    3. only require 2 X XLR inputs

    4. A decent DI for using amp sims

    5. Low latency drivers

    6. Quality preamps

    7. Reliability

    At the moment, the only interface I can find that meets most of the requirements above is the MOTU M4. The only worry I have with it is the driver reliability on windows. It also only comes with a 12 month warranty. If anyone has any other suggestions, that would be great.

  9. 6 hours ago, antler said:

    If you're looking for new fans, it's worth giving Noctua a look. The colours might not appeal to some, but I don't see that as a problem as they go inside the case.

    Thanks, I'll keep it in mind, but the computer is new and i had so called "silent fans" installed when it was built. Not sure I would switch them out, but worth investigating.

     

  10.  

    On 2/18/2023 at 1:33 AM, Esteban Villanova said:

    That sucks man... there seem to be some problems with the 16 which don't occur at 4 or 8. The drivers do occasionally freeze the screen, but I do have a bunch of stuff open at all times... Disconnecting it helps.

    At the beginning I was having lots of problems that got solved once I set Windows at the same sample rate as the interface (right-click on speaker icon, select "Sounds", go to the properties panel of the input and output of your interface and change set the sample rate and bit depth to the same values as the EVO control panel).

     

    On 2/18/2023 at 4:53 AM, Grem said:

    Yes that is a solution. However, if the drivers are made correctly (IOW to strictly follow Windows specifications) the driver should be able to change sample rates depending on the program having focus.

    Apparently this is harder to do that it's suppose to be because I have heard of audio interfaces having trouble switching sample rates while in use. Some people working with video, sound and YouTube stuff report programs freezing, not switching correctly between programs. 

     

    This worries me about Audient interfaces, there seems to be quite a few weird things going on with them being reported in various places. I was thinking about getting the id4 mkii, but i am not sure now after looking around.

     

  11. Out of interest, I asked ChatGPT what to do about my computer fans and which is the best amp sim software. Chat GPT has become the definitive authority on everything in my place, here's what it said:

    Q. my computer fans are noisy, how can i make them quieter?

    A.There are a few things you can try to make your computer fans quieter:

    1. Clean the fans: Dust can accumulate on the fans, making them work harder and generate more noise. Use a can of compressed air or a soft brush to clean the fans and make sure they are running smoothly.

    2. Adjust fan speeds: If your computer has a BIOS setting or a fan control software, you can adjust the fan speeds to make them run slower and quieter. However, make sure not to set the fans to run too slow as it may cause your computer to overheat.

    3. Upgrade fans: If your fans are old or low-quality, consider upgrading to newer, quieter fans. Look for fans that have a low decibel (dB) rating and a higher airflow rating.

    4. Check the placement of your computer: Make sure your computer has adequate space around it and is not placed in a cramped or enclosed area, which can cause the fans to work harder and generate more noise.

    5. Use sound-dampening materials: You can use sound-dampening materials, such as acoustic foam or rubber feet, to reduce the amount of noise that escapes from your computer. These materials can absorb and dissipate sound waves, making your computer quieter.

    By trying out these steps, you should be able to reduce the noise from your computer fans.

     

    Q. What is the best guitar amp sim software?

    A. There are many guitar amp sim software options available, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few of the most popular ones:

    1. Bias FX 2: Bias FX 2 is a popular guitar amp sim software that offers a wide variety of amp models, effects, and cabinet simulations. It's known for its high-quality sound and customization options, allowing users to create their own unique tones.

    2. Amplitube: Amplitube is another popular amp sim software that offers a wide range of amp models and effects. It also has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to use for both beginners and advanced users.

    3. Guitar Rig: Guitar Rig is a well-regarded amp sim software that features a wide range of amp models and effects. It's known for its intuitive interface and high-quality sound.

    4. Helix Native: Helix Native is a popular amp sim software that's modeled after Line 6's Helix hardware unit. It offers a wide range of amp models, effects, and cabinet simulations, and is known for its high-quality sound and versatility.

    5. S-Gear: S-Gear is a lesser-known but highly regarded amp sim software that's known for its high-quality amp models and effects. It offers a user-friendly interface and is particularly well-suited for blues and rock tones.

    Ultimately, the best guitar amp sim software will depend on your personal preferences and the type of music you're playing. It's a good idea to try out a few different options to see which one works best for you.

    • Great Idea 1
  12. 7 hours ago, abacab said:

    You can set your own fan speed profile MANUALLY by temperature for the each of the fans, CPU, case #1, case #2 etc. Turns out that my CPU fan by default was revving up with the slightest heat increase with anything that I was doing on the PC. Sounded like a maniacal leaf blower operator! Rev, rev, rev... LOL!!!

     

    Thanks for all that info, from memory, i set the BIOS setting to "silent mode", I think there were 3 settings. Well if this is silent mode I hate to think what noisy mode is! I'll definitely take another look in the BIOS see if anything can be done manually. Thanks for the links.

     

    3 hours ago, marled said:

    This is exactly the problem, such plugin developers like NI eat up a lot of the hardware progress! We all have to upgrade and upgrade the hardware that in the end we can just run the new versions of the same plugins! This is the future!

    Recently I compared the cpu consumption of a lot of plugins of the same kinds and I was really surprised of the differences between various producers. I did it on my laptop, cos it is quite weak and thus you can see the differences better. Some vendors' plugins ran quite fine against my expectations (e.g. Softube, older bx stuff, Boz Digital, ...) and others shocked me about their consumption! NI's Guitar Rig 5 was quite good in comparison, but GR6 is very bad. In general all newer NI plugins are very heavy!

    Yes, GR6 is definitely more CPU heavy than GR5. I tend to use S-Gear mostly, simply because it's easier to use, I like the format of just having an amp sitting there, where you can twiddle the knobs, without all the confusion of a multi windowed leviathan. It's also good if you have a single monitor, if you want to change anything while your mixing, it's a smaller box that pops up, together with the other windows. Where i find GR6 is great, is when you want to create a unique sound for the guitar, sometimes to the point where it might not even sound like a guitar. I've got other amp sims as well, but i just don't use them, mainly because of the bulky and confusing GUI.

    I think this is the future, namely, if you want to use modern VST instruments, synths or amp sims, then you have to have a modern computer to run them, big CPU with lots of RAM. Otherwise, you'll have a better experience running older software with an older computer.

    I should add, I've only recently got the new guitar, so I'm retesting all the amp sims I have, it is definitely a very different experience with the new guitar and computer.

    • Like 2
  13. 1 hour ago, locrian said:

    This is what I'm planning to do as well but am not sure whether to stick with Intel (given their self‐inflicted woes) or switch to AMD (which is potentially risky since I know so little about their products and don't want to spend a lot of time, money, and effort to build a system and then have to deal with problems arising from them just recently having stolen the 'crown' from Intel).

    And this^ is my other concern given that my stopgap solution has been to use my laptop to run my DAW and, like you, I have constant, very distracting and annoying fan noise on hot days which caused me to work early in the mornings, late at nights, and to shift plugin-heavy projects to the winter months.

    People probably have different opinions about AMD or Intel, I've always used intel because years ago when i ran a video editing business, it was well known that intel had less compatibility problems with third party hardware and software/drivers etc. That may not be the case today, i wouldn't know, I just stick with intel out of habit now really. The fan noise problem is really, REALLY, annoying. Everything i do on the computer causes it to rev, load a song?...rev, edit some video?....rev, windows updates itself?...rev. It's constantly going up and down, all the time i use it.

    My laptop is more of a constant noise, it turns on for a while, then dies down or turns off but i only use it for internet and website building. I can address the noise issue with the laptop by downgrading to a 6 or 7th gen i5, which will still be enough power for what i do with it. As far as the PC is concerned,  i don't know what to do with it at the moment, I'll need to research it. But, yeh, the noise is a massive issue as far as I'm concerned.

  14. I've used the Steinberg UR interfaces as well. I have found them to be rock solid on windows. Never once having an issue with any of them, which cannot be said of the other interfaces i have tried. I would put money on it, that whatever problem your having, it's not the fault of the UR22.

    • Like 1
  15. On 2/16/2023 at 8:23 PM, aidan o driscoll said:

    Though I have 6, i still steer toward 5 .. WHY? Because 5 loads far faster for me anyway and can load across a number of instances w/o cpu issues ( Core i5, 16GB Ram, SSD )

    Nice GUIs are one thing, but I prefer performance

     

     

    On 2/17/2023 at 1:53 AM, locrian said:

    Same here.

    The CPU load on most of their plugins has increased significantly over the last few years.  And my usage of these plugins has decreased significantly as a result.

     

    This is what forced me to upgrade the computer in the end. I had an i5 3rd gen with 8 gig of ram. Komplete ultimate 10 ran ok with it, gr5 etc although I could never get latency really acceptable with amp sims and instead, ran through pedals with direct monitoring. It was almost there, but on fast guitar parts, the timing just wasn't right. Same thing with VST keyboards and pianos etc, although i could "get by" with these. But when i put KU 13 on everything ran slow, like really slow, sometimes taking 1 minute or more just to open GR6 or the new massive etc. It was bad.

    Then i got a new computer, an 11th gen i7 with 32gig ram. Basically, all of these problems just went away. Latency is a non issue and running the KU13 instruments and GR6 etc is fine. Also, the VST pianos etc are all great now, i can play really fast parts without timing issues. The only annoyance with the new computer, is the noise it makes, not too bad on cool days but turns into a revving motorcycle on hot days. My previous computer was dead silent, all the time.

    In terms of guitar though, i swapped out the mexican Strat for a player series double humbucker Tele (with push/pull pots for single coil function) and this change really helped with the overall sound. I've got more of a respect for the amp sims now. My previous Strat was too harsh and grainy for the computer but the Tele sounds warm and fat, with all the harshness gone, much better for direct recording with the computer, even when i switch to the single coils. The Strat sounded great through an amp, just not with direct in to a computer, I thought it was the interface DI, but it was the guitar. So in terms of getting a better guitar sound using amp sims, changing software = meh!, changing guitars= MEGA! and upgrading the computer = SUPER MEGA!

    The only thing left to change now, is the interface. The UR44 has been good but it is old and i don't think i'm getting the best sound from it. Also, I've only ever used 1 input at a time really, occasionally 2. For an even better amp sim guitar sound, I think i might switch to an Audient id4 mkii or id14 mkii. Maybe, this will upgrade my sound to SUPER DUPER MEGA!

     

    • Like 3
  16. 4 hours ago, Billy86 said:

    I’m pairing a 32” Sony TV with a 27” Dell and it’s fine. I think these days you can get a TV monitor for less than a computer monitor in terms of screen size. Both mine are 1920x1080. 

    Similar set up to mine. I am low on space though. I have a 24" monitor and an old 32" Panasonic TV, both 1080 x 1920. they are connected to both the DAW and the laptop (via a docking station) for music, i just use the 24" monitor. when using the DAW for video editing, I use the TV as a second full screen monitor of the footage. The colors on the old Panasonic are great as is the blacks and whites.  I can get a really nice picture from it, it has very deep colors. The newer TV's don't look as good to me. I can simultaneously play  tutorial videos on it as well, Whether i'm using the DAW or the laptop. It's been a great system.

    The only thing i was thinking of changing was getting a 27" qhd monitor, i'm looking at that at the moment. It would be better for the music and video editing, but a bit overkill for browsing the internet. But since I am doing some website work, i might be able to justify it.

  17. 3 hours ago, Lionel said:

    And LibreOffice

    That's what i use exclusively now, it's a lot easier to use than microsoft equivalent and it works on mac, linux and windows. The native files are interchangable regardless of operating system. I've got office but just don't use it anymore. On the organizations I am active with, we have rolled it out. It's free, everyone can use it and interchange files regardless of operating system. Apparently, it's also available for android and ios now as well.

    It's also faster to load and use than Microsoft Office, I think it's the best of the open source alternatives.

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