Jim Roseberry

Haven't had any time to use it...

Simple plugin at that (no installer just the VST plugin dll)

This isn't a sample library, it's a full on plugin.

Had a K1 and a K5m... and later a K4. Made extensive use of all three. K5 had some amazing horn sounds. K4 had 16Bit samples... and filter (in the vein of Korg's M1 but scaled back cost).

FWIW, I wasn't trying to give a detailed comparison between ultra-low latency performance... just show that Cubase and Studio One weren't using the same audio engine. IME, If running Helix Native under circumstances I mentioned above (96k using a 32-sample ASIO buffer size), Studio One out-performs CbB. To put things into perspective: DP10 is one of the worst performers at ultra low latency Cubase 10.5 is slightly better than DP10 CbB is slightly better than Cubase Reaper is better than CbB At higher ASIO buffer sizes, performance differences tend to be less dramatic. Reaper is overall the most CPU efficient PC DAW application.

Studio One Pro 4 and Cubase 10.5 absolutely do not have the same audio engine. Studio One has significantly better performance at extremely small ASIO buffer sizes. Quick/Easy test: Using Presonus Quantum as an audio interface, you can set the ASIO buffer size down to 32-samples (at 96k). That results in round-trip latency of 1ms. Load Helix Native (with a patch using 2 Cab IRs for substantial load) into both Cubase 10.5 and Studio One Pro 4. Play thru Helix Native and monitor the resultant audio in realtime (heavy load on the CPU). If you have a fast machine, Studio One Pro 4 will show heavy load... but audio will be glitch-free. Cubase will struggle to keep up with the load (without glitches).

Magix recently acquired Vegas Pro, SoundForge, and Acid. The development team may be getting stretched a bit thin.

Samplitude Pro X5 has numerous features that make it useful as a secondary DAW: Batch Processing CD layout and burning (including DDP export in the Suite version) The Object based editing/processing is great for Mastering

The long-term answer/solution is to do the in-place upgrade to Win10 Pro. You can then insert two Registry tweaks that stop all automatic updates (including notifications).

Sure... The length of an IR can affect tonal quality. Many devices use shorter IR lengths (1024-samples is common)... as it's easier on the processor and latency is super tight. Some will argue that 1024-samples is long enough to represent the frequency content/resonance of a close mic'd guitar cab. Others will argue that 1024-samples (slightly over 20ms) isn't enough time to capture the lower frequency resonance. Having compared the same Cab IRs using lengths of 1024-samples vs. 2048-samples, (to my ears) the longer IRs result in a thicker/fuller cab sound. Captor X can also use 4096 (100ms) and 8192 sample IRs. With Cab IRs, it's a balance of performance, tone, and latency. Note that if an IR gets much longer than a couple hundred milliseconds, it starts capturing/recreating room reflections/ambience. You generally want to avoid capturing ambience within a Cab IR. (You want the Cab sound to be recreated as clearly as possible.) Ambience can be added post Cab... The Torpedo/Captor X, UA Ox, Boss Waza TAE, Suhr Reactive-Load IR all provide a load to your tube amp. As such, you can safely run the amp without a real cab connected. The above mentioned units are all "reactive" loads. They react to the amp... similar to the way a real cab would react. This helps provide a more dynamic feel (closer to using a real cab). Another cool thing; If you have a nice real cab (and mics), you can create your own Cab IRs. The Cab/speaker you like... mic'd the way you like This helps get closer to your sound. I'm currently testing the new Marshall 20w Studio Vintage tube head (20w Plexi). I've got the two channels bridged... with both output Loudness knobs at ~3. Playing thru a real 4x12 cab, that would be loud enough to peel paint off the wall. It's running at reasonable levels thru my studio monitors (no physical cab). Devices like Captor X allow you to use tube-amps like you would an advanced modeler (a la Axe-FX III). Great for both recording and live scenarios...

If you skip the "Arcade" GUI, the interface for embedded Torpedo in Revv's D20 and G20 lunchbox heads (as well as that of Captor X) is IMO pretty nice. Captor X doesn't even have the Arcade GUI. For those interested... Captor X is a great inexpensive (relatively speaking) piece of hardware. I've had all the popular "reactive-load with Cab sim" boxes. They're all capable of good to great results. Captor X is my favorite of the lot (UA Ox, Boss Waza TAE, Suhr Reactive Load IR). You can load/mix two simultaneous IRs (each up to 200ms), plus noise-gate, EQ, Enhancer, and Reverb/Echo. There's also a tuner (albeit not great). I'm late to the "Two Notes Bandwagon"... but Torpedo and Captor X have (for me) made using tube-amps both more practical and enjoyable. The G20, D20, and two Captor X boxes all fit in a single deep drawer. Perfect for an office studio.

Note: Poly D has a 4th Oscillator, Distortion, Chorus (from Juno 106), and Step-Seq/Arp. The rack model D is a more strict Model-D copy (sans keys). I also have the rack version (was thinking I'd sell it when I got the Poly D). Should probably just keep it... and have twice the Moog-ish fun.

Some will scoff at Behringer products (mostly from their past - many times well deserved)... but they've been releasing some good/great gear of late. If you miss the venerable Mini-Moog, you have to check out the Poly D. https://www.behringer.com/Categories/Behringer/Keyboards/Synthesizers-and-Samplers/POLY-D/p/P0D9J#googtrans(en|en) I used to have an early Model-D. It needed service bad... and sat for many years until I sold it (in a moment of weakness). Have always regretted selling it. The Mini-Moog doesn't do a lot (compared to todays hardware/software synths), but what it does do... it sounds glorious. I like to think of it as the exact opposite of many of today's more advanced/technical instruments. You can dial-up a classic bass or lead tone super quick. Though it's relatively simple in architecture, nothing (to me) sounds quite like the Mini-Moog. For lack of a better way to put it, you can almost hear the electricity in the sounds. To my ears, the Poly D isn't quite as fat sounding as the real Mini-Moog, but it's pretty close. Poly D is far far far more stable on the tuning side! Filter is really nice. I turned on the Poly D... and dialed up a lead type sound in probably 30 seconds. Think Tom Sawyer or Subdivisions... and that's in the ballpark. The action on the keyboard lends itself to playing fast lead lines. Get your Rick Wakeman and Jan Hammer fix! Might be the sentimental old man in me... but I really love the Poly D. Just a blast to play... Got it sitting on a rack in the studio... and I keep stopping to play it. I've got to get work done. Might have to switch it off. 😁

Yeah, not all boards are active cooled. 😉 In my example, I needed two Thunderbolt-3 ports. Asus changed the Thunderbolt header on their Z470 motherboards that have them (including the Prime Z490-A). IOW, The existing Thunderbolt EX3 won't work. You need the Thunderbolt EX3-TR (which isn't yet available).

Get the Pro version of Win10. Automatic Updates can be fully disabled.

When working with large low-RPM fans, it's much easier to mitigate noise. With small high-RPM fans, it's nigh on impossible to eliminate the noise (while under any significant load). Threadripper motherboards are a great example. Sound like you're flying a small model airplane. 😁

Depends on the motherboard. On the mentioned Gigabyte board, there's zero control over the chipset fan. If the motherboard allows, you can set a "silent" profile. But... when you put the machine under substantial load, that tiny fan is going to ramp-up. It'll be quiet when idle... but loud when working. As a test, I loaded a Premier Pro project with a video noise-reduction plugin. CPU use was ~70%. Tiny fan was busy/loud/annoying 😉 I'd opt for the 9900k vs the 10700k. Performance wise, it's a toss-up. 9900k has TDP of 95w 10700k has TDP of 125w

Yep. Be aware that some Z490 motherboards are active cooled (meaning small high-RPM fan). ie: Gigabyte Z490 Vision D (quality board) looks passive-cooled... but there's a fan under the heatsink. You can hear that tiny fan ramping up with CPU usage. It's high-pitched and annoying. TDP is 125w (about the edge of large/quality air-cooling). Performance of the 10900k is exactly what you'd expect. Take the 9900k, add two more cores (four more processing threads) and increase the clock-speed to 5.3GHz. Fantastic performer. It'll be extremely popular with many DAW users... (super high clock-speed and 20 processing threads).

If you have previous version of Komplete Ultimate, Best Service has Komplete 12 Ultimate Collector's Edition upgrade for $273.09

FWIW, There's no way you're going to want to run a 3970x with a Noctua NH-U14S. Even in push/pull (two fans), it's just not enough to dissipate 280w of heat (and especially not under any type of heavy load). In fact, you don't want to run a NH-U14S with socket 2066 i9 CPUs (much lower TDP of 165w)... for the same reason. Under load, you'd have thermal-throttling of the CPU... which kind of kills the whole point. For the 3970x, I wouldn't consider anything less than a top-quality 360mm AIC. When you're dealing with an active-cooled chipset (small high-RPM fan), to me that doesn't equate to "Whisper Quiet". BTW, the 3950x (Ryzen 9) has much lower TDP of 105w. It'll run just fine with the NH-U14S.

In Cubase, I think that's an issue (no drag/drop) when you're running as an Administrator. Setup a test account (non Admin)... and see if you can then drag/drop. I know this doesn't make a lot of logical sense, but I'm pretty sure it'll work.

The new "Sibilance" feature is (alone) worth the cost of the upgrade. Some really useful improvements...

I haven't seen a single 10980xe actually in-stock anywhere in the US/Canada. Distributors are saying it won't be available in 2020. In heavily multi-threaded scenarios (and at higher ASIO buffer sizes), the 3970x will smoke the 10980xe. When working at super small ASIO buffer sizes (or situations that aren't heavily multi-threaded), the 10980xe will best the 3970x. AMD is winning IPC (instructions per clock). Intel is winning "all core" clock-speed. TDP for the 3970x is 280w. There's no way to build a quiet Threadripper machine. (Requires large AIC and the chipset is active-cooled via small high-RPM fan) This is also partly why there virtually no OC headroom with Threadripper. All core ratio is ~4GHz. If you're hoping for anywhere close to 4.5GHz, you'll be disappointed.

Installed 2020.05 early release Ran BLA and applied the available update CbB now shows v2020.04

Wow! I remember talking with Bruce Richardson (years... maybe decades ago) wanting waveform scaling in Cakewalk/Sonar.