Doug Steinschneider

Ade on the Cantabile forum (very well known pro keyboard/guitar/composer) recommends the original VB3 through the free Anvil amp simulator (for saturation) and then into the UAD Waterfall Rotary for a rock Hammond B3 emulation (heads up - don't know if they've fixed a requirement for Rotary to check online - I've only used the above in the studio). I've joined a local open mic playing with an Axiom 61 into a laptop and Behringer UMC202HD USB audio interface running Cantabile with Blue3, B-3X, AcousticSamples B5 or VB3 through an EV ZXA1 SUB and JBL Eon 610. It sounds very good but what works live is very different from studio recording. I've never used VB3-II playing out but it's great for organ trio style playing. The laptop is an almost 10 year old Lenovo x230.

Things to do when GAS is in check. I bought Cherry Audio Polymode in one of those "don't have to think about it" $5 deals here a while back and never spent time on it until I came across this tutorial: POLYMODE Synthesizer from Cherry Audio - Full Programming Tutorial & Sound Demo (youtube.com) Very understandable tutorial, walkthrough with presets demo

Since cables insert into expensive gear I usually source from known suppliers. Aguilar had to replace and entire I/O board for a bass player friend whose cheap Speakon connection failed and was stuck.

Thanks - I think everyone's advice above is good. I get the recommendation to Bounce To Tracks - VST plugins get updated - uninstalled - lose authorization etc. The Freeze option makes sense while the session is active.

We're doing a guitar heavy mix adding IK Tonex to many guitar tracks. We have a fairly powerful computer but I've decided we should look for advice on the best way to "print" tracks or whatever alternative is recommended so that we're not running 10 instances of guitar amp sims. What is the recommended way to do this in Cakewalk? We want to keep the option open to further modify the track. Thanks

I'm considering the Tonex One pedal - the bigger Tonex Pedal would be overkill for me. I was thinking a while back that a simple one I can store a bunch of presets on would be useful. Just learned of the Tonex One when looking at the IK website yesterday. Those guys are busy! Also looked at the Axe IO One - another iteration of their guitar oriented USB audio interface that I probably would have chosen over my Axe IO Solo. Really the only difference is the Axe IO One is single input channel. The only scenario I can think of requiring the second channel is if you wanted to record electric guitar and vocals simultaneously. It's got MIDI DINs in and out, the same JFET/Pure switch, Z-Tone knob, Active/Passive switch. It's more compact and 1/3 the price.

Installed!

I didn't get the email but it was on our studio email APD account. The code from it works with my account. I'm not sure exactly what I'm buying as I've been using Tonex quite a bit by just going online from AmpliTube 5 and picking Tonex presets and it lets us use them. The 20 downloads thing for CS (correcting earlier when I called it SE) also is confusing. Any comments on benefits of buying Tonex would be welcome (Peter IK - are you here?) Thanks, Doug

Installed!

I bought a pair of iLoud MTM's in excellent condition on ebay for a little less than 1/2 price. I don't have the best position for my mixing desk and should do more acoustic treatment but the ARC feature mostly took care of that. They are very clear - great for mixing multi-track live performances we record.

To quote Ed (Bapu) - "Installed!"

HookTheory's HookPad web app is worth looking into. It will sync to a YouTube version of a song and show you the chords. It's also a composition tool.

Lois responded - said they are considering the model I proposed - it's the same as Cantabile or Reaper - you get a year of updates - then software keeps working but you can't update until you renew the license. I don't mind it for software I use regularly and if the annual isn't a crazy high amount. Cantabile hits me up for $99 a year but the developer Brad is continually adding features and resolving bugs and the software is awesome for live performance using just VSTs with a midi controller. I think we all agree Reaper is a great value. I think they may well go that route.

I posted feedback - said I prefer perpetual license that can lapse but keep working at that update until you re-up. Cantabile and Reaper are examples.

I've only bought a limited selection of Unify libraries; Cloud City is one of them. Modern Cinema Back To The 80's is another good one.