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I still have a Windows 7 box for games running a GTX 950 GPU. I like older games (like 5-10 years old) that run really well on this older hardware. Got a good deal on the GPU about 5 years ago. I always let my computers idle to sleep when I'm not actually using them. I'm sure that adds to the lifetime of fans, as well as lessens the general wear and tear.

Naw. He's got a grown up day job now, and builds FM synth chips in his spare time... Not coming back to Cakewalk anytime soon.

It's always been "soon", like next year for many years. Bulent's "soon" is meaningless. But these current sales appear that he may be prepping for release? Who knows... But he has said that his latest 2.9.9 release will be the last before 3.0, so I'm betting that's next. Not gonna say "soon" again, though. LOL!!! Then again, don't completely rule out releases 2.9.10...11...12, etc. ? At any rate, it keeps getting better. He has already merged some code from SM One back into SM 2 to prep for 3.0.

Well this deal was posted 2 weeks ago. For $29 there was no point sitting on the fence waiting for a better deal! ?

The latest live stream from this past Saturday:

Deal ends in 4 hours!!!

The names and versions explained: SM 2 was the first synth from KV331 Audio and has been around for years, and should soon be upgraded to SM 3.0. SM One was a newer proof of concept spin-off for a simpler one layer synth and some new tech. It was also successfully expanded to the mobile iOS platform as a separate app purchase. SynthMaster One iOS is KV331 Audio's first full blown synth app for the iPad. So regarding the bundle, it's entirely up to you to consider if you will really use SynthMaster One. Not a good deal if you just want SynthMaster 2.9 and can get that for $29. That's the lowest price I've ever seen that one go for. Reminder: The $29 deal ends on March 30th, 2021 at midnight eastern time Simply get 2.9 and save the extra money for the upgrade to 3.0. I have SM One, and it's a pretty good synth on it's own, with a good factory library of 1200+ presets (not SM 2 compatible) so if you're not sure just try the demo. Download here: https://www.kv331audio.com/synthmasterone.aspx SM 3.0 will get the new tech from SM One, and will be able to load presets from SM One, and other new features. So if you have SM One, you will have access to those SM One factory presets using SM 3.0 (not the same ones as the SM 2 factory library of 1800+ presets).

The bundle that keeps on giving!

Love my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen!

No offense, but... Your avatar is cool!

Things were much simpler back when I just had to decide which Cakewalk plugin to use...

You probably need to ask that question over at https://forums.pluginguru.com/ The author does not post in our forum.

Based on these examples from RME and others, you can still get PCIe, but you better be willing to pay for it. https://www.sweetwater.com/c703--PCI_Audio_Interfaces

"Some". I think that was an issue with some early models. I don't see any reason to avoid today. I have no issues at all with a recent model Focusrite Scarlett (gen 3) USB 2.0 running on an Intel USB 3.1 Host Controller (it "just works").

I browsed the manual last night and watched a couple of video tuts. I think I have a handle on it now, but the fact that you have to click on a node (oscillator, ADSR envelope, LFO, FX, etc.) to get to the controls for them is a bit outside of my comfort zone. An an extra step. But it sounds awesome!!! ?

This thing sounds awesome! But the GUI melts my brain! ?

Vital is open source! The source code is licensed under the GPLv3. https://github.com/mtytel/vital

I was thinking Vital (I have it) had some similarities to Phase Plant (which I don't have, just impression based on demo vids). Never tried Serum either. Vital might be an up and coming new star!

I think I will stick with Voltage Modular. My brain prefers the workflow of the Eurorack metaphor. ?

Where's the $29 deal?

One thing that is not initially obvious with keyboard controllers is that virtual instrument control, and DAW control surfaces, are two different modes. Controllers that are well integrated with specific virtual instruments may work great out of the box with the plugins they were designed for, regardless of the specific DAW they are running on. But the various host DAWs supported are often footnotes on their marketing pages. And Cakewalk requires some special configuration for that to achieve limited compatibility. The last hardware manufacturer that had dedicated support for Cakewalk was Roland, because they owned Cakewalk at the time. For example Arturia keyboard controllers are designed to work well with Analog Lab. Native Instruments keyboards work well with their Komplete or Komplete Kontrol. M-Audio and Akai have made keyboards to integrate with their VIP (Virtual Instrument Player). I have one of those VIP keyboards already, plus an Arturia keyboard on order. Bottom line is that I am happy with knobs and sliders that provide real-time control over the virtual instrument that I am playing (more like a hardware synth), and feel lucky if I can get any transport buttons to start and stop Cakewalk. That part can be fairly easy, but there really is no one-stop answer to that other than fiddling around, and I haven't bothered to spend more time to go beyond that. I'm sure some have, and may be able to better answer specific questions about that. My opinion is that if you want a full mixer control surface for your DAW, buy a dedicated device for that and set it up. I cannot make recommendations, but have heard the Azslow plugin used by some users here can be an effective solution to getting one set up in Cakewalk. Example of AZController:

SynthMaster 2.8 was released in May 2016. Almost 5 years ago. One of the new features from that change log: "4 new filter categories: Ladder, Diode Ladder, Bite and State Variable filters all based on "zero delay feedback" (ZDF) topology." The SM 2 factory presets, and most of the expansions, do not make use of the new filters because they were designed before SM 2.8. They were designed using either the 'Digital' or 'VAnalog' filters, the only filter options up to that point. Which aren't bad. But the new filters are much better! These new filters are the same filters as the ones used in the little brother SynthMaster One, and are much better at emulating virtual analog. Ladder Filter is modeled on the famous Moog ladder filter. Diode Ladder Filter is modeled on the well-known analogue filter circuit of the Roland TB-303. State Variable Filter is modeled on the analogue state variable filter found in the Oberheim SEM. Bite Filter is modeled on the legendary Korg MS20 synth. To hear the new filters, you need to add them yourself to an existing SM 2 preset, or make your own preset. Or optionally, there have been a few SM 2 expansions released since SM 2.8 that do incorporate the newly designed filters. To my knowledge these are only found in: Big Tone's 'Analog Basics', 'Analog Basics 02', 'Tableworks 01', and 'Tableworks 02'. Check them out!

I see that this thread has been moved from Deals to Coffee House... Party on!!!

Sure, but does it improve latency?