Brian Walton

And Bapu got this one for $25....so still twice as expensive? ?

At twice the cost and a lock down to iLok, shouldn't Arousor be superior sonically?

Already up.

Yeah the developer has said it is basically the pinnacle of Melda, since it has everything inside...and that is saying something. I think it has plenty of room to expand as an instrument. But worth it as is now.

That piano is a separate installer that is 40 gigs. There is another free piano in there that is less than 4. It is also a separate installer. So you do have some ability to pick and choose. The 40 gigs piano has separate files after download for the different mic mixes if I remember correctly but I've never tried to delete them to see if it still works (assuming you don't pick a particular pair. With something like 7 mic sets there is a lot of tweakability. If you want the Steinway D sound, it shouldn't disappoint. I haven't tried all the other vsti out there but it is hard to argue against this one if you can deal with the size. Based on the ones I have tried it is certainly the equal if not superior in some respect. I realize it is a huge HD commitment for a demo, but pretty sure you can run it as such. Not a bad idea as you can keep the other 4 gig piano for free after the demo is over

Yep, though most of those are not my cup of tea (high gain stuff), I'm aware. Honestly, I think it is a great approach - getting everything in one box that one would use live, especially now that there is a pedal version. I've thought about capturing some of my plugin rigs in addition to the real world gear I've done already - so I don't have to deal with the plugins - AND to let me use them with super low latency that I can't achieve in an actual project.

My thought is how long is it going to take for them to go the TONEX route via the plugin form now that there are dozens of Youtube videos talking about the QC no longer having quite the value it once had now that TONEX is released in both software and hardware versions.

My obligatory referral coupon code for new users (20% off) MELDA31209027 ? The Meldway Grand that is 40Gigs is the best sounding Piano VST in my collection. Wish it wasn't so large, but it does sound quite good. Melda seems fairly committed to continuing to expand this product, so I think it provides a good value at this stage and with free updates for life, could be an even better "investment" in the long run. I'd expect they will eventually raise the rates on the LE version.

This is pretty impressive, though the full version is out of my price range. However, the free version is pretty capable as it includes one cab and 4 mics, with the ability to export 2 IRs per session. ML Sound Lab makes some of my favorite IRs on the market, so this is worthy of at least grabbing the free version. I wish my previously paid IR packs work in this thing, but oh well... https://ml-sound-lab.com/pages/mikko2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWjn_Ad3Z0c

Make sure you don't already have it. This was a free with any purchase item at Plugin Boutique in 2021. ?

Plugin Alliance for the "simulation" of specific analog stuff. IKM (only purchased through massive group buys - otherwise way too expenisve) for other analog stuff. Melda - I don't view them as a WAVES alternative - but a different stragegy and echosystem to replace EQs, Compressors, Reverbs, etc. Izotope - I view as something different but they have tools I use. Tonebooster - fits in that Melda, Izotope catergory There are other devs, but I tend to not think of them as replacements for things I was using WAVES for. ex. Audiority (Binson Echo emulator, Reverb, esoteric other gear) I personally don't think it is going to make a dent at all, unless they decide to revise the pricing structure. They are way too expensive in the current landscape.

Didn't need it (as I have MAutoDynamicEQ) but for $1.84 + what ever currency conversion fee that gets placed on the credit card....couldn't pass it up. https://www.lootaudio.com/category/sample-packs/spidergod/sfi (edit, I already had MDynamicEQ also apparenlty. lol)

Loyalty voucher expired early this month, right before round 1 of this sale...sadly as this would have been a good opportunity to stack things otherwise and a fairly small list of excluded plugins this time.

Yep. Only one I've had an issue with is I got Kirchhof the week of release and it still doesn't show up if I filter my products. If I select all and then by its name it shows up. So I can't fully trust it. This happens on multiple computers, fyi.

Demo isn't working for me. Getting some error. Was planning to do a test drive as I wouldn't trust the quality on something like this without it. Acoustica also has a "free" plugin but very limited headphone profiles (of high end cans) and then just some limited speakers and takes up 4+ gigs of space. I have DearVR Monitor and Toneboosters Morphit, but curious how this compares.

I think it is annoying we can't find the change log. That said, I'd bet these are just MAC updates per the working above. Last time they announced an update they actually indicated which features were added (A/B and Undo abilities on some plugins that didn't have it before as an example).

Not resizable though....?

The more I think about it, 3 switchable dirt slots in one unit has massive appeal. This is basically how I treat my King of Tone. Two independent channels which is stackable to give the 3rd. However that creates a compromise in how one side is set up. With toneX you could setup all 3 exactly how you want each and you could venture into more circuits to switch between or even stack and capture. I think I just convinced myself I need two of these on my board instead of boutique dirt boxes, which I can capture.

Sonic SE had licensing problems and stopped working out of nowhere and refused to reregister. Why these companies treat free products like they don't want you to even consider a paid product from them is beyond me. Pass until they remove all registration requirements from the core player.

It can also be used as an IR loader. While still guitar related, I plan to load some Acoustic IRs in it to replace my dedicated IR loader pedal. Anyone that runs an instrument through an amplifer for a unique sound could use tonex to replace that "unique" amp or saturation box. Keyboard players over the years have used a few different guitar amps (despite people telling them of reduced frequencies or damage to an amp) and they get used to that sound instead of a full range system. Realistically this is a box for Guitar and Bass players though as many other instruments are not going to respond the same way to feel and dynamics due to the whole pickup and impedence thing that happens with a guitar and amp relative to creating harmonics and distortion.

If you or even a casual aquatience owns or even borrows a guitar, this is clearly essential for everyday life. In all seriousness, I personally think this device makes it far more likley someone would want to pick up a guitar and play it. The response and sound of the unit at any volume (assuming you have great headphones or speakers) make playing more enjoyable than prevoius generation stuff. Rarely play guitar means picking up a guitar a couple times a year and realiazing you forgot where the notes and chord shapes are...a purchase might be overkill. This unit actually makes me want to play again. And by play, I mean dynamically interact with tone, not actually play music anyone would listen to.

Yeah, I was going to post about Shadow Hills and Adaptor Audio also joining Plugin Boutique - but the real news is just that they can be bought every day of the week at lower prices than the PA "every day price" has been. As the detail seems to suggest they are still redeemed through PA. Interesting move, but personally glad to see it doesn't look like the DearVR situation or Vertigo.

I agree that if you have the pedal itself that is what anyone should want to use for a gig vs an Ipad + pedal or dongle. That said in terms of an interface, I think the signal path is higher on the Pedal than it is for the HD2. A stand alone Pedal without the interface component absolutely sounds better than the HD2 + computer, IMO. Sadly as an interface, the TONEX pedal also isn't ideal being a 44.1 device when used in that configuration even though it has 24bit 192 AD stuff going on internally so we are told. I've found the use as an interface / preset manager to be on the buggy side of things so far on at least one computer.

I don't think I've seen any quote yet from IKM that is in the works (though I certainly would like to see it happen). A 4th footswitch to turn such a suggested pedal slot on/off would have really been the appeal, IMO. The reality is some people could use this thing as a dirt box in front of their amp. I think it is overkill for that, but TONEX max included a bunch of Klon profiles you could dump into the pedal.

"control" of the tone is the only question. The quality of the tone this thing is capable of is outstanding with the right capture. However, it isn't like a modeler/real amp where you can use the built in EQ to fully tweek the response of the amp in the same way as an actual amp. It is basically a snap shot of an amp at certain settings and then the EQ you apply to it is like using an EQ in a DAW on top of the signal. Adjusting the gain (up or down) is closer to lowering or pushing the input harder. That is something you really have to experiment with first hand to know if it will work for you. It takes pedals better than any digital modeler I've tried.