Vernon Barnes

Seems to be a big emphasis on the accompaniments in the blurb which isn't a selling point for me. I am pretty happy with pro and use it a lot. I have all the expansions so I think it would take a decent upgrade discount to tempt me. Let's see what transpires.

I am mostly using Studio One 5 now. I use the Sphere subscription so I have Notion as well and like the integration. I do miss the pro channel though. I think Cakewalk is a lot better for MIDI though. If it had a chord track I would use it a lot more.

I have nothing against subs, I have Presonus Sphere, EW Composer Cloud, and Roland Cloud ( core), all of which are working out well for me and give good value, but this a bit underwhelming. I think its aimed at new customers, I don't see anything to tempt owners of the latest version of complete.

It's a good question. I don't see an obvious use FOR ME, but I do use EZkeys and the Studio One chord track as a compositional aids. I have scalar but have not used it in anger. I also have a large wall chart of scales and chords above my keyboard which is very useful.

I think the existing presets will only be updated in the "full" versions of Syntronic 2 so you will not see the new edit page for existing presets. (Someone correct me if I am wrong) The edit page adds a lot of functionality like a modulation matrix and the ability to change waveform in a patch. All my Syntronic 2 Max content was installed to my E: drive where all my other IK sample content lives.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THiS!

It is a very good synth, one that covers most bases, but I I have not really got into programming it properly so I am not getting the full value. There are plenty of decent presets though.

The un-authorise/re-authorise in IK Product Manager worked for me. Apart from ST4 getting unauthorised it went reasonably smoothly, the huge download coming through while I had dinner. (I do have fast broadband but the server on the other end seemed pretty quick.) I think Syntronic 2 has gone a long way to addressing my reservations with version 1. Sound design is much improved with the ability swap waveforms in a patch and the whole edit page with its modulation matrix looks very powerful, but I have yet to dig into it. Preset load times seem to be faster than version one. A system with so many presets would really benefit with an NKS style audio preview in the browser. Freelance Soundlabs third party NKS addon for UVI's Synth Anthology is a real boon. All in all I was in two minds about upgrading but I am glad I did.

Even outside of the fixed bundles there seems to be increasing discounts if you buy several instruments. Not sure yet if its enough to draw me in but I have been getting into Riffer recently so at least one of the 6 string acoustics is appealing.

Picked up Quadra at Plugin Boutique for a song as I had built up some virtual cash. (list £29) First impressions are very favourable. It sounds fantastic. There may be a teething issue in the standalone as a piano sound seems to always be present regardless of the patch. This does not happen in the VST.

I got a bit emotional watching this today. So many words left unsaid So many deeds left undone So many tales without an end The transit of Venus across the Sun

Someone lost at the top of their game with so much more to give. I had tickets to see them in March.

What tragic news. Big Big Train singer Dave Longdon has been killed in a traffic accident, https://www.loudersound.com/amp/news/big-big-train-singer-david-longdon-dead-at-56

Realitone's Realibanjo library for Kontakt is now available for the player version of Kontakt for $39.95 (introduction price - regular $59.95 https://realitone.com/products/realibanjo?mc_cid=a864fe639b&mc_eid=bcd3979946 This version adds NKS compatibility and more patterns. Current users can update for $15 which Mike says just covers the NI licencing costs. All in all a really useful Banjo library that no longer needs full Kontakt.

Komplete 14 about to drop? It's usually around this time of year.

Works in KK here. The jury is out on how useful this will be to me. I am not really sure on the play series in general. There are some nice sounds when you find them.

I wonder if this will address some of the instability issues.

It's certainly become flakey recently. BFD4 could be interesting if it supports legacy content and the upgrade is not too expensive.

I am looking forward to getting my hands on this one. And If you are on the Cherry Audio site check out the new phase distortion oscillator.

How useful are those lower cost "genre specific" Sampletank libraries if you are not aiming at making that style of music? Are there a lot of good sounds that could be used in a different context?

I think its excellent. I would say its probably the best of my group buy purchases, its not your everyday piano for sure but its got real character an will find many uses. Malletopia stands out too. I was pleasantly surprised by the Imperial Grand, its very good for its small disc footprint, The space echo is the standout amongst the FX. I went in at the $99 level as I already had a fair bit. I think the best overall product is the Hammond which I already had.

I said "no more drums" but this is very tempting, particularly with the added percussion.

Freelance Soundlabs has added a bundle of NKS support files for all the GForce M-Tron Pro expansions. AUD 32.99 (requires the M-Tron Pro pack) https://freelancesoundlabs.com/index.php/downloads/komplete-kontrol-vst-packs/item/382-gforce-m-tron-pro-nks-library-for-komplete-kontrol-maschine M-Tron Pro is the type of instrument where the NKS audio previews are particularly useful. If you are not familiar with this developer they have cover a wide range of VSTis. I find their UVI workstation stuff very useful too.

This seems to work pretty well. I had spent quite a bit of time a while back with various de-essers traying to tame the sibilance on a vocal without getting exactly what I wanted, then I tried sibilance and fixed it quite quickly.

I agree, these were a very pleasant surprise, by far the best Sampletank content IMHO. I like Shipwreck Piano in particular but its all unique and good. I am really not sure what to get for any further products. More EQs? Possibly the Imperial Grand? I don't have much interest in the loop based stuff.